Her Flirtatious Ways

CHAPTER 2

“Isabelle Quizon, Batch Valedictorian.”

I straightened my gown and held my head high, a smile tugging at my lips as I marched forward. Pride swelled in my chest, but it wasn’t just the kind of pride that came from being the top student. It was the kind of pride that came from knowing every late night, every tear, and every moment I felt like giving up had led me here. I earned this. Every inch of it.

Crazy how the world works, it doesn’t care about the blood, sweat, and tears you shed along the way. They’ll celebrate you until they decide not to. Until someone whispers loud enough to make them believe you don’t deserve it.

“Cheater.” “Favored.” “Fake.” “Undeserving.”

‘Yan ang mga salitang pilit ikinabit sa pangalan ko matapos lang magbitaw ng graduation speech.

Isang online article. Isang bagay na nagkumbinsi sa’kin maging isang manunulat ng totoo at tunay na balita.

"May outing daw for team building!"

Nanumbalik ako sa reyalidad nang magsalita si Bea.

Napa-iling ako. "Hindi na ako sasama," tipid kong sabi.

Swimming na naman, hindi ko naman 'yon hilig. Hindi ako marunong lumangoy, hindi lang ako mag-e-enjoy.

"Wow, 'di ba isa ka ring social animal? Bakit ayaw mo? May pupuntahan ka ba o kikitain na kailangan secret lang at sa susunod, may pang headline ka na naman?" sunod-sunod niyang tanong na may halong pag-uusisa.

"You mean, social butterfly? Yes. But I’d rather write.”

Iba ang pressure ng trabaho ko. Having to lay down the best news on the table is great, not until they expect you to always do the best.

"Hindi ka nga pala marunong lumanong!” She pointed out. “Sabagay, gusto lang yata makita ni sir si Rance na naka-hubad, kaya beach ang napiling destination."

Napailing ako, may halong katotohanan naman ang sinabi niya, hindi nalang ako nag-comment.

“Are you blushing?”

“No?”

“You are. You’re imagining him topless, don’t you?”

Umiwas ako ng tingin at sinampal ang sariling pisngi, I can’t be showing signs of interest. Hindi na ako high-schooler!

“Let it go, Bea.”

"Uy ano 'yan, sino pinag-uusapan niyo?" tanong ng isa pa naming ka-workmate. Lalaking madaldal na katabing cubicle ni Bea sa kaliwa niya.

"Wala, tsismoso." Pagtataray ni Bea kay Paul.

"May period ka ba? You look irritated,” asar ko.

Hindi na kumibo si Bea. Nagkatinginan kami ni Paul, napansin kong may kakaiba sa expression niya and my hunches are often right. My mouth circled in surprise, lalo na nang mahuli ko ang panic ni Paul nang makita ang reaction ko. He tried to smile and move on with whatever he's doing.

Nailing akong napangiti. They used to have what people called 'mutual understanding', and before they even put a label on their relationship, their views clashed with each other. Hanggang ngayon hindi sila okay, hindi na nai-ayos ang bangayan.

I wonder if ending a relationship is worth it considering the contrasting views, at the same time, I wonder if disregarding one’s conviction is worthy when it comes to love.

I have yet to realize the answer to that.

"Hi, Elle."

Napa-ayos ako ng upo nang may tumawag sa'kin.

"Rance," bati ko.

Bumaling ako sa kanya, umupo siya sa office chair galing sa katabi kong cubicle sa kanan. His sleeves are folded to his elbows, he’s neat, and really hygienic. Bare minimum that some guys don’t observe.

"Busy ka?" nakangiti niyang tanong, lagi talagang kumikislap ang mata niya tuwing magkakatinginan kami.

Umiling ako. "No. Hindi naman, why? Nasaan pala si Fifth? 'Di ba siya magagalit na nilalabas mo 'yang office chair niya?" natatawa kong sabi. We have this possessiveness when it comes to our things, lalo na sa office chair na halos lagyan na ng picture ng iba.

He chuckled. A kind that is attractive enough to touch my heart.

Tumahimik siya bago napakagat sa labi, isa pang mannerism na napansin ko sa kanya. He'll ask me out for sure.

"Are you free after work?" he asked with hopeful eyes, grinning like the boy next door. Well, he is. Kaya nga type na type siya ng assistant editor.

Kinagat ko rin ang labi ko at kunyaring nag-isip.

"No pressure, it's just dinner. Pwede naman next time kung busy ka," sabi niya, nakaangat ang dalawang kamay sa ere.

Natawa ako. "Joke lang, oo naman. Saan ba?" casual kong tanong.

Binanggit niya ang isang restaurant na kamakailan lang ay na-feature namin, it's trending for its high-quality food and picture perfect ambiance.

"Uy, ano 'yan, date?" singit ni Bea.

Bumaling ako sa kaliwa ko at pinanlakihan ng mata si Bea.

Rance chuckled at that. "Kung payag si Elle tawaging date."

Umirap ako at napangiti na lang din, I hope it's not obvious that I am suppressing all the feelings inside. Ayokong madaliin ang sarili, hinihintay ko rin siyang seryosong umamin sa'kin. I like him too and I think it would be nice to know him more.

Only one thing that bothers me about us, I don't want to be the apple of that person's eye again.

"Mr. Reyes."

Sabay kaming napalingon, and there he is. Our assistant chief editor. Masama na naman ang tingin sa’kin, pero kumikinang ang mata pagdating kay Rance. This is what I don’t like.

“Sir?” si Rance. This man's really nice, kaya rin nagkakagusto sa kanya maging ang mga nasa posisyon. He's a real gentleman.

