Challenge Me
I'm not into surprises, it's a love and hate relationship. I love the feeling of being surprised but I hate the tension it's giving me. Speaking of surprises, my lunch with Caleb was a complete surprise. I never thought he could be that needy and at the same time controlling. After what he said ay sumama narin ako sa kaniya dahil nagugutom narin naman ako and during the whole lunch thing was just pure professionalism. The begging eyes I saw when he pleaded me to have lunch with him was gone. Bumalik siya sa pagiging dictator. Puro trabaho lang pinag-usapan namin kaya nakakapunyeta. For a second there, I thought that was already a huge step on whatever I'm doing. I thought I finally made him bend even just a bit. Well, marami nga naman namamatay sa maling akala.
The day ended up being as mainstream as possible. Bukod sa nangyari between Johan and Caleb sa elevator, I still consider it as a typical day. I explained everything to Portia since ayokong dakdakan na naman niya ako. I filed a leave for tomorrow until Sunday dahil tapos ko na namang ayusin lahat ng schedules ni Caleb. I deserve a break and Caleb's going out of town on Friday hanggang Sunday to discuss the Cebu project kaya magandang mag-file na lang muna ako ng leave to atleast get Caleb out of my system-not just him but also his pesky little brother.
The Fuegos are older than me. Even Johannes himself considering he's Caleb's little brother. Caleb's twenty five while Johannes is twenty-three. Becoming twenty-one sucks because it kind of made me feel like I'm just a newbie even if I'm not. My dad already exposed me to the business field at the age of eighteen since I'll graduate a year after. I had no vacation after I graduated, by the age of nineteen I started working at Crescendo for so many reasons. Kahit pa inaabsorb na ako ng pinag-OJT-han ko nang mga oras na 'yon, I still chose Crescendo.
I have so many reasons not to work here but one person made it all happen. I worked here to get Caleb back-my Caleb back. If only I could turn back time and never really did the things I regret doing, we could have been happy by now. I'm not stopping until I get what I want and knowing myself, I always get it.
"Maybe Caleb's just-overreacting?" Portia suggested. I invited her over to my unit since we're both on a break. I think it's probably time for us to be pampered and just leave all our paperwork and stuffs.
I sipped my espresso as I signaled her to continue her sentence. Nakababad ang paa naman sa maligamgam na tubig dahil nagpa-home service kami for foot scrub and nail polishing. Very standard girls night I guess, more like a slumber party for two.
"I mean, look. It was three years ago, Cil! Fucking three years ago pero heto siya bitter parin." She said at nagkibit-balikat. I can't blame Caleb kung bitter man siya hanggang ngayon but Portia's got a point. It was just a childish act, it was very immature of me pero I never thought it would affect Caleb that much.
"I broke his heart when he thought I wouldn't even break it." I explained. She rolled her eyes, Portia's been with us ever since forever. She watched how me and Caleb grew up as a couple to a total tragedy. She have seen literally every side of me. Kaya kahit siya, minsan naiinis narin kay Caleb.
"C'mon Cil, everybody knows he is The Caleb Ignatius! Kayang-kaya niyang makakuha ng babae niya more likely mga babae niya. Why would he mope around dahil lang sa isang babae? We both know you're both just playing each other back when we were senior college." The thought of Caleb being with someone other than me made me want to rip Portia's throat. I can't help imagining him being with someone kung hindi rin naman ako 'yon. I've always pictured us together, for two years of chasing a human iceberg I've never doubted my feelings for him. He's still the one who owns me even if he doesn't want me near him.
"Alam mong alam nating dalawang sineryoso ako ni Caleb, Portia." I said while gritting my teeth. I was irritated yes, I never liked the fact that Caleb always gets what he wants. Kahit pa ba hindi siya playboy, I always point out his love for games. Kaya niyang kumuha ng babae sa isang iglap lang.
"Oh yeah right tapos nung inakala niyang hindi mo talaga siya mahal at nalamang dare lang lahat nagalit na siya? Ew tangina niya pala e siya nanguna sa dare na yan ah!" Portia snapped and I can't help myself but laugh. Hindi rin niya napigilan at napatawa na lang rin siya. She really knows how to crack the tension between us. As much as I don't want to remember what happened between us it's always going to be there. Kahit papaano, natutulungan ako ni Portia na iset-aside 'yon.
"Hanggang ngayon ba hindi parin ba siya naniniwalang mahal mo siya?" Portia already calmed down and started to ask questions again. I stared at her at kahit ako hindi ko alam isasagot. I've always expressed my feelings to him and I know he's preventing himself from feeling and accepting it. Ang nasa loob-loob niya, he wants revenge and trusting me was already a torture.
"I don't know. He's really unpredictable." I sighed heavily. Hinayaan na lang naming doon matapos ang usapan. I was really not into that topic anyway. I promised myself that I'll get Caleb out of my system hanggang sa makabalik siya galing Cebu dahil kahit ako, nakakapagod na. Nakakasawa naring manuyo for two years. What only motivates me to continue this is Caleb's eyes. I want to break the ice within him, I want to melt him and make him mine. It's not going to be a piece of cake but hey, I'm trying my best.
