Montepalma Series 2: Trapped by His Game

Kabanata 12

“This is my family’s favorite restaurant. The ambience is very exquisite and cozy.”

Nakauwang lang ang labi ko habang naramdaman ko na gumapang ang kamay niya sa bewang ko. He gently kneaded my waist. Naka-angat ang kilay niya habang nakangisi sa akin. Bumukas ang glass door at may tatlong staff na nagbow sa amin.

“Bonjour!” the man greeted.

Tumango lang si Nik sa kanila at may isang babae na nakangiti. Nakataas noo lang ako sa kaniya habang nakakapit sa braso ni Nik.

“I will lead you to your table, Mr. Montepalma and…” Napatingin pa siya sa akin at napawi ang ngiti na nasa labi. I raised my eyebrow and gave her a cold expression. “Uhm… welcome to our restaurant, Miss Rodriguez.”

“Likewise,” I said, coldly.

Napangiwi siya tila napahiya sa akin. But she politely bowed and led us the way to our table. Napadpad kami sa balcony ng restaurant. We were walking to the stone path and we already saw our table near the trees with lights all over the leaves above the table.

And I could see the baywalk from the balcony of the restaurant. The huge wave is hitting the huge rocks. Pinaghila ako ni Nik ng upuan at ningitian ko siya. Umupo naman ako at nilagay ko iyong table napkin sa binti. May isang waiter na lumapit sa amin at binigyan kami ng menu.

“Diba dito kayo kumakain ng pamilya niyo?” I asked.

“Yes,” he replied, languidly. He was playing with his lower lips while checking the menu. “Do you want me to give you some suggestions?”

I bit my lower lip. “Yeah. What can you offer?”

“Hmm. I know you like salad so for your entree it is salade verte.”

Tumatango-tango ako habang binabasa iyong mga choices sa menu. Halatang mamahalin ang mga kumakain dito. Halos kilala na siya ng mga staff ng restaurant. Marahil may lahi siyang French kaya dito sila kumakain.

“Mine is… salade verte, steak frites and a slice of tarte tatin,” I ordered.

Tumatango naman iyong waiter habang sinusulat niya iyong inorder ko. Nakangiti lang si Nik habang pinagmamasdan ako. Bigla ako nakaramdam ng hiya sa katawan. Iniwas ko bigla iyong tingin sa kaniya.

Nag order na rin si Nik ng kaniya at may isa pang waiter na lumapit para magsalin ng red wine sa kopita namin. Nagpasalamat ako sa kaniya nang isalin niya na iyong red wine. Tinikman ko naman iyon at nagustuhan ko iyong lasa.

“France has the best wines,” he boasted.

I chuckled. “How do I say thank you in French?”

“You say merci.”

“How about if we added so much in the sentence?”

“Merci beaucoup.”

My lips parted when his voice reverbed in my ears. The way he speaks French is so sexy and manly. Mukhang may matutunan din ako ng French words sa kaniya. Dumating din iyong pagkain sa lamesa namin. There is an orchestra band nearby.

I was amazed at how delicious the salad was. This will be my new favorite salad I ate. We were silently munching our dinner. Nakakailang inom na rin ako sa red wine.

Tumingin muli ako sa baywalk. Bahagyang lumilipad ang buhok ko dahil ang lakas ng hangin. Hanggang sa narinig ko na may nagclick. Nakakunot noo akong tiningnan si Nik na pinicturan pala ako. My brows shot up while my lips parted.

“I’m sorry. You are so beautiful. I wanted to picture the beautiful view in my eyes,” he said, velvety.

“Are you gonna post it?” I responded. My heart crazily pounded inside my chest.

“I don’t have any social media, mon amour.”

“Oh… I only have f*******: because I used it when I was still studying.”

He rested his chin on his hand. “Should I make f*******: too?”

“Hindi ko alam. Mahalaga ba social media sa’yo?”

“No.” Mataman niya ako ningitian. May inasikaso siya sa kaniyang phone at dumating na iyong dessert namin. Napansin ko na nakangisi siya habang pinagmamasdan iyong screen ng phone niya. “So, can I sleep in your house instead?”

My forehead creased. “Why? Are you gonna sleep in my room?”

Medyo nag-aalangan pa ako kung sasabihin ko na sa kwarto pa siya matutulog. Napangisi lang siya sa akin at nagkibit balikat. Muli na naman sumiklab ang matinding kaba sa dibdib ko. Nagsimula na siya kumain ng dessert niya. Wala ako nagawa kundi kainin ko na rin iyong dessert ko.

