Love For Sale Book 1 (Self-published)

CH 11: Art of Keeping Up Disappearances

Napatingin ako kay Barry dahil sa sinabi n'ya. Hindi ko kasi alam kung nagbibiro ba s'ya o ano kaya hindi ko rin malaman kung anong reaksyon ba dapat ang ipakita ko. He looked serious though that my brow actually arched higher than it should.

He glanced my way, found me looking at him, and smiled.

"No reaction? That's a first," he said.

"Hindi mo talaga ako, hihindian, eh, 'no?" I sarcastically remarked. "As if I find you that attractive or that sexually desirable to abandon all goals in life just to get your cock inside me."

"Whoaa...." He laughingly commented. "Saan galing 'yan, Claire? Are those sexual frustrations I'm hearing?"

"No, it's actually the sound of my ovaries giving you a slap in the face. H'wag kang mag-aalala, hinding-hindi mangyayaring ako ang mag-i-initiate. Hindi naman ako tanga para patusin ka."

"Aray ko. Ang sakit naman n'un."

"Kailangan ko ang bahay mo. At tulad ng sinabi mo ay kung maghahanap ka ng kalaro, ayaw mong itira sa bahay mo. Sa tingin mo, if there's a slight chance that I'd lose my mind and fuck you, I'd risk living on the streets? Tanga ang babaeng gagawa n'un. Besides, maraming lalaki, kung mangangati ako, which, is very unlikely dahil hindi naman ako malandi, ay sa iba ko ipakakamot at hindi sa'yo."

He threw his head back and laughed hard.

"You really have a way with words. 'Yung sexy ang topic pero nagagawa mong gawing pang-kanto?"

"What's so sexy about fucking? Ginagawa 'yan ng lahat ng tao at tayo ay produkto ng gawaing 'yan. It's like an open secret so I really am not mystified by it."

"Hm..."

"'Yung lame excuse n'yong mga lalaki that you have needs and urges, kakagatin ko 'yan. I will extend that courtesy of not giving a fuck to you. Ibig sabihin, you can do whatever you want, fuck whomever you want, and fuck wherever you want. Kahit magdala ka pa ng babae sa bahay mo labas na ako doon."

"Para naman yatang hayop tingin mo sa akin."

"Hindi naman. Pero, ang sabi ko nga sa'yo ay praktikal ako. Mulat din ang mga mata ko sa reyalidad so do not ever feel that you need to hide such activities from me in fear of offending my untainted sensibilities. Maiintindihan ko and I promise I will keep my mouth shut."

"Hm..."

"Just in case, you decide that you want a different tenant, someone who'll willingly play games in bed with you, or just plain someone you prefer to share your home with, just tell me two months prior para makapaghanap ako ng ibang matitirhan. Dalawang buwang abiso ang kailangan ko kasi alam kong mahirap maghanap ng bahay na mura at malapit sa opisina kaya sana maintindihan mo."

He threw me a glance. "Okay."

I looked out the window wondering briefly if I had said too much.

'Eto ka na naman, nambwisit ka na naman ng tao, Claire. At hindi ito basta-bastang tao kundi boss mo at magiging landlord mo pa...

"Sorry..." I blurted out before I could stop myself.

"O, bakit?"

"Ganito kasi talaga ako, eh, matalas ang dila ko. I'm sorry if what I said earlier offended you. Minsan talaga, salita lang ako nang salita without even thinking kung nakakasakit na ba ako. Pasensya ka na."

"Okay lang, totoo naman lahat ng sinabi mo. Oo, prangka ka and maybe that's what I like about you. Sawa na kasi ako sa usapang paliguy-ligoy. Pero, tama ka naman, wala naman tayong pakialam sa personal activities ng isa't isa so let's both not give a fuck. Ano palang gusto mong kainin, malapit na tayo sa drive-thru?"