Tinawag siya sa office, and Lord knows what kind of flowery words he receives from him. I bet Rance is aware, but he just don’t mind as long as the admiration he receives is harmless.

The work ended as usual, but this time, I’m looking forward to something. A date.

It’s evening, and if I were to write an article about this moment, it would be too subjective. Parang hindi masaya ang mga tao sa paligid, pagod, naghahabol sa oras, at hindi mapakali.

I, on the other hand, am happy. “Tara na, ganda,” nakangiting tawag ni Rance.

“W-What?”

“Sabi ko, tara na, magandang binibini.”

I sort of regretted acting like I didn’t hear it the first time. I know he’s naturally charismatic and it’s working on me.

Tahimik ako habang nasa sasakyan kami, pasimpleng tinatapunan ng tingin ang paraan niya ng pagmamaneho. Malinis ang sasakyan niya, I figured he’s someone organized ever since. He always seems like he has all things figured-out. This part of him is what I admire, and I wish to be the same, organized.

"Kamusta 'yung sinusulat mo?" basag ko sa katahimikan, tinutukoy ang balitang kasalukuyan niyang tinututukan.

Ngumiti siya dahilan para lumabas ang perpekto niyang mga ngipin. "Malapit na matapos. Revising na, tingin mo pwede pang headline?" casual niyang tanong.

"Why not? Ano ba naisip mong cutline?"

"Putukan sa kalye."

Natawa ako napa-iling. Ang lakas maka-tabloid. Kung pwede lang sana ang ganon sa amin ay baka nga headline na ‘yon.

"Wow. Makakatulog ako ng mahimbing." He claimed, referring to making me laugh, I suppose.

"Ikaw talaga."

"Crush mo?"

Nanahimik ako at umawang ang bibig. Minsan hindi rin maganda na confident siya at palabiro, hindi ko nasasabayan ang mga banat niya dahil pinangungunahan na ako ng kaba. Hindi ako ganito sa iba, sa kanya lang.

"Ikaw nga 'tong may crush sa'kin," banat ko at humarap sa bintana para itago ang kilig.

Natawa siya kaya lalong nagwala ang mga paru-paru sa tiyan ko.

"Yes. Hindi ko naman tinatanggi,” walang preno niyang sabi.

Sa pagkakataong 'to, nakumpirma kong baka nga handa na 'kong mag-commit. Hindi ako sigurado kung gustong-gusto ko ba si Rance. I just know I’m interested. Kahit papaano, isa siya sa mga dahilan kung bakit ako ganado pumasok.

Siguro maiinis ang Isabelle one year ago sa'kin. Ako, gustong magka-boyfriend?

Nakarating kami sa isang restaurant. Isang tingin pa lang ay naalala ko ang pag-feature namin dito. Hindi ako ang writer non kaya hindi ko pa 'to napupuntahan, pero gaya ng reviews, may kakaibang vibe ang paligid na magiging komportable ang mga guests.

Pumasok kami sa restaurant at sinalubong ng waiter, hindi na kami tinanong kung ilan kami dahil obvious naman na kami lang dalawa. Agad na kaming sinamahan sa table pandalawahan.

"Order ka lang, I got you.” Sabay palabirong kumindat. One of his charms. “Masarap steak nila rito," dagdag niya pa.

I guess it’s not his first time here. Makes me wonder what’s his business here then. Parang nawalan ako ng gana sa idea na may naka-date siyang iba rito.

"I'll order what's yours na lang, Rance," sabi ko na lang. Since first time, I think I'll just go with whatever he already knows tastes good.

Tumango siya at umorder na sa waiter.

Kami na lang ang naiwan. Pinasadahan ko ng tingin ang lugar, it's interesting, mayroong counter at matatanaw ang chefs na tinatawag-tawag ang mga waiter from time to time. Magkakalayo ang tables pero hindi gaano kagaya sa mga mamahaling restaurant. I think this one's an attempt for an affordable luxury experience, they really tried with the interior and ambiance. May pa bulb lights pa sa bandang counter, mayroon ding kandila na halatang electric.

"Ang ganda rito 'no?"

My inspection was cut off because of Rance. Nilingon ko siya at ngumiti. "Oo. Thank you sa pagdala sa'kin dito." Kahit sa loob ko ay puno ng kuryosidad.

"Thank you kasi pumayag—"

Before he can finish his sentence, a noise caught our attention. Glasses fell and the loud sound of it shattering caused our silence. Nabangga ng waiter ang isang customer.

"F*cking s**t. Cristobal, you should've booked me in a different restaurant.”

How rude.

"A-Apologies, sir," tarantang sabi ng waiter sa lalaking may kausap sa telepono. Nakasuot ito ng suit and tie, and his aura exudes the expensive type. Regardless, he’s a zero for his attitude.

Agad na tumalima ang ilan pang waiter, lahat sila ay natataranta sa iisang guest lang. Napakapa-VIP naman.

"In a hotel or something, how difficult is that—No, thank you. Here. I'll leave. Excuse me."

Tinanggihan niya ang inabot na tuwalya at nag-abot ng pera na sa palagay ko isang daang dolyar bago naglakad palabas, hindi na niya hinarap ang mukhang manager na kalalabas lang sa eksena. Dali-dali siyang umalis.

Patuloy kong pinapanuod ang kilos niya. Sobrang impolite. He may be rich, that's why he didn't like it here, still not a valid reason for a sudden outburst. Mukha tuloy stress na stress ang mga employees. I pity them.

I stole one last glance at the guy, just as his eyes flicked up to meet mine.

My stomach dropped.

Oh, Goodness. It’s him.

Dash Fontanilla.