Love Me Tomorrow

CHAPTER 14

I remembered when she was asked in an interview about the guy he'll permit to court me, she shamelessly answered it with that man's name. Imagine my second hand embarrassment! Since then, palagi nang nalilink ang pangalan ko kay Tage Del Prado.

At mukhang ito na ang oras na makikita ko na nga siya. The man in my mother's fantasy for me. Napailing nalang ako at kumuha ng isang champagne at iginala ang mga mata sa buong lugar. We are in a famous Hotel in Makati for some business thing party and my Mother dragged me to accompany them. Saying that I'll be able to meet the famous Tage Lasten Del Prado.

At mukhang umaayon ang lahat sa kagustuhan ng aking ina. Dahil sa muling pagbaling ko kay Mommy ay malawak na ang ngiti niya habang nakatingin sa kung sino sa likuran ko. She pulled me besides her, making me face the person she's smiling at.

An immaculately man in three piece suit is standing in front of me acknowledging my Mother's presence by giving her a formal smile and kissed her on her cheeks. Humigpit ang hawak ni Mommy sa palapulsuhan ko. She's simping to a young fine man! I can't blame her tho but she's married for Pete's sake!

"Glad to see you here, Hijo." galak na sabi ni Mommy.

"I was about to approach you awhile ago but I have to talked to some businessmen first." nakakaintinding tumango ang Mommy. Hindi man lang nabawasan ang ngiting pinapakita niya sa lalaki. Napailing nalang ako.

"Btw, Hijo. This is my unica hija, Ynessa." pakilala sa akin ni Mommy. Akala ko ay nakalimutan niya na ako sa tabi niya.

Tipid akong ngumiti at inabot ang kamay sakanya.

"Nice to finally meet you, Ynessa. I'm Tage." he introduced himself as he welcomed my hand with his. Tinago ko ang gulat sa mukha ko dahil sa pangalang sinabi niya. Bahagya akong lumingon kay Mommy at tumango siya, telling me that 'Yes, Sweetie, he's Tage.' look.

I was never been interested to someone I just met but he got all my attention. Nung naglapat palang ang aming mga palad ay alam ko na. I'm also simping for this guy!

Siya lang ang tinitingnan ko buong gabi. I saw him approached his family which melt my heart. Alam ko na agad na gusto ko siya. I can see his love for his family. 'Yung mga tingin niya sa mga magulang niya, it's priceless. I never looked at my parents that way! He's also protective of his sister which my Mother introduced as Talia.

That night, hindi lang ang pamilya ni Tage ang mga nakilala ko. I also met his infamous cousin, Marcus Trevor Del Prado. That man is dangerously handsome. And when I say dangerous, I mean it literally. Para akong sinusunog sa klase ng tingin niya. Hindi sinusunog na tipong masarap kundi sunog na mahapdi.

"Uso ba sa mga Del Prado ang fixed marriage, Mom?" tanong ko habang sumisimsim ng champagne.

"Interested, huh?" nang-aasar na sabi niya. Ngumuso ako at hinintay ang sagot niya.

"They're not really into fixed marriage but somehow open with the possibilities." she said and looked at the Del Prado family.

"Papasa kaya ako sa tipo ni Tage?" tumawa si Mommy kaya napabaling sa amin si Daddy na kanina pa nakikipag-usap sa mga kasosyo sa negosyo. He curiously looked at me. Umiling lang ako kaya ibinalik niya na ang atensiyon sa kausap.

"You'll exceed his standard, Ynessa." ngumuso ako. Hindi ako naniniwala sa sinabi niya. Judging Tage parang hindi isang only child at sunod sa luho ang gusto niya. He's someone with principles and passion to what he does. Alam mong pinag-iisipan niya ang mga desisyon niya sa buhay. He looks like someone 10 times ahead when it comes to decision-making. Parang hindi sanay sa padalos-dalos. Parang magdedesisyon palang siya ay alam na niya ang mangyayare.

That trait is a turn on. Ibig sabihin, kapag naging asawa ko siya kalkulado niya na ang mga dapat na gawin sa mga bagay-bagay. Damn, Ynessa! Pinatulan mo talaga 'yung mga sinabi ng nanay mo!

Hindi ko alam kung ilang beses niya akong nahuling nakatingin sakanya pero imbes na mahiya ay mas tinitigan ko siya. Pano niya ako mapapansin kung maghihiya-hiyaan ako? Napakaraming babaeng pinapakilala sakanya kaya dapat mag-iwan na ako sakanya ng impression para kapag naalala niya ang pangalang Ynessa ay karugtong na non ang babaeng titig ng titig sakanya.

I saw him walking to the terrace kaya sinundan ko siya. Pinalabas kong nagkataon iyon by playing shocked when I saw him leaning on the railings with his cigar. Ngumisi ako nung makita kong pinakatitigan niya ako. Mukhang inaalala niya kung ano ang pangalan ko.

Ako to si Ynessa, 'yung tingin ng tingin sayo. I laughed mentally with that thought.

"Ynessa." tipid na sabi ko at lumapit na sa may railings. Naamoy ko ang pabango niya na nahaluan ng sigarilyo. He smells good. Dapat matuturn off ako nung ipakita niya sa akin ang kaha ng sigarilyo para alukin ako but I find it not a turn off at all. I'm so whipped! Dammit!

"I don't smoke." sabi ko.

"Good because I don't like girl who smokes." he said and put the cigar in between his lips. Fuck! He's so hot! Parang gusto ko tuloy maging sigarilyo sa mga oras na 'to!

"So, may pag-asang magustuhan mo 'ko? I don't smoke." nakangising sabi ko. He licked his lower lip and looked at me, more like checking me out.

"Not my type." he said and puffed his cigar. Tumango lang ako. Of course he'll deny that!

"It's okay. I like you." matapang na sabi ko. He chuckled and shook his head.

"Ngayon mo lang ako nakilala, Ynessa." he said full of amusement. I like how he called my name.

"Kaya ngayon palang din kita nagustuhan. Kung nakilala na kita noon, matagal na sana kitang gusto." his laughter is music to my ears. My ears are blessed with his laughters.

"Still not my type."

"If I'm really not your type, kiss me!" I dared him. Tumaas ang mga kilay niya at bahagyang tumingin sa akin.

"You know the game, huh." he said amused. I just shrugged and walked closer to him. Kinuha ko ang sigarilyo sa kamay niya at hinulog sa sahig at inapakan.

"Prove to me that I ain't your type." I whispered. I don't know where I am getting this confidence but I really like this guy. I need him to remember me! That Ynessa should be the name of his future wife. Look how I became futuristic because of this guy!

Napasinghap ako dahil hindi ko inaasahang hahapitin niya ang bewang ko. My eyes were wide because of his sudden move.

"Okay, then." he said and eat our distance. Hinawakan niya ang baba ko habang tinatawid ang pagitan ng mga labi namin. I close my eyes when I felt his lips on mine. It was like his lips is the softest lips in the whole world.

"You have a nice lips but still not my type."

I opened my eyes and I saw him. Dahan-dahan niyang binuksan ang mga mata niya at tinitigan ako.

"You're the woman I chose to marry, Ynessa." he said and kissed me again.