"What about Johannes nga pala? Hanggang ngayon ba naman sumusunod parin 'yon sayo?" Portia blurted and automatically a frown appeared on my face. Johan's my frenemy, I never liked him and he never liked me. Well, he likes to pester me that's a hundred percent sure. We used to hang out because of Caleb dahil kapatid niya nga ito. Hanggang ngayon we never really lost our communication.
"Same old Johan, always bugging and buzzing." I chuckled and finished my drink. Finally, four Caleb-free days for me. I should be sad about it but at the same time I'm happy. Kailangan luwagan ko muna ang kapit kay Caleb para naman atleast makita ko kung mamimiss niya ako. I know it's dumb dahil kailan niya ba ako namiss ever since he got mad at me, however something in me always hope that even just a tiny part of his heart misses me.
Our home-service was done and it was quarter to nine when we decided to watch movies. Hinilera ni Portia ang popcorn, drinks and ice cream sa center table at sinet-up ko naman ang CD ng papanuorin namin. We're not in the mood to watch romance so we decided to watch action movies instead. The movie's about to start when my doorbell rang. We weren't expecting anyone kaya ako na lang ang pumunta sa pintuan. I thought it was just the room service or something but since God really likes to surprise me, a guy with a suit showed up.
"Caleb." I almost choke just by saying his name. For the first time ever, he went to my condo. He's really starting to improve, I'm impressed.
"Pack your bags, we're leaving tomorrow at 7 am." He said casually. I looked at him as he focused his eyes on me. I opened my mouth a few times to find the right word pero miski dila ko hindi nakikipagcooperate.
"Cil, what took you so-long? Caleb?" I heard Portia at kasalukuyang nasa harap narin namin. Caleb raised his eyebrow and okay I know this is so girly of me but I find it sexy. I mean when he raises his eyebrow, his jaws clenched as well and I can't help but notice his red ears because of me staring at him.
"I'm going to leave you two. Papanuorin ko pa si Hugh Jackman hihi bye!" Portia didn't helped that much too dahil akala ko pa naman ay tutulungan niya na akong umimik kay Caleb but as I said, maraming namamatay sa maling akala.
"Speak up." I was back to my senses when he lowered down his head to level with my height. I gulped and maintained my posture. I looked at the plane ticket he gave me and realized what he just said. What the hell? Kasama ako sa Cebu? Hell, no!
"I'm on leave, Caleb. I can't come with you." I was about to give him back the plane ticket when he pulled me out of my unit. Parehas na kami ngayong nasa hallway and my door shut all by itself kaya kami lang ang halos gumagawa ng ingay sa buong floor.
"Associate kita kaya sa ayaw at sa gusto mo, you'll come." He said almost maddened. I rolled my eyes and crossed my arms. Kakasabi ko lang sa sarili kong gusto ko munang walang Caleb na makita at makasama even just for four days pero heto siya ngayon, dragging me back to him.
"You can ask Johan to come with you. He's your brother and also your partner, Caleb. Sana hindi mo na lang pinirmahan yung leave ko kung ganyan din pala!" Iritang-irita ako sa kaniya not just because of my leave but because he's ruining everything! How can he miss me kung magkakasama naman pala kami? Ugh, the nerve of this guy.
"How can you be so challenging? For fuck's sake, Cecily this is for the company. Hindi kita hahalayin sa Cebu." He said with his voice deepened. Aba, sinabi ko bang hahalayin niya ako? As much as I want to, I would never be that easy! Ang gusto ko stress-free, siya ang cause ng stress kong 'yon pero mas gusto niya ata ako talagang nastestress.
"Don't be so hopeful, Fuego. I'm not thinking about you getting into my pants, ang gusto ko lang magpahinga! Nakakapagod na kasi, alam mo yon?" I stated and raised my voice just a little. His face was tensed as if I said something horrendous. A second later when I realized what I said came out with double meanings. I cursed inside my head until he spoke up.
"Makakapagpahinga ka doon Obviar. Walang meeting na umaabot ng bente-kwatro oras. Hinding-hindi kita pagtatangkaang hawakan, I loathe you that much." He said calmly na para bang wala lang. It was like a knife stabbed into my heart a million of times. He hates me and I can't take it anymore. I set-aside his words and smirked at him. He was shocked by my comeback because his eyes widened a little bit but became normal again with just a split-second.
"Sasama ako but listen to this Caleb, I'm challenging you not to lay even your finger on me or else you'll regret it." I said as I clenched my teeth, gigil na gigil ako sa inis dahil pikon na pikon na ako sa lalaking kaharap ko. I retained my anger inside and try to calm myself. Ayokong magalit sa kaniya dahil ang ibig sabihin lang non ay napapasuko na niya ako-which will never happen.
He cupped my chin and locked his eyes with mine. He smiled seductively that I mistakenly thought I was in heaven. "Challenge me then."