Pure Seduction

Chapter 25

Chapter 25

When Ysabel landed Paluero, one thing came into her mind - maraming nagbago. The feels are still there, the way she looks into Paluero never changed even though years had passed. At syempre, kung naroon ang feels, andiyan din ang memories. She absentmindedly cursed. She shouldn't be thinking of it by now. Ysabel sighed. Dievia didn't told her that she'll be staying with the other participants of the event in a reasthouse. Ang akala niya ay ikukuha siya ng hotel room, iyon pala ay nasa iisang bubong silang lahat.

Napilitan siyang pumasok sa loob. Agad na sumalubong sa kanya ang mga nagtatawanang babae at lalaki sa may living room. She automatically attract their attention. Tipid siyang ngumiti sa mga ito.

"Ysabel, proxy for The Big Boss in Georgia." Aniya. Lumapit ang karamihan sa kanya at nagpakilala. Some were friendly and literally just being themselves, while some were formal. Karamihan din ay mga anak lang ng may-ari, manager, or secretary. Nevertheless, wala naman siyang paki. She had the inner force to look at her right and when she did, everything became blank.

"Girl, si Mr. De Vara yan. Boss na halimaw! Mapakama o personal! Ahihi! Ayoko na nga!" Saad ng katabi niya.

Tiningnan niya ito sa mata na parang wala lang ito sa kanya. He has his beard now, tone and defined muscles like before, plus the eyes that sips your soul. Pero lahat yan ay hindi na eepekto sa kanya. Van looked at her deeply. The woman that he's been dying to see again is now standing infront of him. He wanted to hug and give her the butterfly kisses that he wishes to, but her eyes that bores into his, kills and burns him.

"Good morning, Mr. De Vara. It's a pleasure to meet you, again." She managed to let the coldness overpower her longing for him. Mukha namang naramdaman ng iba ang tensyon sa paligid nila kaya nagingay na muli ang mga ito. She already played in her head the scenario that might happen once they met and this is just exactly what it is. Seeing him brings back the abnormal heartbeat she has pero hindi na lang niya iyon pinansin. It doesn't matter, you know?

Mabilis siyang umakyat sa kwarto niya at natulog. Jetlag hitted her really bad at nagising lang siya sa katok mula sa pintuan niya. Sinulyapan niya ang oras - it's already 2:30 in the afternoon. Matagal-tagal din ang tulog niya. She lazily stood up and open the door.

"Zara--"

"Holy fuck." She muttered when she saw Van outside her room. Wala siyang bra at kita ang utong niya sa suot na damit. Gustuhin man niyang magsisisigaw ay humalukipkip na lang siya.

Van cleared his throat. He saw her fully naked before and seeing her with no brasiere can easily make his pet hard. Iba talaga ang tama sa kanya nito. "We'll start the activities in a minute."

Tumango si Ysabel dito. Van wanted to talk to her about some matters, about them pero halata namang wala ito sa mood ngayon kaya tumalikod na lang siya.

"Wait," tawag ng dalaga. "It's Ysabel now, hindi na Zara." Tipid siyang ngumiti dito bago isinara ang pinto at napaupo sa sahig. Why is she acting like a teen? Kaunting paguusap lang ay dinaig pa niya ang jelly-ace sa panlalambot ng tuhod niya.

But really, why isn't he asking anything? Why isn't he bringing up the past? At higit sa lahat, hindi ba't ito naman ang gusto niya? Ang hindi na magtanong ang binata? Fuck. There's a chaos inside her. She bit her lip and fixed herself. She'll have to endure this for a week. Today is day 1 and she have to wait until day 7! For fuck's sake, mabilis lang ito. Nang makapag-ayos ay nadatnan niya ang mga kasamang nasa living room at nagkukwentuhan. Van is with some squad in a high stool while drinking. Agad siyang umupo.

"Activities for today contains pairings, getting-to-know, and discussing of the other plans for the next day." Pangunguna ng isang babaeng may hawak na papel. "You and your partner will go to your designated less-fortunate family na nakatira sa may dulo ng Paluero, makikisama at magiging isa kayong pamilya hanggang Thursday morning doon. Take note na hindi po kayo palamunin lang doon kungdi tutulong din kayo sa mga gawain nila. You'll have to experience how it is to be like them and how to live without anything but your family. Let's jump out of what we were used to."

Agad silang nagusap-usap at naghanap ng partner. Ysabel asked the girls near her to be her partner but unfortunately, taken silang lahat. Puro may mga kanya-kanyang kaibigan. And so she was left with no partner.

