You’re Still My Man – English

GINA

In the five years she has been working at the restaurant, she can say that she really memorized her activities every night, and it’s good that way because her mind is not working on anything right now. Because her mind was occupied with the thought of Ace going to her house tonight. She fantasizes about it again. But she doesn’t think that what she has in mind will happen because she knows that they don’t really get along with Ace. Unless the wind blows differently and she tames the lion.

Suddenly, everything she thought about Ace was erased from her mind when she saw the incoming customer at the restaurant. He was an attractive man in his late thirties. She greeted him with a very sweet smile and guided him until he sat at his reserved table.

It was also a few minutes ago after the said customer ate. She immediately approached him and asked.

“How about your favorite dessert, sir Brando? Chocolate cheesecake and espresso.”

Gina noticed that his companion wasn’t even eating, his job apparently only to take notes. She wonders how a demanding person can still employ an employee at this time of night.

“Ahh, thank you, Gina. Did I get the last slice?”

“Yes sir, I saved it just for you. I know that’s the only dessert you like.”

“Well then, at least you still remember.”

“Of course, sir.”

“What do you have for dessert?” Brando asked her.

“Peach mango pie, sir.” She replied awkwardly.

As usual, Brando paid a check for what he ate, and even before he left, Brando held her hand.

“Ah, by the way Gina, I’d like to reserve a VIP room tomorrow.”

“Okay sir, I’ll tell Ace.” she said and turned her back on him.

Brando Nicolas. She can tell that he’s perfect. He has dark brown hair and handsome. His eyes are expressive, his nose is piercing, his cheekbones are sharp and he looks macho. Obviously, he was a wealthy businessman if the basis is his attire. All in all, he was an elegant man. But not her type.

Everything she thought about Brando just stopped when she saw Ace blocking the kitchen door.

“Hey, why are you staring at me so badly?” she asked Ace because she saw his irritated face.

“What if I stare at you?”

Gina just sighed. In fact, she was secretly happy when Ace acted like her possessive boyfriend.

She noticed that he was so handsome and elegant wearing his uniform again. He looked so gorgeous in his tuxedo uniform.

“Mr. Nicolas will reserve a VIP room tomorrow.” she told Ace.

Ace looked at Brando in his seat and Brando also looked at them, but Ace just turned his back on him with his forehead furrowed. He had never seen Ace treated other guests like that except Brando. Ace nod to her earlier when she said that Brando would reserve a room, his reaction was really weird. He just went to the other table.

“Hi Maryam, how’s your meal?” she asked a customer as she put away what she had eaten.

Maryam Velez. The president of Maryam’s intimate lingerie, she’s in her late forties but she looks younger than her age. She also enters the restaurant late to eat. She noticed that someone was with her again, where could her first driver-bodyguard be? usually because they eat together.

“Dinner is perfect my dear, as usual. What do you think of Jeremy?” Maryam asked, referring to her new driver-bodyguard.

“Stunning.” She replied to Maryam.

Maryam laughed so hard that Brando turned to them. Brando stared at Maryam and Maryam raised her champagne glass as if she toast with Brando. Her eyes seemed to be teasing Gina and Brando. Maybe Maryam thought that she had a crush on Brandon.

“Stunning huh?” Maryam said referring to Jeremy as she wiped her mouth with the table napkin.

She handed her a very nicely wrapped package, she didn’t think that the gift she had seen earlier on Maryam’s table was for her.

“Happy birthday, my dear. I designed this just for you and promised me that you’ll wear this if you sleep with him.”

Him? Who is she referring to? She hoped it was Ace instead of Brando.

“Who are you referring to, Maryam?”

“The same man you have in mind, I guess.”

Before Gina could answer, Ace appeared in front of her and assisted Maryam.

“Thank You, Mr. Durant.”

“You’re welcome, Ms. Velez.”

Gina wonders at the closeness shown by Ace and Maryam. She knows that Maryam likes those who are younger than her for about twenty years because she is 48 years old but all she dated is half of her age. And Ace is twenty-eight years old, just right for Maryam’s taste. Do they have a hidden relationship? Because the way they stare at each other, it seems that their eyes are talking.

“May I escort you to the door?” Ace said to Maryam.

“In a minute. I need to speak Gina first.”Ccontent © exclusive by Nô/vel(D)ra/ma.Org.

“Thank you for the birthday gift, Maryam.”

“You’re welcome my dear, how’s the design coming?”

“I’m not yet ready for the sample but it’s very romantic.”

“Romantic. Well, there is a first time for everything. My buyers will be shocked.” Maryam winked at her and she went to the table where Brando had seated and she whispered to his ear.

“Do you work for Maryam, too?” Ace asked her.

“Uhmm.. I just came up with an idea for her new product line. What were they talking about?”

“Do you want us to ask them what they talked about?” Ace said sarcastically. “You? What did you and Brando talk about before?”

Hmmm.. it looks as if Ace is jealous. How intriguing.

“You know it’s too heavy to carry a plates.”

ACE

He just followed Gina’s gaze until she entered the kitchen. Then he saw Maryam approaching him, her hips swayed gracefully and he just escorted her outside as usual.

“Thanks again for the other night.” Maryam said, her voice is husky and full of emotion.

