49: The miserable Bastard

SAM'S POV

"This is the final boarding call for all passengers booked on flight 372A to Kansas City. Please proceed to gate 3 immediately. I repeat. This is the final boarding call for flight 372A. Thank you."

When again, I heard that announcement mula rito sa may private landing area, my scalps instantly prickled. Now feeling more impatient habang kibit ang mga balikat na naghihintay sa kanya. I was here for almost half an hour now pero hanggang ngayon, hindi parin ito dumarating! That shit!

"Be at the airport at exactly 5:30 in the morning tomorrow..."

When his words from last night echoed in my head, 'di ko mapigilang mapamura ng bongga.

That shit! Pinapunta pa talaga ako ng maaga when until now, hindi parin ito dumarating! I had even woke up earlier than 5:30 and now, malalaman ko nalang na mahuhuli ito.

That bastard!

With bared teeth, I glanced down at my wristwatch again for the nth time then I groaned when I saw he was indeed late today. The sun was starting to rise up at the east side at mga ilang sandali na lamang, tuluyan na talaga itong lalabas at magsasabog ng liwanag sa kalangitan.

I blew out a deep breath when I felt my backpack on my back seems starting to get heavy habang tumatagal. I chose to bring this black mountain bag with me, just enough for this trip. Jackets, shirts, comfy shorts and undergarments. I'm sure Bukidnon would be so hot by now dahil nagsisimula na ang summer time ngayon.

Maybe 2days would be enough for us para mahanap at makausap man lang sandali si Mr. Ganzan. The trusted driver.

Hmm... I just hope so. Dahil tiyak hindi ito magugustuhan ni Mr. Del Fuero kapag malalayo ito ng matagal sa kompanya nito.

Blowing another deep breath, my hands kept tapping on my other arm while gritting my teeth.

Mas maganda sana kung kanina pa kami nagsimulang bumiyahe so that we can get there earlier than what was being planned.. at nang mahanap ko narin agad ang Domingo Ganzan na 'yon. But as stupid as that bastard, parang ginagago lang talaga nya'ko.

Well, with Domingo Ganzan's complete profile that Al had emailed to me last night, pwede ko namang iwan nalang ang taong 'yon and just find that driver------

My thoughts were suddenly interrupted when a sudden roaring sound of an approaching helicopter sounded off in the background.

Turning to that direction, I frowned when I was greeted with a flying white chopper na pababa pa lamang malapit sa kinatatayuan ko as the cold morning wind started to whirl around me.

And who could be in that chopper right now-----

Again, I stopped with my thoughts as my eyes slowly widened in recognition when some familiar head peeked through the window of that chopper saka nakangising nakatingin sa'kin while waving his hand at me.

Holy shit! Is that--- Mason? The same pilot Mason Corteza in Canada?

Nanatili lang akong nakamasid sa kalalanding pa lamang na puting chopper with surprised look in my face.

Then mga ilang sandali lang, came out a grinning Mason sa likurang upuan ng chopper saka agad ng lumapit sa direksyon ko.

Oh yeah shit. So I wasn't just seeing things now dahil nandito nga ito. But if Mason was riding at the backseat, then sino naman kaya ang nagpapalipad nito ngayon---

Hindi ko na natapos ang iba ko pang iniisip when the very bastard I was cursing out in my mind came out from the front seat after taking off the headphone from his ear.

Oh yes, Of course. This bastard had piloted his own chopper this time. I guess I should expect the unexpected from this man from now on dahil kahit gaano pa ka kuripot nito, He was still wise enough to buy something such high end aerial means of transportation like this chopper and that airplane last time.

Wise indeed for an easy flight.

Pero kahit na gaano pa kasarap sa mata ang chopper na'to, his outfit just really made me ignore that now. Just wearing this pristine white shirt that emphasizes his muscled chest and paired with a gray trousers with a black cap on his head.

Holy yogurt! Ba't parang naglalaway na'ko ngayon just looking at him now?

