Utos Niya

32 HIS ANGER

Everyone started to talk at once. They were chatting excitedly among each other. Natutuwang niyakap ng accountant ng production si Michelle at sinabing ang laki-laki ng matitipid nila sa project na ito. Si Michelle naman, sa laking gulat ni Cruz ay nakangiti rin na para bang hindi malungkot kanina. Isa itong klase ng ngiti na parang nagtagumpay sa isang misyon. And to his disbelief, nakita niya ang pasikretong pagtapik ni Noleen sa balikat nito.

Naisahan siya. Ang lakas ng kutob niyang naisahan siya! Ahh, shit! She manipulated him!

Babawiin niya na sana kaso may bigla siyang naalala. She would stay in the hotel for the duration of filming. Hindi niya na kailangan pang mag-alala. Wala na siyang kailangan pang ikabahala. She would now be under his watch. He grinned at the thought.

Biglang bumaling si Noleen kay Cruz. To his amazement, she smiled at him, which made his heart skip a beat. Mga wala pang dalawang segundo, nawala rin ang ngiting 'yon, but he saw it. And because of that brief smile, Cruz thought that losing millions of money was worth it. Dahil ang ngiting 'yon ay para sa kanya lang.

Binigyan ni Cruz si Noleen ng makahulugang tingin at isang tango. Napataas ang kilay nito pero napilitan ding lumapit sa kanya.

Itinaas ni Cruz ang kamay sa direksyon ni Noleen. Nawiwirduhang umatras ang babae. "Anong gagawin mo?"

"Let's seal this deal with a handshake," he politely suggested.

"No," mabilis na sagot ni Noleen sabay pinanlakihan ng mga mata si Cruz.

Cruz felt a sharp pain in his chest. Hindi man lang siya nito gustong hawakan. "Ginagawa talaga 'to sa mga business dealings," paliwanag niya. He tried to act like his normal self. He schooled his features in a business-like manner and formally explained. "Dahil wala pa ang official written contract, this will serve as the signature of our agreement." Sumulyap siya sa tagiliran ni Noleen. "At sila ang magiging witness."

Noleen rolled her eyes at him. Pero sinunod naman nito ang sinabi niya, kaso, sa ibang paraan. She just tapped the tip of her fingers against his palm. Ni hindi pa siya nakakakurap, tapos na. Para siya nitong pinandidirihan.

Ibang klase talaga.

He shook his head. "Do it again."

"As you wish." Muling tinapik ni Noleen ang palad ni Cruz gamit ang dulo ng mga daliri, but with more force this time.

Katulad nang nauna, wala pang isang segundo na naglapat ang mga balat nila. "Hindi ito oras para maglaro ng 'sawsaw suka', Miss." Cruz sounded like he was talking with an eight year old. "Again, Miss Noleen."

He was now grinning and Noleen wished she could slap it off his face.

"Do it properly this time para 'di tayo magmukhang katawa-tawa." Cruz knew he was playing with fire, pero 'di niya mapigilan ang sarili na gumanti sa ganitong paraan.

Napasinghap si Noleen. Disbelief and fury were evident in her face.

How dare he?!

To humiliate her in front of her co-workers was unforgivable! Kumukulo na nga ang dugo niya mula pa kagabi. She was so mad at Xander, at her perfect self, and now at this crazy guy to the point of violence. Sa pagkakataong ito, malakas niyang hinampas ang kamay ng binata palayo.

Rinig ang lagapak ng pagtama ng palad niya sa balat nito.

Cruz didn't see that coming. He sucked in a breath as he felt the sting in his wrist.

"Does that count?" Noleen haughtily asked him.

Nursing his pride, he bit out. "That was not a handshake, that was a hand slap!"