"Magpapalit lang ako.." sabi ko pagkatapos naming bahagyang nagpahinga at nag-usap pagkatapos kumain, nakapambahay lang kasi ako.
Baka kung saan ako dadalhin ni Mark tapos pajama at t-shirt lang yung damit ko.
"Alright, I'll be here," sagot niya, tuwang tuwa talaga si mama sa kanya dahil hindi matapos ang kanilang usapan.
Tumango naman ako at umakyat na, habang sila ni mama ay patuloy na nag-uusap tungkol sa mga bagay bagay.
I immediately zoomed into my closet.
What to wear for a surprise?
Kinuha ko nalang ang denim skirt na nakita ko at beige na halter-neck top, nag belt na rin ako ng itim at kaparehong kulay na sapatos din ang pinili ko.
Mabilis ako nag makeup dahil kaunti lang naman ang ginawa ko, I grabbed my small baguette bag after and got going.
Pagbaba ko ay nakuha ko ang tingin ni mama at ni Mark, nagtugma ang aming mga mata, suddenly I felt awkward so I shifted my gaze.
"You look stunning, hija. What do you think hijo?," mama compliments then looks at Mark like she has this evil plan in mind.
Outside I'm smiling, inside I'm shouting my lungs because of embarrassment!
"She's indeed stunning, tita," ani Mark, tumingin ako at nakita kong nakatitig siya sa akin, hindi sa damit ko, kundi sa mata ko. Malalim na malalim ang titig.
"Then you two should get going," ani mama na naging dahilan ng pagbaklas ng tingin ni Mark sa akin, my cheeks are still hot.
"Yes po tita, thank you for inviting me here, may curfew po ba si Yesha? Para makita ko ang oras at maihatid siya bago iyon," ani Mark kay mama.
I knew it! This man is old fashioned! I wanted to laugh pero pinigilan ko iyon.
"Kahit hindi mo na iuwi," mama remarks.
Alam kong rinig na rinig ang singhap ko sa buong bahay.
"Mama!," di ko na napigilang mapasigaw at napatawa naman silang dalawa.
"Just kidding... but wala naman siyang curfew hijo, I let her do what she wants, just text me if something comes up or anything that I should be involved of, other than that, enjoy your date," ani mama bago ngumiti.
"Noted po, tita," ani Mark bago lumapit sa akin, senyales na sabay na kami uuna.
"Una na po kami mama," pagpaalam ko at tinguan ako ni mama, hindi nawawala ang kanyang ngiti.
When we exited, there parked is a black and sleek-looking Bugatti car, I am not expert in cars, but I'm certain this is expensive. As expected from the Villavida heir.
Pinagbuksan ako ni Mark ng sasakyan at pumasok naman na ako doon, nalibang ako ng kaunti sa interior ng kanyang sasakyan, it was so simple and classy at the same time.
Natigil naman ako sa pagtingin nung nakapasok na siya pagkatapos umikot.
I clutched my bag when he turned on the engine, tanging iyon lang nagiingay dahil pareho kaming tahimik.
"Are you sure... it's okay that you didn't go to your friends, and went here instead?," hindi ko pa gaano matanggap, dahil ito ang pinaunlakan niya at hindi ang mga kaibigan niya! Paano kung importante pala iyon o kailangan siya doon?
"Makikipag-inuman lang naman ang mga iyon, ayos lang, don't worry about it, alright?," he said, in an assuring tone.
"Sana tinaggihan mo nalang ang imbitasyon ni mama," sabi ko bago tumingin sa mga nilalaro kong daliri.
"Edi minus points na ako kay tita nun, ayokong pangit ang reputasyon ko sa magiging mother-in-law ko, Yesha" sabi niya, his tone was now playful, he was looking at the road, driving smoothly dahil napatingin ako sa kanya, how can he say this so straightforwardly? I'm left here flustered!
"Ewan ko sa'yo," I said before looking at my side of the window, I heard him chuckle at that.
Unbelievable!
"Tell me about yourself, Yesha, medyo mahaba-haba ang takbo natin," aniya, one hand on the steering wheel and the other's elbow was resting on the space on his side of the window, playing with his lips.
"I don't really have much to share..." sabi ko, dahil totoo naman. This is my first time encountering this type of conversation!
"Favorite color?," tanong niya sa akin.
"White," sagot ko.
"Why?" he intrigues.
"It's simple, many view it as basic pero para sa akin, it's peaceful looking at it," sagot ko naman.
"Ikaw?" tanong ko pabalik.
"Black," aniya.
"Then we contrast each other," sabi ko.
"Maybe," he said, his tone was flat.
"Black and white looks good together though," he adds.
"Hindi ka ba nauubusan ng banat? You're like an old-fashioned high school student," panunukso ko.
I heard him chuckle, his smile was covered by his fingers, because he maintained his position like earlier.
"Ganito na ako simula noon eh, I don't think I can change," aniya.
"It's okay, I like it," sagot ko naman, bahagya siyang napatingin.
