A Night with a Stranger

Chapter 14

Jamaica went to a Department store to buy some groceries at home. Hindi pa naman naka-uwi ang magulang niya galing sa probinsiya kaya mag-isa lang siya sa bahay. She felt sad and empty kaya mas pinili niya lang mag libot sa mall muna. Weekend naman iyon kaya wala siyang trabaho.

Napadaan siya sa mga gamit ng bata. She can't help but to smile bitterly because she remembered something from her past. May cute na damit siyang nakita for an infant. She gets that clothes and bought it. Unexpectedly may nakabanggaan siya.

"Oh, look. Ms. Beautiful, you are here." sabi ng lalaki. She looked familiar to her.

"Excuse me? Do I know you?" mataray niyang tanong sa binata.

"Ouch! It hurts. This is not the first time that we meet but you forgot about me. You are hilarious." madramang sabi ng binata.

"I am sorry but I don't know you. " she said.

"Well, I'll introduce myself again. I am the hottest and most eligible man in our country-Sol," he said proudly.

"I don't care."she said and rolled her eyes. She remembered him now. Ito lang naman ang lalaking lagi niyang nakikita pag nasa bar siya eeeh.

"You are so mean to mean. I am just trying to be friendly with you, Ms. Beautiful." sabi naman ni Sol habang nakangiti ng pagkatamis sa kanya. She admits that he is an amazingly handsome and charming man especially when he smiles. He has these tantalizing eyes but he is a little bit annoying.

"Whatever." she said and nilampasan ang binata.

"Alright. See you soon, Ms. Beautiful."kampante sabi ng binata. Hindi niya na lamang ito pinapansin.

Pumunta siya sa National Bookstore para bumili ng libro na babasahin niya. She loves reading books kaya naisipan niya naman bumili ng bagong novel na babasahin niya. Tinitingnan muna niya ang mga books kung alin ang maganda then one book catch her attention. "Les Mesirables", it is written by a french writer named Victor Hugo. She is familiar with that book kaso hindi niya buo nabasa talaga ang novel na iyon kaya binili niya.

"Saan na naman kaya ako pupunta?"tanong niya sa kanyang sarili. Naisipan niya na lamang kumain muna bago umuwi. She went to a fastfood chain and ordered her food.

"Oh, it seems that destiny makes a way to cross our path again. It's you, Ms, Beautiful. What a lucky day for me." Sol said to her. Tiningnan niya ng masama ang binata.

"Sinusundan mo ba ako?" she asked irritably.

"Of course not. It is just a coincidence. I never knew that you are here. Isn't amazing?" magiliw na sabi ng binata sa kanya.

"Ewan ko sayo. Ang creepy mo. You look like a stalker." she said

"Ouch! You are hitting my ego. I am just handsome but not a creepy stalker." he said

"We don't know," she said. "Saka umalis ka nga dito malapit sa akin. Ang sakit mo sa mata."

"Ako? Masakit sa mata? My handsome face? Kailangan mo na ata magpa check up Ms. Beautiful. May kilala akong opthalmologist para e check yong eyes mo." aniya

""Ewan ko sayo puro ka kalokohan at napaka feeling mo. Hambog ka."

"I am just being proud of myself and appreciating myself."

"Napa sobrahan ka eeh." she said.

"You know, it is important for us to appreciate ourselves first before other people. How could they appreciate you, if you don't appreciate who you are? You do not need the affirmation from other people that prove you are good enough." he said seriously. First-time niyang makitang naging seryoso ang lalaki. Napataas ang kilay niya.

"Kumain ka na nga lang diyan. Gutom lang yan."sabi niya sa binata. She continued eating her food without minding his presence. Unknowingly, Sol looked at her intently.

"What? Is there something on my face?" she asked

"Nothing. Just continue eating your food," he said. Medyo gumaan naman ang kanyang pakiramdam kasi at least may kasama siya. He might be a stranger to her but he looks harmless naman. Hambong lang siguro and that was her first impression of him.

Papasok na sana siya sa office ng Light ng marinig niyang may kausap ito. Tatalikod na sana siya kaso narinig niya ang pinag-uusapan nito. Nakaramdam siya ng kirot ngunit pinigilan niya lamang ang kanyang sarili. It's been a long time and she moved on. Hindi na siya dapat magpa-apekto pa.

During lunch time , sabay silang kumain ni Bliss.

"Something wrong?"tanong ni Jamaica kay Bliss.

"Wala naman. I just wonder who sent me the flowers everyday. Yeah, I like it because it is my favorite flowers." Bliss said.

"Eeh, why don't you ask Mr. Monteverde?" ani Jam habang kumakain sila

"Eeeeh, nakakahiya." Bliss replied

"Oh goodness, si Amarie Bliss Salvador ang babaeng dyosa ayon pa sa kanya natatabLan na ng hiya."

"Dzaiii?"

"Oh, bakit?" Jamaica responded as she chewed her food.

"What does it mean yong parang kinakabahan ka pag malapit siya? Tapos parang nawaLa ka sa huwisyo. Di ka na nakapag-isip ng tama?"

Tinitigan niya ng mataman si Bliss na tela binabasa ang nasa isip nito.

"In love ka?"

"Halaka hindi ah. Attracted lang siguro. Di pa yon in love." depensa pa ng kaibigan niya.

