CHAPTER TEN

NANGHIHINA namang napaupo si Kai sa sahig na agad sinundan ni Levi. "You okay?" nag-aalalang tanong ng lalake. "Don't tell me dadalhin na naman kita sa clinic?" Kai instantly glared at him which earned a chuckle from the man. "Akala ko pa naman kakailanganin mo na naman ng tulong. But it looks like I thought wrong. Grabe ang palitan niyo ng linya ni Javier ah," komento nito at pinasawalambahala na muna ang sakit na naramdaman kanina.

Napabuga ng hangin si Kai. "I wasn't able to react that fast, and losing my first kiss to someone I hate was too much for me. I saved it for Nathan and that bastard—" Muling napabuga ng hangin ang babae. "Whatever. I'll just punch him next time."

Pinilit naman ni Levi na pagaanin ang atmospera. "Gusto mo linisin na lang natin yung mga labi mo?"

Nagtatakang tumingin si Kai sa lalake. "I'll brush my teeth so hard later and finish a whole bottle of mouthwash."

"No, I meant I'll kiss you if you want." Sinamaan muli ng tingin ni Kai ang lalake saka sinuntok ang braso nito. Tumawa lang naman si Levi. "I was just kidding. Masyado ka kasing nanlulumo riyan."

"That wasn't funny, you idiot." Tinawanan lang na naman siya ni Levi. Nang masigurong umayos-ayos na ang pakiramdam niya ay muling tumayo si Kai saka bumuga ng hangin. "I shouldn't let that bastard make me feel a lot worse," she mumbled.

Tumayo na rin naman si Levi saka ngumiti sa kaniya at inayos ang ilang hibla ng buhok niyang nagkalat sa mukha niya dahil sa pag-iyak. Bahagya naman iyong ikinatigil ni Kai. "Tama. Hindi ka rin naman daw niya patatalsikin, and if he would do that, I'll talk to the HR to transfer you to my mansion," seryosong sabi nito.

Tila nagulat naman si Kai sa sinabi ng lalake saka napailing. "I never thought I could have a friend here," she mumbled again and Levi stilled when he heard that. May maliit na ngiting sumilay sa mga labi ni Kai. "Thanks, Levi."

Levi's breathing hitched when he heard her say his name with a smile on her lips. Hindi maitanggi ni Levi ang pagbilis ng tibok ng puso niya noong mga oras na 'yon at nang dahil doon ay nakaramdam siya ng takot. Takot na halatang hindi siya mapapansin ni Kai dahil ang mga mata nito ay nakay Nathan lang.

Tumingin naman sa pinto ng sala si Kai saka huminga nang malalim. "He said I can't leave his mansion, well I want to see him watch." With that, Kai walked until she finally left Vynzent's mansion.

Ilang beses pang kinailangang kumurap ni Levi bago ito umiling at sinundan palabas ang dalaga. "Kain tayo?" tanong niya rito nang makahabol sa paglalakad ni Kai.

Nilingon naman siya ni Kai. "Well, that's random, but since that bastard drained my energy, I'll accept the invite."

Napangiti naman si Levi roon saka sabay silang lumabas na ng Red Mansion at naghintay ng golf cart na dadaan para makapagpahatid papunta sa Red Diamond.

Little did they both know that when they passed through the Royalty Hall, someone's eyes were following them with a dark expression on the Spanish man's face.

KAI was currently finishing and enjoying her food with Levi at the Red Diamond when a man suddenly got her attention upon entering the said restaurant. Kahit si Levi ay napatingin sa direksyon ng inirapan niya.

Nang makita ng lalake kung sino ang pumasok ay mahina na lamang itong natawa sa reaksyon ni Kai. "Chill. Grabe yung irap eh."

Inilipat na lang ni Kai ang tingin sa kinakain hanggang sa may maramdaman siyang presensya sa tabi niya. Pinili na nga lang na hindi iyon pansinin kaya lang ay nagsalita naman ito. "Maid, since it's still your working hours, I need you to come with me."

Inangat naman ni Kai ang ulo saka ito sinamaan ng tingin. Remembering that she's in public, Kai lowered the volume of her voice and addressed him properly. "Sir Javier, I'm still eating."

"Okay, then." Kumuha naman ng upuan si Vynzent mula sa isang bakanteng table saka iyon inilagay sa malapit kay Kai. "I'll wait for you until you're done eating." Pinagkrus pa ng lalake ang mga braso pati na rin ang mga binti.

