Stay To Remember

Ikalawang Kabanata

Sire Jensen Austere

"So, you're telling me that I need to find a woman with no name or anything at all?" Desmon repeated once again.

"Yes." 

He chuckled. "Who is she anyway? A potential f*ck?" 

I whirled around to face him and placed my hands on the table. "Nope. I have a feeling that she's different." 

"Different how exactly?" My driver s***h bodyguard s***h best friend asked with a hint of amusement in his voice.

"Bakit ang dami mong tanong?" inis kong tanong sa kaniya at muling sumandal. My temper is rising slowly by minute.

So I have the patience of a toddler, sue me. 

"Masama bang maging curious? Kadalasan naman ikaw ang unang lumalapit sa prospects mo." 

"If you say it like that, what does that make me? Para naman akong the typical playboy, womanizer, player CEO as what the books often label us." turan ko at tumawa ako ng mahina.

"I know you're not. Nag-aaral pa lang tayong maglakad ay kaibigan na kita at mabibilang ko sa daliri ko ang mga naikama mo. That is how picky you are, Sire." 

I licked my lips and stood up. "You know exactly why."

Mula sa table ko ay naglakad ako ng marahan at huminto sa tapat ng estante sa gitna ng opisina ko, at hinawakan ang salamin kung saan nakalagay ang isang napakagandang gown na importante sa akin.

"So... this girl. Ano exactly ang nakita mo sa kaniya at nakuha niya ang atensyon mo to the point na pinapahanap mo siya sa akin?"

I dropped my hands and placed them inside my pockets. "There's something about her. I don't know but I feel so drawn to her, it's like an invisible thread is pulling me to her." 

Pumito si Desmon at napangisi na lang ako. 

"Sounds like you're in love, man. Sige, gagawin ko kaagad ang utos mo."

"Find out everything about her and I mean everything. From her name down to her favorite snack." 

"Got it." 

"When will she come, Desmon? Merde. (F***)." naiinip kong tanong sa kaibigan kong enjoy na enjoy sa pagkain niya ng donut.

"Try mo kaya. This little piece of heaven is mouth watering." itinaas pa niya ang hawak na donut at tinaas-taas ang kilay niya.

"Alam mo namang hindi ako mahilig sa matatamis. I'm an organic person." I responded and leaned back on the chair, a little small for my huge build.

"Welp, ngayon pa lang ay sinasabi ko na sa'yo. Mark my words. Mula ngayon ay kakainin mo na sila." makahulugang sabi niya na may nakakalokong ngisi.

Hindi na ako nakasagot pa dahil natanaw ko na ang papasok na si Desaree Alinea. A surgeon at twenty-six. A smart, independent and kind woman. Just like my type. A woman who lacks confidence and trust. A woman I feel the need to help.

Sana ay hindi niya mapansin ang eyebags ko dahil sa pagpupuyat na basahin ang ten pages na biography niya. Sh*t, I sound like a damn creepy stalker. 

It's funny how you want to know everything about someone when you don't even exist to them. 

"She's here, pig. Wait here." 

"Don't forget, Sire. Chocolate donut!" he whisper-yelled at me.

I gave him a thumbs up at mabilis nang naglakad papunta sa counter. I cut her off just in time and when I see her eyes upfront, f*ck I was a goner. She looks delectable in a simple washed jeans and white blouse, her long wavy hair is tied. Simple, but she took my breath away. Her velvety voice set a f*cking fire inside me. 

Singkit na mga mata na akala mo'y laging masama ang pagkakatingin, matangos na ilong na may nunal sa tungki and merde her lips, lips that could put Angelina Jolie to shame. It's like begging to be kissed. It's just a shame that it's always pressed into a thin line.

But, I'm stronger than that. My Mama told me not to touch a woman without her consent. I stared at her retreating back for the second time since I met her. She's so cute when she's annoyed. 

"What the f*ck are you looking at?" inis kong tanong sa mga taong nakatingin pa rin, at taas-noong naglakad palabas.

"Wait, Sir! 'Yung Donut niyo po!" 

Nauna na ako sa kotse at sumunod na rin si Desmon hawak ang isang paper bag na ibinato sa akin. Kung hindi ko lang kaibigan 'tong si Desmon ay baka nasa ilalim na siya ng lupa ngayon.

"Floor it."

