Kabanata 26
Date
"Lorenzo?"
Kumurap-kurap ako. Not fully believing what I am seeing as of the moment.
"What are you doing here?" tanong ko nang makabawi sa pagkagulat.
"I was waiting for you..." he sais and his eyes looked a little droopy and tired. He glanced at the bag I was holding dahil naroon si Crispin na nakapikit.
"Kanina ka pa d'yan?"
"Dito ako dumiretso," he stated. Napanganga naman ako sa kan'ya.
"Pasok ka. You should've told me," I unlocked my unit and let him in.
"Kumain ka na ba?" Ttanong n'ya habang inaalis ang sapatos.
"Busog pa'ko," I honestly told him. "Ikaw ba?"
He only looked at me and did not answer kaya naman kinuha ko ang cellphone ko at nagpa-deliver ng dinner.
"What are you doing here again?" muli kong tanong.
"Gusto kitang kausapin," diretsa n'yang sabi.
"Gusto mo akong kausapin... Tungkol kay Jewel," I completed his sentence. It's clear that it was what he wanted to talk about.
Expectation results to disappointment. Bakit ba hindi na ako natuto? And what was I expecting anyways? That he came here because he wanted to see me? Iba ka talaga, Priya. Iniwan ko s'yang nakaupo sa sofa at inilabas ko naman si Crispin sa bag n'ya. I gave him his food na malapit nang maubos. Pinaalalahanan ko ang sarili kong dumaan sa pet shop at bumili ng pagkain.
Mas mahal pa ang pagkain ni Crispin kaysa sa normal kong kinakain.
Bumalik ako sa salas at umupo sa upuang kaharap ng kay Lorenzo.
"You were saying?" pag-uumpisa ko.
He cleared his throat before calmly speaking. "Kaya ko lang s'ya kinausap kanina para tanungin tungkol sa presentation mo."
"And?"
"I don't like her."
Lumaki ang mata ko sa sinabi n'ya. Was that confession even necessary? Bakit kailangan n'ya pang sabihin 'yon?
"I don't care!" gulantang kong sabi sa kanya.
"I know," he looked away. "Gusto ko lang sabihin."
"God, Lorenzo!" mahina akong napasinghap. He's driving me crazy! Like crazy, crazy!
Matagal na naghari ang katahimikan samantalang busy si Crispin sa pagkain n'ya. My mind says that there's something about his actions that makes me wonder about spark but my heart contracts.
The funny thing about running with the past is that you wouldn't know how long you'll keep on running. Leaving it behind was like forgetting a piece of me. So I decided to bring it along, not inside me but beside me.
I would not grow tired of running. Never.
"She admitted that she's the one who picked up your flashdrive," he started again "I asked her why she did that. Ang sabi n'ya ay nakita daw n'yang pakalat-kalat kaya kinuha n'ya. She didn't know it was yours."
"Of course she would say that. Hindi naman 'yun aamin sa'yo," kalmado kong sabi. I ain't the type to hold grudges. The important thing is that no one else is affected aside from me. I can deal with the damages but not when there's other people included.
"Kaya ka pumunta dito para sabihin 'yan?" I bitterly asked, not having a single clue where that bitterness came from.
"That's one thing," he stood up from his seat when my doorbell rang. Nandyan na ang delivery. He paid for it at s'ya rin ang nag-ayos sa lamesa.
Naglabas naman ako ng mga kubyertos at pinggan at tinulungan s'ya sa paghahain. He was silently bringing the foods out of the plastic habang ako naman ay pinapanood s'yang gawin iyon. I grew curious with his previous remark.
"And the other thing is?" I asked and he did not bother talking at all. Saka n'ya lang ako nilingon noong makaupo na s'ya dahilan para umupo na rin ako.
"I'm asking you to be my date."
Mabuti nalang at hindi pa ako nakakasubo dahil paniguradong mabubulunan ako kung sakali. I searched for any hidden jokes or hint of humor in his tone and face but he was just wearing his usual expression.
