"Juan, what happened to him?" bungad ng isang magandang babae pagkabukas pa lamang ng pinto ng sasakyan sa backseat. Namukhaan agad ito ni Leila. This is the same woman who helped Stefano when they met at the downtown café.Natigilan 'to sandali pagkakita sa kanya, ngunit ibinalik rin ang paningin sa lalakeng na nasa kanyang tabi na namimilipit sa sakit. "Take him to his room!" pag-utos nito kina Juan. "Hurry up!"Juan and Oscar helped get Stefano out of the car while supporting his on both sides. The woman followed them while Leila was left outside. Nang makita sila kanina ni Juan at Oscar, hindi na sana siya sasama sa mga 'to ngunit ayaw siyang bitiwan ni Stefano at nakiusap na samahan 'to.Leila couldn't stop looking around the entire house in front of her. This is a private mansion here in Paris that is on top of the hill. She turned to the entrance door that opened and saw Juan coming out of it."Ma'am, hinahanap ka po ni Sir..." anito't iginiya siya papasok ng bahay.Umakyat siy
Tumunog ang cellphone ni Leila, dahilan kung bakit siya nagising sa mahimbing na pagkakatulog. Inaantok na kinapa niya ang kanyang bedside table. Hindi na niya tiningnan kung sino ang tumatawag at deretsong pinindot ang answer button."Hello?" she answered, keeping her eyes closed."Baby, I'm here outside your apartment," dinig niya sa kabilang linya.Baby...?Napabalikwas ng bangon si Leila nang maalala kung sino ang tumatawag sa kanya ng ganon. She didn't care what she was wearing and ran out of her room. She almost slipped on the stairs because of her hastiness. She opened the door panting, but she hadn't even recovered her breath when Stefano kissed her on the lips. Napaungol siya dahil sa pagkabigla.Stefano arms wrapped around her waist then lifted her up, which immediately wrapped her legs around his waist without breaking the kiss.Jesus Christ! Hindi pa siya nakakapag-toothbrush at kagigising niya lang, pero heto na sila!"S-Stefano..." she said as he passionately kissed her
Leila's plan to talk to Albert last night didn't happen because his surgery ended late. So today, he said they would meet at eleven in the morning because that's what he was available for. She was on her way to the meeting place and she was nervous because Albert chose Stefano's mother's restaurant.Alam naman niyang maintindihan siya ni Albert sa magiging desisyon niya. At kahit ano pang mangyari ay mananatili ang pagkakaibigan nilang dalawa.Tinatawagan ni Leila si Stefano kanina bago siya umalis para makapagpaalam na kikitain niya si Albert, pero hindi nito sinasagot iyon kaya nag-iwan na lamang siya ng mensahe. She immediately paid the taxi and got off. She didn't bring her car because Stefano picked her up earlier and took her to the shop.Papasok pa lamang siya sa gusali nang tumunog ang kanyang cellphone. Kinuha niya iyon sa kanyang handbag at sinagot."Congratulations, Mr. Altagracia!" dinig ni Leila sa kabilang linya na magkakasunod na pagbati rito at nagpasalamat naman 'to.
