O L I V I A   V A L E Z

I have always thought the sun's heat was the hottest above all the things in this universe. But now that I'm in between his arms, I could confidently say that his hug was the warmest. And nothing could change my mind. His arms were strong and hard, but it felt comfortable. His manly scent invaded my nose, and it made me cozier. I can't believe that there's more comfortable than my queen size bed in my room. I can't believe that I would felt serene while standing. I can't believe that I would felt secured in Atlas's arms.

I closed my eyes and squeezed myself a little more in his arms. I'm certain that after this hug, I wouldn't be able to felt this sheltered again... Not to this extent. I don't know what happened. When Atlas got home, he was smiling from ear to ear, and he suddenly opened his arms outspread while coming towards me. His aura was so blinding and light. I could almost picture a rainbow and flowers floating around him. And I saw how his eyes carried a diamond blinding light inside. He was that happy when he got home.

He instantly enveloped me with his warm hug. And I can't help myself from savoring the feeling in his arms. Now, I know that luxury can't buy this kind of feeling. No riches can ever top it. 

"My proposal got approved!" he said as his hug got tighter.

"O, my god! I'm so happy for you!" I said with genuine happiness.

He moved an inch away, but his hands remained on my shoulder. He looked at me with an assessing eye.

"You're not faking it?"

I rolled my eyes, but my lips betrayed me and formed a smile. "Come on, when did I ever fake myself?"

"You always do."

"I don't! I wasn't faking. I was concealing! Concealing!"

He put his hands up, "Okay, okay." he smiled and said, "The design I showed you got approved!" pag-uulit niya sa sinabi kanina.

"The one you asked me for my suggestions?" 

Atlas nodded, "Yes! I think asking you was the right choice."

I blushed from what he said. It's not like I contributed something significant to it. Halos wala nga akong masabi no'n, e. Ang naidagdag ko lang yata doon ay ang design sa poolside at iilang details sa ibang amenities. Parang one percent lang 'yon sa buong plano niya. Nonetheless, I'm happy to help. It was a good experience for me. Pinapaliwanag niya rin sa akin ang mga bagay-bagay sa design niya. Kung bakit ganoon ang positioning ng mga gamit. Kung bakit nandoon ang bathroom. Kung bakit doon nakaharap ang kama at iba pa. 

"Well, what can I say? I'm Olivia Valez, daughter of the great Oliver Valez. " pabirong pagmamayabang ko.

He looked at me intently and said, "Yes, you're great because you are Olivia Valez... You are you."

I was out of words for a minute. No one besides Liberty and Prim has ever acknowledged me for who I am. Almost all of the people I met always brand me as Oliver Valez's daughter, but not for who I am. It's not wrong to be identified as my father's daughter. I'm proud to be Oliver Valez's child, but there are times I want to be recognized as me. Not my father's daughter but me. No one else. Just purely me.

I avoided my eyes to his. I was too flustered to do an eye to eye contact with him. For the past few weeks, I've noticed that I was now comfortable with Atlas and self-conscious. Does that even possible? How can two contradicting feelings collide? I don't know. When it involves this Old man, things become undetermined. 

"So, what's my prize then? That's not for free, Mr. Mate." I said mischievously.

He rubbed my head, resulting in messy hair for me. "You'll see tomorrow."

He said his thanks and excused himself—May kailangan pa raw siyang i-finalized ulit. Masayang naglakad papuntang kwarto ni si Atlas. Napangiti na lang din ako dahil sa kaniya. Someone's happiness can really affect people. Hindi ko alam na ganoon pala siya kasaya tuwing na a-approve ang kaniyang mag disenyo. Sabi nga ni Ms. Sally, tanyag siya sa napiling industriya kaya akala ko ay hindi na bago sa kaniya ang matanggap ang mag disenyo. Madalas kasi ng mga taong kilala at magaling sa kanilang ginagawa, ay hindi na bago ang approve. Parang mas kakaiba pa nga yata sa kanila ang ma-reject, dahil sigurado naman silang pasado lagi.

