(Nick)
He is really very angry. Hindi niya nahabol kanina ang dalawa dahil kay Heather. She literally threw herself at him kahit nasa sala sila. Though he told her na wala siyang balak magka-relasyon with her,she was determined to seduce him. He realized na napakalayo talaga ng ugali nito sa kapatid. Heather has no scruples about running after men she likes.S a tingin ni Nick lalo pa itong naging agresibo. Buti na lang pumasok ang kasambahay ng mga ito dahil may overseas call daw from Heather's father. Doon siya nakahanap ng tiyempo para umalis.
He had been calling Stacey the whole afternoon pero hindi nito sinasagot ang telepono. Kung ano-ano na ang naisip niya lalo at kasama nito ang dating boss. Inutusan niya ang driver niya na tumambay malapit sa bahay ng dalaga para matawagan siya agad pag dumating na ito. Siya sana ang maghihintay but he had to meet one of their big time clients late in the afternoon.
He was ready to blow a gasket dahil mag aalas-siyete na ng tumawag ang driver niya to report na kakauwi pa lang ng dalaga.
“Dammit!! Where the hell they have been?!” He cursed under his breath. Pulang-pula na ang mukha niya sa galit.
He doesn't know how to stay cool as Derick kung ganitong sasabog na siya.He was about to call her when her number flashed on the screen.
"D-Derick?"
"What the fuck happened to you?!” he asked furiously.
Stacey pouted. "S-Sorry..I didn't check my phone..." she tried to explain.
He cursed kaya napangiwi si Stacey.
"Look! You don't need to curse just because I wasn't able to get your call." she said sounding a little irritated. She can't understand why he is furious. She feels that he is over-reacting.
Take it easy Alcantara! Nick scolded himself. The last thing he wants is to piss her off.
Nahilamos nito ang mukha niya with his hand in vexation.
In a controlled tone he asked, " Did you see how many missed calls you got from me?"
Tacey let out a sigh. "Derick I said I am sorry. Besides I didn't ask you to call me. Bakit ka ba tumatawag?We were just together last night."
Gusto ng ibato ni Nick ang telepono but nagpigil pa din ito. He made a note to reward himself for keeping his cool. Stacey is slowly changing him and he doesn't like it. He is infamous for jumping down on someone's throat when he can't get his way.
For sure hindi maniniwala ang mga nakakakilala sa kanya. Who would ever think that the high and mighty Nick Alcantara is able to hold his temper? At ang pinaka nakakagulat-gulat is dahil yun sa babae. Lately, he has been doing a lot of things that he is not accustomed to. Hirap talaga ito but kapag officially sila na ni Stacey, magbabago na lahat.
"Saan ka ba galing at sino ang kasama mo?" he asked sa paos niyang boses pero mas mababa na.
Stacey wondered if she should tell him.
"Honey?" may lakip na naman ng inis ang boses niya.
"I went out with my former boss." amin ng dalaga.
"Saan kayo nagpunta? At anong oras ka umuwi?" panghuhuli nito. He has his right hand clenched.
Kumunot ang noo ni Stacey. "What is this Derick? Interrogation?" she asked.
"Just answer me!" gigil na sabi nito.Hindi na nito napigilan ang sarili.
Stacey gasped then shook her head in disbelief. Derick is acting like a jealous boyfriend. "Must I remind you na hindi mo ako nobya . Just because you fuck me occasionally may karapatan ka ng umasta ng ganyan!" she said angrily.
With full force binato ni Nick ang telepono sa dingding.
"Fucking hell!!" malakas na mura nito,
Stacey frowned. She heard a loud crash then naputol ang linya.She tried calling him again but out of reach ang number nito. She just let out a sigh. Para kasil silang mag-nobyo na may lover's quarrel.
Come to think of it, ayaw naman niyang makipag-away dito. Hindi lang kasi siya sanay na tinatanong ng ganun.Hindi pa kasi siya nagkaka-nobyo. Mabait naman si Derick at malambing. Siguro sobrang bad trip lang ito kasi nga naman maghapon pala siyang tinatawagan.
She saw his 12 missed calls. She decided to just text him nang unattended pa din ang number nito.
To: Dee (Ito ang naka-register na pangalan ni Derick sa phone niya.)
Nag Ocean Park lang kami tapos we visited an art museum. We had an early dinner kaya past 6 na ako nakauwi. Aside from my mother, hindi ako sanay ng tinatanong ako kung saan ako galing . Pasensiya na.
She sent the message. Umupo ulit siya sa sofa then tried to think about their situation. She knows that sooner or later Derick will ask her again to be his girlfriend. May gusto ba siya talaga dito?
She closed her eyes and tried to imagine how she feels pag magkasama sila. After a few minutes she realized something.
May konti na siyang nararamdaman for him. Kaya siguro na-guilty din siya kanina ng tinarayan niya ito. Frankly, kahit ni-rape siya nito nung una, wala na siyang madama kahit konting galit. It was an honest mistake on his part. Maybe may kasalanan din siya. She has given him and God knows who else the impression na easy girl siya. Her performances on stage are suggestive. Sabi nga ni Derick, too sexy daw.
Maybe tama lang na tumigil na siya sa pagkanta. She will talk to Eve and Blake. Last performance na niya mamaya. Bigla niya tuloy naisip si Nick Alcantara. He is right na malaki ang utang na loob niya dito.S he can't imagine kung gaano kalala ang magiging impression sa kanya ng mga lalake kung nailabas ang June issue ng Not Eye Candy. Baka may iba pang mag-tangka na dukutin siya at pagsamantalahan.
