#NewClassicRTMC
Chapter 30
Courtships
Ike loves me.
He fell in love with me. He came to Roxas for me. He was willing to spend a fortune just to stay here and court me.
I didn't know how I made it through the night without losing my mind. It felt like I was being pranked. I even considered the thought that I was just inside a fairytale-like dream, and I would eventually wake up to the reality where we could never be.
Ike's confession brought me to the brink of my sanity. I struggled to think properly. My chest felt tight because of too much happiness.
I could still remember exactly how he looked at me when he confessed his feelings. Even when the place was slightly dimmed, I saw him clearly.
His face was close to mine. His eyes were full of passion. He didn't just confess to me using words. He showed his sincerity through his gaze. There was no hint of hesitation. The words fell from his lips with so much emotion which embraced me with warmth.
I suddenly wondered about the current status of our relationship. I'm in love with him, and he feels the same way. Does that mean we're in an unspoken romantic relationship?
Pero hindi puwede 'yon! Hindi niya pa ako nililigawan nang maayos. Hindi niya pa rin tinatanong sa akin ang mahalagang tanong. Sinubukan ko ring itanggi sa kanya ang nararamdaman ko.
It's very complicated. But why am I even thinking about being in a relationship with him already?
Biting my lower lip, I could feel the heat rising to my cheeks. As I stared at my reflection in the mirror, I stopped combing my hair and brought the hairbrush down.
Umagang-umaga ay namumula ang aking pisngi. Kahit na medyo morena ay hindi naitago nito ang bahagyang pagkapula. Hindi ko maiwasang mangiti, ngunit agad din akong nakaramdam ng hiya.
Is this how I looked when he confessed?
Sana ay hindi! Mukhang kilig na kilig ako! Halatang hulog na hulog ako sa kanya.
Napabuntonghininga ako. Pakiramdam ko ay para akong tanga habang kinakausap ang sarili sa aking isipan.
At that moment, without a warning, fears and doubts trespassed inside my head. It rained on my fantasies of being in a relationship with the man I love. I started to feel scared. I was reluctant to take risk again.
I knew Ike was telling the truth when he confessed. I felt his raw and overwhelming emotions. But the question is: How long will he stay in love with me?
The pain I experienced when I got jealous of him and Ida was already too much for me to take. Paano kung magbago ang kanyang nararamdaman isang araw? What if he's just infatuated with me? I don't think the pain would be friendly with me when that time comes. Just imagining it already made me feel like I was suffocating.
Bago pa lumala ang aking pag-iisip ay nagdesisyon akong pigilan na ang sarili. Matapos kong mag-ayos ay lumabas na ako ng aking kuwarto.
As soon as I came out, I was greeted with laughter coming from the living room. Papaalis na si Auntie Divina ngunit mukhang hindi matuloy-tuloy dahil nandito si Ike. She was keeping him entertained.
A smile tugged my lips while I was trying to suppress it. I hated how I couldn't control my feelings the moment I saw him. I tried my best to school my expression and acted like I wasn't affected by his presence.
I kind of expected that he would come to my house. It was somehow the same to what happened before. It was like we were dancing on the same rhythm but a different song.
Si Ike ang unang nakapansin sa aking paglabas ng kuwarto. From having a conversation with my auntie, he craned his neck to look at me and smiled.
"Good morning."
Napalunok ako sa kanyang pagbati. Hindi ko alam kung bakit ako kinabahan.
Nilingon na rin ako ni Auntie Divina. "Ay, Aleena! Dumating si Ike rito habang naliligo ka kanina."
Auntie looked so happy to see him. Ang akala ko pa naman ay mayroon siyang sama ng loob kay Ike dahil sa nangyari sa Maynila. However, it seemed like nothing's changed.
"Aba'y may sasakyan na pala siya rito! Nasabi ko tuloy na gusto mong pumunta ng Puerto para bumili ng mga kailangan mo sa mall," dagdag niya, ngiting-ngiti. "Sasamahan ka na raw niyang bilhin ang mga kailangan mo."
Nanlaki ang aking mga mata. "Po?"
"Oo, sasamahan ka niya kaya gumayak ka na ng pang-alis. Mabuti na lang at nakaligo ka na," utos niya sa akin.
"P-pero sa Linggo ko pa po balak pumunta. Magpapasama po ako kay Gian—"
"Sus! Ikaw talagang bata ka!" pagalit na sabi ni auntie. "Guguluhin mo pa si Gian. Madaming ginagawa sa trabaho 'yon. Nandito naman si Ike. Wala naman daw siyang gagawin dito sa Palawan at nagbabakasyon lang."