I felt like my impatience was gone in a second at the sight of him.

For goodness sake! I didn't know he could be this luscious kapag nagsuot ito ng ganito!

No, Sam. You had seen him half naked before and you know he was more luscious wearing nothing than with clothes. Am I right or absolutely Right?

When my maniac mind commented that, I can't help but swallowed the salivas that I didn't know was threatening to fall off from my mouth now.

"Hello, Samantha! We've met again! Kumusta kana?"

That pulled me out from my lustful thoughts and made me looked at Mason's way nang bigla niyang itanong 'yon. I didn't even notice na nasa harapan ko na pala ito, smiling at me while holding out his hand for a handshake.

Pull your act together, Sam! You're making it obvious na pinagnanasaan mo na naman ang gagong yon!

Agad ko ng iwinaksi sa isipan ko yon and just tried so hard to divert my eyes from the tempting bastard.

"Yeah. Hi, Mason! Okay lang ako and I hope you too because the last time I checked, you surely are not." Tanging saad ko na lamang sabay tanggap sa kamay nito while trying to act like I wasn't affected with some bastard na kasama nito.

"Ahuh. You're right. Hindi nga'ko okay the last time but I'm fine now. Suuuper fine!" He cheerfully answered with emphasis in the 'SUPER' part while firmly shaking my hand na siyang ikinangiti ko. Happy to see him looking all fine now.

"Parang ang saya natin ngayon ah. Did something good happened to you kaya nagkakaganito ka ngayon, Mason?"

"Ahuh! More than good had happened to me, Samantha!" Bibong sagot nito while still shaking my hands out of utter happiness. "I'm a dad now, Sam! I'm------"

Bigla na lamang itong napatigil nang may bigla na lamang tumampal sa kamay niyang nakahawak sa'kin which caused him to let go of my hand. That action made our head to snap to the owner of that darn hand. Then a scowling Mr. Del Fuero greeted us, eyes throwing our hand a disapproval glare.

"Cam! Ano ba naman yan!" Reklamo agad ni Mason sa kanya while pouting his lips like a child.

"Nag-uusap pa kami ni Sam!"

"Enough with that handshake now! Aalis na tayo and you two was just wasting my time!"

"But---"

"Ally doesn't even want anything from you para sa anak niya but here you are, stupidly assuming now na anak mo nga 'yong batang yon. Kailangan na nating umalis ngayon. Get on now, Ms. Javier!" Mariing putol pa nito sa kaibigan nya who had pouted more. Then with that, agad na itong tumalikod with his hand signaling us to follow him to the chopper.

Pagkarinig sa sinabi niyang 'yon, I didn't followed him and just turned to Mason na kasalukuyang nakasimangot parin while glaring at Mr. Del Fuero's rigid back.

"Anak? And who's that Ally? Anong ibig niyang sabihin, Mason? Tama ba 'yong narinig ko that you're already a dad now?" Usisa ko dito which caused him to smile again, happiness was glinting in his eyes

"Ahuh.. You heard me well, Sam. Remember that woman na nakita natin sa Canada? At the beach?"

I quickly nodded at him nang maalala ang babaeng 'yon na siyang dahilan ng paglalasing nito imbes na itour ako. Agad ng ikinuwento nito sa'kin kung bakit sobrang saya nito ngayon, telling me that that little girl na kasama ng babae sa beach that same day was actually his daughter. He hadn't known it till last week na nadiskubre niya mismo ito when he had a deep talk with Ally.

With his face kept brightening up everytime na nasasali sa usapan ang mag-ina nito, I know he was so happy now.

And I'm happy for him too. Ngiting-ngiti lang talaga ito ngayon, dahilan para mapangiti na rin ako rito as his smile was contagious.

"Then that's a good news then, Mason. I'm happy for you and----"

"Ano? Are you two just going to stand there o gusto niyong iwan ko na lang kayo rito?"

