"Have you dated anyone before? You know, while you were abroad?" Jordan asked out of the blue.
Ito na ata ang pangatlong date namin. Katulad lamang noong una ay nasa isa na namang kaming restaurant.
Hindi ko alam kung gusto niya ba na libutin namin ang lahat ng 5 star restaurant dito sa Manila dahil palipat-lipat kami.
So far ay ayos naman ay pag-uusap namin. We just talk normally, iyong walang pino-problema tungkol sa nakaraan. We started from a scratch.
Katulad ng sinabi niya noon ay hindi niya ino-open ang topic tungkol sa nangyari dati. But I know that in the future, kapag ayos na ay itatanong niya na ito. I'm sure that I am ready when the time comes wherein he will ask for my explanation, iyong rason kung bakit ako umalis ng walang paalam sa kaniya. I am ready to tell him the truth and to receive his anger because I kept his son away from him.
"Uhm, I don't think so. I was too busy-" with our son. "Resting, studying and you know working. I didn't really had much time to date."
Totoo naman ang sinabi ko na iyon. I don't really have any time to date before dahil nag-aadjust pa lamang ako sa US. Isa pa ay gusto kong magpahinga at tutukan ang anak ko kaysa atupagin ang love life ko.
I don't want to date anyone, although my parents kept on insisting that I should already settle down because I am not getting any younger. I know that deep inside, I am still in love with Jordan at that time kaya wala ring kwento ang makipag relasyon pa sa oras na iyon.
I don't want to date anyone to satisfy my needs. Ayoko na makipag relasyon kahit na alam ko na hindi pa ako nakaka move on. That's just too unfair and cruel.
Yes, Jordan surely did me a lot of damage but I cannot just date anyone to forget him. I know that time will come at unti-unti ring mawawala ang kung anong nararamdaman ko.
"Yeah, me too. I wasn't able to date anyone." He stated while looking deeply at my eyes.
"Yeah? But the woman at your office told me na she is your girlfriend? Baka you dated her?" I asked curiously when I remember the woman at his office.
What was her name again? I think it's Vicki?
"No," Nakakunot ang kaniyang noo. "Why would I date her? She's not my type. I do not like Engineers, I prefer Interior Designers." Nakangisi niyang dagdag na para bang nanalo sa lotto.
I felt my cheeks blushing profusely because of what he just said. What a lame pick up line. O pick up line ba 'yon?
Mabuti na lamang at mayroong akong make up kaya hindi nakita ang pamumula ng aking mukha.
It reminded me of the old days. Noong magkasama pa kami ni Jordan. I remember him saying those cheesy pick up lines he got from the internet.
"Where you got your pick up line?" I asked while smirking.
"What?" Natatawang ani niya. "I came up with it. Was it good?" Nagtaas siya ng kilay.
I raised my hands and made a little sign.
"Pwede na," Tawa ko,
"Why are you still not working here? I heard na marami raw ang kumukuha sayo but you declined."
"Are you trying to recruit me on your company?" I asked while smiling.
"W-what? No!" He laughed. "I'm just curious."
"Well, to be honest. I still don't know If I'm going to stay here permanently. Kapag siguro naayos ko 'yung dapat kong gawin ay ta-tanggap na ako ng trabaho." I answered honestly.
Hindi naman niya malalaman kung ano ang inaayos ko kya okay lang. at least I got the chance to honest to him.
"You're thinking about leaving?" Pumungay ang kaniyang mata.
"Not really, leaving. Basta hindi ko pa alam."
We continued talking after that, kung ano ang mga nangyari sa amin. You know, the simple questions. I don't thank he would be reckless to ask me about what happened before.
Pero... hindi ko mapigilang hindi maisip 'yung nangyari sa mall noon. 'Yung pagtingin niya sa akin sandali at pagbuhat kay Jane.
I sighed heavily. I should not be thinking about that.
But... I want an explanation. Bakit niya ginawa iyon? Bakit hindi ako yung tinulungan niya? Pareho lang naman kami ni Jane ng sitwasyon noon hindi pa?
I almost lost Xanley.
"What's the problem?" Natigil lamang ako sa pag-iisip ng hinawakan niya ang akong kamay na nasa mesa.
Napaigtad ako dahil sa gulat.
"Ha? W-wala. May naisip lang ako." I tried to laugh it off.
I heard him sighed, iyong para bang problemado. He bit his lips.
"I won't ask or force you to tell me what's bothering you. I'll just wait until you open up to me cause isn't that what this is all about? Waiting." Inayos niya ang kaniyang soot na long sleeves. "I'll wait for you again, Reign. Even if it takes forever. I will wait for the time wherein you can tell me what's wrong cause I know that it will be worth it. Kapag ikaw Reign, walang sayang. Lahat sulit."
Napaawang ang aking labi ng marinig ang kaniyang sinabi.
I didn't know what to say. I just listened to him in silence. I did not expect to her those words from him.
Parang may kung anong humahalukay sa aking puso at tyan dahil sa sinabi niya.
"Come on, I'll just drive you home. Mukhang pagod ka na din." He stated, ending our dinner.
He payed the bill kahit na sinabi ko na ako na ang magbabayad ng kinain ko. He told me na he should be the one to pay the bill dahil siya naman iyong umaya sa akin na lumabas.
"Uhm, you're still living at your parents house right? Doon na ako di-diretso?" He asked when we got stuck in the traffic.
