CHAPTER 4

“It’s settled then, magpapakasal ang mga bata after graduation.” Masayang pahayag ng ina ni Cooper. Ang kanyang ina na si Mrs. Lin Tang Ayala ay isang purong Chinese. Ang ama naman niya na si Eduardo Laurel Ayala na isang shipping magnate ay half Spanish, half Filipino. Pag-aari nila ang malalaking tanker at cruise ships na bumibyahe internationally.

Tahimik na nakikinig si Cooper sa usapan ng dalawang pamilya. Mababanaag sa kanyang mukha ang pagkainip at panay ang kanyang sulyap sa kanyang relo. May usapan kasi sila ng current girlfriend niyang si Kate na magkita sa hotel na iyon at kanina pa ito naghihintay sa lobby. Nakilala niya lang ang babae through a friend and they only talked through phone. Nasa Manila Peninsula sila para pag-usapan ang arranged marriage nila ng anak ng isang hotel heiress na si Mandy Uy. Pangiti ngiti naman si Mandy habang nakatingin sa binata. Matagal na itong may gusto sa binata simula nang maging classmate nito siya sa kolehiyo both taking business administration. Very vocal ito sa pagkakagusto kay Cooper kaya ang saya-saya nito nang malamang magkaibigan ang kanilang mga magulang. Maganda si Matty, matangkad at maputi pero wala siyang gusto dito. Ayaw niya sa personality nito. Mayabang, mataas ang tingin sa sarili at matapobre.

“Hija, are you fine with that?” sabi ng ama ni Mandy.

“It’s fine with me, Papa.”

“Ikaw Cooper? Okay na ba sa iyo ang plano?”

Hindi sumagot ang binata. Matagal na nilang napag-usapan iyon sa bahay at ilang beses na siyang tumanggi at nagmakaawa sa kanyang mga magulang na he should decide for himself and that he doesn’t like Mandy to be his wife. Pero hindi nakinig ang mga ito. Domineering talaga ang ama niya mas lalo ang ina niya. Kaya wala siyang magawa lalo na at tinatakot siya ng ina na baka anong mangyari dito kapag tumanggi siya lalo na at may sakit ito sa puso.

“If everything is set, can I go ahead?” Hindi na niya hinintay pang sumagot ang mga ito at tumayo na siya. Yumuko siya nang bahagya sa mga ito, excused himself and walked out the door of the private room. Hindi tuloy niya nakita ang pagsimangot ni Mandy at pagpaalam sa mga magulang na sundan siya. Patakbo siyang pumunta sa lobby to see Kate na alam niyang kanina pa nakasimangot. He was a bit excited as it was his first time meeting her and he started imagining intimate things to happen. He chuckled. Chickboy talaga siya. No doubt about that. Kate is pretty, sexy and liberated and talking about s*x is too normal for both of them. Habang dali-dali siyang naglalakad, naagaw ang pansin niya ng isang matangkad na babaeng naglalakad papuntang front desk ng hotel. Napatigil siya at awang ang bibig na nakatingin sa babaeng may inabot na susi sa receptionist.

“Shiiit! Ang ganda niya! Sobra!” Mahinang sabi niya sa sarili.

Matangkad ang babae, nasa 5’9 malamang, maputi at napakakinis, malamlam ang mga mata, maliit ang matangos na ilong at may napakagandang hugis ng mga labi with her natural curvy hair na nakalugay. At first sight, she thought she must be of Latina blood. She was wearing a black hanging mini-blouse exposing her smooth navel, paired with a loose black baggy pants and a black high cut sneakers. All the right curves on the right places! She was so damn hot and so sexy! She was carrying an acoustic guitar on her back and was wearing a headphone. She was ruggedly beautiful. Just his type. He felt something strange on the beat of his heart. He subconsciously put his right hand on his chest.

Nakalabas na ang babae matapos dumaan sa reception saka pa lang siya nakakilos. His mind went blank for few seconds. Nakita niyang may pumaradang Porsche sa tapat ng babae at bumaba ang valet. Umikot ang babae sa driver’s side at pumasok sa kotse sabay maneho palayo ng hotel. Agad-agad siyang pumunta ng front desk and asked the woman in-charged.

“Who was that girl? Iyong kaaalis lang at nag-iwan ng key dito. Iyong matangkad at may gitarang dala. May I know her name?

