Chapter 3
1623 Words
Shaud couldn't take his eyes off the woman in front of him. He has seen many beautiful women but this woman is different. She has this milk-like skin, twinkling eyes, a perfect nose, and red luscious lips.
Damn, I want to kiss those lips!
What am I thinking?
He had never thought such a thing to a strange woman before, well… except for the beautiful woman in front of him that time.
Hara, even her name sounds perfect to him just like how perfect her beauty is.
Such a picturesque.
Damn, he sounds like a love-sick man towards a stranger. Hindi niya maiwasang mapailing-iling at nanatiling nakatitig sa babaeng noon niya lang nakilala habang kausap nito si Sarah.
Now, he's curious. How did the two women meet? As he heard, Sacha Reila, known as Sarah, has been busy finding and dealing with Mr. Mirai, a Japanese businessman who owns the Mirai Hotel. How did they get to know each other?
He knows her, he knows Sacha Reila very well. She's not just a famous car racer but also good at handling businesses and dealing with someone.
And of course, the reason why he really knows her… is because they're both surviving in the same world.
"Oh wait. Someone's calling me," said Sarah when her cellphone rang.
Nalipat ang kaniyang tingin ni Shaud kay Sarah ng bigla itong tumayo at nagpaalam na may kakausapin muna kaya naiwan silang dalawa ni Hara. He felt the awkwardness that surrounds them after Sarah left so he tried speaking to her to lessen the awkwardness and also to have a decent conversation with the woman who has luscious lips.
"Hey..." he started.
Kaagad naman lumingon sa kaniya ang dalaga at binigyan siya ng maliit na ngiti bago tumugon.
"Hey," she replied.
Shaud couldn't help but chuckle. Ramdam na ramdam niya ang kaba ng babae kahit ilang dipa ang layo nito sa kaniya. He's good at reading someone and he knows very well what's running through the mind of the woman he's been watching.
"I don't bite, Ms. Hara," he assured to her.
But I do lick.
He wanted to add but he thought he didn't want the girl to feel even more uncomfortable and it was too bold to tell someone he had just met. He's sure Hara is not that into those jokes.
"Well, you're not a dog Mr.?" asked Hara.
"Shaud... Shaud Dela Fuente," he replied then he saw her eyes widen before she smiled at him.
Hmm, does she know me?
"A Dela Fuente? Are you somehow related to Roula Dela Fuente?" she asked.
He nodded as a response. Bakit naman hindi niya makikilala si Roula Dela Fuente?
"Yes. She's my beautiful mother," he replied.
Muling nanlaki ang mga mata ni Hara dahilan sa mahina niyang pagtawa. She looks so cute every time she widens her eyes in shock.
"She's… your mom? Tita Roula is your mom?" she asked in surprised.
Bahagyang tumangu-tango si Shaud, "Yeah. Paano mo siya nakilala? She's a very private and a selective person when it comes to people. How come you know each other but we don't?"
Edi matagal na sana kitang napagmamasdan at nakakausap ng ganito.
"We met at the mall. We accidentally bumped into each other and my phone” — she lifted her cellphone up — "fell down,” she said. “It wasn't broken but she apologized so many times and that made me adore her. Gosh, I miss Tita Roula!"
Kumunot ang kaniyang noo at kapagkuwan ay napangiti. He remembered that her mom has been telling him about a woman who looks so beautiful and lovely. Hindi naman nagkakamali ang kaniyang ina, Hara is indeed a beauty.
"So you were the woman my mom has been telling me about someone named Yzaiel?" he asked.
Kaagad namang tumango sa kanya si Hara, "Nagustuhan niya kasi ang pangalang Yzaiel kaya iyon ang tawag niya sa 'kin.” Her smile widened as she spoke again, “And to answer your question about ‘we’ not knowing each other was because you were rarely here in the Philippines. Who would have thought we would meet?”
Akmang may itatanong pa sana siya nang biglang dumating si Sarah na halos magkasalubong ang mga kilay. He can't help but sigh out of disappointment, he still wants to talk to her a little bit longer.
"Gosh. Mirai is such a f-cker!" Sarah whispered in disgust as she returned to her seat.
Kumunot naman ang noo ni Shaud. “Why? What did that Japanese say?" he asked then took a glance at Hara who's staring at Sarah in astonishment.
"Pinapauwi niya na kaagad ako. Kakaalis ko lang kahapon eh!" bakas ang inis sa boses ni Sarah kaya napailing-iling na lang si Shaud.
So, they are living together huh? hmm.
They ordered some foods and ate while chitchatting about their daily life.
Hindi niya alam pero magaan ang pakiramdam niya kay Shaud at kay Sarah. She likes how lively their table is because of the two. Kung hindi niya lang nalaman ang totoo ay mapagkakamalan niyang may relasyon talaga ang dalawa.