“My pleasure.” He replied.

“Thanks, Ace. Thank you so much for saving my life. I won’t forget it.”

“Just at the right time and the right place. Don’t go to that kind of bar again, Maryam. Trouble’s the only thing you’re going to find.”

“And you, why did you go to that bar? You know, sometimes I just need to be where no one knows or cares who I am.”

He could feel the sadness in Maryam’s voice. He too, lived a lonely life, although for very different reasons. He suffered loneliness because that means safety for those he cared about.

“Do you have other appointment after you were out here at the restaurant?” Maryam asked him.

He smiled at her “It depends.”

“Are you sure I can’t repay you with a little more than thanks?”

“Maryam, you know we are not allowed to have a personal business with the guests.”

Maryam smiled at him. “You don’t break rules, I suppose.”

“Anything you can order from me as long as it’s not personal.”

“Interesting answer.”

“Maryam, there are many other guys you will meet out there who are willing to end your loneliness.”

“I think I heard you said that before.” And she got into her car. “Good night, Ace.”

He was about to go to the kitchen when he saw Brando put something in Gina’s pocket. So he immediately approached them.

“Thank you for coming to us tonight, sir.” He suddenly said which surprised the two.

He could see in Brando’s eyes the irritation of his sudden rebuke. It’s very obvious that Brandon likes Gina. Of course, she is beautiful and seductive.

“I’ll see you tomorrow night.” Brando said to Gina.

“Good night, sir.” Gina said.

“I’ll take care of it, just go to the locker and get dressed.” He said after Brando has left.

GINA

She was really surprised by what Ace was doing now. Just like wiping the table which is not his job.

“Jeez, the head waiter is wiping the table now?”

“I think you’re tired. Although you’re twenty-four. Your stamina is weak.”

She doesn’t want to be affected by what Ace says to her. Instead, she looked around and made sure that all her colleagues were already in the kitchen or in their lockers before she answered. “So when I finish my work here. Even if I jog in going home, I still have the energy to have sex if you want. ”

She no longer cared about what she said to Ace. She’s really upset with him.

“What did Brando put in your pocket?” Ace asked her.

“What?”

“Did Brando give you money?”

She’s loading… though.

“You’re right, Brando did give me money as a tip.” She replied and turned her back on Ace.

“How much tip did he give you?”

“It’s none of your business.”

Ace suddenly took the money in her pocket to her surprise. The plates she was carrying almost fell and it was good that only those spoons and forks fell. It was as if her whole body was electrified by what Ace had done. She also couldn’t understand what Ace was doing now.

“What do you think you’re doing, huh?”

Ace didn’t even pay attention to her and instead counted the tip she received from Brando.

“Ten thousand pesos, how do you call it Georgina, just a tip?”

Her eyes widened when she realized that the tip that Brando had given her today was big. Every time Brando eats at the restaurant, she is always given a tip before he leaves. But she just wondered why the tip she received from Brando was so big today. She just swallowed. “Maybe because he likes my service so he gave me a big tip.”

In the middle of the currency bill was a white calling card attached. Ace brought it to her face to make her read the name written there. She knew that the calling card came from Brandon, of course he gave it to her together with the tip.

“What are you talking about honey pie? I’m not a fool not to know what that is.”

“Don’t call me honey pie again, it doesn’t sound good. Listen, Gina, you’ll return this money that Brando gave you, tomorrow.”

“Do you hear what you’re saying? Who do you think you are? Don’t act as a macho man because it’s boring, and you don’t have the right to tell me what to do.” She was going to take the money back from Ace but he was still hesitant on giving it back to her.

“Give this money back to him, Gina!”

She could see in Ace eyes his anger. But she didn’t care what he thought of her. She was surprised when Ace put the money in her breast pocket. She was electrified for the second time.

“You’re harassing me!”

“I’m sorry.” Ace apologized to her.

She didn’t answer and just turned her back on Ace.

ACE

He was disappointed when he thought of Brando Nicolas again. He needs to get Gina away from Brando before anything happens.

He didn’t even changed his uniform, he just waited for Gina in the parking lot.

Finally, Gina came out of the restaurant with her gifts. He helped her immediately.

“Gina, I’m sorry again earlier. Let’s just meet at your boarding house.” he said.

“Do you know where my boarding house is?”

“Of course not, we’ve been together at work, but still I don’t know.”

“Anyway, I’ll be right ahead of you.”

Gina got into her old car. As she drove off, he started his engine and put the car in gear, he just noticed a black toyota altis that was tailing Gina when she left, because he had seen the vehicle parked earlier in the distance.

He learned to trust his instincts so he immediately followed her. He was right in his suspicion that Gina was really the one that the black car was following because it also stopped when Gina arrived at her boarding house.

Until the car ran again and he still followed it until they came to a penthouse owned by Brando Nicolas.

He immediately took his cellphone and called someone.

“Sir, good evening. I’m sorry to wake you up.”

“No problem. What’s up?” said the one on the other line.

“Sir, he wants to deal with me tomorrow night.”

“We’ll cover you.”

“Okay sir. See you.”

“Wait a second, Ace. Did you give it to her?”

“Not yet, sir.”

“Just give it to her okay, so that you can relax after.”

“Ok sir, maybe when this is over.”

*****