Operation:Break the Playboy's heart.

Chapter 6

It's been over a week since the last time she saw Nexon. Parang wala siyang lakas na pumasok at mag pakita dito, she couldn't get him off her mind as if Nexon Cohen is living inside her head rent free. Malalim siyang bumuntong hininga, she's inside a library one of her favourite and comfort space but her mind just wouldn't stop thinking about this one particular person. And whenever his face flashed thru her mind her heart suddenly skips a bit and it that's scares her the most. Tama pa ba ang ginagawa niya? This kind of emotions is very new to her and she's afraid she might be falling to her own trap.

Nawala lang ang malalim niyang pag iisip ng may maupo sa kanyang harapan. She was about to scold him when she realize it was Justin smilling from ear to ear looking at her.

"Hey how is it goin?" Bulong ng binata.

Emerald smiled to him and close the books she's reading. It might be a good thing Justin came to save her from her thoughts.

"Hey... Wala kang klase?"

Justin shrugged his shoulder. "I'm on leave I need to attend an important event with my family pero babalik na din ako bukas."

Emerald nods her head. "That's nice."

"Bakit parang ang lalim ng iniisip mo?" Wika ni Justin habang nakatingin sa kanya.

Emerald blinked numerable times. Ganoon ba siya kalahata? She sighed in disbelief hindi na nga maganda ang mga nangyayari sa kanya. It might be best to pack up her things and went back to New York pero hindi siya puwedeng sumako she has her purpose and she will nit leave until its done.

"Im just tired." She said. "I'll get going."

Iniligpit niya ang mga gamit pero bago pa siya makatayo ay muling nag salita ang binata.

"If you're free maybe we can grab some lunch?" Justin said in an awkward tone.

Nakatingin lang ito sa kanya. Nag hihintay ng sagot na tila bumagal ang mundo dahil sa sagot na hinihintay ng binta. The first time she saw Emerald he was really interested in her, marami siyang narinig na sa dalaga. And one thing that amused him is that she is a very smart woman.

"But if you're not com—"

"Sure..." wika ni Emerald. "I mean wala naman akong ibag gagawin so why not."

Justin heave a sigh of relief. Para itong batang hindi alam ang gagawin mabilis na inayos ng binata ang mga gamit at hindi maiwasang mapangit habang nag liligpit. Nang makalabas sila ng Library ay wala ni isa ang kumikibo Emerald doesn't know what to say either and she didn't really know bakit pumayag siya sa invitation nito. Maybe she did to stop thinking about someone?

"Saan mo gusto kumain? Italian, french — anywhere you want." Justin said breaking the silence.

Emerald seems to be thinking then suddenly she remeber a spot. One of her favourite spot back in college she wonders kung bukas pa ang kainan na iyon.

"Well I know a spot just around the corner." Wika niya. "Pero baka hindi mo magustuhan doon?"

"No its fine!" Mabilis na wika ni Justin. "Wherever you want."

Emerald nodded. "Lakarin na lang natin malapit lang naman sa Univ yon it's just two blocks from here."

Habang nag lalakad ay marami rami din silang napag usapan ng binata. Justin's parents are both surgeon at dahil minsan ay activated din ang pagiging chismosa niya ay tinanong na din niya bakit hindi ito sumunod sa yapak ng mga magulang.

"Well, it's not really what I want to do." Wika nito. "I want to be an educator. I want to educate people. Ikaw? How come bumalik ka dito para mag aral ulit? I hope you won't find it creepy but I heard so many things about you. You already have built your own name in New York pero bakit pinili mong bumalik dito at mag aral?"

Hindi niya alam kung paano sasagutin ang tanong ng binata. She blinked numerable times trying to figure out what to answer him—

"Watch out!" Sigaw nito at mabilis siyang hinablot palapit sa katawan ng binata. "Watch were you're going dude!"

