Three days had pass and here I am cleaning my condo unit. Saturday is the day na nakakapaglinis ako rito; arranging things, wiping the dust and sweeping the floor.
Naisipan ko na lang magpadeliver muli ng lunch dahil wala na akong oras para magluto. After cleaning, I planned on having my me time for the moment; binge watching some Netflix shows, painting my nails and putting mask on my face. Isa pa, I wanted to reward myself for a job well done dahil sa wakas ay naaprubahan na ng board ang project na isinusulong ko. I hope this will gonna be a successful one lalo pa't ito ang una kong project na hahawakan.
I smile when suddenly I remember him.
Raphael's became more persistent and thoughtful these past few days. I am touched dahil alam ko naman na hindi siya ganoon ka expressive na tao but he is trying para lang sa akin. That kind of man is what I need in life. He is not only caring in his own little way but he is also supportive with my career.
Well, even just by the mere thoughts of him are enough to make me feel some butterflies in my stomach lalo na kapag tinitigan na ako ng kanyang itim na mga mata. I know for a fact that there's nothing special about it yet his eyes are so mesmerizing that it continues to attract me.
My thoughts and my cleaning is disturbed by the sudden sound of the doorbell. Kinunot ko ang forehead ko dahil wala naman akong maisip na pwedeng dumalaw sa akin. My family is back in San Diego while si Ivy naman ay may vacation sa Davao kasama si Tristan.
I walked towards the door and take a look at the peephole upang malaman ko kung sino ang nasa labas. And with my shocked expression, I immediately went to my walk-in closet at pumili ng mas disenteng damit dahil tanging malaking gray na shirt at maikling cotton shorts lamang ang suot ko nang maglinis ako earlier. Plus, those clothes were full of sweat and dirt.
I just picked a white tee with a pineapple print on it and partnered it with a black weekend shorts.
Nagmadali akong pumunta sa may pintuan at binuksan ito. I saw Raphael there standing and I think, he is starting to get irritated. I chuckled because he looks freaking hot with that expression on his face.
"What took you so long?" he asked habang nakataas ang isang kilay niya but I just shrugged my shoulders.
Iginaya ko siya papasok sa aking unit.
"Your unit is quite spacious," he commented.
"Yeah. Medyo marami rin kasi akong dinalang things dito sa Manila kaya I need a bigger space," I said but he just nod his head.
Inilipat ko ang tingin sa dala-dala niyang paperbag.
"Nagdala pala ako ng pagkain. Niluto ni mama," aniya at inabot ito sa akin. Kinuha ko naman and I take a look on what it is.
"Hindi ka na sana nag-abala pa. Halos ikaw na ang nagpro-provide ng kinakain ko everyday. I might get fat with all the delicious meals that you are giving me." I chuckled. "'Tsaka isa pa, nagpadeliver naman na akong lunch."
"At least I am rest assured na kumakain ka. Masama ang malipasan ng gutom, Mavic lalo pa't madalas ka lang magtake-out. And don't worry about that figure of yours, at least mababawasan ang kaagaw ko, di ba?"
I slap his arm jokingly. "Sira ka talaga. Eh di hindi na ako goddess kapag nangyari iyon. I love this figure of mine, Raphael."
Pinasadahan niya ng tingin ang body ko before he brings it back to my pretty face. My cheeks are almost painted red because of it.
"I know what you mean, Victorina. But a gorgeous figure is nothing if your health is failing you that's why you need to eat healthy. Hindi iyong halos fast food na ang laman ng tiyan mo."
I could not help my lips but to curved it into a smile kaya agad ko siyang tinalikuran upang maitago iyon sa kanya at nag-umpisa na rin akong maglakad patungo sa dining room upang ilapag ang dala niyang pagkain.
I wanted to defend myself earlier pero he's right naman though. I was never into fast food but due to my lack of time oftentimes, and yeah tinatamad na rin akong magluto ay nakahiligan ko na ring kumain doon.
Nagbalik naman kami sa receiving area at doon muna pansamantala. Buti na lang ay tapos na akong maglinis dito sa first floor kundi nakakahiya kung naabutan niya pa 'yong mga dumi rito.
So much for my me time, a time with Raphael is more worthwhile.
Nagkwento lang siya ng tungkol sa trabaho niya which I find amusing dahil nakikita ko talaga ang passion at dedication niya sa work.
He looks like, he really love to be a lawyer. He dreamed of this even when he is still a child. Habang ako ay ni hindi ko alam kung anong pangarap ko noon. I know that me and kuya will just going to handle our family business that's why I never even dare to have a dream.
"Ikaw? Kumusta ang trabaho?" he asks me.
I smiled. "It's fine naman pero minsan kasi I can feel na may kulang."