I glanced at Ike. He was wearing a huge grin. Tumatango-tango pa siya sa mga sinabi ni Auntie Divina. It felt like they were teaming up against me.
"Oh? Bilisan mo na at magbihis ka na! Bumalik ka na roon sa kuwarto mo!" Sapilitan akong pinabalik ni Auntie Divina sa aking kuwarto.
Habang nagbibihis ako ay narinig ko pa ang mga bilin niya kay Ike bago umalis para pumasok sa trabaho. Once I was done, Ike was already waiting by the door while playing with his car keys.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
Nodding my head, I slightly pursed my lips.
Gumilid siya sa aming pintuan na nakabukas upang makadaan na ako. "Tara na," sabi niya.
I exhaled deeply before I decided to go with him. Binilisan ko ang aking paglalakad dahil pinapanood niya ako habang papalapit sa kanya. I was feeling conscious. Pakiramdam ko ay puwede akong matapilok sa sobrang kaba.
I never felt so nervous while walking out of our house. Ngayon lang na nandyan siya! I didn't want to embarrass myself in front of him. Natatakot ako na baka maturn-off siya sa akin at hindi niya na ako magustuhan.
Outside our house, his expensive-looking, sleek black sedan was parked. It looked so out of place. I'm not knowledgeable about cars but I could tell that it costed a fortune. Halatang bagong bili pa dahil walang kadumi-dumi at gasgas ito. Parang isang beses pa lang nagamit.
Ike pressed the key fob and opened the door of his car for me. Tahimik lamang akong pumasok. Mas nakumpirma kong bago lang ang kanyang sasakyan dahil sa amoy nito.
It didn't smell like him yet. It smelled like plastic and chemicals. I missed his car back in Manila.
"Sa Puerto Princesa tayo, 'di ba?" tanong niya sa akin nang makapasok na rin sa sasakyan.
Tipid lamang akong tumango.
"Okay. Masusunod po."
He turned on the car's engine and effortlessly maneuvered his car. Sumandal ako nang maayos sa upuan at saka nilingon ang labas. Nilibang ko ang sarili sa panonood ng tanawin na aming dinadaanan. Sinubukan kong maging kumportable dahil matagal-tagal ang biyahe papunta sa Puerto. Kaya nga lang ay para akong sinisikil ng katahimikan.
I thought he would try to tease me but he was surprisingly quiet. Pasimple ko siyang nilingon. His expression was firm while he was focused on driving. I couldn't read him. Ang hirap talagang hulaan ng kanyang mga iniisip.
Ike is good at showing his genuine and raw feelings. But if he also wants to hide himself, he can easily do it, too.
"Para kang pagong..." I uttered absentmindedly while staring at him.
He was slightly startled when I spoke out of the blue. Mabilis na umangat-baba ang kanyang balikat bago ako nilingon. Nahirapan nga lang siya sa pagtingin sa akin dahil kailangan niyang pagtuunan ng atensyon ang pagmamaneho.
"Pagong? Ako?" naguguluhan niyang tanong, pabalik-balik ang tingin sa daan at sa akin.
Tumango ako ulit.
Suddenly, the confusion left his face when his lips curved upwards. There was so much pleasure in his smile.
"Pagong hmm... Not bad," he muttered. "Is that your chosen endearment for me now?"
Parang akong nasamid sa hangin nang maubo ako. I wasn't expecting him to become teasing again. Sino ba naman kasing mag-aakalang may masasabi pa siya roon?
Nagtaas siya ng kilay sa akin at ngumiti nang muling sumulyap. There was a hint of laughter in his lips that he was trying to suppress. The amusement in his eyes was very vivid. Halatang natutuwa na naman siya sa nakuhang reaksyon mula sa akin.
"Ano ba ang pinagsasasabi mo?" iritado kong balik sa kanya. "Naisip ko lang na para kang pagong. It's not an endearment! Ang corny no'n!"
Ngumuso siya, ang mga mata ay nasa kalsada na ulit. "Tama ka rin. Medyo corny nga," pagsang-ayon niya. "Ano na lang ang itatawag mo sa akin?"
"Ike!"
Medyo sumimangot siya ngunit halatang nang-iinis lamang. "So casual."
Kumunot ang aking noo. Mas lalo akong nairita sa kanya. "E, ano ang gusto mo? Baby?!"
"Baby? Hmm..." he echoed and acted like he was in deep thought.
I just stared at him. But after just a few seconds, he smiled again. There was a spark in his eyes when he glanced my way.
"Baby, I like that," he whispered in a very soft voice.
