Monasterio Series 8: Nights in Casa Vallejo

Chapter 2

Nga lang... ni hindi man lang nag-aksaya ng ilang segundo itong si Terrence na sulyapan ang mga binti at hita ko! It's as if this doesn't pique his interest out. O, baka naman sanay na sa mga ganitong tanawin kaya baliwala na lang sa kaniya?

Siguro nga. Sa gandang lalaki ba naman niya. Malabo na hindi siya pinipilahan ng mga babae.

Ibinalik niya ang atensyon sa laptop matapos sumimsim sa kape. Habang ako, tahimik lang siyang pinagmamasdan.

"So, what are you doing here in Baguio?" I asked, couldn't stay quiet anymore.

Masiyado akong nabibingi sa katahimikan.

"Work," he answered without looking at me. "You?"

"Hmm. Love life."

That's when he lifted his eyes to meet mine. "You have a boyfriend."

"You sound surprised." I smirked.

"You shouldn't let me stay here if you're in a relationship."

"Exactly. Why would I let you stay here if I have one?"

His brow shot up as if I am some kind of a joke. Pinaiikot ikot ko lang ang usapan naming dalawa kahit pa puwede ko naman siyang diretsuhin.

He dropped his gaze on his laptop and slowly shook his head. Isinara niya iyon pagkatapos at umayos ng upo. He looked at me, straight and firm.

"No boyfriend then. So what do you mean by love life?"

Ngumisi ako. Sumimsim ako ng kape mula sa cup. Dahil masiyadong bagsak ang temperatura dito sa Baguio ay madali itong lumamig.

"I went here to see my boyfriend. Unfortunately, he broke up with me so basically, he's now my ex boyfriend. That easy. I decided to spend a little more time here. Para naman hindi sayang ang biyahe ko papunta dito."

"Your boyfriend broke up with you," he repeated as if he was trying to let those words sink into his brain. "That's quite surprising though."

"Why is that?"

Mula sa center table ay gumapang ang mga mata niya sa akin. Tinitigan niya ako. Sa maraming beses na tinitigan ako ng isang lalaki, ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng pagkailang. He studied me with a predator's unwavering attention. His dark eyes radiated a fierce, uncompromising intelligence.

"Nothing. I just thought that he's some kind of a fool to let go of you." he said and avoided my gaze.

Hilaw akong natawa. "If I have just found the truth earlier, I would surely do the same."

Binalingan niya ako, kahit walang emosyon ang gwapong mukha ay pansin ang interes na dumadaloy roon.

"What truth?"

Wala namang masama kung magkuwento ako sa kaniya, hindi ba? He's a stranger. Minsan, mas masarap pang maglabas ng mga hinaing sa mga taong hindi ka naman personal na kakilala. At least I won't have to worry about him telling it to other people. What he hears here... will stay here.

"He lied to me about his age. He told me that he was already thirty seven. Isa ang edad sa mga batayan ko bago ako makipagrelasyon sa isang lalaki. Sunod na lang ang pangalan sa lipunan."

Tumaas ang kilay niya saka tumango tango. "Age. Hmm, quite new. What's the matter with it?"

"I'm already thirty five, Terrence. So I want my man to be older than me. Kahit isang taon lang, ang mahalaga ay mas matanda sa akin. Ayaw ko makipagrelasyon sa mas bata sa akin. You know, they are immature."

He chuckled, it was laced with sarcasm. "So are you saying that I'm immature?"

My eyes blinked. Saka ko lang naisip ang ibig niyang sabihin matapos ang ilang segundo. Don't tell me... he's only on his early twenties?

Sayang naman.

"How old are you, Terrence?" I asked bravely.

"Thirty, ma'am. But I don't think I'm still immature at this point of my life."

Sinabi ko bang lahat ng mas bata sa akin ay immature? Hindi naman, ah. Wala akong sinabing ganoon.

Ano, Priscilla? Nakalimot ka na agad dahil lang gwapo siya at malakas ang dating niya sa'yo?

"Well, karamihan." sabi ko at nag-iwas ng tingin.

Natawa siya, malalim ang boses.

"I don't think age should matter in a relationship, Priscilla..." he said that made me look at him. He was throwing piercing stare at me. "As long as you both love each other... as long as you're happy while being together... and as long as he can satisfy you in bed... it will work out."

My eyes narrowed at his last words. Tumaas ang sulok ng mga labi niya habang titig na titig sa akin na para bang inaabangan niya talaga ang magiging reaksyon ko sa sinabi niya.

"I'll just go out to make a phone call," he said and pushed himself off the couch.

Tiningala ko siya, hindi pa rin makapagsalita. Humakbang siya palapit sa akin, huli na para mapagtanto kong nakatuon na ang mga kamay niya sa magkabilang gilid ng armrest habang ang mga labi ay nasa tapat ng aking tainga.

"I call bullshit on your beliefs. You may want to change it starting tonight..." he whispered which made my core feel that tingling sensation again. "I'll change it."

--

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