"Seryoso ka ba?" tanong ko at nnaibaba ko ang hawak kong kutsara at tinidor at malaki ang matang tinitigan s'ya.
"Kailan na ba kita niloko?" naitikom ko ang bibig ko sa hindi malamang dahilan. Is he implying another thing?
"We're having a reunion the day after tomorrow. It's required to bring a date," dagdag n'ya. He said his last sentence like he just made that up.
"And why are you bringing me? Bakit ako?" tumayo ako sa pagkakaupo ko at inilapag ang dalawang kamay sa lamesa, holding it tightly. Bahagya akong nakayuko at seryoso s'yang pinag-aaralan.
"Because I want you," he said like it meant something else. "I mean, I want you to be my date."
Binawi pa. Pinaningkitan ko s'ya ng mata. "Okay."
"Okay?" he unpredictably said.
"Okay. I will come," at ang kaninang pagod n'yang mata ay naglalaro ngayon sa tuwa. He was eating happily and I can't help but smile at him.
There's no harm in going with him, right? It's just a reunion. Nothing big.
He mentioned that it's just a simple formal party but I don't do normal. I wear elegance like it's my favorite perfume. I wear it everyday.
Nagpaalam na si Lorenzo pagkakain dahil parehas kaming may trabaho kinabukasan.
"Crispin, nabusog ka ba baby ko?" masaya kong sabi sa kanya. He only meowed at me kaya naman ngiting ngiti ko s'yang dinala sa loob ng kwarto. I bought him a bed pero gusto n'yang sa kama ko natutulog kaya hinahayaan ko nalang.
I scratched his head before happily sleeping. Hindi ko alam kung bakit pero hanggang dumating ang bukas ay nakangiti pa rin akong gumising.
Lorenzo and I did not talk that much in work dahil mukhang sobrang busy n'ya at ganoon din naman ako. He just reminded me about the event tomorrow. Maaga akong umuwi para makabili ng isusuot pati na rin ng pagkain ni Crispin.
It feels like destiny in in my favor since I found the perfect dress for me. I usually take hours or even days to find one but today is different.
My most awaited day came. I didn't want to feel excited about it, but I am. Napag-alaman ko ring kasama pala doon si Ade because someone also invited her.
I slipped in my dark maroon fitted dress, the entire back is fully open and the only thing holding it up to perfectly hug my body is a thin fabric around my neck. And me being fond of dresses with slits, I also had one on my right leg. I paired it with a transparent heels, parted my hair midway and arranged it in a low bun to showcase my bare back.
Someone dashing came knocking on my door. I gulped upon seeing such a gorgeous man standing dangerously in front of me. Something about his grave and in-depth aura screams this astounding sexiness. His hair's brushed on one side while some strands are escaping his face. My eyes darted the wholesome of his face. How manly his facet occupies every space in my heart with his unsmiling dark eyes, his thick brows are on the right places and his stubborn jaw.
The man you are, Lorenzo. The man you are.
Tumaas ang gilid ng labi n'ya nang mapansin ang matagal kong pagtitig. Natauhan naman ako at tumikhim.
"Wait, I forgot my pouch," pasimple akong tumalikod sa kanya at kinuha ang pouch ko.
"Sadya bang butas ang likuran mo?" he confusedly asked which made me laugh. Nilingon ko s'yang seryosong nakakunot ang noo at tinitingnan ang suot ko.
"Anong butas? This is how it's worn," mukhang aangal pa s'ya pero wala ng sinabi. He just held my back and I shivered instantly when I felt his hands brush against my skin. Naitago ko naman ang ngiti ko dahil pilit n'ya talagang tinatakpan ang likod ko.
He looked frustrated when we reached the car.
"You're comfortable with that, right?" tanong n'ya nang makapasok sa sasakyan.
"Of course," sagot ko at doon lang s'ya nakahinga ng maluwag. I chuckled.
