#CTG30 Chapter 30

"So... do you need anything right now?" Iñigo asked.

My lips were parted. Shit... Did I really just do it?! Did I ask him to be my fucking slave?! Why did I use the term slaveanyway? Kasalanan 'to ni Lui! He made the word buddysound so... dirty!

"Cha?" ulit niya.

Pasimple kong kinurot ang palad ko. "Wala," mabilis kong sagot. I suddenly felt cold as I was only wearing my pajamas and it's still so early. "Sige..." sabi ko sabay talikod.

Mabilis akong naglakad. Shit, Cha! Did you really just do it? Did you ask Iñigo to be your slave? And did he just agree?!

"So, how will this work? Itetext mo ba ako? O may call time ba ako?" tanong niya na parang may tono ng panunukso. "May written contract ba 'to o binding na 'yung verbal agreement?"

I pursed my lips and gritted my teeth.

"Later," I dismissively said. I needed coffee. I needed caffeine. I needed to ponder over what I did today!

Akala ko ay makaka-takas na ako pero naramdaman ko na lang na naglalakad na siya kasabay ko. "Do we discuss the provisions or will this be a contract of adhesion?"

My God, I needed coffee. Less than 10 minutes of talking with Iñigo and my headache was back. This really was a bad decision on my part. I partly blame Lui for putting such idea in my head. And that couple for pushing me over the edge.

"You draft the contract," I said. "And we'll discuss it."

"Nah, you draft it."

"No, you do it."

Sabay kaming huminto sa paglalakad at tumingin sa isa't-isa.

"Contra proferentem," he said, looking at me, his brow slightly arched. "Where a promise, agreement or is , the preferred meaning should be the one that works against the interests of the party who provided the wording."

I rolled my eyes. "Fine, I'll draft it! Nakaka-hiya naman sa akin na nagrereview."

Bahagya siyang tumawa. "Joke lang," sabi niya na naka-ngiti. "I'll draft it... Para saan pa na slave mo ako," he said, using air quotations as he said the word slave.

I begged myself not to roll my eyes, but the force was just so strong. Kaya naman inirapan ko siya bago ako tumalikod at nagpa-tuloy sa paglalakad. I walked faster this time, really wanting to get away from him and to go back to my condo and catch a power nap bago pumunta sa review center.

"Yun pa rin ang number ko!" rinig kong malakas na sabi niya. "Text me if you need anything!"

Mabilis akong bumalik sa condo ko. I tried to sleep, but sleep eluded me! I gave up and just made myself a strong cup of coffee and took a half-bath. Pagdating ko sa review center, bigla akong nainis nang makita ko iyong mukha ni Lui. He's the reason behind this! Friends with benefits my ass! As if I could ask Iñigo to be that! Hindi pa naman ako nababaliw!

Thankfully, dumating na iyong lecturer namin kaya naman naging busy na ako. The whole day, I was so engaged with reviewing that when I returned to my condo, agad akong naka-tulog. Nagising lang ako nang marinig kong nagriring iyong telephone. Half-asleep, I answered it.

"Good evening, Ms. Viste," greeted the receptionist. "Someone's here asking for you, though he's not included in your visitor list."

Wala naman akong visitor list—ah, wait. Si Jax. And Rory. But mostly Jax only since hindi naman lumalabas na ng unit niya si Rory.

"Iñigo?" I asked. She said yes. "It's okay."

I quickly looked around and realized that my unit's clean. Hindi din naman kasi ako makakapag-aral kung makalat... although Iñigo might think I was losing my mind dahil puro papel ang naka-dikit sa pader ng unit ko. But it's good, though. Kabisado ko na lahat ng provisions na naka-sulat. Iyan ba naman ang makita mo paggising mo at bago ka matulog, ewan ko na lang kung hindi mo pa makabisado.

Mabilis akong nagpalit ng t-shirt dahil suot ko pa iyong polo-shirt na bigay ng review center. I didn't bother with my hair because it's short... and with my face because why even? It's not as if I was gonna 'seduce' Iñigo.

Hindi kami friends with benefits.

That ship has long sailed.

"Okay," I uttered to myself when I heard knocks on the door. "Just please be calm, Charisse Faith," muli kong sabi bago naglakad palapit sa pinto at buksan iyon.

Upon opening the door, I saw Iñigo who was wearing black denim pants and white polo shirt with SCA's logo. Galing siya sa school. His bag's even strapped on his shoulder. He looked different compared to when he's wearing black slacks and long sleeves. Mukha siyang college boy ngayon.

"Don't know if it's a part of the slave—"

"Shut it with the word slave," I cut him off.

"Ikaw ang gumamit."

"Just shut it."

There was an amused look on his face. "Fine," sabi niya. "May dala akong pagkain."

I looked at the paper bag he was holding. "Is that—"

"Pares, yup," sagot niya.

I pursed my lips as I opened the door wider. "Wala akong kanin."

"May dala akong bigas."

"Bigas?"

"May rice cooker ka naman siguro, no?" tanong niya sa akin.

"Wait, may dala kang bigas?"

He was walking like he owned the unit. What the hell was happening? Just yesterday, hindi kami nag-uusap... And now, may dala na siyang bigas sa unit ko?

"Well, I figured that if this is gonna be until Bar's over, might as well na bigas ang dalhin ko. Ang mahal ng cup ng rice sa labas," sabi niya. "Nasaan rice cooker mo?"

My whole face was really confused. I was confused.

"Wala kang rice cooker?"

"Meron..." I replied as I opened the cabinet that contained the rice cooker that I barely use lately dahil palagi lang naman akong nasa review center.

