Seductive Return

5. Face to Face

HINDI namalayan ni Luis ang bilis ng t***k ng kanyang puso habang sinusundan ng tingin ang babae hanggang sa mawala ito. Napalunok siya. Was that…?

The scene repeated in his mind and he was sure who the woman was although he was far away from her. He’d know that woman anywhere.

Napakurap siya nang ma-realize na ang damit ng babaeng nakita niya ay kapareho ng damit na suot ng babaeng kausap ni Keith kanina. Tinawagan niya si Keith, nag-ring iyon ng limang beses bago sumagot ang kaibigan niya. Sa ilang segundong iyon ay pinagpapawisan na siya.

“Whadaya want?”

“It was Suzie, wasn’t it?” he asked, his voice raising.

Mahabang katahimikan ang sumagot sa kanya. Ang akala nga niya ay binabaan siya nito ng telephono. “What are you hoping to get after confirming that yes, it was Suzie?”

Bumuka ang bibig niya para sumagot pero hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin. Sa unang pagkakataon ay hindi siya makapag-isip ng isasagot.

“Luis, I know that you still have unresolved issues with Suzie, but you hurt the girl big time. At saka may fiance ka na ngayon. Hayaan mo na lang siyang maging masaya. Alam mo namang pwede siyang maging target kapag binigyan mo uli siya ng pansin.”

Keith hit his nerve. He gritted his teeth, his hold on the phone tightened. “Why are you so concerned about her?”

“Flush those dirty thoughts of yours. Hindi ko gusto ang mga babae. Maliban kay Suzie. Alam mo ‘yan. At alam mo ring parang kapatid lang ang turing ko sa kanya.”

“Why did you meet her today?”

“That’s none of your business.” sabi ni Keith. “I gotta go. Still have some things to take care of.”

Narinig niya ang toot-toot sa kabilang linya, indikasyon na pinutol na ni Keith ang tawag. Yes, what right does he have to show himself in front of Suzie now? Alam niya ang kasalanang ginawa niya rito sa nakaraan. At kung bumalik man ang oras, gagawin pa rin niya ang ginawa niya noon.

But now, after so many years of wondering how she had been, and seeing her again made his heart ache.

Ano ba ang puwede niyang gawin ngayon? Tama naman si Keith. Nasaktan na niya ng labis si Suzie noon. He had no business with her now. May kanya-kanya na silang buhay. May fiance na siyang dapat isipin. At siguro may nobyo na rin si Suzie…or baka nga kasal na ito.

But knowing that Suzie chose to meet with Keith after all these years, it made his mind go blank, and his heart tight. Bakit nakipagkita ito sa kaibigan niya? Close ba ang dalawa?

No. Hindi dapat niya iniisip ang mga bagay na ito. May mas importante pa siyang dapat gawin kaysa sa isipin ang nakaraan.

Luis tried to brush off his unwanted thoughts, but it kept bugging his mind all day. Ang tanging laman lang ng isip niya ay ang babaeng minsan na niyang minahal.

Such a shame. When it comes to that woman, his mind was always a mess. Even then.

* * * * *

It’s been two months, sa wakas ay nag-grand opening na rin ang boutique ni Suzie. Hindi nga lang nakapunta ang kaibigan niyang si Angela dahil abala ito sa ibang bagay pero hindi naman nito nakalimutang padalhan siya ng bulaklak. Sapat na iyon sa kanya.

“Ma’am Suzie, baka ho pagod na kayo, kami nalang po ang bahala rito.” sabi ni Beth ang kanyang ever loyal assistant.

“It’s okay. Nakakatuwang successful ang unang araw ng grand opening natin.” nangingiting sabi niya rito.

“Kayo po ang bahala.”

Pakanta-kanta pa siya habang inaayos ang ilang dyamanteng wala sa ayos. Habang nakatingin sa mga obra niya ay may bigla na naman siyang naisip na bagong disenyo kaya mabilis na kinuha niya ang sketch pad para i-drawing ang ideya niya.

Naaaliw na siya sa pagdidisenyo kaya hindi niya namalayan ang bagong customer na dumating. Nang oras na iyon ay wala ng ibang customer sa loob ng kanyang shop kaya tahimik na ang paligid.

