When A Man Loves A Woman

3

"How do I look?"  Ngiting ngiting tanong ni Casper sa kanya pagbukas niya ng suite door.  

The guy is wearing a white tux and a purple bow.  Yes, Casper a certified and proud member of the LGBT community.  He's one of her best staff in the publishing house and she loves him.

"You always look fabulous, Cas," ngitian niya ito.

"And you are the most gorgeous editor in all the faces of the earth!"  puri naman nito sa kanya.

She chose to wear the crimson dress as it will be easier for her to move around.  On her feet, a pair of crystal-encrusted pumps.

"And I am wondering why you're still single?  Are they blind or you just hate to be in a relationship?"  walang prenong tanong nito.  Iniumang ni Casper ang braso sa kanya at hinawakan niya iyon.

"Busy...."

"Most of the single successful women that I met used to answer me the same thing.  Some are telling the truth but the others have been in a relationship but ended burned, like you," tinapik nito ang kamay niya na nakapatong sa braso nito.  "I've been in a thousand relationships,"  napanganga siya sa sinabi nito.  "You're so gullible!  It's just a hyperbole!" natatawang sabi nito.  "I've been hurt a lot of times but I still believe in love.  That's the most precious thing in this world, my Dear Editor," kinurot nito ang baba niya.  

"You're hopelessly romantic, Cas,"  humilig siya dito.  "I hope I am like you but I am a realist, Babe."

Iwinasiwas lang nito ang kamay na tila hindi naniniwala sa sinasabi niya.  "Our ride is here."

Pinauna siya nitong pumasok sa limousine at naupo ito sa tabi niya.  

"Being a realist shouldn't stop you from falling in love, Dear.  Love is the most wonderful thing that you can give to yourself.  Know what, it really feels good having someone to take care of you.  I've known you for what? Six years?"  tumango siya.  "And in those years, I've never seen you with any man."

"I don't need them," she said with finality.

"Like ever?" tumikwas ang isang kilay nito.

"Yes.  Ever," she grinned.

Casper rolled his eyes and shook his head.  "You're a hopeless case."

"I know I am," natatawang sagot niya.  "But enough about me." Tinapik niya ang hita nito.  "So would you be my date at the after-party?"

"Of course, who else aside from me?  Whenever we are attending something like this, it is only me whom you can rely on, right?"  ngunit bigla itong sumimangot.  "But being with you the whole night means..."

"Means you cannot play around, right?" tukso niya dito.

"Unfortunately, yes.  That's the downside being with you," humalukipkip pa ito.

"It might change tonight," lumiwanag ang mukha nito.  "But depends on the way you behave."Muli itong napasimangot.  "So you better be, okay," kinindatan niya ito.

"You know, this is one of those times that I am wishing that you have someone with you," natatawang napailing na lang siya.  "Oh, we're here."

Malapit lang ang venue ng awarding sa hotel na tinutuluyan nila.  Fifteen minutes drive lang iyon.

Nang makababa sila ay marami siyang nakitang mga kakilalang kapwa manunulat.  Kaliwa't kanan ang mga bumati sa kanya. 

"Cas, let's settle somewhere.  Have you found a place where you can easily catch a nice angle for your pictures?" tanong niya habang naglalakad sila palapit sa area ng media sa red carpet.  

"Yes.  I asked Marion to find a good spot for us," close friend nito ang binanggit na isa ding writer ngunit sa New York iyon naka-base.

Itinuro nito ang kaibigan nang matanawan iyong kumakaway sa kanila.  Hinawakan siya nito sa kamay upang mapabilis ang lakad niya.  Mabuti na lang at sanay din siyang magsuot ng matataas ang takong na sapatos.  

Ilang sandali pa ay unti unting nagdatingan ang mga artista na ang iba ay kilala siya mismo kaya nung nakita siya ay lumalapit pa sa puwesto niya upang ma-interview niya.  Nakikisingit na lang din ng tanong ang iba pang media.

"And there he is,  the handsome debonair, Hawk Cortez!"  napapalakpak pa ito sa sobrang excitement.  

Napatikhim siya at pasimpleng binistahan ang bagong dating na binata.  Mag-isa lang itong dumating sa awarding kahit na may napapabalitang nobya ito.  Napaka-gwapo nito sa suot na silver tux.  But knowing Hawk, he doesn't wear conventional clothes.  He likes stylish ones like what he has right now.  His mosaic silver-grey tuxedo is impeccably sophisticated.  The black lapel and buttons are the ideal finishing touch to the ensemble.

She unknowingly bites her lower lip as he notes down the detailed description of Hawk's attire.  Women will surely love to read everything about him, even the tiniest detail.  Why not? He's the most sought-after bachelor in the industry!