I admire Atlas more now.

Nakangiti kong pinagmamasdan ang hagdan kung saan umakyat kanina si Atlas. Nagulat na lamang ako nang bigla akong tapikin ng kung sino sa braso. Agad na nawala ang ngiti ko, at nilingon ang taong pumutol sa aking nakasisiyang paglingap. Bumungad sa akin ang nag-aalangang mukha ni Tessa.

"Ma'am, a-ano pong nginingiti mo sa hagdan? M-May nakikita k-ka po bang k-kakaiba?" kinakabahang tanong nito.

Gusto kong ikunot ang aking noo dahil sa sinabi niya. Mukha ba akong may third eye or something? Mukha ba akong creepy na tao para makakita ng mga spirits? My gosh! I can't with this girl!

Pinilit kong ngumiti. I wish that it won't come out as a grimace. "No, I was just admiring how beautifully created our stair was. Don't you think it's pleasing in the eye?"

Nakita ko kung paano nakahinga nang maluwag si Tessa dahil sa sinabi ko. I don't know if she's stupid or naive. But, whatever, she's cute nonetheless.

"Ang ganda nga po, e! 'Pag po siguro yumaman ako pagagawa ko ring ganyan ang hagdan sa bahay namin."

"Nothing's impossible, Tessa. However, we need to work hard for the things we need to achieve."

Pagkatapos kong sabihin 'yon ay agad akong napatigin kay Love na nakapatong sa sofa. Napagdesisyunan ko kasing mag-practice pa. Nakuha ko na kanina ang tamang tono sa unang bahagi ng Lil Liza Jane, pero hindi pa rin stable ang pagtugtog ko. Kinuha ko na si Love at inilagay sa ilalim ng baba ko. Umalis na rin si Tessa at maghahanda na raw para sa dinner.

Bago at pagkatapos kumain ay nagpatuloy ako sa pag-practice sa pagtugtog. Pero dahil nahihiya akong marinig nila ang may kapangitan kong pagtugtog, napagpasyahan kong sa garden na lang ubusin ang oras ko sa pag-eensayo. At dahil maganda rin ang naging resulta ng aking pag-pra-practice, masaya akong umakyat sa room ko. Napag-isipan ko na namang magbasa ng libro.

The heroin expressed his love in a variety of fascinating and physically astounding ways. I supposed his stamina could be considered as of a beast. I found my hands slipping in my undergarment, moaning quietly, and writhing in bed with a certain blue-eyed man in my mind.

And when the morning came, I found the owner of that dazzling blue eyes putting a helmet on my head. Atlas was smiling happily as he adjusted my helmet. He even tapped the top of it when he finished fixing it. It seems like he woke up on the right side of the bed. I was actually surprised to find him waiting for me after my violin session. 

"So... This is my prize for helping you out?"

"I noticed that you enjoyed seeing me work... I meant my work." and this bastard didn't even try to hide his smile.

Where the hell did he get that confidence? 

I rolled my eyes but decided to tell him the truth. "Yes, the industry you picked looked enjoyable." 

"I'm pleased that you found my work enthralling." he went to his motor and started the engine. When his love was ready to go, Atlas reached for my hand and guided me to sit. "Another rendezvous for us, Little Girl. I think you're ready for a fast ride, aren't you?"

He was looking at me in the side mirror with a challenging and smug look. I smirked at him and took the challenge. "Of course. Make sure it's fast. Old man nowadays gets slower than usual." 

Pagkatapos na pagkatapos nang sinabi ko ay agad niyang pinaandar nang napakabilis ang motor niya. Akala ko nga ay jet plane ang sinasakyan ko at hindi motor. Nang humigpit ang yakap ko sa kaniya, ay natawa ang matanda. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa sa ginawang kalokohan. Pinalo ko siya sa braso kaya natigil siya sa pagtawa. Medyo binagalan na niya ang takbo kaya mas na enjoy ko na nag aming byahe.