When we heard that shout from the annoyed Mr. Del Fuero's na nasa loob na ng chopper, agad na kaming tumalima before he would really leave us here.

This time, Mason will be the one to pilot the chopper kaya naman ngayon, I have no choice but to seat beside Mr. Del Fuero at the back seat. There are only three passenger seats at the back part kaya naman mas minabuti kong umupo sa pinakagilid na upuan malapit sa bintana as Mr. Del Fuero took the other seat malapit sa kabilang bintana. I made sure to put my bag at the floor before I settled on my seat.

"Plug in your headphone now, Sam. We're going to fly now."

When I heard Mason said that, agad ko ng isinuot ang headphone ko and then heaved in a deep breath when the chopper had started to take off now, trying to settle myself on my seat habang nanatili lang tahimik ang gago sa kabilang upuan.

Mas mabuti na'to kaysa naman katabi ko pa ito because I don't think I would last longer kapag katabi ko lang ito. Lalo na't ang bango nito ngayon, smells like heaven in my nose, tiyak tigok ako nun before we'd even reach our destination.

I just remainedd silent in my seat habang nanatili lang na nakamasid sa labas.

"By the way, Ms. Javier, why are you following that old man last night? Do you know him?"

That made me turned to him when I heard him asked that. Kahit na masyadong maingay ang tunog ng makina, I could still clearly hear him right now with the help of the headphone.

"He was the one na gustong bumili ng lumang bahay namin" Tanging sagot ko dito sabay lingon uli sa labas ng bintana sa tabi ko.

"And why are you following him then kung ganun? Are you spying on him for a loan purposes?"

Di ko mapigilang mapatingin ng matalim dito when he'd asked that.

"Ano ako? CI ng isang pautangan ng pera para gawin 'yon, Mr. Del Fuero? I have my own reason kung bakit ko 'yon ginawa at hindi mo na kailangan pang malaman 'yon. I'm going to take a nap now. Don't talk to me till we get there." Then with that, I quickly leaned my head on the window beside me with closed eyes. Ignoring his penetrating glare that he was throwing at me right now dahil sa pang-iignore ko dito..

Kailangan ko lang piliting ipikit ang mga mata ko ngayon dahil inaantok pa'ko and add to the fact that I think I'd drool all over him anumang oras kapag hindi ko pa ipipikit tong makasalanang mga mata ko.

Good Lord. I didn't know he would be a great tempt kapag nagbihis lang ng ganito!

For a few minutes, I just stayed like that with my heart just kept bloody thudding at a fast rate! Shit! Ba't ko ba nararamdaman to??!

Isinubsub ko nalang ang mukha ko sa may bintana, wanted to sleep kahit na parang puputok na'tong dibdib ko ngayon dahil sa lakas ng tibok nito ngayon.

Bloody heart!

I could still feel him still glaring at me pero mga ilang sandali lang, I heard him groaned and grumbled some incoherent words. Something like 'bangungutin ka sana!'.

