Chapter 2: You're paying attention
#UNI

COOLER

I tried my best not to frown as I watched her hold her laughter. She failed bigtime at sa pagkakataong ito ay hindi na niya pinigilan ang kanyang pagtawa.

I sat comfortably, crossing my arms. "What's so funny?"

Looking at her laughing her ass out really reminds me of the naughty woman I met last night. Well, she's really that rainbow girl, I can tell by her smile. Nakakapanibago lamang na makita siyang hindi balot ng kolorete sa mukha.

Umayos siya ng upo at pilit kinalma ang sarili. "Ikaw. Oh, sorry I just cannot believe what I heard. Ikaw? You're asking me to teach you magic tricks?"

That annoyed me a bit. May mali ba sa sinabi ko? "Why, what's wrong with it? Is that illegal?"

Mabilis siyang umiling. "No, what's illegal is your business, magic tricks are actually fun."

Well, this woman is something. "Illegal? Our business?" pagmamaang-maangan ko.

She just rolled her eyes at me. "It's not like no single soul doesn't know about it."

Point well-taken but still. "That's an accusation Miss Rustia."

This time, komportableng naupo siya at sumandal. Her tone was dismissung na para bang siguradong-sigurado siya sa kanyang sinasabi. "Vander Mafia, isn't it?"

I shrugged. "I know nothing about it."

She was silent for a while dahil lumapit ang isang barista sa amin at inilapag sa harapan niya ang inumin na in-order ko para sa kanya. I waited for the guy to leave bago ako muling nagsalita.

"Hindi ko alam ang tungkol sa sinasabi mo," sabi ko a ibinaba ang tingin sa kalalapag lamang na inumin. "Enjoy your drink, it's free don't worry."

Without hesitation, she picked it up and tasted it. I noticed how her mood lighted upon when she tasted it ngunit hindi niya iyon ipinahalata. "You can deny all you want but it's not a secret. Besides my father was killed dahil sa inyo."

That's a different story.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "I'm sorry about your loss but I really do not know about it."

Ngumit siya nang bahagya. "No it's okay, that's few years ago and I have long accepted his death anyway."

I tried to sound a little hopeful. "Considering that "Vander Mafia" is true, will that affect your decision in teaching me magic tricks?"

Ilang beses siyang napakurap."Seryoso ka ba talaga diyan sa hinihiling mo? Isa pa, why me? Why not hire others-"

"I have two options," sagot ko, raising to fingers. "One, I'll hire Harry Houdini, two, I'll hire you. The first one is impossible so that leaves you as my only option."

Naningkit ang kanyang mga mata as if she's suspecting me for a hidden agenda. Honestly, I have none.

"Anong kailangan mo sa akin?" seryosong tanong niya. "Kung may utang man sa inyo ang tatay ko, labas na ako roon. Besides isn't it enough that he's dead?"

Itinaas ko ang dalawang kamay. "I'm sorry for touching the scar, I do not meant to. Again, I'm sorry about your loss pero wala akong kinalaman sa nangyari and the Vander Mafia you're talking about is inexistent."

She sipped on her drink again. "Ano ka ba, move on na. It's not like I'm holding grudges to it. My father raised us to be kind at hindi niya kami tinuruan na maghiganti. My brother became a police not because he wanted to go after Vander Mafia dahil pinatay ninyo ang tatay namin. He became a police because he would chase anyone doing illegal things and that includes your clan."

I smiled and still shrugged. "I know nothing about your claims. Vander Mafia huh? Sounds cool."

She rolled her eyes a bit. "Being part of it is cooler, right?"

I crossed my arms and sat comfortably. "Yes, I'm Cooler, but that's an accusation Miss Rustia."

She made a face. "I'm just stating facts."

"Well then, where are your receipts for your accusations?"

She just frowned at me. Though she sounded so sure, but yeah whatever. We're not going to talk about the family business, I want a flexible time schedule for magic lessons. That's it.

Inayos ko ang suot na necktie. "So, have you decided?"

"Decided on what?" tanong niya.

"My proposal. Is it a yes? Don't worry, I will compensate you. Our schedule is flexible, maybe 4 hours or more per week. With benefits."

