"May gusto ka bang flavor?"
Nagkibit-balikat si El. "'Yong best-seller na lang nila siguro."
"May nuts allergy ka ba, baby?"
Mula sa hilera ng mga naka-display na ice cream ay bumaling siya sa katabing lalaki. Hindi napigilan ni El ang pagguhit ng ngiti sa mga labi. Ito ang unang beses na may nagtanong ng gano'n sa kanya. Bilang chef, sa kanya madalas manggaling ang tanong tungkol sa mga food allergy.
"Wala."
"Okay. Ako na'ng bahalang um-order, baby. Pili ka na lang ng mesa kung sa'n mo gustong maupo."
Tumango siya saka lumakad sa pinakamalapit na booth. Nang makaupo ay muling humayon ang paningin niya sa lalaking nasa tapat pa rin ng counter. Despite her reservations, Ace had been a good companion. More than good, actually. Hindi niya inasahan, pero nag-enjoy siya sa company nito. Ace had proven, time and time again, that he was not what she perceived him to be. Sure, may mga sandaling nangungulit ito, but at the same time, alam din nito kung kailan hihinto.
But the biggest surprise is how he handled Seb's presence earlier. Nang maupo si Ace sa tabi niya kanina ay inasahan na niya'y lalong magiging flirty at hindi hihiwalay ang lalaki sa kanya. But he surprised her. Attentive ito sa pakikinig sa mga sinasabi ng kaharap nila, pero nanatiling tahimik. Nagbigay-daan nito noong dumating si Architect De Leon. He kept his distance and remained quiet. But El can feel his gaze following her every move.
For some strange reason, the usual icky feeling she gets whenever she knows someone's watching her is not there. If she's truly honest with herself, she actually felt a warm, tingling sensation in the pit of her stomach. She did, in fact, miss his presence by her side when they went to the mezzanine area of their would-be restaurant. What gave her comfort was that she knew she was still under his watchful eyes.
As if on cue, Ace looked her way. He smiled before he returned his attention to the crew taking his order. El sighed deeply as she tried to control the rapid beating of her heart as a result of his smile.
Napapitlag si El nang tumunog ang cellphone. Mula sa pagtitig sa lalaki ay binalingan niya ang hawak na handbag. Nang makita niya ang notification kung kanino galing ang messages ay napa-ungol siya. Group chat nilang magkakaibigan. Kung ibabatay sa nag-pop up na mensahe, puro panunukso ang mababasa niya.
"Is there a problem, baby?" anang lalaking naupo sa tapat niya.
"Yes. My wonderful friends. They're pestering me."
Imbes na basahin ay mas pinili niyang i-clear ang notifications saka niya muling ibinalik sa handbag ang cellphone.
Umangat ang isang sulok ng labi ni Ace. "Nagtse-check sila kung nag-e-enjoy ka sa date natin, baby?"
Tinitigan niya si Ace. Mas magandang malaman na kaagad nito kung ano ang totoong saloobin niya. Well, some of her inner thoughts, but not all. Hindi pa niya lubos na pinagkakatiwalaan ang lalaki.
"I don't date, Ace. Alam ng mga kaibigan kong mas gugustuhin kong ubusin ang oras ko sa pagpapalago ng negosyo namin kesa lumabas kasama ang isang lalaki. But because of astrology and compatibility crap they believed in, they are all ganging up on me."
Nabura ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Ace. Hindi ito nagsalita, halatang inaantay ang kasunod na sasabihin niya. El felt uneasy under his watchful eyes. His stares were unnerving. He looked at her as though he already knew what was on her mind.
She signed deeply but kept looking straight into his eyes. "I don't want to mislead you, Ace."
A half-smile once again curled Ace's lip. "Believe me, baby, you won't, and you can never mislead me. I'm trained to read all types of terrain and situations, Elamarie."
The way he spoke her name sent shivers down El's spine. And the way Ace stared at her made her skin tingle. El took a lungful of air in an effort to keep her heartbeat even.
"Hindi ko gustong sayangin ang oras mo, Ace. Kaya ngayon pa lang, tatapatin na kita. Hindi mo kailangang gawin ang lahat nang ito dahil wala rin namang patutunguhan ang effort mo."
Ace grinned, but the emotion conveyed by his stares intensified. "Ako lang ang makapagsasabi kung nagsasayang ako ng oras at effort, baby."
El matched the defiance in his eyes. "The same way na sinasabi ko ngayon sa 'yong walang epekto sa 'kin ang oras, effort, at perang ginagastos mo, Ace."
"Touché." Ace smiled, clearly enjoying their duel. "But I still won't rest my case, baby."
"You better, Ace. I have no plans to go out on a proper date with you. I'm not the type of girl who's into formal, candlelit, fancy dates. Or any date, for that matter."