"Sinong walang partner?" Tanong ni Hazel - ang nangunguna. She raised her hand. Hazel smiled and smirked at her like she won a lottery. "Mr. De Vara, kayo na lang po ang partner."

Ysabel's jaw dropped. She didn't noticed that he was also raising his hand. Agad niyang napansin ang malaking ngiti nito sa labi. Gusto niya pa sanang magsalita pero pinili niyang tumahimik at tumango na lamang. The getting-to-know-part didn't push through. The boys convinced Hazel not to do it, masyado nga naman kasing pang-HS. Ang corny.

Plans have been stated at pagdating ng linggo ay magkakaroon ng formal party kung saan pupunta na ang lahat ng nakatataas kasama ang mga pinroxy nila. Ysabel has no choice but to go alone since the Big Boss can't make it. As for the family that they'll be with, kailangan nilang makisama sa mga ito at tanggapin ang kung anong meron sila. Van already knew that she'll be assigned with Zara, halata naman kasing magkakaibigan na ang mga tao dito. He'll make a perfect timing to talk to her. He waited for years and now that she's back, he won't let her slip through his palms.

They all made their way to each of their designated families. Walang kibong naunang maglakad si Ysabel. This is really not good. But then again, hindi naman si Van ang pakikisamahan niya kungdi ang pamilyang pupuntahan nila.

"Zara..." Nahigit niya ang hininga at mas binilisan ang paglalakad. Hiwa-hiwalay ang bahay ng mga pinili ni Hazel kung kaya't silang dalawa lang nasa daan na ito ngayon. "How are you, Zara? Hindi ka na nagparamdam nong huli nating pagkikita. They all missed you. When are we going to hang?"

His words amazed her. He sensed familiarity, she sensed nothing - but the cold wind. How can he act like nothing happened, when in fact it almost tore her apart? Bakit ganoon? Bakit pakiramdam niya, dehado pa din siya? She smiled a little and shoved his hand.

"I'm good." Tumalikod siya at muling nag lakad. "I'll check my schedule, then we'll know when." Umihip ang malakas na hangin kaya lalong napabilis ang lakad niya. Kung bakit ba naman kasi malayo ang bahay ng pupuntahan nila! Walking with Van isn't a torture - if this happened three years ago, pero ngayon? Walking with him is like biting an apple like Snow White. Mapanukso, pero sa huli masasaktan ka din.

"Wait, you're walking too fast." Tawa nito. "Kamusta na? You left the country, right? Balita ko sa Georgia ka daw nag-punta. You should have told me! I can visit you there, Zara!" She stopped walking and faced him. His smile faded like what Ysabel want it to be. Ang hindi siya maka-ngiti kapag kaharap niya ito.

"I told you to call me Ysabel, Mr. De Vara. And please? Let's be formal here." Tinalikuran na niya ito. Van doesn't know what to do. Alam niyang nakakainis na ang ginagawa niya, pero paano niya ba sisimulang kausapin ng masinsinan ang dalaga?! He's been deprived of her for years! Dear God! She's finally here ngunit hindi naman niya mayakap o mahawakan manlang ng matagal!

"Why Ysabel, Zara?" Hinablot ni Van ang braso nito at muling ihinarap sa kanya. Why Ysabel and not Zara? The old name that she's using? Ano iyon, umalis lang siya ay nagbago na lahat? Ultimo pangalan ay binago na din? The sudden hit of million questions annoyed Van. Hindi man niya aminin sa sarili ay nakararamdam siya ng kaba sa mga ipinapakita ng dalaga. "Let's talk, Zara Ysabel! Stop turning back and don't you dare--"

"Don't you dare what, Mr. De Vara?" Matalim niyang tinitigan ito. The way Van is looking at her makes her feel SO low. It feels like she's been thrown up years ago. Iyong mga panahong para siyang buntot at taga-sunod nito. She wants to make everything clear.

Hindi na siya ang dating Zara.

"I believe that we are actually talking eversince we faced each other today. Wag na nating balikan ang pangit na nakaraan. If I were you, I'll start walking dahil malamang naghihintay na sa atin ang pamilyang pupuntahan natin. Now if you'll let me, Mr. De Vara?" She smirked again, leaving him gritting his teeth.

You made her walk away before, and now you're asking her not to take a step? No, De Vera. You can't order such things to a broken woman. Atleast not anymore.