"Aren't you a busy man? Why would you ask me, a petty part-timer to teach you? With all that money and fame, you can hire the world's best magicians, right?" pagdududa niya.

Why is it so hard to convince her? It's not like malulugi siya. The sched will be flexible! And I am not a frugal employer. Should I have her at gunpoint to agree?

I cleared my throat. "Sinasabi ko sa iyo, hindi ka magiging lugi. I am a good employer, I can provide you compensation that could support your livi--"

Biglang napataas ang kanyang kilay. "You think I am trying to negotiate for a raise?"

No! Ah, woman! Masyadong advance mag-isip.

"No, I'm laying down the benefits of working for me," sagot ko sa kanya.

But woman was still being suspicious. C'mon, what's hard to understand?

"Bakit ako?" she asked as she sipped through her drink.

"Bakit hindi?" balik-tanong ko. "You showed potential at the jail when you used a trick on me. You slipped through your handcuff. You work as a part-time assistant. I have your background checked. Your father's one of the known magicians in the country, you as a kid trained with him."

"You had my background checked?!"

"Every employees working directly to us or on Vander Trading had a background check. That's just out of ordinary," I replied.

Hindi makapaniwalang napaawang ang kanyang labi. Now that I noticed, shed had a tiny heart-shaped lips with two cute front teeth which reminds me of a bunny. Kinagat niya ang kanyang pang-ibabang labi like it was a normal reaction for her.

"Masyadong kahina-hinala. Why me when you can hire the world's best magicians with all that money?"

This is actually harder than I thought. Alam ko na hindi lahat ay makukuha mo sa ngiti, high offers and other benefits but this woman is being stubborn right now.

"I'm not up for the best if it's not Houdini. I just see the potential in you," itinaas ko ang dalawang kamay. "I told you my intentions are pure. I want nothing from you but teach me what you know about magic. No more, no less."

She took a long sip on her drink, probably enjoying the taste of it bago mahinang inilapag ang nangangalahating inumin at tumayo. "Thank you for sparing your time Cooler Vander but I refuse. Marami akong gagawin at hindi ko kayang isingit ag pagtuturo sa'yo. Salamat sa inumin at salamat sa pagpapautang mo sa akin. I hope our paths never cross again. Have a good day."

I watched her strode towards the exit hanggang sa tuluyan siyang makalayo.

Wait a minute, did that woman just rejected me? Ako? I mean, it's not like I thrift people when it comes to my offers and benefits! That woman, that woman didn't even give a second to consider?

Okay this is just as painful as when Amber rejected me.

Speaking of Amber, I'm scheduled to pick her up today since my brother Gray is busy with something which I am sure involves detective stuff. Napatingin ako sa relo, I have some hours to spare and think about what's my life going to be after being rejected.

***

"Hey pretty!"

I spread my arms as wide as I could expecting her to run into my open arms for a tight hug but just like the countless times, she would only roll her eyes at me.

"Stop embarrassing me by bringing different fancy cars of yours every time you come to pick me up, Cooler," nakangiwing sabi ni Amber at tinakpan ang kanyang mukha nang makitang may iilang estudyante na ang nakapalibot at panay patagong kumukuha ng litrato ng sasakyan, most of the girls are taking photos of me.

Well, I couldn't be more so proud of my baby! Yup, that's my McLaren 720s.

"Take it as a privilege Amber. Not everyone is being fetched with this pretty baby," sagot ko sa kanya at tinapik ang kotse ko. Like she always does, she rolled her eyes and I chuckled. For the past years she still had that habit of rolling her eyes on almost everything.

This woman is just so adorable. I remembered being drawn to her because she's someone you would definitely notice not because she's screaming beauty. She's screaming all values every woman should possess and I think that's what makes her special. Her values in life is something great, her intelligence is amazing. What I felt for her now is total admiration and brotherly love. I guess she's the sister I never had.

She shook her head with a frown at nilagpasan ako upang pumasok sa kotse ngunit mabilis na hinarang ko siya.

"Ops, not yet," pigil ko sa kanya at nakangiting inilabas ang barya mula sa bulsa. "I have a trick."