Again, Ace didn't answer. He just stared at her intently with that mysterious smile on his lips.
El squared her shoulders; she kept the no-nonsense expression on her face. "I don't date because I don't believe in love. I don't believe in marriage and all those romantic nonsenses a lot of people believe in."
Imbes na sumagot ay ngumiti lang si Ace. Binalingan nito ang crew na may dala ng tray na naglalaman ng order nito. Matapos magpasalamat ay kinuha nito sa crew ang tray, ipinatong sa mesa.
Ang topic na gusto niyang pag-usapan at ipaunawa sa lalaki ay isinantabi muna ni El. They had plenty of time to circle back to that later. Besides, mahirap makipag-usap sa lalaking maliban sa pagngiti ay hindi naman sumasagot nang tuwiran. For now, magpo-focus muna siya sa laman ng tray.
"Ang dami naman niyan, Ace."
"'Yan ang top six best-tasting flavors nila base sa pinakamagaling na ice cream critic na kilala ko. Si Max." Isa-isa nitong ituro ang mga flavors na pinili. "Toasted almond fudge, strawberry, cookies and cream, pistachio, mint chocolate chips, and caramel pecan. Ikaw muna ang tumikim. Pili ka alin ang top three mo. Akin 'yong matitira."
"Tatlo? Isa lang, tama na sa 'kin."
"Dalawa. Ako na'ng bahala sa iba."
"Kaya mong ubusin 'yong apat?" aniya na muling pinasadahan ng tingin ang mga ice cream cup sa harap nila.
"You wanna bet, baby?"
Nang makita niya ang mapanghamong kislap sa mga mata nito ay inirapan niya ang binata. "Wala akong planong patulan 'yang bet na 'yan dahil for sure dadayain mo lang ako."
Ace's laugh brought a fuzzy feeling to her tummy. Imbes na pagtuunan ang epekto ng pagtawa ng lalaki, ibinaling na lang niya ang atensiyon sa mga ice cream. Mint chocolate chip ang una niyang tinikman, kasunod ang pistachio, caramel pecan, panghuli ang cookies and cream.
"I have to commend 'yong ice cream critic mo. These flavors are all good. Hindi overwhelming ang tamis. Tamang-tama lang."
Ace grinned, pleased. "Magaling talaga pumili 'yon. Na-train ng tito."
El rolled her eyes as Ace laughed once more. Kinuha na lang niya ang caramel pecan-flavored ice cream, sinimulang kainin.
"Hindi mo pa natitikman 'to, baby," ani Ace, inilagay sa tapat niya ang toasted almond fudge at strawberry-flavored ice cream.
Matapos tikman ang dalawang flavors ay itinuloy niya ang pagkain ng caramel pecan ice cream.
"Iyan ang pinakagusto mong flavor, baby?"
Tumango si El. Inubos muna niya ang ice cream sa bibig saka nagsalita. "Gusto ko talaga na vanilla ang base ng ice cream. Add this luscious caramel and the candied pecan for crunch and nutty flavor. Yum! The sweet-salty flavor of this ice cream is perfection."
Tumango si Ace tanda ng pagsang-ayon. Kinuha nito ang isa pang kutsara sa tray saka sumandok ng ice cream sa cup na hawak niya.
Ang pagsubong gagawin ni El ay nabitin sa ere. Napatingin siya rito. "Ito rin ba ang pinakagusto mo?"
Umangat ang isang sulok ng labi ni Ace. Nilunok muna ang isinubong ice cream saka nagsalita, "Ikaw, baby."
El made a face to hide the true effect of his words. She tried but failed to contain the smile that curved her lips. "We're talking about ice cream flavor, Ace, not me."
"Ice cream flavor nga." Ibinaba nito ang kutsara. Pinagsalikop ang mga kamay saka humilig sa gawi niya. Ace's intense stare made El feel like she's an ice cream under the midday sun. Her walls are slowly melting away. "Ang ibig kong sabihin, ikaw ang pumili ng flavor na tingin mo'y magugustuhan ko, baby."
"Let's just pretend I believed your lousy excuse, Ace." Nag-iwas siya ng paningin sa lalaki. Ibinaba niya ang hawak na cup.
Ace's low laugh sounds like music to her ears. "Since hindi ka naman naniwala sa palusot ko, aaminin ko na lang na ikaw talaga ang pinakagusto ko, Elamarie."
Imbes na sagutin ang sinabi nito ay kinuha na lang ni El ang toasted almond fudge ice cream cup saka ibinigay kay Ace.
"This one suited you best. The color made it seem dirty—like your thoughts, and full of nuts—like how your mind works."
Imbes na kunin ang ibinibigay niya ay ikinulong pa ni Ace ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa cup sa mga kamay nito. Ang plano niyang paghigit sa kamay ay naantala nang mabasa ang emosyon sa mga mata ni Ace. His eyes. The seriousness in his gaze rendered her immobile, but at the same time, it made her heart beat triple time.