"Okay. Sandali lang naman 'to. Habang hinihintay natin maluto, discuss natin 'yung contract," he said as he was putting rice in the rice cooker and washing it with water. God, I was so confused! Bakit nagsasaing dito si Iñigo? Did he take the word slave way too literally? I didn't mean it that way! I just needed him to occasionally get me reviewers or food if hindi ako makabili... Not this! Hindi niya ako kailangang ipagsaing ng bigas.

Hindi ako makapagsalita sa bilis ng pangyayari. One second, he's here with rice and now, meron ng mga papel na naka-latag sa maliit kong dining table.

"This is a pretty basic contract," he said, giving me my copies. "Hindi ko alam kung ano ang ibig mong sabihin sa salitang slave—"

"Well, you defined it pretty well here," sabi ko habang mabilis na binabasa iyong sinulat niya. "What the fuck is this?!" pagtataas ng boses ko nang makita ko na nilagay niya ang 'someone who is at beck and call of Charisse Faith Viste to satisfy her physical, mental, emotional, psychological, and carnal needs.'

"Alin d'yan?" inosente niyang tanong.

"Carnal needs?!"

"Well, I need to be thorough," he said, shrugging. "We can just strike that if—"

"Strike that off!"

He shrugged. "Fine," sabi niya at ginuhitan iyong salita na iyon. "Shall we continue?"

Napa-hugot ako ng malalim na hininga habang binabasa iyong ibang naka-sulat sa contract. Iñigo's face was serious, but I knew that he's having the time of his life watching my forehead crease from annoyance.

"This is..." I trailed. "I'll draft the contract."

Tumawa siya. "What? Valid naman 'yan! Wala namang against public policy—"

"Well, against public morality!" sagot ko.

"Aling part?"

I closed my eyes and drew a deep breath. "I'll just make a new one and send it to you," sagot ko sa kanya bago ibinalik iyong contract na ginawa niya. Seriously! He's making my head ache!

Tumayo ako at naupo sa sofa. Iñigo stood up and followed me.

"What do you need?" tanong niya.

"Silence."

He zipped his mouth and showed me a thumbs up. I rolled my eyes. Ever so annoying. I hated that I'd rather be annoyed and have him here than to wonder what he's up to.

I laid my head against the headrest of the sofa. Nagising na lang ako nang marinig kong tinatawag ni Iñigo ang pangalan ko. I woke up and saw his face too close to mine... Damn him. Why was he so unapologetically attractive?

"Ayoko sanang gisingin ka, pero hindi ka pa nagdidinner," sabi niya. Napa-tingin ako sa lamesa. Nandun na iyong niluto niyang kanin pati iyong pares. Meron na ring malamig na tubig galing sa ref at mga baso.

I salivated when I saw the pares kaya hindi na ako umarte at pumunta na doon. Tahimik akong kumain.

"What?" I asked when I noticed that Iñigo was watching me.

"Nothing," he said, shaking his head.

"Yung sa contract," sabi ko. "I wasn't serious. You don't have to be my BAR buddy."

"Okay lang naman," sagot niya.

"No, I was just—"

"It's fine," he said, cutting me off. "I need the distraction, anyway," he said, smiling sadly. I wanted to ask him, but I stopped myself with every fiber of restraint in my body. Ayokong magtanong... baka mali ang magawa ko... I didn't want to ask him such questions and just end up walking away again. He was right—that shit hurt. I didn't want to do that to him again. I didn't want to ask unless I was certain that I'd stay after hearing the answer, whatever it may be.

"Okay," I replied.

"Ano ba'ng kailangan mo?" tanong niya.

I shrugged. "Di ko alam..."

"Do you need me to bring you breakfast? Lunch? Dinner?"

"Hindi naman..."

"Reviewer?"

"Meron sa review center."

"So, bakit mo kailangan ako maging buddy?"

I looked at him.

Naisip ko na naman si Lui.

Marahas kong iniling ang ulo ko.

"Sabihin ko kapag may naisip akong kailangan ko."

He nodded. "Okay," sagot niya. "Sa hotel ka rin ba sa Nov?"

I nodded. "Yeah."

"May roommate ka?" Umiling ako. "Ano'ng notes gusto mo?"

"Wala."

"Dalhan kita nung blue tips. Last BAR, 78% nung tanong sa remedial and halos lahat, nandun sa LMT," he said.

I nodded. "Okay."

"Ano'ng pagkain gusto mo sa BAR?"

"Kahit ano."

"Gamot?"

"Kung ano lang usual," I answered. "And tissue pala."

He nodded. "Okay. Gusto mo ba hintayin kita after ng exam?"

I looked at him. "Bipolar ka ba?"

Kumunot ang noo niya. "What?"

"Nung isang araw lang hindi tayo nag-uusap, tapos biglang ganyan ka. May ibang personality ka ba?"

He pursed his lips. He's hiding something. Again.

"Don't answer," sagot ko. I really shouldn't ask such questions. "And no, 'wag mo na akong hintayin."

He nodded. "Okay."

Muli kaming nabalot ng katahimikan. We silently finished our meals. He volunteered to wash the dishes, but I defeated him against that. Hindi naman sobrang kapal ng mukha ko. Siya na nga nagdala ng ulam at nagsaing, siya pa ang maghuhugas ng plato?

"Cha," he said while I was in the middle of washing the glasses. "Why did you really ask for me?"

"Because you owe me," I safely answered.

"After 3 years?"

"An obligation is an obligation."

"Fine... If you say so... But I can't help you if I don't know where to help you."

Patuloy akong naghugas ng plato.

But I could feel his stares on my back.

He's staring.

Damn him.

Again.

"People said... that I should relax," I said barely audibly. "And I guess I can only relax when you're around," I whispered to myself.