As my lips parted, the irritation was replaced with a sweet, happy feeling. My pulse quickened.
"Na-nababaliw ka na ata!" Sinubukan kong tawanan ang kanyang sinabi. "Bakit naman kita bibigyan ng endearment? Hindi pa naman tayo!"
"Oh, okay..." Mas lalo siyang nangiti. "Saka na lang kapag tayo na?"
It seemed like my brain stopped functioning. It couldn't form a coherent thought. I realized that it was better for me to stop talking back.
Nanahimik na lang ako at nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya. He laughed at my reaction. He was having so much fun teasing me and making me flustered.
I frowned and decided to just ignore him. Throughout the rest of the ride to Puerto Princesa, I zipped my mouth while Ike kept on stealing glances every time he had the chance. However, it was too late for me to realize that it was a wrong move.
"Are you mad at me?"
I didn't know how many times Ike asked that question. Simula noong nasa sasakyan pa lang kami hanggang nasa mall ay paulit-ulit niya akong tinatanong. I tried to ignore him and give him a cold shoulder but he really just wouldn't stop.
"Aleena..." His voice sounded desperate while calling my name that it was breaking my heart. "I'm sorry. I won't do it again."
Out of guilt, I spun my heels and finally faced him.
He was looking so forlorn with the visor of his cap down to cover his eyes. We were both wearing ballcaps to somehow hide ourselves and avoid getting the attention of other people. But if we'd talk in the middle of the mall, for sure, we'd make a great scene.
"Hindi ako galit," iyon na lamang ang sinabi ko para mapanatag ang loob niya.
Itinagilid niya ang kanyang ulo upang matingnan ako nang maayos dahil nakaharang ang sumbrero. Kita sa kanyang mga mata na hindi siya naniniwala sa akin.
Ngumuso siya na parang batang napagalitan. "It doesn't seem like that."
Humalukipkip ako. "Gusto mo bang galit ako?"
"Of course not," agap niya.
"E, 'di maniwala ka na lang na hindi nga ako galit."
"Even if you are really mad?"
"Hindi nga ako galit."
"Or irritated?"
I sighed in frustration. I knew by then that we wouldn't have a proper conversation, especially because we were out in the open.
"Mamaya na lang tayo mag-usap," sabi ko na lang at saka siya tinalikuran.
I really couldn't understand him. He said he's sorry, but it seemed like he was trying to test my patience once more.
Binilisan na namin ang pamimili ng aking kailangan. He offered a lot of times to pay for my things, but of course, I didn't let him. Masyado na siyang madaming naibigay sa akin. Hindi ko pa nga siya nababayaran. Sigurado akong siya ang naglabas ng pera sa Maynila noong hindi pa ako kumikita sa endorsements at sa pagsali sa Road to Record. He also paid for the wages of my staffs and Sir Joel.
Mabuti na lang at hindi na siya masyadong nakipagtalo pa sa akin. We were being suspiciously discreet to hide our identities that we were getting more attention. Hindi rin maganda ang tingin sa amin ng mga security guards. They were looking at us like we were planning a heist.
And so, once we were done with shopping, we immediately headed over to the parking lot. Ike volunteered to carry all the shopping bags. The new cabinet I bought would be shipped to our house for convenience.
"It's already past one in the afternoon," Ike stated when we were finally settled in his car. "We should eat our lunch here in Puerto. Mahaba pa ang biyahe pabalik sa Roxas. Baka malipasan ka ng gutom."
"Hindi tayo puwedeng kumain dito. Madaming makakakita sa atin. Pinagtitinginan na nga tayo kanina," paalala ko sa kanya.
"Then, we'll eat where no one would care about us," he simply said and stepped on the gas.
I had no idea where Ike would take me to eat lunch. I thought we would dine in a fancy local restaurant or café. Bahagya akong nagulat nang makitang inihinto niya ang sasakyan malapit sa isang karinderya. May dalawang medyo may katandaang lalaki lamang ang kumakain doon.
"Let's go," nakangiting aya niya habang tinatanggal ang kanyang seatbelt.
Although I was still a bit surprised, I quickly unbuckled my seatbelt and went out of the car. Pinaupo ako agad ni Ike at walang pag-aalangan siyang tumabi sa akin. Ang dalawang kumakain na lalaki ay walang pakialam sa aming pagdating. Just like what he said, he would take me to eat where no one would care about us.
"Ano ang gusto ninyo, pogi?" nakangiting paglapit sa amin ng tindera.
"Ano po ang mga ulam ninyo?" Ike took the initiative to converse with the woman.