MABUTI NA LANG at mas nauna kaming dumating ni Desmon kay Desaree sa Tavin kaya naman nagmamadali akong pumasok sa office ko. 

"Do I look okay?" 

"Is that even a question? Wait. You got a little…" he wiped something on my lips using a napkin. "Organic person pala ha. Ano, masarap ba?" natatawa niyang tanong bago tumalikod. "Sige magtatago muna ako sa loob ng c.r."

Okay, maybe I ate a little because I was curious. Nang malaman kong dinadayo pa talaga ni Desaree ang coffee shop na iyon para bumili ng donut ay na-curious ako. And I gotta say, donuts are delicious. 

Naglakad ako sa likod ng pinto at tumayo roon. I heard timid knocks and I had to clear my throat to speak.

"Come in."

The door opens and Desaree stepped inside. Hindi na niya nagawa pang isara ang pinto dahil sa pagkamangha sa paligid kaya napangiti ako. I felt proud dahil ako mismo ang nag-disenyo ng opisina ko just like what my office in Paris looks like.

Tahimik akong naglakad at lumapit sa kaniya mula sa likuran. I closed my eyes as I took a whiff of her cologne. Looks like a rose, smells like a rose. My rose. That's what I'm going to call her from now on.

I saw her looking at my special creature 'Selina'.

"Selina means heaven." 

She jumped and whirled her head around and stared at me wide eyed. Napalitan kaagad ito ng simangot nang makita ako. Cute.

"You made it?" she asked with curiosity in her voice.

I chuckled as I stared at her back. "I am a Tailor. I measure, I repair, I sew mostly suits. I don't make dresses." 

"Pero si Lena…" itinigil niya ang iba niyang sasabihin at agad na isinara ang bibig pero huli na dahil narinig ko na ang pangalang binanggit niya.

"So… you've done your research." I stated with a hint of tease in my voice.

"Pft no. Narinig ko lang somewhere." She avoided eye contact with me as she said that. Ang dali niya talagang basahin and yet no books can explain what I really feel.

"Lena… is a special friend. Whatever you heard is right. Yes, I slept with her and yes I gave her a dress under my name made by my designer and measured by me. You see, Lena's never been confident with her looks, tinulungan ko lang siyang makita ang totoong ganda deep within her." I found myself explaining dahil ayokong maging masama ang tingin niya sa akin. 

"And who are you to define someone's beauty by sleeping with them?" 

"I am a man who sees the real beauty inside them when everyone's judging their looks." I smiled at her stunned face. "Let's take a seat." Itinuro ko sa kaniya ang white couch ko at naunang naupo, but not before unbuttoning my suit. 

She sat down with a serious look on her face. Ah, she's on Doctor mode now.

She took out a pen and her stethoscope. Walang paligoy-ligoy, walang kuwentuhan muna. Straight to business. Damn, what a cold woman. 

"I'm Doctor Desaree Alinea and my friend Moira unfortunately couldn't make it so I'm here on behalf of her. I hope you don't mind."

"Desaree. The french word for desire. It suits you and no, not at all." Not in the slightest. I didn't go through an hour long interrogation with your friend just to set you up, you know? 

I don't mind. I'm f*cking delighted.

"So, any bad feeling lately? Nausea? Vomiting? Or perhaps… rapid heart race?" seryoso niyang tanong habang nakahawak sa notepad at ball pen niya.

"My heart is kind of beating fast right now." 

I can almost here Desmon's snort from here.

Nagtaas siya ng kilay bago nagsulat sa hawak. "Ngayon mo lang ito naranasan o nakakaraan pa?" 

I flicked my wrist and set my right oleg on top of my left thigh. "It started a couple of months ago." 

"Strange. Wala naman akong nabasa sa record mo." She got up and took her stethoscope. Lumapit sya sa kinauupuan ko at naupo sa tabi ko. "Can you please unbutton your suit for me, please?" 

Oh, please why don't you do it yourself?

I cleared my throat and did what she said. Inilagay niya ito sa dibdib ko and all I can do is stare at her beautiful face. My heart started beating too fast because of her closeness. Just being near her is making me lose my sanity. 

"Oh, no. Totoo nga. Your heart beat isn't normal." She took off her stethoscope and what she did next made me lose my f*cking mind.

Her small hands started to gently pat and press my chest where my heart is. F*ck, don't get hard, Sire f*cking Austere. Think of a donut, no, not a donut! Sh*t! 

