Sailing Against the Tides (CS #1)

Chapter 9

SATT•C#9

Livy
"Repeat what you said, come on. Hindi ko narinig," pangungulit ko sa kanya pagpasok namin.

Date! Rinig na rinig ko 'yun!

"You said date, Niko! I heard it crystal clear. Hindi naman ako bingi!" Pagtutuloy ko pa.

"You're mistaken," he denied and pulled a chair for me. "Clean your ears."

Excuse me, what?! Malinis tenga ko ano!

"Ayaw mong ulitin?" I dared him.

Nikolo cleared his throat and did not say a word. He was receiving my stares.

I tilted my head to the side. And instead of sitting down, lumapit ako sa kanya. He narrowed his eyes on me. Tumingkayad ako konti dahil matangkad siya. He was careful not to move even for a bit because our skin would make contact with the slightest movement.

"Say it, Niko," I whispered seductively in his ears.

Agad siyang lumayo sa akin na parang napapaso. He smoothly moved away, still in his dominant way. I chuckled because he couldn't look at me straight anymore.

Umiling siya. "Sit down, Livy," he firmly said.

"I'm not a dog," simangot ko sa kanya.

"Please sit down," he said formally this time.

Ngumuso ako at naupo. When I settled on my seat, saka lang siya naupo sa tapat ko. Like we're facing each other between the table.

"Unbelievable. Nagsasabi sabi ka ng date jan. Babawiin din naman pala," I raised a brow at him. "Don't make it look like I'm insisting it."

"It's a damn date, Livy," he muttered lowly. "Ayaw mo?"

I stopped bantering with him. Lumunok ako ng makitang seryoso siyang nakatingin sa akin. He looked as if he's waiting for my answer.

I bit my lower lip. "G-gusto."

Nakakahiya! Nautal pa ako! I faked a cough and looked away when he tensed. There was a sudden amusement in his eyes which I noticed. Inirapan ko siya para itago ang hiya ko.

Nikolo let out a low chuckle. "Cute."

Nag-order din naman kami. I got some steak and salad for me. Niko got a different order. We were eating when I noticed a woman not far away from our table who's glancing at Nikolo from time to time. I couldn't concentrate on eating because of it.

Sinubukan kong huwag pansinin. Niko was also eating his food, not minding anyone. Wala atang pakialam 'to kahit may nakatitig. Sanay na siguro. With his looks? I won't doubt it.

"Is your home far from your unit?"

I shrugged. "You can probably say that. It's a thirty to forty minute drive," prenteng sabi ko.

I grabbed my glass and drank at it. Niko ordered this wine. It's the one with a very low alcohol content.

"Ikaw? Where are you staying here?" Sumubo ako sa steak.

"I booked a hotel fit for the duration of my work break."

Tumango tango ako.

"Your family's business is a cruise line, right?" Niko asked.

Napatigil ako sa pagkain at nag-angat ng tingin. I smiled a little when I found him sipping at his drink. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin matapos mapanood kung paano gumalaw ang adam's apple niya.