Saka ko lamang napansin ang pagkakatulad namin ng suot. He is wearing a maroon fitted polo inside with three buttons open and a pair of jeans. It's my first time seeing him with colors since naturally, his outfit palettes revolve around black, white, gray and mostly brown.
And he broke that to match with mine. Aww.
Nakarating na kami sa pagdadausan ng event. It's a big hall, which is out of what I had in my head. Akala ko section lang nila. Buong batch pala!
Lorenzo on the other hand is busy following me from behind, covering my back with his arm.
Nakasalubong ko kaagad si Ade pagkapasok namin. She wiggled her brows when she saw Lorenzo with me.
"Can I borrow her for a minute, Engineer?" makahulugang tanong ni Ade na nagpaalam pa talaga kay Lorenzo.
"Sure. Doon lang ako sa table. Tawagin mo lang ako," he said at pumunta na sa lamesa.
"Tuluyan ka ng bumigay, Priyanka. But I'm not disappointed. Mauunahan mo pa ako mag-asawa!" tinakpan ko naman ang bibig n'ya dahil sobrang lakas ng boses n'ya. May ilan pang nagtinginan.
"Ang daldal mo talaga. Mali ang iniisip mo," I told her.
"You can lie to me all you want Priya," inirapan ko nalang s'ya at iniwan na doon. Akmang papunta na ako sa table nina Lorenzo nang madaanan ko si Jewel. Hinarangan n'ya ang daan ko.
"Akala mo talaga kung sino ka 'no?" she blurted out. She had the guts! Matapos n'yang kunahin ang flashdrive ko.
"Ano bang problema mo?" inis kong tanong sa kanya. Bigla bigla nalang haharang tapos hahanap ng gulo. Ibigay ko 'to sa mga tambay eh!
"You think Lorenzo likes you? Ikaw?" her voice was mocking.
"Ano naman ngayon? At sa tingin mo ikaw ang magugustuhan n'ya? Ikaw?" I copied her tone. Kita ko ang pamumula ng mukha n'ya.
"You won't get what you want, Priya," pagbabanta n'ya. As if I'm scared.
"I already got what I want, Jewel. Try harder," I left her completely dumbfounded in the middle of all the stares.
I don't regularly talk back to people who aren't on my standards. In fact, I am the standard.
"Hi!" pagbati ng isang lalaki.
"Hello," I kindly smiled at him. At least he's better than that thick-faced bitch.
Inimbitahan n'ya ako sa table nila at hindi ko tinanggihan dahil nakakahiya naman. Puro lalaki ang nandoon and all of them are having fun and having chats.
"Wait, Priyanka?" pagpuna ng isang lalaki na hindi ko namumukhaan.
"Uhmm, yes. That's me," sabay ngiti ko sa kanila.
"My dad was your client! You were the one who designed our house," he said and my mouth formed an 'o'. Tuwang tuwa naman ang ibang kasamahan nila at pipila raw sila para magpagawa rin ng design.
"Dito ka rin ba sa Manila nag-college?" the one who invited me asked.
"Yes," I retorted after getting a glass of wine.
"How come I haven't seen you in person?" Nakatayo kaming dalawa dahil puno ang lamesa nila. One of his friends offered his chair but I kindly declined. Hindi rin naman ako magtatagal dahil baka nag-iintay si Lorenzo.
"Hindi tayo meant to be," pagbibiro ko. They laughed.
"Oh, Lorenzo! I never knew you would come," puna ng isang lalaki.
Nabaling naman ang tingin ko kay Lorenzo na kadadating lang sa table. He's wearing his infamous furrowed brows but there's something knew with his little smirk. Like he's bragging or something.
"I'm here to get my date back," mahinang sabi n'ya but enough for everyone in the table to hear.
Pumagitna s'ya sa amin ng lalaking nag-imbita sa akin, I forgot to ask his name. He then moved closer to me and wrapped his arms around my waist. Kunot-noo ko naman s'yang tiningnan.
"Naiwan lang kita saglit, ang dami na agad kaagaw," he whispered in a thick baritone.