Halos sumabog sa kaba ang kanyang dibdib dahil sa nangyari muntik na siyang masagasaan. Justin holds her shoulder and looks into her eyes she is a bit disoriented on what happen just now. Hindi niya namalayan na patawid na siya sa kalsada.

"Are you okay?"

Dahan dahan siyang tumingin sa mata ng binata na punong puno ng pag aalala.

"I–im okay..." she whispered in a crack tone. "Thank you."

Justin nodded. "I'm just glad you're okay..."

Emerald nods her head ngunit parang nanlalambot ang tuhod niya dahil ng sinubukan niyang humakbang at mag lakad ay napaupo siya sa sahig.

"Hey you okay?" Justin whispered lowering himself to her. "I think we should call it a day. Ihahatid na kita pauwi."

Emerald nodded. Susubukan niya sana muling tumayo ngunit binuhat siya ni Justin na para silang bagong kasal agad na namula ang kanyang mukha. Ang mga taong pawang sa kanila lang nakatingin ngunit tila walang pakialam ang binata.

"Justin I-I think I'm fine puwede mo na akong ibaba.."

"No. It's fine you're still ni shock."

Hindi na siya nakipag talo pa sa binata hanggang sa marating nila ang sasakyan nito na naka park sa library.

"Mabigat ako are you okay?" Nag aalala niyang wika.

"You're as light as a feather." Wika nito. "Let's get you home."

Nang makarating sila village ay nauna siyang bumaba kasunod si Justin.

"Thank you for the ride." Wika niya. "Wanna go inside?"

"I think I should get going para makapag—"

Hindi na natapos mg binata ang sasabihin ng may bumusina sa kanila then her mother stepped out of the car.

"Mama.." wika niya. "Where have you been?"

"Hinatid ko lang ang Daddy mo sa Airport may business meeting siya na need puntahan." Her mother said then her eyes darted to the man standing next to her. "Hi you must be?"

"Justin Cruz ma'am nice to meet you."

Keana glady accepted his hand and smile to him then dumako ang mata nito sa anak giving her a knowing look.

"Why don't you invite your friend over for lunch? Nandito nadin naman kayo."

The lunch went well. Ang kanyang ina ay hindi mapigil ang panaka nakang pag tingin nito sa kanya at sa binatang katabi, she just rolled her eyes lahat yata ng lalaki na magiging kaibigan niya ay iisipin ni Keana na boyfriend niya. Well hindi niya din masisi ang ina she's turning 30 this year no boyfriend since birth at wala pa siyang pinapakilala sa pamilya. After the lunch Justin went home and her mother won't stop pestering her asking question natigil lang yata ito ng tumunog ang doorbell.

"Ma'am Emerald may nag hahanap po sa inyo."

Agad na kumunot ang noo niya dahil wala naman siyang ini-expect na bisita ngayon. Agad na tumingin sa kanya si Keana.

"Sino daw?"

"Nexon Cohen daw po."

Her eyes widened in shock when she heard whose looking for her. Agad siyang napatayo

sa kinauupuan at mag lalakad na sana palabas ng muling mag salita ang kanyang ina.

"Let him in."

Hindi na siya nakapalag ng mabilis umalis ang katulong at pag balik nito ay kasama na si Nexon na may bitbit na box ng brownies at flowers sa kabilang kamay nito.

"Hi.." he said intently looking at her.

"Wow..." her mother whispered then her eyes darted on her. "Whose this gentleman anak?"

"H-ha?" She blurted. "I—i Si—"

"Nexon Cohen Mrs. Montefalco, Em's friend."

"Well that's new. You're the second guy who came and introduce themselves as my daughter's friend. Wala ka bang ipapakilalang nobyo anak?"

Halos gustuhin na niyang lumubog sa kahihiyan sa pinag sasabi ng ina. She skipped a whole week of classes just to avoid this man whose pestering her mind and now he's standing infront of her holding a bouquet of flower looking deeply into her eyes. This can't be happening