The Badass Girl And His Reckless Heart (Filipino)

"YOU should seriously think of hooking up with Ezekiel tonight.”   “What! No way!” Frankie looked up, meeting her friend Zoe's brown eyes in the mirror. She’s standing behind her, fixing her own makeup in preparation for Ezekiel's birthday party.   “Seriously, Frankie,” Zoe says. "You like him and he likes you. I don't understand why the hell you're making it hard for the both of you."   "Ezekiel and I are good friends and business partners. We both agreed that we won't enter  into something that could complicate things between us if things won't work," Frankie says, twirling the curling iron around with a flourish before lifting another section of her hair.   “Bullshit. You two are hypocrites. It's so obvious that you're attracted to each other but doing your best to avoid it. How will you know it won't work if you won't even try it? Look, how long have you known each other? Three or four years? Do you think your business will be successful as it is now if you two are not good partners?”   "That's right. We are good partners, BUSINESS PARTNERS to be exact. He takes care of the kitchen and foods while I am doing the management. We are both in our expertise department that made us good team partners. Besides he told me he cannot handle me. He said I have a strong personality that tends to empower men. That he doesn't want under my heels."   "What a coward cow!" Zoe blurted.   "Zoe!"   "What? I'm just telling the truth. And I’m also concerned about you."   "Why the hell is that?" Frankie asked, looking at Zoe's reflection from the mirror.   "Seriously? Are you asking me that because you don't know or you're pretending not to know?"   "I seriously don't know what the hell you're talking about and suddenly advising me to hook up with Ezekiel out of the blue. Please do the honor and enlighten me..."   Zoe stopped applying her blush on and looked at Frankie's round eyes from the mirror's reflection. "Tsk. How many guys were trying to hook you and you had no interest?"   Frankie looked away. "It's because--- it's because I'm not that kind of woman. You know that! I may be out going and so what  the people think about me but s*x is different. I still have self respect and if ever I'll give myself to a guy, It will be because I love him and not because of any other reason."   "Oh sure I do understand that. One has to be in love to be in a relationship. But in your case, you can't be in love with someone else because you already have been in love with Ezekiel for years now. Am I right or am I right?" Zoe gave her a challenging look.   Frankie got silent. Either she admits it or not, Zoe was right. She likes her business partner and good friend Ezekiel and that's the reason why she couldn't entertain any suitors. But Ezekiel had been honest to her from the very start and told her that he is attracted to her but has no plan of pursuing her because he believes that they would be better as friends and business partners rather than lovers.   "Why? Can't good friends be lovers too?" she asked, a little disappointment and hurt in her voice.   Ezekiel laughed with her question then grabbed her hand with his while looking in her eyes intently. "Don't get me wrong. I really adore you as a woman and as a person, Miss Francheska Melady Thomas. You're too strong, independent, hard and not to mention smart. You can stand tall without a man besides you anywhere and whatever you'll do but I prepare my woman to be someone a little different for I am a man who's happy to feel needed by my woman. And I don't think you'll be needing me."   "I'll take your silence as yes," she heard Zoe's voice.   Frankie turned to face Zoe. "What's so wrong being strong, independent and smart, Zoe? This is me and I can't pretend to be someone else just to please others."   Zoe sighed. "Ezekiel told you that?"   Frankie nodded. “Sort of.”   "That brittle ego cow!" Zoe blurted. "What kind of woman is he looking for? Some sort of a wobbly headed stupid witch of the south?"   Frankie snorted in laughter watching her friend Zoe’s reaction. “Let’s just accept it, women like us are the ones who are unlucky in love life. No matter how strong a guy might seem in the beginning, it was guaranteed that we’d bruise their ego at some point—just by being strong, being ourselves. And I have no intention of giving up who I am; it’s easier to give up on what you're called brittle ego cow.”   “Well you’re right! It’s not your loss but his. And I am telling you now, you should really give-up on him! Ezekiel is not the right man for you so stop waiting for him to be man enough to accept you for being who you are. As the saying goes “there are plenty of fish in the ocean”. Find a man who has balls and knows how to accept that being a man doesn't mean to be everything for a woman.   