"I'm sorry Andrew... I didn't know that you are the Duke Andrew that they are talking about..." Sambit ni Zera nang naroon na sila sa receiving area ng Museum.
"Why are you sorry... I prefer you calling me by just my name and not any title given to me." Sambit ni Andrew na hanggang sa ngayon ay nakangiti pa rin.
"You should have told me when we were at the cruise." Sambit ni Zera.
"What for...? So you can keep your distance away from me...?" Tanong ni Andrew.
"No... It's just that I'm caught off guard..." Sambit ni Zera na nahihiya.
"Zera, Why are you here...? I mean why are you here in Paris.?" Tanong ni Andrew at naging seryoso.
"I'm here for a training Andrew. So that I can be certified to be a curator." Sambit ni Zera.
"What about... What about your husband...? Is he here as well...?" Tanong ni Andrew.
"He... He's not here... I don't want to talk about him Andrew... I hope you don't mind..." Sambit ni Zera na medyo nailang sa binuksang paksa.
"Sorry My lady... I didn't mean to intrude..." Sambit ni Andrew pero tila mo may makikita ka saya dulot na sinabi ni Zera.
"It's okay... I just don't want to talk about him for now..." Sambit ni Zera.
"As you wish my lady... So how long you been here...?" Tanong ni Andrew.
"About a month now..." Sambit ni Zera.
Napangiti naman si Andrew. Hindi nga siya pinaglaruan ng kanyang mga mata. Si Zera ang nakikita niya.
"What was that smile for... From what I've heard you're not really fond pf smiling and you're not very friendly?" Sambit ni Zera kay Andrew na inaasar na ito.
"Nothing... Well whoever told you that I have already proven them wrong..." Sambit ni Andrew na napatawa pa sabay kindat kay Zera.
Doon na napatawa si Zera. After so long umabot rin sa puso niya ang pagtawa.
"You should laugh more often my lady... You're more beautiful when you do..." Sambit ni Andrew na nakapag-panhiti ulit kay Zera.
"Stop that Andrew... You're teasing..." Sambit ni Zera na nakangiti pa ron at the same time blushing.
"Why would I stop...let the world know that I am having the best coffee with the most beautiful lady I have ever met." Sambit ni Andrew with his most handsome smile while looking at Zera straight in her eyes.
"Andrew!" Saway ni Zera kaya napatawa nalang si Andrew.
"You'll soon get used to it... I am telling you the truth my lady...you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met in my entire life..." Sambit ni Andrew ng seryoso.
"Nonsense... I should get back to work Andrew. You do your rounds. Duty calls." Sambit ni Zera na natatawa pa rin.
"Alright... Alright... I will but... Gibe me your number first. I eill be tour guide here in Paris my lady." Sambit ni Andrew. Na tila mo naglaho lahat ng kasungitan taglay niya. Mabuti na lang binigay ni Zera ang number niya.
Naninibago ang lahat sa kanya habang nag-iikot sa Museum. Tila mo nakapaskil na sa mukha niya ang mga ngiti na kahit kailan ay hindi nakita ng mga tao. Wala rin siyang napagalitan kahit isa sa Museum. Bago umalis ay hinanap pa niya si Zera para mag-paalam.
"My lady..." Tawag ni Andrew kay Zera.
"Andrew... Are you done...?" Tanong ni Zera.
"Yes and I have to leave... I still have some functions to attend to..." Sambit ni Andrew.
"Is that so... You take care then." Sambit ni Zera.
"I will... Thank you. I'll see you soon my lady... I'll call you." Sambit ni Andrew ng mag paalam ito kay Zera at hinalikan pa nito ang kamay ni Zera.
Pagkaalis naman ni Andrew ay naging tampulan siya ng tukso dahil nga iyon ang unang pagkakataon na nakita nilang nakangiti si Duke Andrew.
"Zera! You are so lucky... We have been doing all sorts of things so that we can get just smile. Yet you... He's been laughing the whole time." Sambit ni Margaux na kasama niya sa Museum.
"He's a friend of mine... Don't put any color to it..." Sambit ni Zera na mamula mula ang mukha sa panunukso sa kanya.
"We can see it... The Duke likes you Zera. He's really into you." Sambit ni Michael.
"Shut up Michael. Don't say nonsense. It's embarrassing..." Sambit ni Zera.
Nang masolo ni Michael si Zera ay tinanong niya ito ng seryoso.
"Zera... I saw you laugh earlier. It reached your heart and even your eyes." Sambit ni Michael.
This gay friend of Zera has been her buddy. He knows what happened and what she went through.
"Michael... I admit. It felt good to laugh that way after so long... But love and anger are still here all at the same time. I'm not ready. He's a friend of mine. I met him on a cruise." Sambit ni Zera.
"Oh my god! You are the girl from the cruise?" Tanong ni Michael.
"What are you talking about?" Tanong ni Zera na naguguluhan.
"Come with me... I'll show you something..." Sambit ni Michael.
Ipinasok siya ni Michael sa isang kwarto na puro paintings. Ramdam din niya ang pakiramdam na nadama niya noon sa mga paintings na ipinakita sa kanya ni tita Gladice.
"The Duke... Michael... Who's the painter behind these work?" Sambit ni Zera Matapos niya basahin kung sino ang painter.
"Don't tell this to anyone but the... The Duke is none other than Duke Andrew." Sambit ni Michael.
Natigilan si Zera at inilibot inilibot ang mata sa loob ng kwarto iyon na punong puno ng mga likha ni Andrew.
"look at this Zera..." Sambit ni Michael at pinakita isang painting.
