No Strings Attached

-24-

"Why here?" Tanong ni Chance nang makarating sila doon. Eleanor shrugged before smiling playfully. "I can't take you anywehere else. Ang daming tao na nagkalat sa baba. Hindi rin naman kita madala sa kwarto ko dahil ibang usapan na yun. Ayoko namang may ibang isipin ang mga tao."

"Geez, I didn't know you were concerned on what people will say about you." He smiled and Eleanor only glared at him.

He sighed, "How's your finals, anyway?"

Biglang umasim ang mukha ni Eleanor sa tanong ni Chance. She rolled her eyes after giving her a venomous glare, "Naku, pinaalala mo pa! Sapakin kaya kita diyan. May dalawa pa akong test this week. Mabuti na lang nakaraos na ako sa hell week."

"You'll get through it. I know you'll make a great Lawyer. You're a great woman, Eleanor." He smiled while looking around his surroundings. Nang mapatingin siya kay Eleanor ay nakatingin lang din ito sa kanya na parang nagpipigil ng tawa.

"What? Wala namang mali sa sinabi ko."

Eleanor laughed, "Madrama ka din pala, babe. I guess I'm one lucky girl to see you being dramatic."

You are lucky, he wanted to tell her. And he wondered if she would still consider herself lucky after knowing how deep he's into her.

He should probably tell her now.

***

Hinayaan muna ni Chance na maidaos ang party at ang mga laro para sa mga bata dahil alam niyang magiging abala pa si Eleanor. She's been very supportive to Lana. Halatang-halata naman dahil lagi itong nakadikit kay Lana. Ni hindi yata hinahayaang madapuan ng lamok ang kapatid.

Suddenly, he felt jealous of her younger sister. He wanted Eleanor to treat him like that. Yung tipong nakabuntot na talaga sa kanya, like he's the only thing that matters to her.

It was a very selfish thing to think of but Chance didn't mind. Dahil kung siya lang din naman, okay lang sa kanya na kay Eleanor umikot ang buong mundo niya. It would be an honor for him.

"Alam mo, natatakot na ako sayo. Mukhang bored na bored ka na eh. Do you regret coming here? Dapat nagpahinga ka na lang." Litanya ni Eleanor nang lapitan siya nito.

Madami ang naging bisita sa birthday ni Lana. Mga kaibigan at kalaro, pero hindi rin naman nawala ang mga business partners and family friends ng mga Gonzales. He already spotted his parents among the crowd at nabati na niya ang mga ito kanina. Mas pinili lang niya na mapag-isa habang pinagmamasdan si Eleanor na todo bantay sa kapatid.

At ngayon na siya ang kasama ni Eleanor, he couldn't be anything more than happy.

"Chance, you're spacing out. Sabaw ka pa yata ngayon eh ako itong dumaan sa madugong Finals. Are you sure you're okay?" Nabali na naman ang pag-iisip niya when Eleanor cupped his face and forced him to face her.

He pursed his lips when he stared right into her lovely face.

How he wanted to kiss her right there and then. But he tried to keep his emotions at bay. Nakakahiya naman na makita pa sila ng lahat ng bisita kung hahalikan niya ito.

"I'm okay..." His voice was lower and sensual. He had a glimpse of her lips yet again which made him clear his throat, "Can we go somewhere else, hon?"

Pinagmasdan siyang maigi ni Eleanor bago tumango. Muli siya nitong hinila patungo sa veranda. From where they stood, ramdam niya ang malamig na hangin dulot ng panahon at ramdam din niya ang kaba.

He let out a deep breath. Pakiramdam niya ay sa bawat segundong lumilipas na hindi pa rin niya nasasabi ang lahat kay Eleanor, ay para na siyang sasabog. He's a time bomb and he knew he was about to explode.

"Eleanor..." He started. Tiningnan niya si Eleanor pero muli ding nag-iwas ng tingin. He never felt this nervous before. Lagi naman siyang kampante sa sarili niya. Maybe the only times he was anxious like this would be the time when he realized that Nathalia won't show up during their wedding or when it was revealed to him that Monique was screwing him behind his back.

"Are you dying? Ang putla mo, babe." Untag ni Eleanor. Ramdam niya ang pagtataka nito dahil sa inaakto niya.

Napailing siya at pilit na ngumiti. "Remember when I told you that I think I love this certain girl?"

Eleanor's face lit up before nodding vigorously, "You're telling me about her?? OMG, I'm so excited!! Sino siya, Chance!!!!" Niyugyog siya nito sa sobrang excitement. Chance's lips twitched in amusement.

Yes, he's going to tell her now.

Kahit nakakapit pa sa mga balikat niya ang kamay ni Eleanor dahil sa pagyugyog nito sa kanya ay nagsimula na siyang magsalita.

"She's very beautiful." He smiled while studying her face. "I think for the most part, she's sexy and hot and smart and lovely at the same time. She makes me laugh. She drives me crazy. She annoys the hell out of me, but damn, I can't get enough of her. She wants to be a Lawyer someday. She has a younger sister-who's very adorable, just like her. And from what I can see, she loves her sister so much-maybe too much dahil gusto kong pagselosan yung kapatid niya. She's spontaneous and funny." Panimula niya. Nakita niya ang pagkunot ng noo ni Eleanor sa sinabi niya.

"Chance―"

He cut her off, "We kissed thrice already. The first time was when she insisted that she's not drunk. The second time was after I met her Mom. And the third time was when I took her to a vacation and stole her away from her date because I don't want her with anyone else but me. I remember when I became an asshole of a guy to her, and God knows how much I regret what I said to her that time. And the best part for me is that she lets me call her Hon while she calls me her Chance baby..."

Ang mga kamay ni Eleanor na nasa balikat niya ay napunta sa bibig nito. Siya naman ay hindi na din naka-imik because he felt like he said enough.

Nabalot sila ng matinding katahimikan and Chance didn't know if it was a good thing or not. He didn't even know if he's supposed to be relieved or not. Pakiramdam niya ay mamamatay siya habang inaantay ang reaksyon ni Eleanor.

"Are you saying that... that... that..." Eleanor couldn't even complete a sentence without spacing out.

"Yes. I was talking about you, Eleanor Kai Gonzales."