Frankie can’t help but smile at Zoe’s reaction. She looks more offended than she is herself. Zoe has a strong personality like she is, which is why Ezekiel’s word’s affected Zoe the same way it affected her when Ezekiel told her that. “What happened with your advice earlier that I should hook up with Ezekiel tonight?” she teased.   “Forget it! Think of it as if I never said it.”   They both laugh, reminded of how they were children. They practically grew up together, and have been inseparable their whole lives.   “But seriously, if you really can’t get it farther with Ezekiel you should really move on and find a right guy for you to fall in love,” said Zoe.   Frankie’s laughter ends in a small chuckle. “We are the same but somehow different, Zoe.  When a guy asks you out, leads you on, spends two months making you fall in love with him, and then when you finally tell him how you feel, he tells you that he loves you too. As easy as that you find yourself a boyfriend but for how long? Two, three or five months the most?”   Zoe smirked. “I don’t reply. I don’t even want to remember those bastards. Sometimes, it’s still too painful to think about. But at least I try, right? And if that person isn’t worth my time, why waste? Life is too precious to be wasted on some people who aren't even worth it to begin with.”   Frankie sighed. Zoe of course has a point--- she spends way too much time thinking about Ezekiel Chavez, a skilled and charming chef and the man she has been in love with, silently and unrequitedly, for the last three or four years now.   Immediately after college and studying business management abroad she came back to the Philippines. She attended a close friend’s birthday party in which one of the guests was the tall, dark and confidently handsome chef Ezekiel Chavez. She felt attracted to him and enjoyed his company that whole evening. He was interesting and fun to talk with and nothing like the guys she’d known in college. Later on they become good friends and because they were both interested in restaurant business they agreed to become partners. Ezekiel is a talented chef but didn't have enough capital to open his own restaurant while Frankie being the only daughter of a rich businessman, Francis Thomas has money and brain. Things between them as business partners went smoothly. But as time passed by Frankie realized that she was falling in love with him. Stupidly, she told him how she felt, and he responded by telling her that she was sweet, and that he’s attracted to her too, but they’d be better as friends and business partners. He said they might just hurt each other in the long run if they will try to cross the line and ended the conversation of telling her that he can’t handle her personality as lovers.   Zoe is still waiting for her to respond. Frankie closes her eyes, trying to block out the sad memory. “I’m trying to let go of my feelings for him and move on but it’s not easy.”   “Right, I forgot that you're someone that once you fall, you’ll fall hard but once you move on, there’s no more turning back. I just can’t wait when that time comes that you really finally move on and Ezekiel will realize what he missed.”   When Frankie did not reply, Zoe sighed. “Lets the matter rest.”   Frankie met her eyes in the mirror and smiled.   Zoe smiled back. “Let’s set aside our feelings for that brittle ego cow and enjoy his party for now. Who knows you might meet your real prince charming tonight.” She wink and flashed Frankie an overly animated smile.     ❤❤❤     LESS than an hour later, they’re in front of T&C De Culinaire, an exclusive restaurant and bar in the center of Makati owned by Frankie and Ezekiel. From the exterior, it’s impossible not to guess that there’s a party going on inside.   Pausing in the corridor outside the door, Frankie catches her reflection in the glass. She is wearing a black colored dress, it has a suggestive décolletage and a hemline that ends just above her knee, paired with black heels that add four inches to her modest five-foot-six frame. She smiled, satisfied that nothing is out of place.   “You look gorgeous as always my dear friend,” Zoe said and gave her a wink before pushing open the restaurant door. “Let’s go in.”   “Good evening Miss Davis, Miss Thomas...” a smiling hostess greeted them.     “Good evening, Nancy,” they replied smiling.   Inside the restaurant the party is already in full swing, seemingly containing Ezekiel's friends and family of course being the party celebrant.   Zoe quickly disappeared and went to greet a friend nearby the entrance.   