Tumingala si Leila sa maaliwalas na kalangitan. Sana ganoon din kaaliwalas at kagaan sa pakiramdam ang nararamdaman niya. She stopped walking and turned to the park in front of her. She entered there and sat on a bench. May nakita siyang mangilan-ngilan na mga kabataan, matanda, at magpamilya na nakaupo sa ibang bench o 'di kaya'y nakaupo sa damuhan at nagpi-picnic. May mga bata rin na nagtatakbuhan paroon-parito sa playground.Leila silently observes her surroundings. She stared intently at the group of families not far away having a picnic. One of her dreams since she was a child was to have a picnic with her whole family. Simpleng pangarap na kailanman ay hindi natupad dahil sa pagkamatay ng kanyang ina at hindi pagkilala ng ama sa kanya. Nabaling ang paningin niya sa magkasintahan na dumaan sa kanyang harapan na magkahawak kamay at masayang kumakain ng ice cream. They are so sweet, sweeter than what they eat because the man kissed the woman's lips after eating her ice cream.She r
"Are you sure they are not mad at me?" paniniguradong tanong ni Leila kay Stefano.Stefano held her cold hand while he was driving. They were now going to the pub owned by his friend. Katatapos lang ng Fashion Week kahapon at nag-aya raw ang mga kaibigan nito, lalo na si David upang ipagdiwang ang matagumpay na Fashion Week bilang runway model ng asawa nito.She had already seen his friends on the first day of the event, but she was still nervous especially that he would introduce her as his girlfriend to his friends. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang iisipin ng mga kaibigan nito sa kanya dahil noong huli ay si Albert ang nakita ng mga 'to na kasama niya't ngayon ay si Stefano naman."I'm pretty sure, baby. I am here so don't worry about them, hmm?"Hinalikan nito ang kanyang kamay."I'm worried because they might think that Albert is my boyfriend when they saw us at the event, and now it's you.""Of course not, baby. Sa lahat, mga kaibigan ko ang huling makakaisip na may relasyon kayo ni
Leila can't think straight about what happened back at the pub. The only thing she's worried about right now is her boyfriend's silence since they left the pub earlier. He carried her up to her apartment.Remind her not to drink again in any pub or bar because this is what will happen to her.She just felt her body touch the soft thing, she felt relieved. Even though sleepiness was pulling her, she tried to open her eyes and looked at her boyfriend who was removing her high heels.Pinilit niyang umupo na ikinabaling nito sa kanya."Sleep now, baby," anito, hindi siya nakinig at hinawakan ang kamay nito."Are you mad at me?" namumungay na mga mata na tanong niya. Ayaw niyang nagagalit ito sa kanya, hindi niya gusto iyon.Stefano sighed and sat on the edge of the bed, next to her. "I will not be angry with you, I may be sullen but I will not be angry." Pinisil nito ang kanyang baba saka inayos ang nagkabuhol-buhol niyang buhok. "Don't be stubborn. I let you drink but I didn't let you da
"Baby..."Gumalaw si Leila, nanatiling nakapikit habang may bumubulong sa kanyang tenga. Mas naramdaman niya ang paghigpit ng yakap sa kanya mula sa kanyang likuran."Ti amo amore mio."Hinalik-halikan ang kanyang leeg papunta sa kanyang nakalantad na balikat. Kahit inaantok pa, napangiti siya sa kanyang naririnig.Nakikiliti din siya sa tuwing dumadapo ang halik nito sa kanyang batok at leeg. Pumihit siya paharap dito. Sumiksik siya sa leeg nito na mas ikinahapit nito sa kanyang katawan, kulang na lang ay buhatin siya nito para mailagay sa ibabaw nito. Ramdam nila pareho ang mainit na balat nilang magkadikit dahil sa kahubaran, ang dibdib niyang naiipit at maging ang buhay na buhay na naman nitong pagkalalaki na nasagi ng binti niya."Fuck. Don't move too much," tila nahihirapan nitong sabi.She furrowed, but when she realized something, she suddenly straightened up hugging him. She still sore down there and her body still hurts. Kahit sabihin pang hindi iyon ang una niya, ngunit da
Leila knocked on Patty's room before she heard that she could come in. Binuksan niya iyon saka pumasok. Napatingin naman sa kanya ang mga batang tinuturuan nito at lahat ay ngumiti."Bonjour, Miss Leila!" sabay na bati ng lahat sa kanya. Nilapitan siya ng kaibigan habang suot nito ang apron na may mga marka ng iba't ibang kulay ng pintura."Bonjour!" magiliw niyang bati."What's that?" Patty pointed to the paper bag she was carrying."Souvenirs," sagot niya at inilagay niya iyon sa mesa nito."From where? Did you go on vacation abroad without my knowledge?" Patty furrowed as she examined the paper bag."Nope. That's local wine and food from Kaysersberg. Stefano and I went there yesterday, went for a stroll. Try them all later and they taste so good, especially their champagne.""Is this raisin brioche?" Pakita nito sa bun na nakalagay sa brown paper."Yes. I know we have that here in the city in the pastry shops, but believe me, it tastes different. Alsatian wine and raisin brioche ar