I just smirked secretly at that saka hindi na ito pinansin and just snuggled myself more at the window, now more determined to take a nap.

~~~~~~~~~~~

CAMERON'S POV

Halos isang oras na kaming nasa ere ngayon but still, hindi parin kami nakakarating.

The more we get closed to our destination, the more trees, mountains and green field had appeared below us while the temperature around us had started to drop down in a cold level kahit tirik na tirik na ang araw.

Mason had been silent sa halos buong byahe as he was so immersed with his thoughts about his daughter. Marie Alliah.

A name that was for sure named after Mason and his ex-girlfriend Ally. No doubt.

Alam kong lumilipad sa malayo ang isipan nito ngayon, probably planning with everything he had to do after he'd take us from our destination.

Hindi ko talaga alam ang kwento ng dalawa but one thing I was sure with, hindi maganda ang naging hiwalayan ng dalawa four years ago and Mason won't just let Ally to leave now without talking things up. And I hope they'd be able to settle this matter nang tuluyan ng sumaya ang gagong ito.

Mason was a great womanizer himself pero tiyak naman akong magagawa nitong itigil ang bisyo na'yon now that he had a daughter. I know he will.

Napapangiti na lamang ako while glancing at him, maneuvering the chopper with a small smile on the side of his mouth.

He was excited. And I have never seen him like this before until today. Hindi ko mapigilang mapaisip rin if I will ever get experience being happy as well.

Dahil sa mga nangyayari sa buhay ko, I don't think I could still find the reason to be happy----

I was suddenly interrupted when a loud snore came off from beside me.

I glanced down at the woman na sarap na sarap ang tulog habang kanina pa nakasandal ang ulo nito sa balikat ko. If I haven't mentioned yet, this darn woman was enjoying her her sleep right now habang ako rito, kanina pa hindi makagalaw ng maayos at nangangawit na'tong balikat ko with her head kept snuggling on me. Snuggling like a baby.

I don't know kung anong nakain ko but when we experienced a short turbulence earlier habang tulog na tulog pa rin ito, I quickly caught her head bago pa man may mangyari dito. The action that put me in this dire situation now.

I groaned in disapproval when again, narinig ko na naman itong humilik.

Probably not having enough sleep last night. Yan kasi, if he hadn't followed that man last night at titigan nalang mula sa malayo ang Enriquez na'yon, then she would've gotten the sleep that she needed last night.

Napapailing-iling na lamang ako while looking at her.

I've been busy these past few days dahil sa mga kailangan kong asikasuhin sa kompanya, reassuring the board na hindi maaapektuhan ang kompanya sa kung anumang isyung kinakaharap namin ngayon. Issue that related to this woman beside me. And it surprises me when I saw her last night at the same restaurant na pinili ko to talk with one of my investor.

Ms. Delailah Russeau. Isang Foreign investor from US that had luckily chose to entrust her investments in my company.

And seeing her with Enriquez last night, hindi ko alam kung bakit gusto kong upakan ang taong 'yon.

Talagang gusto nitong gamitin si Ms. Javier laban sa'kin. And as stubborn as this woman beside me, talagang nakipagkita pa talaga ito sa tarantadong yon!

This witch!

With disapproval glare at her, I just continued staring at her with her face just a mere inches away from my own.

I have seen and even heard her laugh before and this time, I got to study her face na ganito lang kalapit ngayon. Just peacefully sleeping against me.

Gone was the creased line on her forehead that she always wore kapag magkasama kami. Na para bang palagi itong may malalim na iniisip.

"Hmmmm...." She moaned while snuggling up more on me, causing me to be more stiff on my seat habang pigil ang hininga at tiim lamang ang mga bagang.

Damn with this woman! Wala na talaga itong ibang ginagawa sa'kin kundi pahirapan ako!

I wanted to push her head off of me pero ayoko namang magising ito. She seems she was enjoying her sleep right now so who am I to deprive her with that?

I'm certain she would just freak out later kapag nalaman nito kung anong ginagawa niya sa'kin ngayon.

Making me just stupidly stare at her habang tulog na tulog ito.