Frankie glimpses a few common friends and Ezekiel across the room, whispering something to a model like mestiza who’s giggling at whatever he’s saying. He hasn’t seen her yet, so she has time to look at him. Ezekiel Chavez is a combination of sweet and somehow mysterious that only some guys can pull off. His dark hair is in angular fringe cut, the front is longer than the back. The longer part is brushed to a side to create some drastic asymmetry. His body--- perfect in a stylish shirt and dark pants---fit and athletic. Her heart tightens, filling with the familiar, bittersweet ache she feels every time she sees him.   Ezekiel looks up from the mestiza’s ear and notices Frankie. Grinning, he excused himself and went over to her. “My favorite business partner is finally here,” he exclaims above the loud pop music then kisses Frankie on both cheeks before leaning back to look at her. “You look stunning like always.”   “So do you,” she replied, dodging a second round of kisses. “Happy birthday!”   “Thank you.” He takes her hand. “I have someone I want you to meet.”   “W-Who?”   “Giselle.”   “G-Gisselle who?”   “My girlfriend.”   Suddenly Frankie felt her heart smashing around in her chest. Ezekiel got himself a girlfriend and she didn’t know. She took a sharp breath, her ears burning at the word girlfriend. “W-Wait. I need to go to the bathroom.”   “Are you okay?” Ezekiel asked, concerns in his face.   “I-I’m fine. Excuse me…” she said and turned her back to him and walked to the exit.   “Frankie.”   Ezekiel's voice stops her in her tracks. She turns around, trying to control the intense longing that fills her as her eyes land on him. “Why did you follow me?”   Ezekiel looked at her intently. “You don’t look okay.”   Of course she’s not okay. Who would be when the man she loves for years has a girlfriend now and he even wants to introduce it to her?   “I’ll be fine. It’s just---It was so sudden.”   “I’m sorry!”   There’s an awkward silence. Does he have an idea how she’s feeling right now? Is he aware of how much being his friend cost her these three years? How painful it is for her to know that he has a girlfriend? Her eyes cloud. It’s hard to understand how your feelings for someone can be everything to you, yet nothing to them. But of course it was all her fault. It’s not as if Ezekiel promised her something.   “It hurts but don’t worry I’ll be over it,” she says softly.   “Frankie…” He closes the distance between them and places comforting hands on her shoulders. “You know that I love you.”   The words come out of his mouth so easily, words that in other circumstances would mean the world to her.”   “Then why---” she stopped before she made a total fool of herself. “Why can't we be together? Why do you keep breaking my heart?” She wanted to ask.   “Frankie,” he says firmly. “We're friends and you mean a lot to me but---”   She pushed away from him, letting his hands fall on her shoulder. “I know what I am only meant for you, Kiel. I do understand but I’m sorry I can’t wish you to be happy now, not yet. Maybe one day, someday...” She forced a smile, trying hard not to cry in front of him. “Enjoy your night!” she murmurs before turning away and hurrying back to her car.   Zoe, who saw what happened, followed Frankie to the car. “I will not ask you if you’re okay because I know for sure that you’re not. You can cry if you want to, I would close my eyes and ears if you want me to.”   “I’m not that pathetic. He isn't worthy of my tears,” Frankie answered and started the car’s engine.   Zoe looked at her but said nothing.   “Let’s have our own party,” she said and drove the car.   An hour later they were in an expensive disco bar. Frankie already had a few shots of tequila and in her 3rd glass of  blue lagoon. Zoe tries her best to share her friend's pain although Frankie is handling it gracefully she knows that she is hurting inside. It’s just she has a different way of agonizing. For Frankie tears are symbols of weakness. The only time she saw Frankie shed tears was when her mother died when Frankie was fifteen after that she never again showed any weakness, not in front of anyone at least and even in front of her.   “Come-on. Let’s dance to our heart content.” Frankie pulled Zoe to the dance floor.   “You’re really something,” said Zoe shaking her head and following Frankie to the floor which is already crowded. The music is loud and pumping and the beat is almost impossible to resist. Frankie starts to dance and Zoe joins her, grinning as the DJ plays hit after hit. After a while, Frankie completely loses herself in the music, forgetting what happened earlier, the fact that her heart is broken. She forgot it all.   