"Kanino ka attracted? Kay Mr. Monteverde or kay Mr. Del Monte?" diretsa niyang tanong.

"Ate naman eeh... Naku bakit napasama sa usapan si Boss? Hahaha.. Wala akong nararamdaman non. Mas bagay kayo. hahahahaha." Bliss retorted.

"Naku, kung ano na lang pinagsasabi mo. Ikain mo na lang yan." sabi niya sa kaibigan.

Gusto niyang uminom ngayong gabi lang. Naala-ala niya naman. She thought that she finally recovered but hindi pa pala. Pinilit niya lang pala ang kanyang sarili na limutin ang lahat. Why did it end like that way? There are a lot of questions that she wants to ask but naduduwag siya. Sobrang bigat ng kanyang nararamdaman at hindi niya alam kung hanggang saan kaya niyang dalhin ang mga iyon. Kahit si Bliss walang alam sa tunay niyang nararamdaman. Ayaw niyang mag-alala ito sa kanya.

"Good evening, maám. What is your order?" tanong ng waitress sa kanya sa bar na pinuntahan niya.

"Please give me a glass of tequila." she said.

"Okay po, ma'am."

Nakatingin lang siya sa mga taong naroroon. Ang iba ay kasama ang mga kaibigan, may iba naman kasintahan nila at may naglalampungan din. Wala naman siyang paki-alam sa mga tao na naroroon eeh. She just wants to forget everything for a while.

"Ms. Cruz? a familiar voice called her. Paglingon niya bumungad sa kanya ang mukha ni Light.

"S-sir." Jamaica said. She was stunned to see him kasi akala niya kasama nito si Bliss eh.

"What are you doing here?" tanong ng binata sa kanya

"Obviously, I am here to drink." mataray niyang sagot kay Light

"I know you are drinking. What you brought here?"

"Do I need to tell you that?" she said

"Well, no. But I am just surprised that you are here. I never expect that you will come to this place."

"Expect the unexpected, Mr. Del Monte." she rolled her eyes and sipped her wine.

"Bakit ang taray mo? I am still your boss." he said with amusement

"Pake mo kung nagtataray ako and beside wala tayo sa opisina."

"You really have something to say."

"Whatever Mr. Del Monte. Mind your own business." she said."Ikaw nga nandito rin.I thought you were with Bliss."

"How did you know? " he asked.

"I heard you. And I know you are the one who sent flowers to her every day." she said. He was stunned

"How?"

"I just knew. I am brilliant," she said

"Hahaha, I never thought that you are bossy Ms. Cruz."

"You knew it, Assher." she said at the back of her mind but of course ayaw niya naman marinig iyon ng binata.

"Whatever boss, I never thought as well that you are like a teenager who falls in love.Coward." she just said to him.

"I am not."

"Yes, you are. Why can't you just tell her directly if you love her?" she said. "Where is the Assher whom I have known before?" she asked it in her mind while looking at him.

"Bliss is different. She is fragile and precious," he confessed.

"Mr. Del Monte if you love her then you must tell her. But make sure that you will not hurt her. I dont want her to be broken. " she said

"Hahaha, I look like a gay here. I never thought of telling you what I feel," he said and sounded tipsy

"I wish, I was her. But it was me that you have loved before. Did you forget me?" she said silently

"What? Did you say something?" he said

"Wala , sir. Uwi na po kayo. Lasing ka na." she replied

"No no. I am not lasing. I still want to drink more." he said

"Mr. Del Monte, umayos ka kung ayaw mong masipa kita." Jamaica said. Naiinis na rin siya sa inakto ng binata. Yes, she hates him but she is hurting pag nakita itong nahihirapan din.

"You are like a tiger , Ms. Cruz .hehehe."

lasing na talaga ang binata kaya inalalayan na lang niya ito para makatayo at makauwi na. Naawa siyang iwan ito kaya kahit nahihirapan pinilit niya itong alalayan.

"sir, yong susi ng sasakyan mo." ani dalaga

"Hmmmmmmm"

"kung di ko lang to amo baka binalian ko na ito" ani Jam dahil sa inis. Kinuha niya ang susi sa bulsa ng binata

"HuwAg ka malikot , baka iba mahawakan ko. bwiset ka." aniya sabay kapa sa bulsa ng binata

Dahil lasing na lasing si Light siya na lang ang nagmaneho sa sasakyan patungo sa penthouse ng binata total alam niya naman kung saan ito.

"Mr. Del Monte umayos ka. ang bigat mo kaya." reklamo niya ng alalayan niya ito papasok sa elevator

"Hmmmmmmmmm, Bliss, I like you," he said. Para naman sinaksak ng kutsilyo ang kanyang puso. Punong-puno na siya pero pinigilan niya lamang ang tunay na nararamdaman.

Nang mabuksan niya ang pinto ay inalalayan niyang makapasok ang binata kahit sobrang bigat nito.

Wala itong bukam-bibig kundi si Bliss. Gusto niyang maiyak dahil sa sobrang sakit.

Tinitigan nyang mabuti ang nakapikit na binata. He is handsome. She smiled bitterly

"You are still the same as before," she said. "I hate you but I still love you. You always have a place in my heart. You broke me but my love for you is still the same." naiyak na sabi ni Jamaica habang pinagmasdan ang natutulog na binata.