He looked at me. "What do you mean?"
"Well, hindi ko naman talaga pinangarap na magmanage ng isang malaking kompanya."
"What are your dreams then?" tanong niya but I just shrugged my shoulders.
"I don't know. Bata pa lang kasi ako, minulat na kami ni kuya ni papá na kami ang magmamana ng lahat na pinaghirapan nilang negosyo."
"It must be lonely that you don't have the right to choose your own career."
"I guess so."
"Victorina, if you can't change the career you choose, then you can have your happiness in some other things. Career is not the only thing that can bring happiness into our life."
"I know that naman. Masaya naman kaya ako."
"Nang dahil sa akin?"
Nilingon ko siya at nakita ko ang mapaglarong smile niya.
"Ang feeler, ha!"
I heard him chuckled at me.
Why do I love to hear him chuckling?
Siguro dahil sa bihira ko lang talaga iyon marinig. At syempre dahil na rin hot pakinggan kapag siya ang tumatawa. Oh gosh, this man beside me had bewitch me!
"Why are you so red all of a sudden?" he asked and I shook my head instantly.
Nakita kong magsasalita pa sana siya ulit pero hindi na natuloy dahil sa tumunog na naman ang doorbell.
Agad kong pinuntahan ang doorway at doon ko natagpuan ang pinadeliver kong food. After I said my thank you, I immediately went back to the sofa.
"Let's eat," pagyaya ko sa kanya at tumango siya kaya nagtungo kami sa comedor.
"Nagpadeliver ka na naman sa isang fast food chain. Buti na lang pala dumating ako at may maayos kang makakain ngayon," pangangaral niya sa akin nang makaupo na siya sa may mesa.
"That's why I'm very grateful na nakilala kita, Raphael," I said when I looked at him and I saw a ghost of smile on his face pero agad naman niya itong tinanggal when he remembers na nakatingin pa rin ako sa kanya.
"Ako na ang kakain nang pina-deliver mo."
"Marami naman 'yong dala mo. Bakit hindi iyon na lang ang kainin natin?"
"Ikaw na lang ang kumain no'n at ang tira, mamaya mong gabi kainin nang hindi ka na magproblema ng pagkain," aniya habang binubuksan na niya 'yong chicken kong pina-deliver.
Agad ko naman kinuha ang dala niya at nakitang adobo iyon. It looks delicious. I wanted to eat it na agad.
Kumuha muna ako ng plato at utensils, pati na rin ng baso at sinalinan ito ng tubig bago umupo sa harap ni Raphael at nagsimulang kumain.
And I'm right. The food tastes so delicious. Sabagay, lahat naman ng pagkain na dinadala sa akin ni Raphael ay masasarap. Luisana is a good cook as well as their mother. Marunong akong magluto but my cooking skills are nothing compared to the both of them.
"Pakisabi kay tita thank you dahil halos lagi na lang niya akong pinagluluto."
"Isinasabay na rin kasi ni mama 'yong pagluluto para sa bahay," aniya kaya tumango na lamang ako dahil puno ng pagkain ang aking mouth.
"Isa pa, bakit hindi na lang ikaw ang magsabi sa kanya bukas?"
Gulat akong napatingin sa lalakeng kaharap ko.
What the hell?!
What is this man planning to?
"What are you talking about?" I asked nang maubos ko na ang food sa bibig.
He shrugged. "I am planning to formally introduce you to my mom tomorrow."
Agad kumabog nang malakas ang dibdib ko.
Is he serious?
"Tell me you're joking," I said but I can't see any hint of joke in his eyes.
"I'm not," wika niya pagkatapos ay uminom ng water.
"Are you sure?" I asked him again, still not wanting to believe him.
"Hey. Don't be nervous. My mom is kind. She won't bite," pagpapagaan niya ng loob ko pero hindi nito natanggal ang kaba na nararamdaman ko.
"Hindi ba maganda na ipakilala mo ako sa kanya kapag tayo na?"
"If that's your problem, then sagutin mo na ako," he said with a smirk on his face dahilan upang mapailing na lamang ako.
"Come on, Victorina. Hindi naman kita pi-ne-pressure o minamadali kaya ok lang kung huwag mo muna akong sagutin but I'm sorry to say na tuloy pa rin ang sa bahay bukas because mama is expecting you to be there," he said to me that's why I just nodded my head in agreement.
I'm torn kung dapat ko na ba siyang sagutin. I mean, sapat na ba ang panahon na nagkakilala kami?
Come to think of it, we like each other and I can see naman na Raphael is really an ideal boyfriend, so why do I keep on holding back?
I just looked at him intently while he was busy eating the food.
I sighed before I utter, "Sinasagot na kita Raphael."
And by that moment, he looked at me with eyes wide open.