I must say, the motor ride was delightful and isn't as time-consuming as a car ride. But girl, naka-ha-haggard pala ang ganito! Sa init ng Pinas at polluted air, talagang mag-o-oily at bubukas ang mga pores ko sa mukha! I should have applied a lot of sunscreen kanina. Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako habang nag-aayos ng buhok pagkababa ng motor. May nakalolokong ngiti naman si Atlas habang kinukuha sa akin ang helmet. 

With frowned brows, I said, "What?"

"Isn't the ride fun?"

"It's fun. But look at me!" Itinuro ko ang mukha kong nanlalagkit at medyo nangangati. "I look so unsightly!"

Atlas looked at me intently. His eyes roamed to my face, but it doesn't felt like it was only my face he was looking at. It felt like he was looking deep inside me. So deep, like he saw everything. 

"You are a liar."

"What?!" ano namang connect no'n sa sinabi ko 'di ba? Napasukan ba siya ng polluted air sa utak niya?

"Liar... How can a lovely face be unsightly?" 

I sucked in a breath, and I was left speechless. How can he say such a thing? It's not like I never heard people saying how beautiful I was. But why... Why was I so flabbergasted? My cheeks painted color. I fanned my face using my hand and looked away. I can't look at him right now. Bakit ba kasi siya ganiyan? 

I could still feel his gaze boring into my face. I bit the insides on my cheek. I wanted to shout, squeal, or scream to let this overwhelming feeling inside me. How can I get so overwhelmed with a simple thing? It is not like he was trying to use flowery words to please me. He was basically stating facts.  How dare my heart leaped from it?! I know this feeling. It's my first time feeling it, but I'm not naive. I thought I was just comfortable with him, but I never imagine it to be this enormous.

I was about to say something when someone interrupted me. 

"Architect Mate, it's nice to see you this early!" masayang bati ng babae sabay beso kay Atlas.

My eyebrow automatically raised. Atlas greeted her back with a handsome smile on his face. Why is he giving her that kind of smile? Tapos sa akin palaging mapangasar. E, hindi nga ganoon kagandahan ang babaeng ito. Okay, she has a great body, long brown curly hair—but it looked like it was made from a cheap salon, and her face was almost... Just almost pleasing. Isa lang naman ang nilamang niya sa akin 'no! Boobs! Boobs lang nilamang niya sa akin! Sheez, why do her boobs are as sized as a balloon? 

Lalong tumaas ang kilay ko nang kumapit siya sa braso ni Atlas. I clearly saw how Her ballooned-sized boobs ate atlas's toned and masculine arms. Napanganga ako nang kaunti sa nakita. Nang-aakusa akong tumingin kay Atlas, at ang walang hiya ay mukhang enjoy na enjoy naman! Napatingin tuloy ako sa aking hinaharap. Naawa kong hinawakan iyon. Agad akong napasimangot nang makitang kapiranggot lang iyon kumpara sa malalobong hinaharap ng babaeng ito. Okay lang 'yan, Olivia. Wala ka pa namang eighteen! lalaki pa 'yan. Law of attraction!

"Well, I'm not alone, as you can see—What are you doing?" gulat na sabi ni Atlas.

Nagulat naman ako at agad na tinaggalang kamay sa boobs, kung boobs nga bang maitatawag 'to. Agan na namula ang aking pisngi sa kahihiyan lalo na nang makita ko silang dalawang nakatingin sa akin. 

"N-Nothing! I was only uh—" I can't find the right word to use as an excuse.

Maharot na hinampas ng babae ang braso ni Atlas, "Ano ka ba, Architect! Normal 'yan sa aming mga babae. We do that unconsciously from time to time." 

Hindi ko alam kung maiinis ba ako sa kaniya, o matutuwa dahil nailigtas niya ako sa kahihiyan. Nawala sa babae ang atensyon ko at napunta kay Atlas. Mukha siyang litong lito at hindi makapaniwala. Parang ang sarap tumawa, pero not in front of this woman.

"Really?"

