Chapter III

Just like sa mga movies na napanood ko at sa mga kwentong nabasa ko online, I checked myself if I am still wearing the same clothes I remembered wearing.

'Thanks G!'

I am still wearing the same clothes at hindi naman sumasakit yung pechay na as far as I remembered, mananakit daw yun pag na drill. 

I get off the bed I was in. In all fairness ha, halatang luxurios place to. I looked around to find something na makakapagbigay hint sa akin kung nasaan ako. 

Ano nga ba yung nangyari? Pano ako napunta dito??

Xandra, first day mo sa bakasayon mo tapos ganito na nangyari. Hindi nato pag rerelax eh, nakaka stress nato!!

I was about to go near the door when it opened. 

Alex!

"Hey, good morning Ally" he said while entering the room habang may dala-dalang tray na may takip which I think may lamang mga pagkain.

Medyo nalito ako sandali kung bakit "Ally" ang tawag nya sa akin.

He smiled at me sabay nguso sa may coffee table sa likod ko. "Breakfast?"

"Ahm, okay"

Nauna na syang pumunta sa table while I took my time roaming my eyes again sa malaking kwartong kinaroroonan namin. 

The bed is literally huge na parang hari ata ang hihiga. It has grey beddings, silk pillow cases and very big comforter, which I guess helped me sleep well. May side tables on each end with lamps on top. Malalaki din ang windows dito with long flaxen curtains that compliments the room which has a dominant color of tuscan sun. May mga paintings din na naka-hang sa mga pader.

Actually malaki talaga ang room nato. May malaking space na kaharap ng kama na may sofa set with center table above an elegant red carpet.

"Kain na tayo" he said while motioning me to sit on the chair he opened for me to sit on.

Lumapit naman ako kaagad since nararamdaman ko na rin yung gutom ko.

"Thank you" I simply said nang maka upo na ako ng maayos. 

Umupo naman sya sa kaharap kong upuan. 

"I'm sure you are wondering how you end up here but obviously I brought you in here" he said habang tinatanggal ang takip sa tray showing the delicious breakfast in front of us.

"Yeah, but the last time I remembered nasa kotse pa tayo non and you were about to drop me off sa hotel kung saan ako mag ste-stay." I asked while looking at him making coffee.

"You want milk on your coffee?" he gave me a sideway glance while asking that.

Umiling naman ako bilang tugon.

"How about sugar?"

"Yes please"

Tumango-tango naman siya at binigay sa akin ang isang tasa ng kape. Pagkatapos kong magpasalamat, nagsimula narin syang magkwento.

"Yeah that's it. We were in front of your hotel when I tried na gisingin ka kaso mukhang pagod ka ata kaya di kita magising gising. So dinala nalang kita sa place ko. I hope you don't mind. Huwag kang mag-alala, I didn't do anything. But ahm,"

He was blushing while he pause on what he was saying. Tumikhim muna siya bago nagpatuloy.

"We actually slept on the same bed though. I hope you don't mind."

He got this nervous face habang nasa nape niya ang isang kamay nito na nakatingin sakin.

"You know what, I don't mind. And thank you for taking care of me. Naabala pa tuloy kita."

Ngumiti siya ng matamis at umiling. "No, it's nothing. And besides, I owe you one remember?"

Napa-irap naman ako. "That was nothing. And sanay nako sa ganun no"

Napatigil naman ako sa kataklesang nagawa ko kaya kinuha ko nalang ang kape na binigay nya and I took a sip and acted naturally. 

Nagsimula na rin kaming kumain. In fairness ha, pinoy na pinoy yung agahan namin kahit nasa ibang bansa kami hahaha. 

May garlic fried rice, sunny-side-up egg, tocino, hotdog and bacon. At may pandesal pa! Saan nya kaya to nabili? Or maybe nag se-serve talaga ang hotel nato ng mga gantong pagkain? It's cool actually. May mga prutas din like banana, apple and grapes.

"So, Ally, what are you doing here in Greece?" he started a conversation during our meal.

Nilunok ko muna ang kinakain ko bago sumagot.

"I'm here for a vacation. Just chilling for a while before going back to my busy schedules."

He took a sip on his coffee before asking again.

"Oh, so where do you plan to visit? Do you have a particular place in mind?"

"Nah, I really don't have one. Gusto ko lang mag explore and take my time lang ganun."

Tumango-tango naman siya at nagpatuloy na sa pagkain.

Nagpatuloy na rin ako sa pagkain since I am hungry and wala na din akong maisip na topic pa na pag-uusapan namin.

Like hello! Kahapon ko lang siya nakilala sa airport tapos ngayon magkasabay na kaming kumain.

"Hindi mo ba ako tatanungin kung bakit ako nandito?" he asked later on after a short silence.

"Pfft! Sorry. I am really not used to digging up on someone elses business. But, sa pagkakatanda ko is you're a businessman and I assume you are here for some professional business to attend to?"

And here you go again. He's back at it na naman po yung tingin nya na puno ng kamanghaan.

"Well, I didn't expect for you to remember that though hahaha. What do you do for living Ally? Do you also have a business?"

I smiled tinanong ko muna sya pabalik. "Ang dami mong tanong ha. Pero bakit mo natanong yan? Interested on investing?" Pabiro kong tanong sa kaniya.

Nagkibit balikat naman sya. "Why not diba? Baka may makita akong potensyal and who knows you might own big stuffs"

Napailing nalang ako sa turan niya. 

"I'm a doctor actually."

Mukhang di naman nya inaasahan ang sasabihin ko kaya na speechless ata.

"But not on humans. I am a licensed veterinarian and I own a small clinic. And sorry, hindi ako tumatanggap ng investors hahaha"

Natawa naman sya ng kaunti sa sinabi ko.

"Well, I have a few pets at home. Mind if I put them in your care when we get back home? Saan ba yung clinic mo?"

Sa turan nyang iyon ay napaningkit ang aking mga mata sa kanya habang diskumpyadong nakangiti.

"We'll see about that Mr. Sarmiento."

"Hmm, you knew my name already but I didn't get yours" I saw him creased his forehead like he dislikes the thought of what he just said.

"You already know my name. It's Allyson"

He looked at me like the obvious is already clear

"You know what I mean. Oo alam ko na ikaw si Allyson but can't I have a surname at least?"

'Nice try Alex'

"Nope" I popped the 'P' when I said that na nagpabuntong hininga sa kaniya.

"Well I can't blame you naman din. We met just yesterday sa hindi naman inaasahang sitwasyon. And gusto kong magpasalamat sayo sa pag payag mo sa favor ko kahapon. Kahit na sa tingin ko na I did freak you out kahapon"

"No worries but you actually freaked me out kahapon. Just a bit hahaha" I gave him a reassuring smile when he gave me a small shy smile.

"It's nothing Alex. Really. And parang makakapagkatiwalaan ka naman din eh hahaha" I slightly joked even though sa tingin ko is matino naman syang tao.

"So will you stay with me for the rest of your stay here in greece?"

I didn't see that question coming!!

Why is that every time I feel like we are getting into something normal, unexpected happenings happens??

Napatulala nalang ako sa sinabi nya bago humindi.

"Good joke but I cannot do that"

Mukhang expected naman din nya ang sagot ko since walang nagbago sa reaction nya or facial expression.

"Hahahaha I was just kidding and nagbabakasakali lang naman. Just in case i'll be needing my wife?"

Pinaningkitan ko naman sya ng mata na ikinatawa nya lang.