I was still nervous. What is he gonna do in our house? I thought he was gonna bring me to his condo? May babae na ba siyang dinala roon?

I need to stop right there. Wala akong pakielam kung may babae siya sa kaniyang condo. Unang-una sa lahat ay wala naman kaming dalawa ni Nik. We are just pretending. We are only playing! Damn it.

“Nik,” I called. “Powder room lang.”

“Sure. Take your time.”

Iniwas ko na iyong tingin ko sa kaniya at tumayo na ako. To be honest, I was so nervous to be with him for the night. Hindi ko alam kung papayag si Dad na magkasama kami pero sure ako na hahayaan naman siya patulugin sa guestroom.

Dumiretsyo na ako sa girls restroom at may nakita ako na morena na babae na nagl-lipstick. Nilingon niya ako at mataman niya ako ningitian. Binigyan ko lang siya ng isang tango at binuksan ko na iyong purse ko.

“Bonjour. I am Vivian,” she introduced.

Napatigil sa ere ang pag a-apply ko ng lipstick. Bigla niya nilahad iyong kamay sa harapan ko. I accepted her hand absentmindedly.

I blinked. “I’m Sianna…”

“Yeah, I’ve heard in the article.”

Bigla naman ako nahiya at hindi ko siya magawang tingnan. Tinuloy ko na iyong pag-aapply ng lipstick sa labi ko dahil natanggal siya. Nanatili ang tingin sa akin ni Vivian na parang pinapanood ang bawat kilos ko.

“I was born in France and I grew up here in the Philippines…” she said.

“Nice,” I replied. I was still curious why she even bothered telling me all those words. “I assume you are half French and half Filipino.”

“Oui, Sianna. But then… I went back to France to study college. That’s when I had a boyfriend.”

“So… where is he now?”

“He is here…”

Nang matapos na ako mag apply ako ngumiti na ako sa kaniya. Mabilis ko siya tinalikuran kasi parang ang weird niya. I don’t tell strangers anything. Kaya nakakagulat na bigla na lang siya nagk-kwento sa akin. We are not that close though.

Habang naglalakad ako pabalik sa table namin ay pansin ko na may kausap si Nik. Nakatalikod siya sa akin habang nakaupo pa rin sa kaniyang kinauupuan.

“Okay, you can stay in my condo for the night. I have groceries in my fridge if you are hungry, Gwen,” aniya habang kausap niya ang babae na pinagseselosan ko. “I can’t stay there for the night. My pad is all yours for the night.”

Napanguso ako. I don’t know what I am feeling right now. I guess… I am jealous.I felt the sting on my heart. Alam kong mas nauna nakilala ni Nik si Gwen kaysa sa akin. But I can’t help but to feel envious!

Inayos ko ang sarili at bumalik na ako sa harapan niya kahit kausap niya pa si Gwen. Bigla napadpad ang tingin sa akin. Umupo na ako sa harapan niya.

“I have to end this call now. I’ll update you tomorrow, Gwen. Thanks.”

Nilapag niya na iyong phone niya sa lamesa at pinagsiklop niya ang kamay habang nakatitig sa akin. Ang lamig ng ekspresyon ko kasi ayaw ko ipakita sa kaniya na nagseselos ako. Damn it. Hindi dapat ako nagseselos! Kapag nagselos ako… talo ako!

“I enjoyed the food,” I said, icily.

“I’m glad you enjoyed it. This is my favorite restaurant so far,” he responded. His hawk eyes were observing me. Nagmamasid tila inaalam kung ano ang tumatakbo sa isipan ko. “Let’s go? I’m sure your father is already in your house waiting for you.”

“Yeah, great idea.”

Kinuha ko iyong purse ko at tumayo na. Niyayakap ko ang sarili habang naglalakad papasok sa restaurant. He already paid the bill. Kaya nagyaya na rin siya umuwi na kami. Habang naglalakad kami napansin ko iyong Vivian na umiinom ng red wine habang nakatitig sa likuran ko.

Nang lingunin ko ay napansin ko na nandoon din tingin ni Nik. Parang naestatwa siya sa kaniyang kinatatayuan. Napalunok siya at iniwas niya rin ang tingin kay Vivian. Kumunot ang noo ko at pakiramdam ko na naninikip ang dibdib ko.

Why is his reaction like he saw a ghost?

