A Night with a Stranger

Chapter 24

Jamaica and Light did not discuss the real score between them. They both acted professionally at work but if they were alone, Light became so clingy to her.

"Sir, you have a meeting with Mr. Villanueva at 3:00 p.m. Then, you need to sign these documents. I already checked and it needs your approval." she casually said to him and handed the folder to Light.

"Hmmmm, that's all?" Light responded like having an eye to eye contact with her.

"Yeah." tipid niyang sagot. "Do you need coffee?" she calmly asked him.

"Yes, please." malambing na sabi ni Light sa kanya.

"Okay." She prepared a coffee for him. Then, she placed it on his table.

"Do you need anything?" tanong niya.

"I need your hugs." Light naughtily replied. She rolled her eyes.

"We are in the office, Mr. Del Monte." she said.

"Call my name baby. You are too formal." reklamo ni Light sa kanya.

"Bahala ka. Sa office lang din ako. If you need something just call me on the telephone." sabi niya at iniwan ang binata.

They were at Light's penthouse. They sat on the couch cuddling while watching a Filipino movie entitled "I love,Lizzy". At the end of the movie, she learned lessons from it. Everyone encounters different struggles and problems. It depends on how we manage it. Not all people smiling are carefree they just want to hide the pain that they have experienced. Childhood trauma has a huge impact on one's life. Parents should be sensitive to the emotions of their children. Though you want the best for them you also need to appreciate the efforts that they have exerted whether it is big or little. Sometimes we need to sacrifice for our loved ones. Everything happens for a reason. We should not blame God for why it happened because He has a purpose. He will not give you those problems if you can not able to surpass them. Not all story ends with a happy ending. Sometimes the person that you love is not meant for you. He might be one of the characters in your story but not your partner at the end. He only had a huge part of your life. It is really hard to move forward if you don't know why he left you. There are a lot of “if’s” but we should not be imprisoned by our past for our present and future.

Ang daming pumapasok sa isip niya sa mga oras na iyon.

"Penny in your thoughts?" tanong ni Light sa kanya. Saka lang siya natauhan ng magsalita si Light sa tenga niya.

"Huh? May sinasabi ka?"

"You seem so disturbed. Do you have any problem?" Light asked her worriedly.

"Nope. I am fine." she replied habang nakayakap sa binata. Gusto niyang lumayo sa binata baka kasi masanay na naman siya sa presensiya nito pero sa tuwing iisipin niya yon tela sinasakal ang puso niya. Naninikip ang kanyang dibdib. She still loves him and she will not deny it to herself.

Light sweetly rubbed her hair while humming. Minutes, later Jamaica fell asleep. Tiningnan ni Light ang natutulog na dalaga. She slept peacefully. He wanted her to sleep comfortably kaya dahan -dahan niya itong binuhat papuntang kwarto. He carefully laid her on bed.

Nagising si Light ng naramdaman niyang may parang tubig na dumalay sa kanyang kamay. Pagtingin niya si Jamaica ay nakapikit habang umiiyak. She murmured something but he can't understand it clearly.

"Baby... baby....." he said to wake her up pero hindi pa rin nagising ang dalaga. He slowly tapped her. Binuksan ng dalaga ang kanyang mata at ang maamong mukha ni Light ang bumungad sa kanya. She immediately hugged Light tigthly. Parang takot na takot.

"Don't leave.."she uttered then she fell asleep again.

Light looked bewildered about Jamaica. He was worried at the same time. He did not know but parang may bahagi sa kanyang alaala na kasama sa Jamaica but he can't figure it out. Niyakap na lamang ang dalaga habang hinalikan ang noo nito

"Sleep tight, baby. I am just here." he whispered then fell asleep.

Nagising si Jamaica na wala na sabi ang binata kaya bumangon na lamang siya. She saw a sticky note near her cellphone.

"I did not dare to wake you up because you sleep so peacefully. I just need to do something important. Do not forget to eat your meal before you leave. I prepared it in the kitchen. Take care. Just call me if you need me to accompany you. ?? - Light" yon ang nakasulat sa sticky note. She smiled while reading it. Even before Light loves to write everything in the sticky notes.

She wore a silky blue-green blouse outfit with cream pants paired with two inches of sandals. She looked dazzling in her outfit. She called Bliss kasi mag fit sila ng gown sa kasal nito but out of coverage area ang dalaga. Nag text na rin siya pero walang reply galing sa kaibigan.

She maneuvered the car to the boutique where Bliss wanted to make her wedding gown.

"Good morning, ma'am. Welcome to Lassy's Boutique." bati ng receptionist sa kanya.

"Good morning." she replied.

"How may I help you, ma'am?" tanong ng receptionist sa kanya.

"I am here for the gown measurement. We already had an appointment with Hope Amarie Bliss Santos." she said.

"Ayy okay po, ma'am. Naghihintay na po si Ms. Lassy sa inyo."

"Okay, thank you." she replied and smiled. The receptionist guided her to Lassy's office. Nalukot ang kanyang mukha ng makita niya ang lalaking kinainisan niya dahil sa kakulitan.

"Oh, Look who is here? Long time no see Ms. Bitter. It is nice to see you again." Sol said while smiling. She rolled her eyes."It is not nice meeting you. You ruin the day." she replied. Tinawanan lang siya ng binata.

"Oh come on, don't be so grumpy. Believe it or not, I am the most handsome in the world." mahangin na sabi ni Sol sa kanya.

She acted like she wanted to puke."Ewww, you are disgusting. You are not even cute." she bantered.

"Oh, really? Am I not?" tela di makapaniwala si Sol sa kanyang tinuran. Lumapit ito sa kanya.

"Don't ever come near me or I'll kick your ass." she said in a threatening voice. But Sol is Sol. He is hard-headed. Lumapit pa rin siya sa dalaga kaya nasipa ito.

"Ouchhhhhhh."sigaw ng binata. "Damn! Why are you kicking me?" he said in annoyance.

"I warned you." She said cooly.

Dali-dali namang pumasok si Lassy sa kanyang office ng may marinig siyang kalabog galing doon. She never expected to see two people bantering each other. She witnessed how Jamaica threw the pillow to Sol's face.

"Hey, the two of you. Stop it."pag-aawat niya sa dalawa. Inis na inis na talaga ang mukha ni Jamaica habang si Sol naman ay pangiti-ngiti lang. Gosh, ma stress siya sa dalawang ito. Moments, later dumating si Bliss kasama ang fiance nitong si Night.

"Hello, everyone."masiglang bati ni Bliss sa kanila.

"Oh Gosh. Finally, you are here. Ma stress ako sa dalawang yan. " Lassy said referring to Jamaica and Sol. "Kulang na lang magpatayn." she added.

"Jammmyyyyyy." tawag pansin ni Bliss sa kaibigan at saka yumakap ng kay higpit.

"Oh yan ka na naman. Kung makayakap para ng walang bukas." she said. Bliss pouted.

"You don't love me na." pagtatampo pa ni Bliss sa kanya. she rolled her eyes sa pagdadrama ng kaibigan.

"You're so late. Don't act like that. It will not work on me anymore." saway niya.

"Sos... Sorry na. Bakit naman kasi kayo nag-aaway ni Sol? He is mabait kaya."

"Nah, he is annoying." she replied.

"Bliss, come here. LSusukatan lang kita." Lassy said. Lumapit naman si Bliss kay Lassy. Jamaica looked proudly at her best friend. Hindi na talaga mapipigilan at malapit na talaga itong ikakasal.