"Yeah," Tumango ako sa kaniya.
His car is neat and clean. Walang mga plastic bottles o kung anong kalat dito. Mabango rin ang amoy ng kotse niya.
If I am not mistaken ay kaamoy din niya ang kaniyang kotse. Siguro humahalo na 'yung amoy ng kaniyang pabango dito. Mabuti na lamang at hindi iyon ganoong katapang, tama lamang ang amoy nito at mabango.
"What's your perfume?" I guess I wasn't able to stop myself from asking that.
Matagal na rin akong curious kung ano ang ginagamit niyang pabango,
"What?" He asked na para bang naguguluhan kahit na bakas naman ang ngisi sa kaniyang mukha.
Umirap ako. "Stop thinking about anything. Your perfume smells good."
"Ha? Wala naman akong iniisip." Ipinatong niya ang kaniyang siko sa door handle habang ang isang kamay ay nasa stirring wheel ng kotse.
"Yeah," as if. Muli akong umirap sa kaniya. "So what is it?"
Sakto naman ay muli kaming tumigil dahil sa stop light. Mayroon siyang kinuha mula sa glove compartment sa aking harapan.
"Maison Francis Kurkdjian," Pagkasabi niya nito ay inilabas niya anv isang pabango.
Kinuha niya ang aking palapulsuan ay hinawakan iyon.
I felt the warmth of his hands.
He swiftly sprayed the perfume on my wrist.
Nagulat ako ng bigla siyang yumuko.
"W-what are you doing?" Bigla niyang hiniln ang aking palapulsuan.
I felt something wilding inside of me. Para akong nanghina kaya hindi ko na nagawang bawiin ang kamay ko sa kaniya.
"Para matuyo agad." Sabi niya bago humiwalay sa akin. "Come on, smell it." He gestured.
Nag-aalinlangan akong amuyin 'yon prro ginawa ko pa din.
I knew that the perfume was probably luxurious the moment I got to inhaled it.
"How was it?" Nakangising tanong niya.
Napalabi ako. "Mabango,"
Muli niyang kinuha ang aking kamay. Nagulat na lamang ako ng may maramdamang malamig doon.
Nang itinuon ko ang aking mata doon ay nagulat ako ng makita ang pabango niya.
"It's yours, I like seeing you liking my scent." Kinagat niya ang labi at pinagpatuloy ang pag mamaneho ng kotse.
"Huh? 'Wag na. Tinanong lang naman kita kung ano ang pabango mo." Umiling ako.
"It's fine Reign. I got a lot of stocks of that perfume." Tinaasan niya ako ng kulay. "But... As an exchange—" Pinutol ko siya.
"Akala ko ba akin na lang? Bakit may kapalit?" Nakakunot noong tanong ko sa kaniya.
Nothing comes free na talaga ngayon.
"Yeah, can you let me finish?" He sarcastically said. Umirap ako. "So, In exchange can I get your perfume?"
"Huh? Bakit? Mabango naman 'yung sayo."
"Yeah, I gave you mine so I need another perfume."
"Akala ko ba marami kang stocks nito?"
"Nah, I was just kidding. That's my last stock so mind giving me yours?" Tumingin siya sa akin.
He pouted. "Fine," I answered and suddenly there was a playful smirk on his red lips.
Ibinigay ko naman sa kaniya ang pabango ko. I always bring my perfume whenever I am going out pero ang dinadala ko lamang ay 'yung maliit na version nito para hindi masyadong mabigat.
"Thank you," Ngumisi siya na para bang nanalo ng lotto.
We continued talking until we reach my village. Pagkatapos ng ilang pagliko ay nakarating na kami sa harap ng bahay ng aking magulang.
"Thank you for the ride." Paalam ko dito at ngumiti.
"W-wait," He suddenly hold my wrist to stop me.
I frowned. Sa huli ay bumalik ako sa dating pesto at humarap sa kaniya.
"What?"
"Can I ask something?" Humarap ako sa gilid niya at nagtaas ng kilay.
"Hm?" I hummed, giving him a yes signal to ask me.
"About what we talked about earlier? About you not sure staying in the Philippines permanently."
Nakuha niya ang buong atensyon ko pagkasabi noon. Sumeryoso ang aking mukha.
"What about it?"
"I was just wondering, will you stay if we work again?" He asked in a low ominous voice.
I was suddenly out of words. Paano nga kung mag work kami? Will I still stay here?
"Or would you leave? 'Cause if you will leave then I'll come with you. I will live with you in the US."
I was dumbfounded. Hindi ko alam ang isasagot ko. Well, I will leave together with Xanley kung hindi niya papanagutan ang anak namin pero kung... papanagutan niya ay ano pa ang saysay ng pag-alis ko.
I'll rather stay here.
"I'm ready to leave everything behind so we can be together, Reign. J-just tell me, okay?" I saw his Adams apple moving. "So will you stay if we work?" Dahan-dahan niya itong sinabi.
Para bang natatakot siya na biglang magkamali sa sasabihin at biglang masira ang lahat.
We were both left in a peaceful silence. Walang nag salita sa aming dalawa Ang tanging naririnig ko lamang ay ang tunog ng aircon at wala ng iba.
"Y-you know what? Nevermind, you don't have to answer me." He looked away as if he was pained by my silence. "Pumasok ka na sa loob. I'll wait until you get inside."