Nagulat siya nang pag-angat ng mukha ay naakatitig ito sa kanya at nakataas ang isang sulok ng labi.  Hindi niya ibinaba ang tingin ngunit hindi din siya nakigulo sa mga media na tinatawag ito upang ma-interview.  

He walks towards her so she has no choice but to prepare a question for him.  The beat of her heart is deafening and even louder than the voices of the crowd.  But before she can even open her mouth he already stopped her by saying: 

"You are going to have an exclusive interview with me, later, during the party.  I owe you that, remember?"  and he smiled handsomely.

Naguluhan siya sa sinabi nito.  As far as she remembered, they didn't talk anything like that because how could that be?  They haven't seen each other for years! But before she corrected him, he already walked past her and talk to the other reporters.  

"What are you wearing tonight, Hawk?"  one of the reporters asked him.

"Kiton for my tux and Christian Louboutin for the loafers," he showed them his most charming smile.  

"You're really expensive, Hawk!" natawa ito sa ikinomento ng isang reporter.

"You bet! It's definitely a big chunk from my bank account!" napatawa nito ang mga tao s paligid.

Naramdaman niya ang pangangalabit ni Casper.  "What was that?" takang tanong nito ngunit halata ang excitement.  "How did you get a chance to have that interview?!"  medyo malakas ang pagkakasabi nito sa kanya dahil maingay ang paligid.

"I don't know!"  Casper raised his right eyebrow in disbelief.  "I am telling the truth!  I don't know what he is talking about!"

"Whatever, Ms.Editor!  Anyway, grab this opportunity because that guy in our magazine means MONEY!"  He's right.  Traffic will sure there on their website and hard copies will sell like hot potatoes.

"No worries, I will talk to him later."  Ngunit hindi niya alam kung paano huhulihin ang binata mamaya lalo na at madaming tao sa party.

"Lucky gal," napatingin siya sa katabing reporter.  "Ian," iniabot nito ang kamay sa kanya.  "I work at The Entertainment Tribune."  Tinanggap niya ang kamay nito.  "You are?"

"Ynah from Chick, Men & Stuff." Pakilala niya.

"So you're the famous Ynah!" nanlalaki ang mga mata nito.  "It's an honor to meet you!"  He continuously shook her hands.

"Drop the famous, please." Binawi niya ang kamay.  

"Sorry but I cannot do that." Hinging paumanhin nito.  "You're a legend in the industry!"  

Napatawa siya sa sinabi nito.  "That's not true, okay?  And please, I don't want to be called like that."

"I just cannot help it.  I'm really ecstatic to meet a person who made a small publishing house famous with your out-of-this-world touch!  And as what I've heard, a lot of companies want you."

Ngumiti lang siya kahit pa nagsasabi ito nang totoo.  Simula kasi nang maging number one sa larangan ang Chick, Men & Stuff, sunod-sunod ang mga dumarating sa kanyang offers na malugod niyang tinanggihan.  Wala na siyang mahihiling pa sa Tory's Publishing.  Maliban sa itinaas nito ang kanyang sweldo, sinagot na rin ng kumpanya ang bayad sa kanyang inuupahang bahay.  Kaya naman ang buhay niya sa Hawaii ay masasabing maalwan lalo na at halos wala naman siyang ginagastos maliban sa pagkain.  Ang kanyang mini cooper ay isa sa mga nakuha niyang incentives noong nakaraang taon nang manguna na naman ang kanilang magazine sa US.  

Malaking karangalan man ang nagawa niya sa kumpanya, hindi naman niya kinukuha lahat ng kredito dahil alam niyang hindi niya iyon magagawa kung hindi magaling ang buong team na kasama niya.  

"I'm Casper!  I am with Ms. Ynah."  iniabot nito ang kamay sa lalaki.  "Nice to meet you, Ian of The Entertainment Tribune."

Pasimple ang ginawang pakikipagpalit ni Casper ng pwesto sa kanya.  Kilala talaga siya nito.  Ayaw kasi niya ng mga ganoong klase ng papuri.

"You're the photographer, I suppose?" sabay tingin nito sa hawak na camera ng kasama niya.

"You guessed it right,"  sabay pitik pa nito habang tumatawa.

Hindi na niya pinakinggan pa ang pinag-uusapan ng mga ito.  Hinawakan niya ang tapat ng puso at pinakiramdaman ang pagtibok nito.  Bumabalik na iyon sa normal dahil marahil nakuha ni Ian ang atensyon nya o dahil malayo na ang taong laging nagbibigay ng ganoong pakiramdam sa kanya.

Napatingin siyang muli sa red carpet.  Wala na si Hawk.  Napabuga siya ng hangin.  It's been years when she last saw him in person and she is not ready to face him again.