"Your mom said you like the city view," aniya sa akin, changing the topic because he shifted after I said my last remark.
"Yeah, when I'm driving or when I'm on a plane, the lights and the tall buildings interest me," sabi ko.
"Why is that?," tanong niya sa akin.
"I don't know, siguro noong buhay pa si lolo, when he would take me anywhere he would always talk to me about the buildings and the lights, the city. Maybe I adapted it," sabi ko habang tumitingin sa bintana, admiring the motion the street lights create every time we pass by one.
"Tell me more," aniya, lumingon ako sa kanya, he was looking at the road like he was focused but his expression shows otherwise, dahil mukhang nakikinig siya sa akin at nasa akin ang atensyon niya.
I gulped when I felt a weird feeling rising up in my body, something giddy.
"Yun na rin ang rason kung bakit ako nag-engineering, sa tingin ko hindi ako ang tipong gumagawa ng disenyo, kundi ang gumagawa ng mga establisyimento... I discovered I'm more for construction that design," pagbabahagi ko, napangiti naman ako habang nagkukwento.
"When I spearheaded my first project, I was ecstatic dahil dahil tumitingin lang ako sa mga ganon, ngayon may gawa na rin ako na kasama sa mga nakikita ko tuwing nagdadrive o lumilipad—" pagbabahagi ko.
Natigilan naman ako when I realized I shared too much, I groaned at that thought, medyo napawi ang ngiti ko at bahagyang kinakabahan na nilingon siya.
Instead of the expected reaction I thought I'll get from him, I saw the ghost of his smile that later on became a questioning face.
"Bakit ka tumigil?," tanong niya sa akin.
"Go on, I like listening to your stories," aniya sa akin.
"Hindi ako sanay eh, nadala lang... nakakahiya," sabi ko, almost in a whisper tone.
"Don't be shy, you can tell me every story you want to. I won't get tired listening to them. I feel like you're very happy sharing them, so I'm all ears because I like seeing and hearing you happy," aniya dahil natigil ang aming takbo at tumingin siya sa akin.
"Thanks..." I trailed off.
His brows were a little furrowed pero naalis iyon agad.
Napatingin ako, mukhang dito kami, but this is all grass... nasaan kami? Gusto kong sisihin ang sarili ko dahil sa dada ko kanina ay 'di ko na nakita kung saan kami pumunta.
Bababa na sana ako pero nakita kong na sa harap na siya ng aking pintuan at pinagbuksan ako.
Right, he was straight from work kaya naman trousers at button down long sleeved polo parin ang gamit niya ngayon.
"You're not afraid of heights, right?" tanong niya sa akin.
"Nope," I said, medyo nagtataka kung bakit.
"Let me guide you," he said offering his hand so I grabbed it.
Nilakad niya ako paharap ng mabagal.
Napaawang ang aking mga labi.
An immaculate view of the whole city was in front of me.
"Do you like it?," he asks me.
"Yes.. thank you," sabi ko, hindi mawala ang ngiti sa labi na tinignan siya.
He smiled a little, like he usually does.
"Let's sit down?," tanong niya sa akin.
Uupo na sana ako pero hinawakan niya ako ng bahagya.
"Wait," he said bago tumakbo patungo sa kanyang sasakyan, naiwan naman akong nagtataka.
Then I saw him again, he was holding his coat.
Tinignan ko lang siya noong inilapag niya iyon sa dahunang sahig.
"Yung coat mo! Madudumihan!" I said, panicky.
"Nah, it's alright, let's sit," aniya.
"Sigurado ka ba? Okay lang sa akin madumihan, madali lang naman to labahan," sabi ko, I feel guilty ruining this good coat just so I can sit.
"I'm sure Yesha, let's sit," aniya, he softly tugs me down to sit down with him.
Now we're sitting on a hill top, admiring the city view.
He looked at me, I felt a slight heat going through my cheeks.
"Your eyes compliment the view," aniya sa akin, bahagya akong tumingin sa baba dahil hindi ko alam ano ang irereact o sasabihin. Damn I don't know if I'm rusty or is it just because it didn't feel this way when it was with my first relationship.
"Thanks," finally naibuga ko rin ang salita mula sa bibig ko!
"I know this isn't a dream date because I didn't plan it throughly—"
"What are you saying? This is the dream date... ngayon ko lang naranasan na dalhin sa isang lugar na gustong gusto ko," I said looking in front to admire the tall buildings and different strobes of lights, i widely smile.
"If this is the reaction I'll get every time, then I won't get tired of driving you to the hill top, sit on my coat and stay quiet with each other's presence," aniya, napatingin ako sakanya dahil sa sinabi niya, pero siya naman ang tumingin sa harap noong ako na ang nakatingin sa harap.
"Me too," sabi ko, tumingin na rin sa harap pagkatapos ng ilang segundo.
"I like this," I added.
Despite the ample amount of distance between us, the cold night felt warm, with his comforting presence.