Chapter Thirty
Mabilis nga talaga ang oras at mga araw kapag masaya ka. In a blink of an eye ay tapos na ang three-day vacation namin sa Villa. Kahit naman sandali lang kami doon ay marami kaming nagawa at napagkuwentuhan. For the first time, we tried to drink with each other. Mabilis akong nalasing kaya nakatulugan ko siya noong huling gabi namin. I loved the place so bad kaya nangako siya na babalik kami uli.
Ngayon ay nagmamaneho ako papunta sa opisina niya. Sinabi ko sa kanya na susunduin ako ni Amanda kaya hindi niya na ako isinabay kaninang umaga. I'm planning to surprise him. Nagpaturo ako sa kapatid ko kung paano magbake ng moist chocolate cake. After two failed attempts, may isa naman akong nagawang tama.
I parked in front of the building. Dumeretso ako sa personal elevator ni Alexander at tinignan ko ang repleksyon ko sa salamin habang paakyat ito. I'm wearing a simple fuchsia-colored blouse paired with a black skirt and my favorite black Oran sandals from Hermes. The elevator dinged and I stepped out. I saw his secretary and she was about to press the intercom to inform Alexander of my presence when I interrupted her and told her not to.
"I'm planning to surprise him." I said casually as I showed her the box I was carrying. I punched the code on the panel and the glass doors slid open.
Tahimik siyang nakatingin sa laptop na nasa table niya. Nakasuot pa sa kanya ang "Someone's busy." Napapitlag siya at nagtaas ng tingin. His eyes settled on my face and just like that, a smile slowly appeared. Hinubad niya ang salamin niya bago tumayo.
"What brought you here, gorgeous?
"Surprise." I wiggled my eyebrows before showing him the box. "I baked a cake."
"You don't know how to."
I pouted. "Nagpaturo ako kay Amanda."
"Really, huh?" He sauntered and took the box from my hands. "I'm sure this tastes good, love. Dine with me." He led me to the mini living room. Kukuha na sana siya ng plato at utensils nang pigilan ko siya.
"Ako na. Just sit there, okay?" Nilagyan ko ng dalawang plato ang mesita at inabutan siya ng tinidor. Nakangiti lang siyang nagmamasid habang hinihiwa ko ang cake at nilalagyan siya ng serving.
"Thanks," he said softly. "It's judgement time." Pigil hininga ako habang hinihintay ang reaksyon niya. He close his eyes and chewed. "Mmm. Lasang puwede na."
"Ano?" Bumagsak ang balikat ko.
"I was kidding! It tastes delicious, love. Hindi masyadong matamis, just the way I like it. I also loved that you didn't use fondant, because I like the consistency of frosting better. This is amazing. Pasado ka na. Puwede na kitang pakasalan."
Tinusok ko siya sa tagiliran. "Kung hindi ako natutong magbake hindi mo ako papakasalan?"
"I was kidding, Blythe. Akala mo ba pakakawalan pa kita?" seryoso ngunit may ngiti niyang sabi bago kumuha ng isa pang slice at itinuloy ang pagkain. Masaya ako na nagustuhan niya ang ginawa ko.
"Inspired na akong magtrabaho dahil bumisita ka," he enthused. "I love you."
"I know. I love you, too." Hinalikan ko siya. Nang humiwalay ako ay nakita ko ang bahid ng pulang lipstick. The sight made me want to kiss him more.
"Look at me."
I wanted to obey. Pero hindi ko magawang maalis ang tingin ko sa labi niya.
These lips lie and curse and shout and whisper. These lips are soft and harsh and smooth and delicious. I want these sinful lips planted on mine.
"Blythe, you have to look at me. You have to look into my eyes and listen to what I want to tell you." He said as he caressed my cheeks with his two thumbs. I forced myself to blink and I did. "Mahal na mahal kita. You may be hotheaded and pottymouthed, but I don't give a single damn because I want to be in your life. I accept you for who you are, who you were and who you will turn out to be."
I want him to speak, to tell me more. And he did.
"You're crazy, and a little immature at times. And oh, have I mentioned that you're also very incorrigible? But despite that, I want you to keep in mind that I will never want any other woman. You're all that I want."
He took my hand and kissed them. "These hands are the only hands I want to hold and fidget after a tiresome day at work."
Itinaas niya ang haplos niya papunta sa mga balikat ko. "These shoulders are the only shoulders I want to fall asleep in whenever I'm feeling unsure."