Kinilabutan siya sa naisip.
She came back to reality when her phone started ringing .
"Eve?"
"Girlfriend! May problema tayo." sabi nito.
"Ano?" she asked.
"For some reason, ang drummer natin hindi daw makakarating. Tinawagan na ni Blake ang banda nila Joan. Sila na muna ang papalit sa atin." she said.
Lihim na napangiti si Stacey. At least tadhana na ang gumawa ng paraan para hindi siya kumanta ngayon.
"Okay lang." she said.
"Pero punta ka pa din dito. Labas tayo nila Blake after closing." Eve suggested.
Bigla niyang naalala ang sabi ni Nick sungit. Naisip naman niya na sa Lunes pa naman siya mag-uumpisa ng trabaho dito. She promised herself na ngayong na lang siya lalabas ng gabi. "Sure!" sang-ayon niya.
Ewan ni Stacey kung ano ang pumasok sa utak niya at parang kakaimbento lang ng alak kung uminom siya. They are still in Blake and Eve's bar pero dito pa lang nakakarami na siya.
I am just having fun. Sa Monday hindi na pwede ang ganito according to Mr.Sungit. She smiled to herself.
But at the back of her mind, parang nagrerebelde din siya. Kasi naman kanina pa niya tinext si Derick hindi pa ito nag-reply .Tinry niyang tawagan pero unattended pa din. Padabog na ibinaba niya ang telepono bago uminom ulit ng tequila.
"Girlfriend! Hinay-hinay.Aalis pa tayo." saway ni Eve.
Stacey just stuck out her tongue at her.
"Miss Hotness!" Blake called. She felt his warm and pleasant breath on her cheek.
Medyo nangiti namang tumayo si Eve matapos tapunan ng nanunuksong tingin ang dalawa.
"Kuha ko lang ng kape si Stacey. Baka hindi na umabot yan sa bar-hopping natin." she said bago umalis.
Humila ng upuan si Blake para tabihan siya. He has his right arm on the back of her seat. He leaned a little forward towards her.
"May problema ba Miss Hotness?" he asked while gazing at her pretty face.
She smiled at him. Medyo mapungay na ang mga mata niya.
He touched her hand on the table. "Lalake?" tanong nito.
She moistened her lips. Magsasalin pa sana siya ng alak but Blake stopped her.
"Tama na. Eve is right. Mukhang nakarami ka na. Wait here. Ibibilin ko na lang ang bar para maka-alis na tayo." he said. Bago tumayo, kinuha nito ang bote ng alak sa lamesa.
"Blake!" she complained.
Umiling lang ito then ruffled her hair bago umalis.
Sumimangot na lang siya. Padabog niyang kinuha ang cellphone niya sa lamesa.
Wala pa ding message from Derick.
I miss him! She sadly thought so she decided to text him again.
To: Dee
Nag-sorry na nga ako ano pa ba? Ang OA mo namang magalit! Nakailang tawag na ako sayo! Baka naman naka-call divert lang ang phone mo? Naiinis na ako! Pag hindi ka nagtext or call back in 2 minutes hindi na kita kakausapin!
Naiinis na ibinaba niya ulit ang telepono. Childish na siya kung childish! Basta namimiss niya si Derick!
Nakabalik na si Eve with her coffee pero wala pa din siyang natanggap na text.
"Girlfriend! Ubusin mo yang kape. Kukunin ko lang ang gamit ko sa dressing room tapos alis na tayo." she said.
Tumango lang siya. Dahil sa inis niya at sa epekto ng alak, naisip niyang itext ulit si Derick. Bahala na ito kung mababasa nito o hindi. Basta she wants to piss him off. Gustong-gusto niya itong makausap ulit pero parang dinededma talaga siya.
To: Dee
Last text ko na to! Kung ganyan ang gusto mo bahala ka! Basta nag-sorry na ako.Hindi na ako maghihintay sa text or tawag mo. Nasa labas ako kasama ko ang kaibigan ko at ang dati kong manliligaw. We are going to paint the town red. Hindi ko ibuburo ang sarili ko sa bahay!
P.S. Kung may wrong spelling sorry. Nakarami na ako ng tequila. =)
Gigil na sinend niya ang message niya. Gusto sana niyang i-off ang telepono but nagbago ang isip niya. Deep inside gusto pa din niyang hintayin ang text or tawag nito. Tignan niya lang if hindi ito mag-react sa message niya. Nadiskubre na niya na medyo seloso ito.
Kakatapos lang ni Nick kausapin sa landline ang inutusan nito para suhulan ang drummer ng banda nila Stacey. He smiled with satisfaction ng ibalita nito na hindi nga natuloy ang performance dahil sa wala ang drummer. He is ready to go to bed ng maalala nitong ipasok sa isa pang phone ang prepaid sim na gamit nito as Derick. Bukas papalitan nito ang binasag nitong telepono. Hindi na kasi talaga ito naka-pagtimpi. Nakatulong ang cold shower which he took pampakalma. Hindi nito gusto ang huling sinabi ni Stacey..."Must I remind you na hindi mo ako nobya . Just because you fuck me occasionally may karapatan ka ng umasta ng ganyan!"
He never wants her to use the F word to describe what they do together. He will call her. Kailangan nilang mag-usap ng maayos.
He heard his message tone. May tatlong ang dalaga. He opened them. Napangiti ito matapos mabasa ang unang message. He chuckled naman after reading the second one.
Na-imagine na nito ang expression ng magandang mukha ni Stacey habang galit na tinatype ang text. Naningkit ang mga mata nito and he cursed ng mabasa ang huling text from her.