She crossed her arms giving me that 'oh c'mon-look' like every I showed her a trick.

"I can make this coin disappear habang hawak mo ito at papalitan ko ng bill, game?" tanong ko sa kanya.

She frowned at me. "As if I have a choice, alam kong hindi mo ako titigilan hangga't hindi mo nagagawa ang trick mo."

I snapped a finger and winked at her. "You knew me so well. Akin na ang kamay mo."

Walang kangiti-ngiting inilahad niya sa akin ang palad. She looked so bored as she watched me placed a coin on her palm, closing it tightly and blew on it. "Tada, wala na sa palad mo. Now check the back pocket of your jeans, you will see the 500-peso bill."

She made a face as she opened her palm to find it empty. Nakataas ang kilay na kinuha niya ang kamay ko, pulled the coin I secretly taped with clear adhesive at my hand which I made sure she wouldn't notice but like always, she did.

"Try again Cooler," sabi niya at tinanggal ang barya sa kamay ko. She got the bill on her back pocket, raising it with a bored look on her face. "I know you slipped this bill on my pocket nang nilagpasan kita kanina para pumasok sa sasakyan mo at hinarang mo ako."

Natatawang tinampal ko na lamang ang noo ko at pinagbuksan siya ng pinto. "You always got me. I guess college has made you smarter."

"Tsk, you should try harder,"sagot niya sa akin.

Natatawa pa rin ako hanggang sa umikot ako sa kabilang bahagi ng sasakyan at pumasok. I reached for the coffee I brought for her. "Iced Coffee for the smart lady," sabi ko.

"Thanks!" nakangiting sabi niya at tinanggap ang inumin.

I smiled as I started the engine. "Sooner, I'll have a trick that you cannot debunk."

"Can't wait for that day," sagot niya sa akin.

"Malapit na sana but then that woman rejected me!" himutok ko nang maalala ang nangyari kanina. I didn't even get the chance to lay the digits I can offer, the perks and benefits ngunit tinanggihan na niya agad ako. What's wrong with her head?

Napansin ko ang pananahimik niya kaya bahagya ko siyang sinulyapan, and just as I expected, she was looking at me with a confused expression. "That woman? You're sulking after you're rejected?"

Ibinalik ko ang tingin sa daan. "Do not get it wrong Amber. It's not what you think okay? I am not talking about any woman, just someone who has potential in magic tricks."

She bit her straw and looked away. "Masyado ka namang defensive, I'm not saying it should be something romantic."

Napangiti lamang ako. "Well, I'm not interested in girls right now."

"You prefer boys now huh?" pang-aasar niya.

"Ha! Ha! Nice attempt to be funny Amber, I think bad influence talaga ang kaibigan mong iyon. What's his name again?" tanong ko. "Puns?"

"Jeremy," sagot niya.

"Right, Jeremy." Well, ilang beses ko nang nakasama ang kaibigan nilang iyon, in fact he's so welcome at home at labas-masok na doon but I only knew him as puns dahil iyon naman ang tawag ni Gray sa kanya. "Back tothe topic, who is she to reject me? Look at me, am I worth rejecting?"

Napalingon ako sa kanya at nag-puppy eyes, much to her dismay.

She rolled her eyes at me. "I can't blame her, if you do that I would reject you too."

"Aw, hindi naman masakit," nakangiwing sagot ko. "Should I have her at gunpoint?"

Tinapunan niya ako nang masamang tingin. "You think that will work?"

Mabilis na umiling ako. "Woman was tiny but feisty. I don't think she'll be scared of it. She knew about Vander Mafia."

Natampal ni Amber ang noo. "Who doesn't anyway?"

Napangisi ako sa sagot. "Just like what she said."

"You're interested with her. Otherwise you wouldn't notice much details. Sabi mo she's small yet feisty. You visioned her as woman who wouldn't budge at gunpoint. Wow Cooler, you're paying so much attention."

Napasimangot lamang ako at ibinaling ang tingin sa daan. I would not like to comment on her observation about me dahil madalas siyang tama.

For now I can assure she's wrong.

There's no way I would be interested in that woman who rejected my opportunity of learning magic tricks.

No way I would be under the illusion of whatever involving her.

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