PARIS: A Night to Remember

Chapter 5 – The Icy Princess

RIELLE’s POV:

Nagising ako sa mabangong amoy na nanggagaling sa kusina. Paano kasi ay bukas ang pinto ng kwarto kung saan ako natutulog. Then it hit me, and I instinctively put my hand to my forehead. ‘Wait! - ’ Nang maalala ko yung nangyari kagabi. ‘Oh no! Not again!’, I muttered to myself. I felt so embarrassed about what happened last night., but deep inside..I wasn't sure how I felt. Shouldn't I be happy about it? I should be happy, right? Kinuha ko yung kumot at nagtalukbong pabalik sa paghiga. Di ko alam ang gagawin ko, gusto ko na lang kainin ng lupa sa sobrang hiya. Paano ko haharapin si Lexa ngayon.

“It seems regret decided to make a grand entrance this morning.” I overheard Lexa saying, with her arms crossed, as she stood in the doorway

I slowly lowered the blanket to uncover my eyes, when our eyes met I couldn't think straight, 'She's truly a goddess! Goodness! Am I about to get smitten?' She had just taken a shower, and just like last night, she was wearing a white robe, her hair still damp and cascading over her shoulders. It's as if she's irresistibly huggable and fragrant, begging to be embraced.

“Stop looking! Get up and let’s have breakfast.” pagkasabi nun ay agad itong tumalikod at naglakad patungo sa lamesa. ‘Cold!’ sa isip isip ko.

“Is that how you invite your guest to have breakfast with you?”, uminat pa ko pagkasabi ko nun.

“I don’t see you as a guest.” malamig pa rin nitong saad.

“Ano lang pala?” pang-aasar ko sa kanya, at nginitian ko pa siya. Kala nya ah.

“Nobody.” mabilis naman nitong sagot. ‘Aba! If I know, kung di niya ko hinalikan kagabi edi sana walang nangyari ulit samin.’

“You're quite ruthless, you know?” sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin.

“What would you like me to see you as?” she said it without any expression.

“Hmmm,” paisip ko namang sinagot, habang tinutupi ko yung kumot sa kama. “How about a potential lover?” looking up like there was a light bulb over my head.

“Even how many times you bed me, I won’t see you as a lover. A past-time maybe.” ‘Awts’ I dunno why her words hurt me a little. Nakaupo na ito sa upuan sa harapan ng table.

“How many times huh. At Least you’re giving me a license to bed you.” ganti ko namang sagot sa kanya. “And take note, even how many times.” hawak ko yung kutsara’t tinidor at ngumiti ako sa kanya habang nakatitig sa mga mata nya.

She’s really cold. She started to eat her food at di naman siya tumingin ulit matapos niyang iiwas yung tingin niya sa mga mata ko. I’m wondering why this woman is so bitchy. But I love the character. I think that’s what makes me want to know her more. I’m interested in her, not just because may nangyari na samen pero there’s something deep in her that I want to dig.

We just ate our breakfast silently. When she finally says something. “Let’s have an agreement.”

Napataas naman ako ng dalawa kong kilay pagkarinig ko ng sinabi nya.

“And what kind of agreement are you suggesting?”, balik kong tanong.

“Let's not converse at the office,”she stated, sipping her coffee.

Para namang nag-uusap kame sa office eh di naman kame close sa work. We might had our intimate relationship but it doesn't mean makakapag-usap na kami sa office. Also, sa klase ng work nya, ay ano nga bang work nya?

“Wait, I still don’t know what position you’re holding in the office? Ano nga ba ang work mo dun? Same account ba tayo?” pagtataka kong tanong.

“Workforce”, tipid naman nitong tanong.

“Woahh, really?”, gulat ko namang sagot. “You mean, teka ikaw ba yung bago na sinasabi nila?” curious kong tanong.

“Yeah”, nagkibit balikat naman ito tugon.

So ito yung sinasabi ni Kian na bago at crush nya pa.

“But wait, isn’t the new face named Paris?” tanong ko dito.

“My name is Paris Lexa Sinclair”

“Hmmm, lovely.” tumango tango naman ako.

“Ngayon naintindihan ko na. Anyway yun lang ba yung nasa agreement mo? ” tanong ko ulit.

“No one should know about what happened between us.”, she sipped her coffee before she answered..

"Alright..." I nodded, signifying my agreement.

"We can only talk here in my house, if you actually desire my company." She added another stipulation.

Napangiti naman ako sa sinabi niyang iyon, it means I can see her whenever I want to see her.

"But..." I stared at her, anticipating the continuation. “Don’t fall for me.” Damn, ganito ba sya ka-frank magtalk? Why was she even entertaining the possibility that I could develop feelings for her? 'Or maybe...?’

"It's quite early for that, don't you think, Ms. Sungit?" I retorted, wanting to challenge her. I was also curious why she was shutting down the possibility of romance so quickly. She was really upfront about it. But then again, why was she worried about me falling for her? 'Maybe I already have?'

Lost in thought, I couldn't help but feel a little dejected. Were these her rules of engagement? A mere fling? Did she not want someone she could spend time with every day, annoy, and share problems with? Or whatever we might discuss together? Why was she so distant?

Umupo ito and she crossed her legs sa kinauupuan nito, “Let’s call it a day Rielle. May pasok ka pa diba? Your ID is on the table.” at tumitig naman ito sa mga mata ko.

‘Oh my! I almost forgot, may pasok nga pala ako! Teka anong oras na ba?’, tumingin ako sa relo ko alas otso na ng umaga. May oras pa since mejo malapit naman yung condo nito sa office kaya okay lang makakaabot pa ko. Buti nalang talaga nag-iba yung schedule ng pasok ko.

Tinapos ko yung breakfast ko then nakiligo at doon na ko nanggaling, mabuti nalang at meron ako palaging extrang gamit just in case na may overnight ay handa ako. I even have my spare clothes sa locker ko, girl scout yata to.