Her hair was in her usual ponytail with not even a tinge of make up in her face. I bet she hadn't any makeup in her bag right now. Baril siguro, meron.

At the thought of that, I suddenly remember her gun na kinuha ko mula rito noon. I'm sure she was itching to hold that again.

I can't resist but shook my head with that thought.

I just kept staring at her for a while kahit namamanhid na itong balikat ko. And then when my eyes moved down to her slightly opened mouth, bigla na lamang akong napatigil as my breathing stupidly doing the same.

Suddenly reminded with the kiss we had sa labas ng building ni Max.

The kiss...

Kahit ilang araw na ang nakakalipas, I could still remember how it felt. Her lips that for sure knows how to kiss.

I suddenly swallowed hard nang maisipan yon.

Damn it, Cameron! Anong ginagawa mo! stop staring at her now! Pinapahirapan mo lang ang sarili mo!

With great difficulty, I tried so hard to divert my gaze from her lips, pero mga ilang sandali lang, I let out a tormented groan again nang mas lalo pa nitong isubsob ang mukha nito palapit sa'kin. Now snuggling herself on my chest, dahilan para mapatigil pa lalo ang paghinga ko as I gritted my teeth so hard.

For goodness sake! Ano bang ginagawa ng babaeng 'to!

This isn't right! And jesus Christ! She will make me go insane kapag hindi ko pa nailalayo ang sarili ko sa kanya

With bared teeth, I slowly lifted my free hand saka hinay-hinay na itinulak ang ulo nito palayo sa mukha ko, afraid to wake her up kapag itinulak ko agad ito.

She just kept snoring loudly kahit itinutulak ko na ang ulo nito papunta sa may bintana, oblivious with my poor state!

She really have the gal to snore now habang ako, my dumb heart was almost ready to explode with how it was beating at an insanely fast rate! Goddammit!

She could really be the early death of me!

Ipinagputoy ko lang ang ginagawa ko, just carefully pushing her head off of me.

"Ba't di mo nalang muna hayaang matulog si Samantha, Del Fuero? You know it's not good to disturb someone's sleep.

My glare was snapped to Mason nang bigla na lamang niyang sinabi 'yon without even looking at my way.

"Shut up, Corteza! Hindi mo alam kung anong pinagdadaanan ko ngayon dito so shut up."

"Ow? Pinagdadaanan? Ano naman kaya 'yon, Cameron? Is it something 'hard' because if it was, tsk, tsk, tsk.... Patay ka diyan!" And then with that, agad na itong tumawa, annoying the hell out of me.

"Shut the fuck up, Corteza!!" I hissed with low voice, not wanted to wake up this sleeping witch against me.

Mas lalo pa'kong nainis when he just chuckled more, Obviously enjoying my state.

"Come on, Del Fuero. Aminin mo nalang kasi na tama ako. Kahit ikaila mo pa ito, I know you're dying to hold her in your arms now. I bet you are even imagining kissing her now like how you two had kissed before in the news. I know you so well, Del Fuero! Hindi mo'ko maloloko. Your face and your eyes just says it all!"

"I wasn't doing such things!"

When the idiot just shook his head habang natatawa pa rin, mas lalo pang uminit ang ulo ko dahil dito.

I could really murder this idiot now!

"Oh whatever! Wala namang mawawala sa'yo kung aaminin mo lang sa sarili mo that you are starting to like her now. She's lovely and you could say she was so different from any other woman you've been with before, but that's just what it made her unique so I can really understand why you'd like her."

"I am not!"

When I growled that, he just shrugged his shoulder saka nagpatuloy, ignoring my murderous glare at him.

"I have seen the news about you two, Del Fuero and I can see myself on you nung hindi ko pa maamin sa sarili ko that I was starting to fall on Ally before."

I frowned nang bigla na lamang nag-iba ang tono ng boses nito. As if he was looking back at the time when he just kept pushing Ally away from him kahit na halata namang may gusto ito rito.

And I myself witnessed that. At ngayon, could it really be possible that I was experiencing the same situation as him before?

"You can fool yourself but you can't fool us, Del Fuero. I know you're starting to soften with her now."

"I am not.." giit ko pa rito, not wanted to even consider his opinion.