Wala namang magawa si Kai kahit gusto niyang sumabog dahil paniguradong may ibang nanonood sa kanila. Sabay na nga silang kumain ni Levi kahit na nakapang-maid uniform na siya, tapos gagawa pa siya ng eskandalo dahil sa Vynzent na ito? Calm down, Kai. We're doing this for Nathan, we're not supposed to get fired. "If you say so, Sir."

Damang-dama ni Kai ang nakatutok na mga mata ni Vynzent sa kaniya pero umakto na lang siyang wala ito. As for Vynzent, he could feel his friend's eyes on him and so he looked at Levi. "What?"

Levi shrugged, his lips flashed a smile but his eyes says otherwise. "I know she's a maid assigned to your mansion, but why approach her if you're used to contacting Madam Bosette if you need anything?"

Vynzent matched Levi's seriousness. "As you said, she's a maid assigned to my mansion, therefore, under me. And why are you questioning my approach if you, yourself, do the same?"

Tila nagpaligsaan ang dalawang lalake sa titigan hanggang sa pinutol iyon ni Kai. "I'm done." She wiped her lips with the napkin before standing up and slightly bowing her head on Levi's direction. "Thank you for the meal, Sir Levi." Humarap naman siya kay Vynzent. "What do you need, Sir Javier?" tila walang gana niyang tanong sa lalake.

Tumikhim naman si Vynzent saka na rin tumayo. "Let's go."

Sunod ding tumayo si Levi. "Tapos na rin naman ako. Sama ako—"

"Pinapatawag ka ni Brian," agad na pigil ni Vynzent sa balak gawin ng lalake. "I just saw him a while ago, he said he wants to talk to you."

Kinuha naman ni Levi ang cellphone na nasa bulsa ng pantalon niya. "Ba't hindi niya na lang ako t-in-ext kung ganon?"

Vynzent shrugged nonchalantly. "I don't know, I did not ask, and I don't care." Saka naman humarap ang lalake sa maid na walang emosyon ang mukhang nakatingin sa kaniya. Though he was sure that if they weren't in a public place, she would have been glaring at him. "Maid, let's go."

For the sake of respecting her newly considered friend, Kai faced Levi ang smiled at him. "Thanks again for the meal. Next time, I'll pay."

Napangiti naman doon si Levi. Because his rabbit said it, then there will be next time. "Aasahan ko 'yan."

Both of those people were smiling at each other but the man standing almost between them wasn't. His face darkened at the thought of the woman who looked exactly like his first love smiling at another man.

"Let's go. We have to move fast," ani Vynzent na siyang ikinawala ng ngiti ni Kai. Nang maglakad naman na si Vynzent palabas ng restaurant ay nasa likuran niya lang si Kai.

They then rode an elevator to reach the ground floor. Vynzent walked to the office, still with Kai behind him and not saying anything. "Sir Vynzent, how may I help you?" tanong ni Ma'am Estela saka pa sinilip si Kai. "Is there something wrong?"

Umiling naman ang lalake. "I just need to inform you that I need this maid to come with me and do groceries."

Napataas naman ng kilay si Ma'am Estela na napatigil na nang tuluyan sa pagta-type sa computer niya. "I'm sorry, what? Hindi ba't kago-grocery mo lang nung nakaraan, Mr. Javier?"

Saglit na nakaramdam ng kaba si Vynzent nang tawagin siya sa ganoong paraan ng ginang. He had to clear his throat before answering her. "I-I forgot some things. Kailangan ko pang bilhin saka may vase na nabasag sa bahay ko."

Kai's body tensed at the mention of the vase, at hindi iyon nakatakas sa paningin ni Ma'am Estela. The head of the human resource department meaningfully looked at Vynzent. "If so, shouldn't that be reported to me? To punish the culprit."

"There's no need for that. I... was the one who accidentally bumped into it," pagsisinungaling ni Vynzent na halatang hindi pa rin pinaniniwalaan ng ginang.

"So the very careful Vynzent Javier knows how to be clumsy," tumatango-tangong sabi ng ginang saka may t-in-ype sa computer niya at nang tumunog iyon ay saka ito humarap kay Vynzent. "Get the pass from Charmaine for Miss Kai," pagtukoy nito sa babaeng hindi malaman kung anong mararamdaman habang nakikinig.

Kumunot naman ang noo ni Vynzent. "Kai?"

Ma'am Estela flatly looked at Vynzent. "The maid you're asking to accompany you. Her name is Kai Graciadas."

