Chapter 5: Till We Not Meet Again

"MY GOSH, SIR! Is that how you flirt with girls?!"

Tumayo ako, takip-takip pa rin ang malambot at masarap na labi ko. Undeniably, this man looks so angelic, parang mapapadasal ako. But his build, his moves… are aggressive. He's giving me the soft yet wild boy type. At naniniwala ako na ang mga taong ganoon, they are the dangerous ones.

"Oh, you don't have to smooch my lips to prove all of it!"

"Jesus, Miss. I shouldn't have told you that-"

"No!" I shook my head. "I think I should have been more open-minded!"

"It came out the bad way. I'm sorry-"

"No, Sir! Ako dapat ang humihingi ng tawad…"

With that, I touched my chest. Tinitigan ko siya nang nagbabaga para madama niyang nagsisisi ako. That a softy beast like him should spare me.

"I'm sorry I made quite a lot of wrong accusations against you. Akala ko kidnapper ka because I awoke in a different unit.

Akala ko rin isa kang sexual predator kasi iba na ang damit ko pag gising ko! Mas lumala pa nung lumabas kang topless sa bathroom! And you were trickling wet! My God!

Tapos ngayon… I thought you were gay because of the panties you bought!

Now I feel so guilty! Dahil baka binili mo ang mga 'yon para sa girlfriend mo. And worse, pinasuot mo pa sa akin!"

Habol-habol ko ang hininga ko nang mailabas ko lahat ng saloobin ko. I have said a lot. Too much, to be more exact.

Pero ang mahalaga para sa akin ngayon, naipaliwanag ko ang sarili ko. I admitted my mistakes and I was ready to own it up.

Subalit hindi ko alam kung natanggap niya iyon. The man looked to me like a blank paper. His expression is a fog.

Ito pa talaga ang isusukli ko after all he had done for me when I was drunk. Hinusgahan ko siya. I called him below-the-belt names.

"Remember that I feel sorry for insulting you."

"I don't have a girlfriend, Miss."

"Wala akong pake, Sir."

Tinulak ko ang upuan papasok sa ilalim ng mesa saka diretsong tiningnan siya.

"Sa tingin ko, hanggang dito na lang."

"May I at least know what to call you?"

Umiling ako.

"We don't have to know each other's names."

I then forced a smile.

"Thanks for the one night, by the way. At sa choco drink... Masarap."

"You're always welcome here. I can always make you a chocolate drink."

"Nope. I believe this is the last time we will meet," surely, is a bad thing to say.

"But what if we see each other? Hindi ko kayang hindi ka pansinin."

Natawa ako. "Ang bilis mo namang ma-attach sa akin, Sir. Para sabihin ko sa 'yo, I don't feel a strong connection with you. Kung 'yan man ang tingin mong meron tayo sa loob ng isang gabi."

The man fell into silence. Hindi ako iniwan ng mga mata niya. Now I feel quite bothered about offending him again. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay obligado akong sumagot sa mga katanungan niya.

"Do you really want to know what I would say to that?" His brow twitched. "Step back."

"Miss…"

"Kung pagkrusin man ang mga landas natin, I suggest you step back, Sir," matigas na sagot ko. "I hate being reminded by my mistakes. Lalo na sa ginawa ko sa 'yo. So to put me at ease, huwag ka nang papakita sa akin… at hindi na rin ako magpapakita sa 'yo."

Hindi ko na hinintay ang magiging reaksyon niya. Tinalikuran ko ang lalaking minsang tumulong sa akin. Inaamin ko, masama ang loob ko habang unti-unti akong lumalayo sa condo niya. It's not a good way to thank a man who offered me shelter for one night. Ngunit iyon ang nararapat. He'll remain a memory to me that will eventually fade away.

Binilisan ko ang paglakad dahil baka maabutan niya ako. Ang totoo niyan, hindi ako pamilyar sa building na ito. So I followed the signages.

Hindi naglaon ay bumukas ang pinto ng elevator at iniluwa ako sa isang basement. It has to completely end here.

The stranger...