Sarah told them that she is currently living with someone so Hara asked if she is married, she answered her with ‘no’ that caused confusion to Hara’s mind. She actually wanted to ask more but she reminded herself not to ask a lot of questions about someone's life even if she is willing to share.
Ayaw niya lang mapagkamalang chismosa sa buhay ng iba. Maybe it was already enough information about Sarah's life today. Hindi pa naman sila gano’n kalapit sa isa’t isa upang sabihin nito sa kaniya ang lahat.
About Shaud, who would have thought that she had a connection with that very handsome man? Well, she really knew Shaud’s powerful name from the beginning. Matagal na niyang naririnig ang pangalan nito dahil sya lang naman ang may-ari ng tanyag na restawran — ang Dela Fuente's Casa. Their foods are beyond delicious! In fact, she always orders food there, she is so fond of their dishes.
Nalaman nya rin ang tungkol kay Shaud dahil naikukwento ito ng kanyang Tita Roula ngunit kailanman ay hindi niya pa ito nakita kahit sa litrato man lang. Hindi rin naman siya nag-abala pa na alamin ang itsura nito dahil wala rin naman siyang oras sa dami ng kanyang ginagawa.
Ngunit hindi nabanggit ng Tita Roula niya na si Shaud Dela Fuente pala ay kanyang anak kaya ikinagulat talaga iyon ni Hara. Noong una ay iniisip lamang niya na malayong magkamag-anak lamang ang dalawa ngunit mas higit pa pala doon ang kanilang ugnayan; sila pala ay mag-ina!
"Eat a lot, Hara," said Shaud causing her heart to pound again.
It happens every time that man opens his mouth and mentions her name, her heart will start to go crazy and will not be able to maintain her usual beat. She can't help but feel anxious around Shaud. Bigla na naman kasing umalis si Sarah dahil tinawagan na naman ito ng Hapon kaya naiwan na naman silang dalawa.
"I can't. I'm on a diet," she responded while chuckling even though she actually wanted to eat that Chicago pizza.
Pero ang sagot niya ay walang katotohanan. Kailanma'y hindi siya nagdiyeta dahil hindi naman siya tumataba kahit anong kain niya. Nagdadahilan lamang ito para hindi niya malamon ang lahat ng pagkain sa harap ng lalaki. Somehow, she wanted to impress him.
"Alam kong gutom ka. Just eat! Walang mawawala kung kakain ka," sabi ni Shaud.
Hindi siya nakapagsalita. Napakagat labi siya dahil takam na takam na talaga siya sa pizza.
This is making me crazy!
Ibinaling niya ang kaniyang tingin kay Shaud na tiim na nakatitig sa kaniya habang tinuturo ang pizza.
Gosh! Temptation!
"Fine. Hindi naman siguro ako tataba sa isang slice diba?" natatawang tanong niya at kumuha ng isang hiwa ng sikat na Chicago pizza.
Finally, I can savor it!
Isusubo na sana niya ito ng biglang tumunog ang kaniyang cellphone. Sa gulat niya ay nabitawan niya ang pizza at nahulog ito sa kaniyang damit.
"OMG!" gulat niyang sigaw at napatayo.
Kaagad niyang nilingon ang kaniyang tumutunog na cellphone at nakitang ang kaniyang manedyer pala ang tumatawag. Binalewala niya ang namantsahang damit at kaagad sinagot ang tawag, "Mommy Que—"
"Bakit hindi mo agad sinabi sa akin ang tungkol kay Greg? Gosh, Hara! Hindi ba sinabi ko sa'yo na sabihin mo sa akin lahat ng bagay na nangyayari sa paligid mo? Either it’s good or bad, tell me!" nangigigil na sabi ng kanyang manedyer.
Tila biglang sumakit ang kanyang ulo kaya napapikit siya at hinilot-hilot ang kanayang sintido, "I know, Mommy Que—"
Bigla siyang natigilan ng makaramdam siya ng tissue na pumapahid sa mansa ng pizza. And what shocked her was it was Shaud who's seriously wiping the stains around her left hand and stomach.
Naramdaman siguro ng binata ang titig niya kaya nilingon siya nito. Shaud smiled at her then whispered, "I'll clean this up, talk to the phone. Don't mind me."
"Hara? Is something wrong?" her manager asked.
She blinked her eyes a few times before answering, "N-nothing. I'll be there any minute. Bye!"
Pagkapatay niya sa tawag ay nanigas nalang siya sa kinakatayuan dahil kay Shaud.
This is awkward!
Nang matauhan siyang muli ay bigla niya na lang hinawakan ang kamay ng lalaki upang pigilan. Naiangat tuloy ni Shaud bigla ang kanyang tingin kay Hara at maya-maya pa’y umayos na ito ng tayo.
"That was inappropriate. I'm sorry," he said.
"I-it's okay. Thank you for cleaning the stains," Hara said trying to act cool about what happened.
Gosh, Shaud!
- Writer