She pretended she didn’t care anymore. She pretends that she herself has someone else too. Pretending that she's seducing someone with her dancing, teasing him, tempting him to take her somewhere and drive her body to madness like how she used to imagine herself with Ezekiel all those nights she dreamed about them being together.   When a pair of male hands settled on her hips, she did not mind and she  danced with him. She heard Zoe shout, “Go girl!” as she dips in really low, then shimmy back up. The guy behind her lets out a whistle, and she looks up with a smile. Then for some reason , her eyes go toward the VIP area next to their table, and see a man seated their now alone, drink in the hand watching her.     She doesn’t know him but why the hell he seems pissed at her? She did not care and continued dancing seductively with her dance partner; she didn’t even care whoever he was. All she wanted to do now is to enjoy and forget everything else.   Meanwhile Noah Samaniego is watching Frankie on the dance floor. He didn't know her but she’s waking up his protective instinct towards her. It’s as if he wanted to break the man’s arm when he saw his hand settled on the woman’s hips. He doesn’t like the way she dances but he couldn't take his eyes off her.   Rob, who just arrived at the VIP table where Noah was sitting, look on who his older brother was gazing at that seems to get his precious attention and at the same time seems to make him mad. “Do you know her?” he asked.   “Thanks God not,” Noah answered.     Rob chuckled. His older brother is an old fashioned man. The normal things like what the girl and the guy doing at the dance floor are something his brother won't tolerate and probably already punched the guy if the girl would have been their younger sister.   "Where the hell were you and why the hell you asked to meet me here of all places?" Noah asked, a disgust traced in his voice.   "You need to relax sometimes, brother. Besides, how long are you planning to hide in your farm?"   Noah's dark eyes boarding into Rob's, his brows knitted in a heavy frown. "It's none of your business. I'm not minding what you do with your life so I would appreciate it if you'll do the same with mine."   Rob shook his head. He really wanted to be close to his older brother but he's been aloof and cold to the family ever since their father brought him to them and introduced him as their older brother. And even more after the tragic accident a year ago that cost his girlfriend's life, they can  barely see him. He moved to his farm and stayed there for more than a year now.   "Anyway, what was it that you wanted to talk about and asked to meet me?" Rob asked.   "It's about our father."   "What about him?"   "He's asking for a grandchild," Noah answered with a smirk.   Rob blurted with laughter but stopped when Noah glared at him. "Sorry. I just can't help it."   "This is not funny at all. So don't laugh like it's a joke or something."   "Okay, okay… So why did you need me for that?"   "Did you really have to ask? You know that I can't give that to him. I have no plan of getting married. Not yet at least."   "Did Dad ask you to get married?"   "No but---"   "Then don't. If he's asking for a grandchild then give it to him. What's that problem? Hook yourself up around, make her pregnant. That's it, your problem is solved."   "You bloody manwhore!" Noah blurted. "I'm here to ask you for help, that maybe you can instead do it for me. Don't you have a plan to settle down and have a family of your own?"   "I do but just not yet. I'm still enjoying my bachelor's life."   "But what about Dad?"   "As far as I know he asked you to give him a grandchild and not to me. So it's your problem and not mine," Rob said, shaking his shoulder and sip from his drink.   "It's really useless talking to you. I don't even know why I even bother to meet you and ask for help," Noah said, a little distracted when he looked to the dance floor and saw Frankie doing sexy dancing.   Rob followed his gaze and smiled when he saw Noah's reaction the way Frankie dances. "Franchesca Melady Thomas a socialite princess," Rob murmurs Frankie's whole name.   "You know her?" Noah asked.   "Everyone in high society does know Francis Thomas the business tycoon's only daughter," answered Rob.   "I see."   "Why don't you go dance with her instead of staring? Who knows, she might be the solution to your problem."   "No way! That's the kind of woman I will never even in my wildest dream think of making myself a wife," Noah said with a promise in his voice.   Zoe, passing by from Noah and Rob going back to their table next to them heard what Noah just said. And was shocked when she realized that the two gentlemen was talking about were no other than her best friend!