CHAPTER ELEVEN

"WHAT?" Nakataas ang isang kilay ni Vynzent nang makita niya si Kai na nagdududang nakatingin sa kaniya.

"You know that it's a bit awkward eating at the same table with your maid in an expensive restaurant, right?"

Bumalik naman ang tingin ni Vynzent sa plato niya bago sumagot. "Who knows that you're a maid here? Just you and me." Inangat niya muli ang tingin sa babae. "And besides, hindi ba't ganito rin naman ang ginagawa niyo kanina ni Levi? You were even wearing your uniform, flaunting that you're a maid." Vynzent could taste the bitterness in his voice, but he wasn't able to stop speaking of it.

Sumama naman ang tingin ni Kai sa lalake bago kumain. They were currently having dinner inside the most expensive restaurant in that mall. Alam iyon ni Kai dahil nakakain na rin siya noon sa restaurant na iyon, pero ibang branch lang. According to her boss, after they have dinner, they could go home which confuses the hell out of Kai. Kanina pa kasi sila paikot-ikot sa mall, may times na kumakain at umiinom din sila ng mga pika-pika lang like fries habang naglalakad, pero wala namang binili ang lalakeng kahit ano katulad ng sinabi nito.

"Right, before we go home, may dadaanan muna tayo sa supermarket." Otomatikong umangat naman ang isang kilay ni Kai. "Bibili lang ako ng cup noodles saka ng Frutos at Whatta Tops."

"Frutos? Whatta Tops? And don't you have tons of cup noodles in your cupboard?" sunod-sunod na tanong ng babae. She wasn't really familiar with those two that the guy mentioned. Plus, hindi ba ito adik sa cup noodles? Last time na assigned siya sa kusina nito ay punong-puno iyon.

Pinunasan ng lalake ang sariling labi saka ipinatong muli ang table napkin. "Well, a baby wanted those. Frutos is a soft chewy candy and Whatta Tops is a chocolate cupcake-like snack — How come you don't know about those?" may pagdududa sa tono ng pananalita ng lalake. A maid from a low or even middle-class household would definitely know those.

Pasimpleng nagtigilan si Kai. Damn it. Why can't I just reign my curiosity? I'll definitely get caught because of these clumsy reactions of mine. "N-Nothing—"

"Gusto mong matikman?" tanong ng lalake. And in Kai's perspective, he looked like he was genuinely asking about that. "Masarap ang Whatta Tops, pero hindi ko gusto ang Frutos. But Gio loves them so..." He shrugged. "If you want to try them, we can get those for you too later."

Para namang pumalakpak ang mga tenga ni Kai lalo na sa candy. She was really curious about the culture of the Philippines before she went to high school. Natigil lang iyon nang maging hindi maganda ang impresyon niya sa mga tao sa Pilipinas — specifically her former classmates and batchmates. Nawala tuloy ang excitement sa mga mata niya nang maalala ang tungkol sa bagay na 'yon.

And that sudden change of emotion did not go unnoticed by Vynzent. "Why? Ayaw mo? You can try the other candies or snacks—"

Natigil sa pagsasalita si Vynzent nang umiling si Kai. "Don't mind me. I'll just take note of those and buy them myself—"

"I can buy them for you," mabilis na sabi ni Vynzent. Kahit siya ay bahagya pang nagulat dahil sa sinabi niya. He did not even know why he said that. Maybe because he wanted to please her? Because she looks exactly like his first love? Fuck it! "Never mind."

Ilang beses napakurap si Kai hanggang sa tahimik na lang siyang nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Once they both finished their meals, both of them stood up and finally left the restaurant. It was a good thing that Vynzent was wearing a mask and a cap to not attract possible media. Kaya lang si Kai naman ay natatawa at nawe-weirduhan sa itsura ng lalake. It was a good thing that my real identity was hidden.

MAAYOS naman ang naging daloy ng gabi nilang dalawa, normal na nagtatalo pero mas malala nga lang noong nakasakay na sila ng kotse at papauwi na.

"What? You told me you'll introduce me to Nathan!" pagrereklamo ni Kai sa lalake habang nakasakay pa rin siya sa passenger seat.

Bumuga naman ng hangin ang lalake. "I said I'll try, but I changed my mind—"

"What do you mean you changed your mind? You're really an asshole, aren't you? You don't know how to keep your words."

Sinamaan naman ng tingin ni Vynzent ang babae nang saglit silang nahinto dahil sa traffic. "You should also stop roaming around the village, trying your luck to go and meet with that person. Mapapahamak ka lang sa pinaggagagawa mo."

"Since when do you care?" pabalang na sagot ng babae bago nito pinagkrus ang dalawang braso. "If you're not planning to keep your words, then I'll do everything on my own."

Mas lalo pang dumilim ang mukha ng lalake dahil sa narinig. "Bakit ba gustong-gusto mo ang lalakeng 'yon—"

"Why the hell do you care—"

"Kasi hindi naman kayo bagay!" Vynzent suddeny exclaimed, silencing both of them.

Ilang beses napakurap si Kai bago nito tuluyang sinamaan ng tingin ang lalake. How dare he say that to her? Just because she's just a maid? She's just pretending to be one! Her family is considered one of the richest families in Australia! "I hate you," matigas na bigkas ng babae.

Ang kaninang gulat dahil sa isinigaw na si Vynzent ay muling dumilim ang mukha. Eh sa hindi naman talaga bagay ang dalawang iyon para sa kaniya. Nathan is an asshole, but as for this woman, this Kai, she's... she's annoyingly interesting. Kahit na hindi ito ang first love niya ay iba pa rin ang nararamdaman niya sa babae. Para itong nakakairita pero komportableng kasama. Hindi na malaman ni Vynzent kung ano ba talaga.

Kai kept on mumbling things to herself until they finally reached the village. Ibinaba niya pa ang babae sa may apartment bago siya dumiretso sa bahay niya and as expected, the woman did not even thank him. It looked like she was sticking to those words, that she really does hate him.

Napabuga na lamang ng hangin si Vynzent saka kinuha ang mga pinamili bago tuluyang pumasok sa mansion niya.Sa hindi malamang kadahilanan ay hindi siya makatulog noong gabing iyon. His mind kept on replaying those woman's words and it unknowingly bothers him to the core. Why am I even affected? It's not like she was the one who said those words. Kamukha niya lang, pero hindi siya. The Katrina I know is kind and gentle, and that woman was far from those.

Napailing na lamang si Vynzent saka pinilit pa ring makatulog. And once he finally succeeded, his dreamland played his memory of Katrina back when they were in high school.

When the sun rose, Vynzent's words came true. Mas lalo nga lang napahamak ang babae sa pinaggagagawa nito. Kitang-kita ni Vynzent ang pamumula ng mukha ng babae habang nakabagsak sa lapag ng basketball court. Apparently, Dave caught her in the act again and pulled her towards the bachelors — towards Nathan — just to embarrass her.

H | Z

Ako kay Dave:

Short update muna tayo at fagod na talaga ako sa kababyahe at sa school works 😭

Bawi me sa weekend updates 🥺

Still, thank you po so much for reading 💕