"If you say so... Hindi ka naman agad sasama sa trip na'to just because this could be something na makakatulong sa'yo. Alam kong gusto mo lang samahan siya because you're afraid that she could get herself into trouble kapag mag-isa lang siyang aalis. Don't even try to deny that now. I know you."

"Sabi ng hindi!"

"Owss.... Pustahan pa tayo! Alam kong hindi kana halos makahinga ng maayos diyan dahil sa bilis ng tibok ng puso mo ngayon! Ano? Tama ako--- hindi ba? Or tamang-tama?" Pang-aasar pa nito while playfully waggling his brows at me habang nakangisi ito, making me want to beat him up now.

Pero dahil sa sitwasyon ko ngayon, wala akong ibang magawa but just muttered a curse out because a certain snoring woman named SAMANTHA-JAVIER-na-wala-man-lang-malay-sa-mga-nangyayari-ngayon was keeping me from punching Mason's face now!

Goddammit! I could really murder him for this!

"Mason Corteza...." I warned with voice slow and full of threat.

The idiot just shook his head habang tawang-tawa parin. Clearly enjoying this moment.

"Wag mo nalang kasing pigilan kung ano man 'yang nararamdaman mo. Mahihirapan ka lang niyang lalo. And besides, wala namang mawawala sa'yo if you'll just try."..

"No. Never."

"Ikaw rin, baka magaya ka sa'kin, magsisisi sa huli dahil sa lintik na pride na'yan.."

I can sense regrets in his voice right now. Probably regretting what he had done to Ally before dahil sa pangtataboy nito noon sa babae. And He didn't laugh this time and just give me a knowing smirk while shaking his head, na para bang hindi ito naniniwala sa'kin and I should just watch for it until it hit me.

"Wag mo'kong itulad sa'yo, Mason. Dahil ako, hinding-hindi yon mangyayari sa'kin kahit na----"

"Yan din ang sinabi ko noon sainyo, Cam. Same words that I really thought would never happen to me dahil hindi ko pa naranasang mainlove sa isang babae noon.. And then when Ally appeared in the equation.. Everything became different. Everything change..."

His voice suddenly became serious and full of regrets.

All I could do was just listened to him intently, not because I was going to listen to his stupid advises about the non-existent thing called love pero dahil wala naman talagang ganun. A love of parents and friends siguro.

But loving a woman? A woman like Samantha Javier?

At that thought, my gaze moved back to the sleeping woman na nasa tabi ko. I couldn't help but shook my head

I don't think so. She's a woman who doesn't even know how to smile at me at parang laging galit sa lahat.. so no. That would be very impossible to happen.

"When she appeared, I panicked kaya naman nagawa kong itaboy ito noon palayo sa buhay ko because I thought love really doesn't exist and women are created just to please us, but no Cam. Fucking No. I was just too scared to admit it that love does exist and that I was falling for her. Hard." Pagpapatuloy pa nito, amusement in his voice was completely gone now.

"Because karma does exist, Mason. That's the real point. Kung hindi mo lang sana tinatrato na parang mga laruan mo lang ang mga babae noon, then you wouldn't have been tied up with a huge responsibility like raising a daughter now."

A disapproval growl escaped from him the instant I uttered that as he glared at me.

"Inggit ka lang kasi may anak na'ko ngayon and you don't have.."

My brow instantly quurked up when he answered that, as if I envied him for having a daughter now and maybe his own family soon.

"Wala akong planong mag-asawa at mas lalong magkaanak man lang, Corteza. So don't even think na maiinggit ako sa'yo."

"Huh! Tignan nalang natin kung hindi mo lang kakainin lahat ng sinasabi mo ngayon until it hits you, del Fuero... Until Samantha would find a man na tiyak ikakabaliw mo---"

"No worries. I shouldn't watch out for it because that would never gonna happen anyway." Agad na putol ko sa iba pa nitong sasabihin, not wanted to hear any nonsense from him.

He just chuckled and just shook his head.

"Let's just see, Del Fuero... Let's just see...."

Hindi na'ko umimik dito, tired to even convince him na hinding-hindi yon mangyayari sa'kin kung anuman yong nangyari sa kanya noon. Falling inlove to a woman he thought he would never even be interested with.

Napapailing-iling na lamang ako as I glanced down again at the still asleep woman beside me.

Hinding-hindi yan mangyayari sa'kin.. at kahit ilang lalaki pa ang kasama nito, I would never feel anything... Not ever.

~~~~~~~~