She was humming to herself when she was interrupted by someone's name being called. She knew that name everywhere, but there were a lot of men with that name. Her heart still beats faster than she’d like.

Isang magandang babae ang nakita niya sa pinto ng kanyang boutique, her business smile plastered over her face quickly out of years of experience. Her business smile almost fell when she saw the man that woman was calling over.

She briefly closed her eyes and tried to relax her pounding heart.

“This was the jewelry store I’d been talking to you about,” the woman was talking animatedly. Umabrisyete ito sa lalaki.

The man gave the woman an indulgent smile.

Suzie’s poker face remained. She is not bothered.

“I like their designs amongst others,”

“Of course you do,” sagot ng lalaki na sinabahan ng mahinang pagtawa.

Napahinto ang lalaki nang magtagpo ang kanilang mga mata. Suzie hoped her poker face and business smile didn’t waver. She wasn’t expecting to meet him so soon. But she did know they’d meet someday.

“What’s wrong?” the woman asked, noting that her companion has stopped.

He turned to the woman and gave her a small smile. “It’s nothing.”

The two made their way towards Suzie, her smile remained in place. Hindi niya binalingan ng tingin ang lalaki.

“Hello, dear. Pwede ko bang malaman kung ano ang hinahanap mong jewelry at kung anong klaseng bato ang gusto mo?” tanong niya sa babae.

“Oh, we’re here to pick our engagement ring,” nakangiting sabi ng babae, halata ang saya sa mukha nito.

There was a pinch in Suzie’s heart, but she didn’t bother to address it.

“Wow, congratulations are in order then,” nakangiti pa ring sabi niya. Sinalubong niya ang mga mata ng babae at binati ito, pagkatapos ay ang mga mata naman ng lalaking kasama nito ang sinalubong niya. “Congratulations on your engagement, Luis.”

Nagulat ang babae sa sinabi niya. “Magkakilala kayo?”

“We were once lovers.”

Muntik ng mabatukan ni Suzie ang sarili. Hindi niya gustong sabihin iyon pero lumabas pa rin sa bibig niya. Kitang-kita ang pagkagulat sa mukha ng babae, hindi niya sinulyapan ang ex dahil baka hindi niya magustuhan ang reaksyon nito sa sinabi niya.

Binigyan niya ng munting ngiti ang babae. “Wala kang dapat na ipag-alala. Ang nakaraan ay nakaraan. Masaya lang akong makita siyang natagpuan na ang babaeng gusto niyang makasama habang buhay. Congratulations on capturing his elusive heart.”

Nakahinga ng maluwang ang babae at binigyan siya ng maliit na ngiti. “Salamat.”

“Walang anuman. So, for your engagement ring, we have a few precious collection here,”

Imbes na tingnan ang inilabas niyang mga alahas ay nakatitig lang sa kanya ang babae habang magkasalubong ang mga kilay nito.

“Hmm?”

Bigla itong napasinghap. “Suzie?! As in Miss Suzie Cruz?”

“Err–yeah,”

Pigil na tumili ito. “Oh, my god! I’m a fan of your crafts, sinusubaybayan ko na talaga ang mga jewelry na gawa mo simula pa noon, I never imagine to meet you like this.”

She chuckled. “Well, I’m glad to meet a fan,” pabiro niyang tugon dito.

She wasn’t new to admiration, and she was proud of her works so she knew how to handle these kinds of situations. She also felt good that her works were recognized.

Iniabot ng babae ang kamay nito para sa pagkikipagkamay. “I’m Cassy, by the way.”

“Masaya akong makilala ka Cassy.”

“And,” sinipat nito ng tingin ang katabi nito. “you know him already. So.”

“Of course,” nangingiting sagot niya.

“You have a scheduled exhibit a few months from now, right?”

They chatted like they were long time friends. Cassy forgot already that Luis and her were once lovers, which was good. Suzie didn’t really mean to blurt that info out. Mabuti na lang at walang awkwardness sa pakikitungo ni Cassy.

Cassy excused herself when her phone rang.

Napilitan si Suzie na harapin si Luis. Binigyan niya ito ng ngiti, at inabot niya ang kamay rito.

“Congrats on your engagement.

Luis shook her hand without hesitation, they both gasped at the spark where they touch, and they were both thrown back into the past.