I admit that he doesn't seem like a bad guy. Habang hinahanap ko ang susi ng aking kotse, naaliw akong walang nagalaw sa mga gamit ko. Luckily, I have a habit of wearing my sling purse. Kung wala ito, hindi ako makakauwi. Oh, I knew I was gonna need it in time. And I think now... is the right time.

"Yes, Dad?"

Sinagot ko ang tawag noong nag-ring ang phone ko.

"What do you want from me again early in this morning?" iritang tanong ko.

I paused finding the key. Nakatayo ako ngayon sa gitna ng driveway habang pinapakinggan ang mga kagustuhan ng ama ko.

Normally, he'd call if he needs anything regarding the company. Wala naman siyang matatawagan na iba kundi ako lang because I'm an only child. I can't blame him for being too reliant and critical on his heiress.

"Do I really have to go there?" tanong ko kay Dad habang lumilinga-linga sa paligid. "Can't that wait? I have a business to attend to today. You can tell me now."

"This is urgent, Mi Amor. Kailangan ang presensya mo dito."

"Ganoon ba ka importante 'yan, Dad?"

"Yes, Mi Amor. You will have to reschedule all your appointments. Kailangan ka naming makausap ng Mama mo tungkol doon."

"Why?" I chuckled. "Will you hand me the company already?"

"Tsk, tsk. We'll see, my dearest."

Napairap ako. "Alright, Dad. Pupunta ako. Just warn Mama to not ask me about my business. I've had enough of her nose-peeking."

Pinutol ko na ang linya kaysa makinig sa tawa niya. Basta't para sa kompanya, pupunta ako. I will prove to them that I can manage and run my own business, our business. Hindi ako nag-double degree para hindi maabot 'yon.

"Shit! Are you sira?!" yamot na sinigawan ko ang susi ng kotse ko. "Come on! Work!"

May diin na pinindot-pindot ko ang unlock button para tumunog ang kotse ko. Pero kahit anong gawin ko, I can't hear my car's beeping sound. Nahihilo na ako sa kakaikot dahil sa paghahanap ng sasakyan ko.

"Oh, shit!" Nakalimutan kong hindi ko pala dala ang kotse ko. "How am I supposed to-"

"Miss! Wait!"

Mabilis akong napalingon sa likod ko. My jaw dropped to see who it was. Sa kakabukas lang na pinto ng elevator, iniluwa niyon ang lalaking tinakbuhan ko, na ngayon ay tumatakbo patungo sa akin.

"I… I told you huwag ka nang papakita sa akin! What are you still doing here?!"

My voice echoed inside the basement. Pero parang hindi niya narinig iyon. The man still ran towards me, his newly worn leather jacket flew and made him look like a gangster.

"Ang bilis mo namang magkagusto sa akin! What do you still need for me to say?!"

Tumigil siya sa pagtakbo sa harap ko. I can hear his breath inhale and exhale. Sa paraan ng pagtitig niya, parang may nais siyang sabihin sa akin bago ako umalis.

"What?" I asked impatiently. "I'm driving home, so you have a minute to explain yourself."

Bigla siyang ngumiti nang sabihin ko 'yon. I glared at him. Is he taking me for a fool?

"Speak. You're wasting my time."

"You don't have a car," a husky laugh came after. "I'm taking you home."

"What?" I crossed my arms. "Akala mo ba poorita ako to tell me I don't have a car? I have a car!"

"Really?"

Napangisi siya.

"I said I have a car!"

"Where is it?"

"Basta! May kotse ako!"

"Nasaan nga?"

I pouted. Nakakainis siya.

"Wala… dito."

He chuckled.

While I was brooding, he walked out of my sight. Kung saan man siya pupunta, I do not know. I do not want to know. Nahihiya ako dahil wala rito ang kotse ko. If I had brought it, then I could've run away from this pushover.

"Come in."

Lumingon ako sa dulong parte ng basement. Cars were lined up in a row, but he stood out. The man was standing beside a blue sports car. He opened the car door and grinned. Nakatanaw siya sa akin, hinihintay akong lumapit at sumakay sa passenger's seat.