"My lady sur une croisière." Basa ni Zera sa titulo ng painting.
The face is blurred but the bloody red dress is very emphatic with the cruise ship on the painting. Natakpan bigla ni Zera ang bibig. This painting shows how she dressed in the party.
"I didn't expect this Michael..." Sambit ni Zera.
"I know...you didn't see this coming... But when I looked at him while he is looking at you... I know there's more to it..." Sambit ni Michael.
"I... I can't..." Sambit ni Zera.
"Don't close your heart Zera... I know your not ready but that's not a reason to close out your doors... Who knows... He might be the one for you..." Sambit ni Michael.
"I don't want to think about that Michael... Let's just go... Monsieur Jean-Pierre wouldn't be happy seeing us here." Sambit ni Zera.
"Is up to you Zera... I'm just here to remind you..." Sambit ni Michael.
Tuluyan na sila lumabas sa kwarto na iyon.
Nang matapos ang trabaho ni Zera ng araw na yon ay nakatanggap siya ng tawag.
"How are you my lady...?" Sambit ni Andrew sa telepono ng sagutin ito ni Zera.
"Andrew...?"Sambit ni Zera.
" Yes it's me my lady.... Are you off from work...?"Tanong ni Andrew.
" Yeah I'm about to leave... "Sambit ni Zera.
" Good! Can you look forward... Black car...? "Sambit ni Andrew.
Tumigin naman si Zera at nakita na niya ang sasakyan.
" Will you have dinner with me my lady...? Please say yes so that lonely Duke will have someone to eat with... "Sambit ni Andrew na pinalambing ang boses.
" Andrew.. "Sambit ni Zera.
"Please..." Tanong ulit ni Andrew.
"Alright... It is then..."Sambit ni Zera napapailing nalang pero nakangiti.
Sa sinabi ni Zera ay bumaba na agad si Andrew at laking gulat niya na may dala itong malaki bouquet of roses.
Lahat naman ng nakasaksi sa labas ng Louvre Museum ay kinikilig sa nasaksihan.
" For you my lady..." Sambit ni Andrew at inabot kay Zera ang dala niya bulaklak.
"Thank you Andrew but you shouldn't have..." Sambit ni Zera ng abutin ang bulaklak.
"It's okay... I want to... So shall we..." Sambit ni Andrew sabay lahad ng kamay nito kay Zera na may ngiti pa rin sa labi.
Nag aatubili si Zera pero parang naririnig niya ang sinabi sa kanya ni Michael that it may not be the right time but she should not close her doors. Sa huli ay inabot niya rin ang kamay ni Andrew and when she look at him, the warm smile that she saw from the cruise and in the museum earlier is there.
"Let's go..." Sambit ni Zera ng Matapos huming ng malalim.
Dinala ni Andrew sa La Meurice si Zera which is one finest restaurant in Paris na ang mismkng sikat na si Alain Ducasse ang naghanda ng pagkain.
"This is too much Andrew..." Sambit ni Zera.
"Nothing is too much for you My lady..."Sambit ni Andrew.
" I saw the painting Andrew... Was that me...? "Tanong ni Zera at naging seryoso naman si Andrew.
" Yes Zera... That's you... "Sambit ni Andrew.
"Why are you doing this Andrew...?" Tanong ni Zera.
"I know that you're married Zera... I know that... But I can't help it. The moment I saw you on that cruise... You have never left my mind. I am in love with you Zera." Sambit ni Andrew.
"Don't Andrew... I am broken... You are a Duke. I am a nobody who just had a failure of a marriage..." Sambit ni Zera.
"Don't say that Zera. You may think you're a nobody but for me... You mean averything my lady... I am not in a hurry... I Don't know what happened but I do know that I can be here. You can take it one step at a time but I'm telling you right now I'm not going anywhere..."Sambit ni Andrew.
" I don't wanna hurt anybody Andrew. Not you... "Sambit ni Zera.
" Then don't push me away Zera... "Sambit ni Andrew.
"This is not right Andrew..." Sambit ni Zera.
"Look Zera... Look at me...there's nothing you can do or say that would make me go away. Trust me in that." Sambit ni Andrew.
"Oh my Andrew... What am I gonna do to you..." Sambit ni Zera na pailing iling na lang.
"Just let me be... That's what you can do..." Sambit ni Andrew teasing Zera.
"Can I say no...?"Tanong ni Zera na medyo magaan na ang mood dahil sa pagbibiro ni Andrew.
" No... You can't... "Sambit ni Andrew na malaki na ang ngiti sa mga labi dahil wala ng magawa si Zera.
Hindi naman naging awkward ang paguusap nila. Andrew is really blessed with a good sense of humor kaya hindi niya maisip pano ito nabansagang Royal Snob.
Hinatid nito si Zera after dinner.
"Thank you the wonderful dinner Andrew..." Sambit ni Zera.
"You're welcome my lady. Go ahead and rest. I'll be going." Sambit ni Andrew.
"Thank you Andrew... But I can't promise you anything... I'm a mess and still in a work in progress... But I'm not gonna close out my door..." Sambit ni Zera.
"Thank you Zera... I'm glad to hear that my lady..." Sambit ni Andrew na nakangiti dahil sa sinabi ni Zera.
"Goodnight Andrew..." Sambit ni Zera bago pumasok sa loob ng apartment.
Nang makapasok siya sa loob ng apartment ay napasandal siya sa likod ng pinto.
"Someday... I hope I can give this to someone who can take care of it..." Sambit ni Zera bago mariing ipikit ang mata.
(ENJOY READING IT MS/MR)
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-TITANIAMAGNUM