Hindi ko na napigilan ay parang nawala na talaga ako sa mood. Ako na ang nauna pumunta sa parking lot. I wanna go home… ayaw ko na. Ang bigat ng dibdib ko sa nangyayari.

Naramdaman ko na hinawakan niya iyong siko ko. Pinaharap niya ako sa kaniya. Sa inis ko ay tinulak ko ang dibdib niya palayo sa akin.

“Will you stop touching me?!” I hissed.

He huffed. “Why are you mad? Hmm?”

Napalunok ako nang marinig ko kung gaano kalambing ang boses niya. Hinila niya ako ulit ako palapit sa kaniya. He raked his hair in frustration.

“You know Vivian, aren’t you?” I probed. My eyes narrowed at him into slits. “That is why you also looked at her!”

He pinched the bridge of his nose. “Mon amour…”

“Stop telling me that!”

Ngayon tinalikuran ko siya at akmang bubuksan iyong pintuan sasakyan nang hinatak niya ako at sinandal sa kaniyang sasakyan. Nakatagilid ang mukha habang mapungay na nakatingin sa kaniya. Iniwas ko iyong tingin sa kaniya.

Why am I so f*****g obvious?

My cheeks burned. I am so obvious. I am so scared that he will leave. So scared for him to tell me that I am lost. Hindi pa naman kami gano’n ka gaano nagtatagal sa laro na ito pero talo na agad ako. I suck at this!

“You were jealous,” he stated.

He stated it like he already knew. I should have not let my guards down for him! Kaya ko ito at hindi ako mabilis mahulog. But he is so different.

I gulped. “L-Let me go…”

“I’m sorry. Did I hurt you?” he asked. He brought his hand to graze it against my cheeks. “Yes, I know her. She was my first girlfriend.”

“Stop it…” I replied.

Maayos na iyong pinakita ko sa kaniya na nagselos ako. Pero ayaw ko rin ipakita sa kaniya na nasaktan din ako! Vivian already knows that I am dating Nik. That is why she told me about herself. That’s when I realized that she is talking about Nik.

Mas lalo niya nilapit ang sarili sa akin. Humarang ang buhok niya sa mukha pero mas lalo siya naging gwapo sa paningin ko. Damn it. I am so screwed!

“I did not love her, Sianna. I want to be honest to you and I will gladly tell you everything. But I will only tell you about her…”

I slowly nodded my head. “O-Okay.”

Mukhang nakahinga siya nang maluwag. Parang nawala ang tinik sa kaniyang dibdib. Napadpad ang kamay niya sa akin at pinagsiklop niya ang kamay namin dalawa.

“I almost grew up in France for my mother. I studied college there and that’s when I met her. She was my blockmate in a specific subject. Vivian admitted to me that she was attracted to me. I don’t love her but I am only attracted to her. But it was only a lust and I am only using her…” he began. Napalunok siya parang ang hirap bigkasin iyong salita sa kaniya. “So yeah, we dated for a couple of months. I got bored so I agreed to be in a relationship with her. I am not a saint, Sianna. I am also an asshole for using her for lust. There is no love included in our relationship.

“Basically, we always f****d because she was so good at it. She loves me but I don’t feel the same way because I am an asshole. But she became paranoid and she hurt every woman I talked to. I broke up with her.”

Bumaba ang tingin ko habang napapaisip. Parehas lang ba kami ni Vivian? I guess not. Sa kanila ay totoo at may relasyon talaga sila. Habang kami ay pagpapanggap lang para sa isang laro. Mapait ako napangiti. Wala rin akong katulad ni Vivian. Nik played with her feelings. And now…

“Baby… come on look at me,” he whispered. He used his index finger to lift up my chin. Our eyes met. “I’m so sorry. I was just nervous that she might hurt you.”

“Sorry. Wala rin naman akong karapatan magselos. You hate clingy women. That’s the reason why you broke up with her.”

He shook his head. “I don’t like her being clingy with me because I don’t have feelings for her. You are different. I-I like you so much…”

Nagulat ako sa kaniyang sinabi. Parang nahihiya pa siya sabihin sa akin. His adam’s apple waved on his throat.

“I will be gladly happy if you are really jealous and you are possessive. I only like you to be clingy to me, not other women and even Vivian,” he continued. Pinantay niya iyong mukha namin at bahagya pa siya ngumiti sa akin. “I’m sorry if you got jealous. I don’t like her… I only like Sianna Rodriguez.”