He kissed my eyes. "These eyes are the eyes I want to see on my kids one day."
He held my chin. Inangat niya ito para magkasalubong ang tingin naming dalawa. Kumabog ng walang kahabag-habag ang puso ko. Para bang puputok na ang dibdib ko dahil sa lahat ng sinasabi niya. I'm not that good with words. But I know, deep down that Alexander is the man I want to spend the rest of my entire life with.
"Pag-iisipan ko 'yung ganyang speech ko," bulong ko. "Maghintay ka lang."
He chuckled. "I'm patient."
I let myself enjoy his presence. When lunch time was over, I told him that I have to go. He offered to drive me home, but I brought Ka Chow with me. Ayaw niya sana akong pauwiin kaso lang ay alam kong magiging distraction ako sa pagtatrabaho niya. We can't keep our hands to ourselves, parang si Selena Gomez lang. Besides, I have to study the recipes on the cookbook Amanda lent me. Gusto kong pag-uwi niya mamaya ay masarap ang ulam.
Nang makababa ako sa lobby ay kinawayan ako ng receptionist. Natutuwa ako na binabati niya ako tuwing pupunta ako rito. Next time na magbake ako ay dadalhan ko rin siya. Tinatahak ko na ang daan papunta sa parking nang may makabunggo sa aking babae.
"Hey!" asik niya. She looked sophisticated with her hair swept to one side. She wore a tight-fitting low-cut dress. She has good style, I'll give her that.
Nagsalubong agad ang kilay ko. "Ikaw ang nakabangga sa akin, ikaw pa ang galit?"
She paused. "Wait. I know you." Pagak siyang natawa. "Yeah. I do. Blythe, right?"
"So, sino ka naman?" Hindi ko gusto ang uri ng tinging ibinibigay niya sa akin. Sinusuri niya ang itsura ko dahil nakita kong sinuyod niya ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. The nerve of this woman? Who does she think she is?
"I'm Abigail. Hindi ba ako nabanggit sa'yo ni Alexander?"
"Abigail who? Sorry, hindi ka niya nabanggit. You must not be that relevant."
"Relevant? You want to talk about relevance, dear? Para sabihin ko sa'yo..." She took a step closer, trying to intimidate me. "I used to date Alexander."
"Oh. Ano'ng nangyari? Nasaan ka ngayon sa buhay niya? 'Di ba wala? Still irrelevant, Abigail." Mariin kong binanggit ang pangalan niya. Nagsisimula nang umalpas ang pasensya ko pero pinipigilan ko ito dahil ayaw kong mag-cause ng scene sa building. "At saan mo naman nakuha ang pangalan ko? Are you that obssessed with him na pati ako kilala mo?"
"Don't flatter yourself. Naibalita lang kayo sa dyaryo kaya ko nalaman. Natawa nga ako, e. Nagbago na pala ang taste ni Alexander sa mga babae? Ayaw niya na sa blonde?"
Tumawa ako. "Ang bitter naman ng dating flavor of the month."
"Masyado kang mayabang, Blythe. You dare call me flavor of the month? I bet he's not even serious with you. When he gets bored, itatapon ka na lang niya ng basta-basta. You should even be thanking me that I give you a heads up."
"Abigail, look." I clenched my hands into fists, but I clenched them as soon as I realized that my anger is spiraling out of control. "Seryoso siya sa akin. Mahal niya ako. Kaya kung ako sa'yo at wala ka nang magandang sasabihin, manahimik ka na lang at matuto kang gumalang."
"Sa nakakatanda?" patuya niyang sagot na ikinatawa ko.
"Sa nakagaganda sa'yo."
Nagdilim ang paningin niya. Matagal siyang natahimik bago nagsalita. "I don't believe that he's serious with you. I bet he hasn't introduced you to his parents," she said. I felt like I have swallowed my tongue. "I feel like I've hit a spot."
I finally snapped. "Sapakan na lang kaya?"
Nabakas ang takot sa mukha niya nang makita niyang hindi ako nagbibiro. She flashed me one final defeated glare before she walked away.
RUN. Bitch.
Pinakalma ko muna ang sarili ko bago tinawagan si Alexander.
"I'm at the lobby."
"What are you still doing there?" he asked. "Akala ko ba uuwi ka na?"
"Change of plans. You're coming with me."
"What? Saan?"
I blew out an annoyed sigh. "Sa bahay niyo. Mamamanhikan na ako."