I stood up so fast like The Flash and stood behind my desk to hide my growing boner. F*ck, just a little touch and I'm ready to explode. She's turning me into a goddamn p*****t and a teenager who's having her first hard on.

"I-I uhm fine." Tumikhim ako dahil tila ba nanggaling sa ilalim ng lupa ang boses ko. 

"Bakit ka lumayo? I was checking somethin---"

"Don't come near me!" Mabilis kong sigaw nang maglalakad sana siya palapit sa akin. "I was just kidding. My heart is fine. I have no heart disease or whatsoever." pag-amin ko. 

"Bakit mabilis ang t***k ng puso mo? We cannot be so sure, le---"

"It's beating like this because of you. Ever since I saw you two months ago, my heart's never been normal since then." 

Natameme siya at hindi kaagad nakasagot. Mamaya ay nabalutan ng inis ang maganda niyang mukha. "You think this is a joke? Mukha bang joke ang trabaho namin para sa'yo? I'm telling you, Mr. Austere. If you can't be professional, then I am leaving."

My phone buzzed and I saw a text from Desmon. "The pick up line! Nag-practice tayo kanina!"

Ano nga ba 'yon? Text ko sa kaniya.

"Desaree! Wait!" she stopped and turned around to glare at me. 

"Are you a soldier?" Basa kong text ni Desmon.

"If this is another joke of yours, I have no time. Have a good day, Austere."

"Because my d*ck saluted you the first time I saw you." agad kong dugtong at napadaing na lang. Huli na nang ma-realize ko kung ano ang nasabi ko. F*cking Desmon!

Her face got red and she quickly gathered her things. "Manyak! I regret taking Moira's patient. Sana ay hindi na kita makita pa." labis-labis na inis na turan niya.

"Wait!" mabilis ko siyang napigilan sa braso salamat sa malalaki kong hakbang. "Okay. I won't beat around the bush. I want you. I wanted you the first time I saw you and I still do." 

"You want to have s*x with me?"

"Yes! I mean no, yes bu---"

"Then, it's clear. You just want to use me. Let's get one thing straight, Austere." tinanggal nila ang braso niya mula sa pagkakahawak ko. "I am not interested." with that said, she left without looking back and I am left standing here like an idiot. 

I just got rejected for the first time in my twenty seven years in this world. 

Lumabas sa banyo ang mamatay-matay sa kakatawang si Desmon. I glared at him and threw whatever I picked up and it hit him right in the face. Serves him right.

"Ouch! My face! Ito ba isusukli mo sa pagtulong ko sa'yo, Sire?" reklamo niya habang hinihimas ang mukha.

"Kulang pa 'yan. Fils de pute! Seriously? Because my d*ck saluted you the first time I saw you? You made me look like a p*****t!" (Son of a b*tch)

Nagsimula na naman siyang tumawang parang baliw. "I-i'm sorry! Hindi ko naman s-sinsadya. Sisihin mo ang copy paste! I accidentally copied my pick up line for my wife later." 

"F*ck you! I'm telling you, kapag hindi ko siya nakuha, I will end you myself." nanggagalaiti kong banta ko sa kaniya. I slumped back in my chair and sighed. "Send her flowers, chocolates or whatever women desires. She's a stubborn one, pero alam kong pareho lang din ang taste niya sa iba."

I heard Desmon sigh. "Does it ever occur to you that maybe she's different? Na hindi siya katulad ng ibang tinatapon ang sarili sayo o kaya ay limang babaeng naikama mo na?"

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niya. He's right. That's what makes her different from the others. Sh*t. 

Napahilamos ako sa mukha ko dahil nang mapagtanto ko ang sinabi ko. "I just thought that… s**t. I feel like an asshole right now. Tama ka, maybe I should do it like any other man will do. I will woo her."

"You just met her and you're already losing your wits, man. That's right. Win her heart. Walang matigas na puso sa seryosong manliligaw."

"Ligaw?" I repeated like I'm saying a foreign word. "Okay."

Desmon smiled at me and I cringed at his swollen cheeks. "Say sorry to Martha for me." I said referring to his wife. 

"Nah. It's fine. Paano? Uwi na ako. My duty is here now that you've injured me." may panunuyang sabi niya.

"Sandali… paano nga ba manligaw?"