So she's not Katrina? Napailing na lamang si Vynzent. That would make sense. Her name is different from hers. Her attitude is different from hers, as well. And here I thought I finally found her. "Thanks, Ma'am Estela."

The woman just hummed in response before watching those two leave her office. Once they were gone, Estela just shook her head before getting back to work.

Pagkalabas naman ni Vynzent ay tiningnan niya si Kai. "Kai, go to your unit and change into something comfortable. Kukunin ko lang ang pass mo."

Tiningnan naman ni Kai ang suot. Kung lalabas nga rin naman siya ay ayaw niyang may ibang makakitang naka-maid uniform siya kahit na maganda siya sa suot niya. Tumango na lang siya sa lalake saka tuluyan nang lumabas ng building at lumipat sa kabila para umakyat sa unit niya.

Pinanood lang naman ni Vynzent ang babae hanggang sa makalabas ito. Hindi pa rin siya makapaniwalang kamukhang-kamukha ng babae ang kakilala niya. First name lang din naman ang alam ni Vynzent kay Katrina at hindi na niya nakuha ang apelyido nito. Pero kahit na malapit ang pangalan ng dalawang babae sa isa't isa ay hindi ibig sabihin nito ay iisang tao na sila.

Napabuga na lamang ng hangin ang lalake bago niya kinuha ang kailangang kuhanin.

KAI could not believe that she was actually leaving the village even though she just got in there for a couple of days. Pakiramdam niya pa rin ay antagal na niyang nanatili sa loob ng RV sa sobrang daming nangyari sa kaniya.

As of the moment, she was inside Vynzent's car. Halos magtalo pa nga sila nang dahil lang sa pwesto niya. She insisted on sitting in the backseat because she doesn't want to be near the first kiss thief, but she still lost and was now in the passenger seat. Ginamitan na naman kasi siya ng boss card na hindi sana uubra kayang lang sinamahan din ng Nathan card. "You'll introduce me to Nathan after this, that's the deal, right?"

Umikot naman ang mga mata ng lalakeng nasa driver's seat. "I said I'll try."

Kai shrugged. "Fair enough." Sinandal naman niya ang gilid ng ulo sa bintana saka pinanood silang lumabas ng village matapos ipakita ni Vynzent ang pass at employee's ID niya sa guard.

She did not want to converse any longer with the man she was with, but it seemed like they oppose each other. "How old are you?"

Napataas naman ng kilay si Kai. "And why do you want to know?" she rudely asked without looking at him.

"You're still my employee, Kai."

"And my age matters? Shouldn't you just care about my work performance?"

"I already know about that, and I know how poorly you perform. So tell me something I don't know," nagsisimula na ring mairitang sagot ng lalake.

Umirap na lang si Kai. "Whatever. I still hate you, don't talk to me—"

"I'm your boss—"

"I already know about that. So tell me something I don't know," Kai couldn't help but mock the guy.

Ikinainit lang naman iyon ng ulo ni Vynzent kaya nanahimik na lang ito at nag-focus sa pagda-drive kaysa mapahamak pa sila kapag nag-away sila. Matapos ang halos isang oras na biyahe ay nakarating na rin sila sa isang mall. And just like what Vynzent predicted, a same vase that Kai broke was not there.

Imposible rin naman kasing makahanap pa siya ng kapareho ng ganoon dahil luma na ang vase na iyon at iyon din ang kauna-unahang bagay na binili niya nang magkaroon siya ng sarili niyang pera.

The vase was supposed to be his gift for his mom but he wasn't able to do that and so he just kept it safe and a remembrance. Unfortunately, the woman who has the same face but a different attitude from his first love broke it. Just great.

"What are we supposed to buy again?" naiinip na tanong ni Kai. Para kasing hindi pa sila nagsisimulang mag-ikot ay pagod na siya. "I don't like walking that much," normal na normal niyang reklamo.

Napataas naman ng isang kilay si Vynzent saka nilingon ang dalaga. "Really? From what I've heard, you like roaming around ng village," he sarcastically commented.

Sinamaan naman siya ng tingin ni Kai bago inirapan at inilibot ang tingin sa mall. "What now?"

Vynzent shrugged. "Let's just roam around. I'm looking for something." He heard her mumble but the words weren't clear. "What was that?"

Kai rolled her eyes before facing him. "Nothing, Sir." Binigyan niya pa talaga ng diin ang huling salita na siyang nagpapikon sa lalake.

H | Z

Magsisimula na ang pikunan moments ng dalawang ito T_T