"Buksan mo lang iyang mga lalagyan," sagot nito sa isang masiglang tono. "Mayroon kaming inasal, danggit, sisig, menudo, at fried chicken. May nilagang itlog din. Ano ba ang gusto mo?"
Ike turned to me. "What do you want to eat?"
"Hmm... Iyong danggit at sisig na lang siguro."
Ngumiti si Ike sa akin bago muling nilingon ang babae. "Isang order po ng danggit, sisig at inasal."
"Oh, sige, sandale lang, pogi!"
"Okay po."
Namamangha kong tingnan si Ike habang pinapanood niya ang babae na hinahanda ang aming mga biniling ulam. Napatingin siya sa dalawang lalaki na kumakain malapit sa amin kaya nalipat din sa kanila ang aking mga mata.
"Busog na po ba kayo? May gusto pa po ba kayong kainin?" kaswal ngunit magalang niyang tanong sa dalawa na ikinagulat ng mga ito.
"Ayos lang kami, hijo! Salamat!" sagot ng isa.
Ngumiti si Ike at tumango. "Bayad na po ba sila? Ako na po ang magbabayad ng kinain nila," pagmamagandang-loob niya.
The two men were happy and grateful that Ike volunteered to pay for their meal. My heart warmed watching the wholesome scene. It felt like I just fell deeper for him. I know he's kind and helpful, but I didn't know that it's up to that extent.
"Hindi ko alam na kumakain ka pala sa karinderya..." panimula ko nang usapan.
I know how rich his family is. They even own an island for their private rest house. He even got richer by being in New Classic. Hindi ko lubos maisip na posibleng kumakain siya sa mga karinderya.
"Madaming karinderya at streetfood stalls malapit sa kung saan ako nag-aral ng college. May madalas kaming kinakainan noon," kuwento niya. "Sic really enjoyed eating Filipino homecooked meals, so we would often dine there for lunch and after school."
Nodding my head, I tried to imagine him as a college student. He must be very popular at school because of his looks and irresistible charms. Siguro ay hindi mabilang sa sampung daliri ang mga nagkagusto sa kanya.
"Hija, ang suwerte mo rito sa boyfriend mo," biglang singit ng babae nang inilapag ang aming mga ulam. Natigil ako agad sa pag-iisip. "Guwapo na at mabait pa. Huwag mo na 'yang papakawalan!"
Nalaglag ang aking panga sa sinabi nito sa akin. Hindi ko agad naitama ang kanyang sinabi.
Natawa si Ike at saka umiling. "Hindi ko pa po siya girlfriend," sabi niya sa isang malungkot na tono. "Hindi pa po ako sinasagot, e."
I glared at him. Napaka-assuming naman nito. Feeling niya ata ay sasagutin ko talaga siya.
"Hala, hija! Sagutin mo na at baka maunahan ka pa ng iba."
Nahihiya na lamang akong ngumiti sa kanya, ngunit sa totoo ay nakaramdam ako ng kaba. Hanggang sa biyahe pag-uwi ay ginagambala ako ng sinabing paalala ng babae. Sa sobrang daming gumugulo sa aking isipan ay hindi ko namalayang nakabalik na kami ng Roxas.
"We're here," Ike announced once he parked the car right outside our house.
"Uh..." Nilingon ko pa ang paligid bago siya tiningnan nang maayos. "Sige. Salamat sa pagsama. Ingat ka pabalik sa resort," sabi ko na lang at akmang lalabas na ng sasakyan nang hinawakan niya ang aking braso upang pigilan.
I turned to him with a confused look. "Bakit?"
"Can we talk about what happened earlier first?" he asked, and then gradually let go of my arm. "I know you were mad at me. Maybe you still are. I just want to apologize for being a bit childish."
Napaawang ang aking mga labi.
"To be honest, I really don't know how to approach you as your suitor. I don't know how to converse or interact with you. I know nothing about courtships. I lost my confidence. I'm scared that if I happen to do something wrong, I would waste the chance that I have," he explained himself. "But I guess I chose the wrong way for us to get closer. I only annoyed you and unintentionally pushed you away from me. I'm sorry. I'll try to be better."
My chest felt tight and heavy. It hurt to know how he truly felt. I thought he was just purposely trying to annoy and irritate me because he was having fun seeing my reaction. I didn't know he was walking on eggshells because he's not experienced in courting someone.
"And if what the woman said earlier bothered you, I promise you that there's nothing for you to worry about," he gave me the reassurance I needed to calm the storm inside my head. "I'm all yours, Aleena. You're the only one who can have me."