I'll Find You [John Steep Wilder]

Two

ANDREA

She heard from Steep's mother na hindi naging maganda ang interpretation ni Steep sa sinabi nilang he will be marrying her. Yes. She knows all along ang plano ng mga magulang nila na ipakasal sila when she reached 21. She did not do anything about it, It's her idea in the first place.

FLASHBACK

"Dad, when I reached the right age, are you going to ask me to marry someone I don't totally know like my cousins?" seryosong tanong ni Andrea while they are eating dinner. Napatingin naman ang kanyang ama sa kanya at tila inaaral ang isasagot sa anak bago nagsalita.

"I am not like them anak, you can marry who you want as long as he will take care of you." sincere na sagot ng kanyang ama. "Why so sudden you asked such question?" Nagtatakang tanong ng kanyang ama.

"Because I want to be married with just one person Dad. I want John Steep Wilder."  nanlaki ang mga mata ng kanyang ama at saka naman natawa.

"Are you sure you want to marry someone you're not sure will love you back?" his father asked sincerely.

"He will learn it someday Dad. That's my only wish." she said all decided. Tumikhim ang kanyang ama at saka sumandal sa kinuupuan nito.

"Wish granted my dear daughter. Wait till you reach 21, you'll marry the man of your dreams." nakangiting sambit ng kanyang ama at saka hinawakan ang kanyang kamay. Malapad na ngiti ang iginanti ni Andrea sa kanyang ama.

"Thanks Dad! I love you!" 

END OF FLASHBACK

"Hey, tama na arte, someone is looking for you outside." mataray na sambit ng kasamang modelo ni Andrea sa kanya habang nag reretouch siya sa harapan ng salamin.

"Thanks." She replied. padabog na lumabas iyon at inismiran pa siya pero wala siyang pakialam.

Agad ng tumayo si Andrea at lumabas ng dressing room para puntahan kung sino man ang naghahanap sa kanya. She went to the photoshoot studio and was shocked kung sino ang nandoon wearing a black cap like he is in disguise trying to blend with the staff. Kahit pa maraming tao hinding hindi makakawala sa mga mata nya ang lalaking unang nagpatibok at nagpapatibok parin ng puso nya. Dali dali siyang lumapit dito.

"Hey.. What are you doing here, Mr. Wilder?" she asked trying to be charming kahit nagwawala ang lahat ng internal organs nya sa sobrang kaba. Lalong lumakas ang t***k ng kanyang dibdib ng tumingin ito sa kanya with his lips curved upward ready to give her a smile. Pero agad nawala ang ngiting iyon ni Steep ng aksidenteng mapadako ang kanyang mga mata sa exposed na cleavage ng dalaga. Napalitan iyon ng maasim na mukha at matalim na titig.

"Can you change your..." napalunok si Steep habang sinusubukang ituro ang dibdib ni Andrea. "..your clothes! You don't look like a decent woman!" unti-unting nabura ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Andrea ng marinig iyon kay Steep. Bakla ba 'to?

"Pardon?" she asked with her voice trembling at lalo lang lumala ang kanyang nararamdamang kaba ng dumilim lalo ang tingin ng binata sa kanya.

"Do you want me to repeat it?! Change your clothes!" he said in higher tone. This time, they are getting the attention of the staff. Lumapit sakanila ang isang photographer na si Alex, to check on her dahil halata namang may gusto sa kanya ito. Alex is a gentleman, he looks like an angel too with blue eyes pero iba pa rin ang dating ni Steep sa kanya.

"Hey, is there a problem here Andrea?" he asked sincerely. Sasagot na sana si Andrea pero laking gulat niya ng itulak ng mahina ni Steep ang binata sa dibdib.

"Why? Who are you? Eyeing on her?" nangiinsultong sabi ng binata. Akmang gaganti na sana si Alex pero napagitnaan kaagad sila ni Andrea.

"Look Alex, we're fine. Please go back to your work." Mahinahon nyang sambit. Alex just backed down at bumalik na sa kanyang ginagawa ngunit di parin inaalis nito ang mga mata kay Steep na halatang nag titimpi. "And you. What are you doing here, seriously, I have photoshoot. May kailangan ka ba? You want me to get your mom for you?" She asked Steep directly.

"I'm not going to repeat myself. Change your clothes, right now or I will torn them infront of everyone." Seryoso at malamig ang boses na turan ng binata kay Andrea and that sent shivers through her spine but she can't backdown! She stood still infront of him at nakipagsukatan ng titig sa binata. Steep let out a frustrated sigh and removed his jacket. Napalunok na lang si Andrea when she saw his broad chest and masculine shoulder, not to mention is biceps and triceps.

"Isuot mo to. Then follow me." Sabay talikod ni Steep sa kanya pagkuha ng jacket nito. Shoot pati likod may muscle. Napakagat labing sambit ni Andrea sa sarili habang pinapanuod na maglakad palayo ang binata.

Steep brought her to the cafeteria para doon kausapin, since it is not yet break time, walang gaanong tao doon so they can talk privately. 

"So, can you tell me now why you're here?" Andrea broke the silence.

"I know you know our parents are asking me to marry you." alam na ni Andrea na yon ang ipinunta ni Steep sa kanya. "I don't want that to happen." He said bluntly. Nagulat si Andrea sa reaksyong iyon ni Steep.

"Why?" she asked.

"Why? Because I don't love you. I know napipilitan ka rin sa pinapagawa satin ng parents natin, Andrea, it takes two to tango, kailangan dalawa tayong pumigil sakanila so they would realize that they're wrong by forcing us!" he said seriously and determined. Andrea's heart is breaking into pieces while Steep says those words. Hindi siya makapaniwala na may tatanggi sa kanyang kagandahan.

"I can't do that." she said and swallowed the lump in her throat. Nagdilim ang ekspresyon sa mukha ni Steep when he heard what she said.

"What? Hahayaan mo nalang bang mawala ang kalayaan mo ng ganun ganun nalang?" he asked her seriously. She desperately looked into his eyes.

"It doesn't matter, you're already 30, I'm already 21, so what's the matter?" she asked.

"What are you talking about?! It's not just the age Andrea, we don't love each other!" naiinis na sambit ni Steep. Tumayo si Andrea dahil nasasaktan siya sa tuwing sasabihin ng binata na hindi siya nito mahal.

"Sorry Steep. I can't help you." she said and removed his jacket and gave it back to him and walked away. Awang ang bibig ni Steep na nakatingin lang sa papalayong pigura ni Andrea. That witch! Mahinang bulalas nya. Sinabi na kasing magpalit ng damit! Gustong gustong pino flaunt ang dibdib! Witch! He said to himself very frustrated thinking of how the boys look at Andrea with that outfit.

Umuwi si Steep ng bigo pero what's surprising is he almost forgot that he went there to convince Andrea not to mary him. Mas kinaiinis nya ang nakita nyang suot nito that shows her cleavage. Gusto niyang sapakin ang mga lalaking lumilingon kanina kay Andrea. He can't blame them, she's young, sexy and beautiful. Kahit nga mukha lang ang litaw doon ay magiging head turner iyon. Paano pa kaya kung daring ang suot nya?

Mahinang sinipa ni Steep ang basurahan sa tapat ng kanilang bahay sa sobrang inis. That witch! She have the guts to be my wife ganon siyang manamit! So disgusting!  Mahinang bulalas nya sa hangin habang papasok sa gate ng kanilang bahay. 

"Great! He's here!" Tuwang tuwang salubong ng kanyang ina sa kanya pag pasok palamang ng pintuan. His face turned red because of anger when he saw who's with his Mom.