“I’m sorry Sir. We don’t disclose our guest’s identity.”

“Just the name please.” Pagmamakaawa ni Cooper dito.

Nakangiting umiling ang receptionist. Naiintindihan nito ang binata at hindi na ito nagtaka dahil hindi lang siya ang nagtanong tungkol sa dalaga. Ilang kalalakihan na nakakita sa babae ang nagtanong sa front desk. Mapamatanda man at binata.

“She is here every Friday night. She is a singer at our music lounge. She just finished tonight’s event. Sa inyo ko lang po sinabi yan Sir. Kayo na po siguro ang pang-isandaang nagtanong niyan sa akin.” Nakatawang sabi ng babae. Somehow, she understood the desperation on Cooper’s face.

Malapad ang mga ngiting nagpasalamat si Cooper. Saka pa lang niya naalala si Kate. Dali-dali niyang pinuntahan ito sa lobby. Nakasimangot na ito sa tagal niyang dumating. Suddenly, he lost his interest on her dahil sakop ang buong utak niya ng mukha ng babaeng nakita kanina. He apologized to Kate and invited her to a private room. Iyon naman talaga ang goal niya tonight di ba? Pilit niyang iwinaksi sa isip ang babaeng nakita and tried to flirt with Kate. Pumayag naman itong pumasok sila sa private room and she was seemed excited. Nang makapasok na sila, sinunggaban niya ang babae at hinalikan sa mga labi. Hindi naman ito tumanggi and passionately kissed him back. Ngunit kahit anong gawin niya ay mukha pa din ng babaeng nakita ang naaaninag niya. Bahagya niyang itinulak si Kate.

“I’m sorry Kate. I am not feeling good right now. I didn’t intend to spoil this moment but something came up. Can I just take you home? Will see you some other time?”

“What? Why? This is the first time we met. I thought we could bond together and spend the night.” She flirtatiously whispered on his right ear.

“I’m sorry. Some other time.” He hold her hand and ushered her out of the room.

Kate was furious but tried to calm herself down. Well anyway, she knew they have plenty of time pa naman to spend with each other. She smiled and put her hand on Cooper’s arm while walking on the corridor. Palabas na sila ng mapansin ni Cooper si Mandy na nakasandal sa kotse nito as if waiting for him. Galit ang babae lalo na nang makita ang naka-abrisyeteng si Kate.

“Who is she? You deliberately embarrassed me in front of my parents when you left us just to see this b*tch!”

“Mandy please. Keep your nose out of my business.” Matalim na sagot ni Cooper.

“Who is she Cooper?” tanong ni Kate sa mataray na tono.

“Me? I am his fiancée, idiot! So stay away from him or you’ll gonna regret!” Puno ng pagbabantang sigaw ni Mandy sa babae.

Nagulat si Kate sa sinabi ni Mandy. But she refused to take her hand off Cooper.

“Mandy please. Will talk later. I'll call you.” Iyon lang at dali-dali niyang hinila si Kate papunta sa sasakyan niya at pinasakay ito. Mabilis na pinaharurot niya ang kotse bago pa makalapit ulit si Mandy. Nakita niya sa side mirror ang pagpapadyak ni Mandy at galit na pumasok sa kotse nito.

Matapos ihatid si Kate ay diretsong umuwi si Cooper. Dali-dali niyang in-on ang computer. Sinearch ang page ng Manila Peninsula at tiningnan ang announcements/events posted. As part of marketing strategy, nagpo-post ang mga ito ng ammenities at entertainment info ng hotel. Napasikdo ang dibdib niya nang makita ang candid shot ng dalaga na may hawak na gitara. Wala sa sariling napahawak siya sa dibdib. Binasa niya ang nakasulat na promotion under her photo pero hindi naman nabanggit ang pangalan ng babae.

“I will come look for you and make you mine.” Puno ng emosyong pangako ni Cooper sa sarili. It was strange. It was the first time he felt something like that. Was that love?

After two days of no contacting Kate, he was shocked to hear that she was beaten and was critical in the hospital. As of who did that? Still unknown. He felt a little pity but said nothing and paid no attention to the news. Nawalan na siya ng gana sa babae. He even blocked her phone number and he doesn’t have any social media account so she has no way of contacting him. He brushed Kate’s name off his memory. He was only looking forward for Friday to come.