Humawak ang walang hiyang babae sa boobs niyang pagkalaki-laki. Kaya ang nakaiinis na matandang si Atlas ay tumingin doon! Aba! Alam naming malaki ang chest mo! No need na ipamukha iyon. 

"Yes, it's like a mannerism of some girls." nakangiting sabi nito, habang masayang tinitignan si Atlas na nakatingin sa kamay niyang nasa lobo.

Sarap dumukot ng mata ng isang matanda!

"I'm Olivia Valez. Nice to meet you." no, it's not nice to meet you. Nonetheless, I said it sweetly. 

Nagtagumpay naman ako sa aking plano dahil napunta sa akin ang atensyon nilalng dalawa. Inalis ng babae ang kaniyang kamay sa hinaharap niya, at inilahad iyon sa akin. Yuck, tatanggapin ko ba talaga 'yan? Prim and proper, Olivia. Prim and proper. Kahit nandidiri ay hindi nawala ang ngiti ko habang nakipag-shake hands.

"Good morning, I'm Engineer Lottie Marie  Mariano. You can call me Engr. Lorie or Engr. Mariano."

Ngumit na lamang ako sa sinabi niya at hindi na nag-comment. I don't want to be mean, but that Engineer on her name saved it. Olivia Valez is much beautiful to say, than Lottie Marie. I'm confident with that. 

"Engr. Mariano will be working with me together with other engineers with this project." Atlas said.

"Is she your cousin?" tanong naman ni Lottie Marie.

"She's Oliver's daughter. You know Oliver Valez, right?"

"O, yes! Close nga pala kayo ni Mr. Valez." tumawa pa siya. Anong nakatatawa doon? "So you're babysitting pala."

What?! Anong babysitting? Do I look like a baby? Agad kong sinamaan ng tingin si Atlas nang makitang natawa ito. He stopped laughing but smirked at me afterward. Akala yata niya ay nakalilimutan ko na ang pagtingin niya sa lobo kanina! I won't ever forget that. Who you siya sa akin 'paglumaki 'tong akin!

"She's interested in our work. And I think it's good that she'll be able to familiarize herself with the work while she's still young."

Nagsimla na silang maglakad kaya sinundan ko na rin sila. Tahimik akong nakikinig sa kanilang usapan habang nasa gilid ako ni Atlas. Syempre, palalamang ba ako sa Lottie Marie na 'to? Ayaw ko ngang maiwan sa likod nila. Rapat ay sabay-sabay at pantay-pantay kami. 

"Ay, nga pala! I saw Beauty with Malcolm in Spain last month." 

Biglang natahimik si Atlas dahil sa simabi ni Lottie Marie. Kunot noo ko siyang tinignan at bahagyang nagtagis ang panga niya. Pero ang nakabibigla ay kung gaano kalamig ang kaniyang mga mata. With that blue eyes, that cold gaze would make anyone go down on their knees. 

Biglang napatakip ng bibig si Lottie Marie, "My bad! Hindi ka pa pala okay sa dalawa. I should have kept my mouth shut about it."

Should have shut your mouth, pero patuloy pa rin naman siya sa pagsasalita. Hindi na muling nagsalita si Atlas hangang sa makapasok kami sa company na kaniyang pinagtratarbahuhan. 

I wonder what's with those two people named Beauty and Malcolm. Why was Atlas so affected by just merely hearing their name. Are they his family? Like how my grandparents are to my dad. Or are they his competitor? Someone who stole a project from him. But whatever they did to Atlas, I'm sure it's not good. They were able to make a mischievous man who always has a playful smile grit his teeth enough to move his haw hard.

But I was going to admit watching Atlas Mate's clenching jaw was hot. 

Take my money. I'll buy it.

~TBC~

So ayon, dapat noong Tuesday pa 'to, but nagloloko laptop ko. Ngayon lang uli lumabas WiFi options niya.

Who's Beauty and Malcolm? Do you guys have a guess? And did you liked Lottie Marie?

Feel free to share your thoughts, and keep safe, everyone.

Love lots! :>>