Sumandok ito ng ice cream, habang nakatingin sa kanya ay isinubo iyon. "Hmm. Perfect choice, baby."
El was mesmerized, lost in the depths of his eyes. Hindi nakatulong sa dilemma niya ang lamig na nagmumula sa ice cream cup at ang init na nagmumula naman sa kamay ng binata.
"Creamy. Decadent. And, as you said, nutty. A flavor that's hard to resist, just like me," Ace murmured before he scooped another mouthful of ice cream.
Like him, indeed. It's really hard to resist getting lost in those brown, expressive orbs. El's eyes slowly wandered down, from his eyes down to his sensual lips. And his eyes were not the only trap. Even the way he smirked was mesmerizing. El's eyes followed every move of his lips as Ace continued to eat the ice cream with gusto.
"Want to try some, baby?" Ace asked as he held a spoonful of ice cream near her lips, a teasing glint in his eyes.
El cleared her throat as she tried to compose herself. She tried and successfully freed her hand from his firm and warm grasp.
"No, thanks," El murmured. She let out a long breath in between her lips as she fixed her gaze on the ice cream cups between them.
"What's next, baby?"
"Huh?" El looked at him, confused.
"Can I choose what's next, baby?"
"What?" She's still in a daze, and the triumph in his eyes only made it even worse.
Ace grinned before he winked at her. "Ice cream flavor, baby. We're talking about your next flavor selection."
El took a deep breath. She willed herself to focus and commanded her heart to be still. Tumingin siyang muli sa mga nakahanay na cup sa pagitan nila. Dinampot niya ang mint chocolate chip ice cream. Maybe the cool, refreshing flavor of that ice cream can help gather her thoughts, which are still in total chaos.
"Ito na lang. And no, Ace, I won't choose another flavor for you. Sa 'yo na lahat 'yan."
"Sure." Ace answered with the same pleased expression on his face. "Your phone's buzzing again, baby."
Ipinagpasalamat niya ang distraksiyon na iyon. Nang makita ang messages mula sa mga kaibigan ay inilagay niya sa mute ang setting ang group chat nila. Maliban doon ay may pumasok pang isang mensahe. Mula sa ina niya. Iyon ang binasa ni El. Pagkabasa ng mensahe ay ipinikit niya nang mariin ang mga mata.
"Your friends again?"
"My mother." Nagbuga siya ng hangin sa pagitan ng mga labi saka pabulong na nagsalita, "The prize I have to pay for playing that stupid game years ago."
"You can still win the game you started, baby."
Tumaas ang kilay ni El.
"Ang alam ng mga kaibigan mo—" sumulyap ito sa cellphone na hawak niya saka muling tumingin sa kanya "—at ng mama mo'y ang date natin ay kabayaran sa ginawa mo noon, 'di ba? We can keep that narrative. Hindi ka rin naman mahihirapan na palabasin 'yon lalo na't tatlong araw na lang, babalik na 'ko sa command post ko."
"But. I can hear the unspoken but, Ace," puno nang pagdududang salita ni El. Hindi pa man ay ramdam na ni El na kung ano man ang kapalit ng proposisyon ni Ace ay tiyak na disadvantageous para sa kanya. "What's the catch?"
"Nothing, baby. You just have to honor our agreement. Sa next R and R ko, sisingilin ko na ang napagkasunduan natin. Apat na dinner dates, Elamarie."
"Dahil sa date na 'yan kaya ako kinukulit ni Mama at mga kaibigan ko, and yet, 'yan mismo ang solusyon mo?"
"Kinukulit ka nila kasi alam nilang nagde-date tayo. Tatlong buwan akong mawawala rito, baby. For sure, titigil sila sa pangungulit sa 'yo. Kung hindi nila malalaman na pagbalik ko'y saka tayo totoong magde-date, for sure, hindi ka nila kukulitin ulit."
Naglapat nang mariin ang mga labi ni El. Nakuha niya ang ibig sabihin nito, pero hindi ibig sabihin noon ay sumasang-ayon siya. "Kasasabi ko lang kanina na hindi ako nakikipag-date, Ace."
Nagkibit-balikat ito. "Sige. Hindi na dinner date. Ibang activity na lang ang gawin natin. Kahit anong activity na gusto mo. Kung ayaw mo sa gabi, araw natin gawin. Bago pa dumilim, ihahatid na kita sa bahay niyo. O kung gusto mo naman, magdala ka ng sasakyan mo. Magkita na lang tayo sa lugar na mapagkakasunduan natin."
Imbes na makampante ay lalong nagduda si El. Ang ngiti at kislap sa mga mata ng lalaki ay nagpapahiwatig na hindi gano'n kasimple ang layunin nito.
