Chapter 1: I SLEPT WITH THE WRONG GUY

Sa isang unfamiliar matrimonial bed, pero astoundingly tapered to my taste, nagising ako, with the soothing warmth of my lover’s arms wrapped around me. His new scent is simply addicting, that I could fall asleep again and snuggle closer there for hours.

            Memories of the heated night before flooded back to me, and sent tingling sensations to my body. Nakakahiya mang aminin sa sarili pero I gave myself wholly to you for the first time in two years. Pero wala ako ni katiting na pagsisisi. You have waited long enough. Two years? Sapat na iyon para ipagkatiwala ko saiyo ang lahat ng akin.

            I have my best friend, Avaz to thank for her awesome advice na mag-book ng room sa Primal International Hotel for our 2^nd Anniversary. Although sa una, I found it embarrassing. Hello? Ako, si Heather O’ Connor, who thought na ang aking pinakakai-ingatang virginity ay reserved only till our wedding night ay magkukumahog na mag stay with my handsome boyfriend sa pinakabago, pinakasikat and not to mention, one of the most-expensive hotels in the country?!

            And yes, it cost me a month’s salary lang naman. Well, kung iisipin, compared sa expenses niya nga naman sa bawat monthsary namin, katiting lang to. That’s why, ako mismo yung nag-insist to pay for everything.

            Slightly, I reached for his arm… up to his chest. He groaned at my touch. Damn! Since when did his bedroom voice sound so sexy? Wait. Hindi ko napansin na ganito na pala ka-toned ang muscles nya. Has he been working out to surprise me? Enebe pereng tenge nemen. Well, di na iyon mahalaga. What matters the most is that, he is with me now.

            I fell back into deeper slumber…

Finally! I am where I should be…LOUVRE MUSEUM, PARIS! Parang awit lang ni Yeng Constantino, hawak-kamay tayo. Masyadong tayong mais pero ikaw ‘to, ako ‘to. Meant to be. Simple.

Agad nating binagtas ang pasilyo papunta sa kinaroroonan ni Mona Lisa. Ilang hakbang pa, nasa harapan na natin ang isa sa pinaka- famous painting ni Leonardo Da Vinci…

Wow… just wow! I have seen her image in countless prints at syempre, pati sa internet, kalat. Ngunit iba talaga pag nasa harapan mo na ang totoong painting ng Mona Lisa. I am simply starstruck!

A few seconds later, we decided to leave her alone.

But something in that painting pulled me back for a second look. Di naman ako expert. I am plainly an art enthusiast. But I sensed that that enigmatic smile of hers is quite different.

So I asked you: “Bakit, Hon, I felt as if…as if Mona Lisa here has more life…a happier aura, or is it… far more sinister?”

“It’s not your imagination, Heather dear. That’s the replica of Mona Lisa…and not just an ordinary copy. That painting was discovered to have been daubed alongside the original, ilang dipa lang ang layo kay Leonardo Da Vinci. Rumors circulated na the mystery painter is either Da Vinci’s brother...sister…or lover. Nag –trending pa yan. And until this very moment, it has remained a mystery.”

This left me feeling uneasy. Whew! Ni hindi ko alam bakit apektado ako ng revelation na ito. I need to see the original painting. Why is a mere copy…an imitation sensationalized? Even, in a way, deified?!

Then you grasped my hand, to take me away from my commoner’s confusion and blew a kiss on it. That is when I saw the ring on your finger: K. Z. P.

And that is what woke me up.

I did it. I finally slept with the guy who will walk with me down the aisle soon. Wala ta ‘tong atrasan. I hope na-satisfy ko siya kagabi, despite my naiveté. Well, I think I did. Natulog kasi ako at nagising with him still beside me. Di tulad sa mga nobelang nababasa ko, na when a guy gets what he wants, the poor girl wakes up alone in bed. Luckily, I’m not part of that list.

Or so I thought.

I felt as if I drifted back to dreamland when he caressed my hair. I let out a breath of relaxation. It’s just so comforting whenever he does it that way…

“Tamara, dear, gising ka na pala? No rush. It is still quite early. You must have been so tired,” he said. “You slept like a baby, but was a moaning lioness last night,” he chuckled in a different huskier laughter this time, o baka naman may smoker’s cough na ‘tong fiancé ko sa kakasigarilyo. So his voice sounded a bit off in my ears.

“Not at all, Iszak. In fact, I enjoyed every bit of it. Well, a bit sore somewhere, but…well…umm… expected naman na siguro yun diba?” But wait. As in teka lang, tinawag niya ba akong ‘Tamara’ just now??? Who the heck is Tamara???

Lights went on. Floods of realization and emotions ang bumalot sa buong pagkatao ko when I locked gazes with the man whom I spent the entire steamy night with. Para akong tinamaan ng kidlat! A drop-dead gorgeous stranger was sitting with the same stunned expression as mine on my hotel bed! The utter shock made me scream at his face.

“SINO KA?! ANONG GINAGAWA MO DITO?! GET OUT! HINDI KITA KILALA!” Sabay bato sa kanya ng bawat unan na mahawakan ko. Bagama’t ang gulo ng utak ko sa mga oras na ito, I couldn’t help but notice the puzzled look sa gwapong mukhang iyon. I think I’ve seen him somewhere. He felt so familiarly unfamiliar. Have we met?

“Who the heck are you, too? It’s Tamara I invited last night and I own this place! So who are you to drive me out?! Stupid cheap girl,” he muttered his last sentence, but I’m too sharp to not hear such disgusting remark.

Tumayo ito, nagsuot ng Apple watch as if yun ang pinaka-importanteng bagay sa buong mundo bago tuluyang isinuot ng designer brands niyang damit na gusut-gusot dahil sa nagdaang daluyong kagabi sa kama. Looking so confident and composed, he pulled out a checkbook and scribbled something on it. “I hope five million is enough to zip your mouth shut about last night.”

            That’s when my patience string suddenly snapped.