"Alam ko ang tunay na intensiyon mo, Ace. Kalimutan mo na. Hindi 'yon mangyayari."
"Babala mo ba sa 'kin 'yan, o paalala mo sa 'yong sarili?"
Nanliit ang mga mata ni El. "You're so full of yourself, Ace."
Ace smiled knowingly. "Why are you so afraid, baby?"
El raised her face, annoyed that he could see right through her. "Why would I be afraid?"
Ace grinned. "Why, indeed?"
"I'm not afraid of you, Ace."
"It's not me you're afraid of, baby. You're afraid of yourself. You're afraid of what would happen if you let the fire, the passion, the attraction—all those intoxicating and thrilling emotions between us—take over."
El's lips were pressed in a thin line. Her face was hot. Her heartbeat was hammering. She took a lungful of air and slowly released it between her lips.
"Cat got your tongue, baby?"
"Physical attraction is different from love, Ace," El grudgingly conceded. There's no use denying it. Ace can read her like an open book.
Ace smiled. His eyes conveyed how delighted he was with her admission. "It surely isn't the same, baby. But intense attraction, like what we clearly have for one another, could lead to love."
"As I said earlier, I don't believe in love."
"I can prove that you do believe in love, baby—maybe not in all types of love or its entirety, but you still do, Elamarie."
Tumaas ang kilay ni El.
"Alam kong alam mo kung paano magmahal, baby. Mahal mo ang mama mo, ang mga kaibigan mo, maging ang trabaho mo." Ace smiled before he continued, "Ang tinutukoy mong uri ng magmamahal na hindi mo pinaniniwalaan ay ang romantic love." Gumawa ng air quotation si Ace nang banggitin ang salitang 'romatic love.' "Hindi naman kita masisi, baby. Maraming lalaki ang nagsasabing mahal nila ang isang babae, pero na-stuck sila sa romantic love. Dapat na mag-evolve sa mas malalim na uri ng pagmamahal 'yon, pero minsan, nagdi-disintegrate pa."
Sumandal si El saka humalikipkip. "Just go directly to the point, Ace."
"I'm just clarifying the type of love you don't believe in, baby. You don't believe in romantic love, and I can see why. I myself wouldn't stick with romantic love either. For me, love is commitment. I want to be with someone who would love me in spite of, not because of."
"I'd heard it all before, Ace. Sweet talks. Easier said than done."
"It's actually quite easy for me, baby, because the committed love I'm talking about is integrated into my daily life," Ace countered, conviction in his eyes. "Bibigyan kita ng example. Hindi man katulad, pero ang principle ng pagmamahal na isinasabuhay ko ay kaparehas. Katulad mo, mahal ko rin ang trabaho ko. Pero hindi sa lahat ng oras ay masaya at gusto ko ang ginagawa ko. Mahirap malayo sa pamilya. Sa bawat sandaling ginagawa ko ang tungkulin ko, buhay ko ang pwedeng maging kapalit. Hindi biro ang mag-patrol sa bundok nang ilang araw, minsan umaabot pa nang ilang linggo. Walang maayos na kain at tulog. Kapag inabot ng ulan, natutulog na basa. Hindi ko gustong mapa-engkwentro. Ayaw kong may masaktan, or worse, makapatay ng kapwa Filipino.
Pero sa kabila no'n, buong puso at walang pag-aalinlangan ko pa ring ginagawa ang sinumpaan kong tungkulin dahil sa pagmamahal ko sa bayan, at sa mga kapatid ko sa serbisyo. I love my job, and I'm committed to fulfilling it in spite of all those hardships and uncertainty—even if it'll cost me my life. That's how I live, Elamarie. Day-in, day-out."
Even if it'll cost me my life. El bit her lip as his words played in a loop on her brain. If that isn't commitment, she doesn't know what is.
"I know that you want a type of love that goes beyond romantic or physical attraction, a type of love that is built on trust and commitment—a love that is enduring amidst all the fear, confusion, disagreement, and pain. And I can assure you, baby, both of us want that type of love—a love that will stand the test of time."
El lost her voice for a couple of minutes. His words linger; they reverberate in her mind. She's looking for ways to counter his argument, but she came up empty-handed. Ace is on point. No doubt, he really is a sharpshooter. He is keen and a good observer. Ace was able to read and tell her exactly what was on her mind.
She's also right about him being smart. She tried to outsmart him, but he was able to destroy all her arguments. His point of view was solid. She can't find a flaw in his reasoning.
She breathed deeply before she whispered. "Do you really think you can persuade me with words, Ace?"
"I don't want to just persuade you, baby. More than anything, I want you to trust me, Elamarie," Ace answered solemnly. The truth can be clearly seen in his eyes.
"Trust is earned, Ace," El murmured. She reached for the cup of ice cream, which was now melted.
"I know, baby. I'll show you who I really am until I earn it."