DARE TO LOVE ME

CHAPTER 12

(Hera's POV)

Hindi ako mapakali sa aking upuan. I am here at a coffee shop sa harap ng shop namin.

I kept asking Zion to have a tea with me but he's busy this days, ngayon lang siya nagkatime.

I really wanted to apologize to him about the other night when I was drunk. Hindi ko naman intensyon na tawagan siya at ihatid ako sa condo ko, knowing that Zach is living with me in the same floor.

I wanted to check too kung may pasa ba siya sa mukha. Baka kasi nagka-initan sila at that night kaya napaka good mood araw-araw ni Zach. He's actually weird these days.

Mayat-maya pa ay dumating na si Zion. He is asking for a coffee instead of tea. He's so busy with his business, a publishing company.

"Hi, did you wait long?" He sat down in front of me.

Tinitigan ko ng maigi ang mukha niya, to check kung may bakas ba ng pasa. Pero mukhang wala naman, ang linis eh. Sana all.

"Oh... Not really." I lean in my chair and sip my coffee. "Thank you for taking time to be here, makulit ba ako? Sorry din nung nakaraang gabi. I just wanted to get back to you for taking me home safe."

"No worries. I'm thankful that I visited Kian that night and was surprissed that your there, drunkheaded." He laugh while remembering that embarassing moment. May nakakahiya nga siguro akong nagawa. Oh God!

"You know the owner of that bar?"

"Yeah, he's Zach's cousin." Oh please... Family member pa talaga ni Zach?

"Oh... Ahmm... Hinatid mo ako sa floor ko talaga?" Alanganin kong tanong sa kanya.

"Yup. You almost vomit in the lobby." He laugh again.

"Oh God!" I cover my face. Can't he stop reminiscing the past? "Ahmm... You see.. each other?"

"Who? Zach?" tumango naman ako. "Yeah..." he looked down with his coffee.

"I'm really really sorry. That's not really my intention. I know na may alitan kayo and avoiding each other para walang gulo pero... Sana iniwan mo nalang ako sa lobby, Zion." He laugh out loud.

"I can't leave you sa lobby, Hera. Baka ipalinis pa nila sa akin ang suka mo." Faced palm!!! Damn... Mas nakakahiya nga yun. "Don't worry. Walang gulong nangyari. He just ignored me." Napalingon naman ako sa kanya.

"Ahmm... Hindi naman sa nanghihimasok ako pero..." I look at him. Baka kasi sabihin niyang nanghihimasok talaga ako. Pero tumango siya means it's okay. "Did you talk after that happened? You know... To clarify things."

He sighed and reached the cup of his coffee. After he take a sip, umiling siya. Pangit ba lasa ng kape?

"Nope. He never wanted to see me nor talk to me." Ahhh... "Even some of my friends won't talk to me. So I distance myself from them."

"Nagsuntukan na ba kayo?" He smirk.

"Hindi naman mawawala yan sa aming mga lalaki, hindi maiiwasan"

"Sinong nanalo?" He laugh.

"Of course him. It's my fault anyway." Ohh...

"Kahit kailan bully talaga yun." I sip my coffee. "Maybe the girl is pretty, pinag-agawan niyo eh"

"Yeah, she is pretty. It's her." He pointed at the magazine in the table. Inabot ko ang magazine para ma tignan ko ng maigi.

Oh kay gandang diwata naman nito. Katrina Smith is her name. She looks gorgeous, hot, sexy, perfect face and body. Natural na pag-aagawan talaga ng kung sino man ito.

"Wow!" I clap my hands. He just laugh bitterly.

"Pretty outside but ugly inside." Napatigil naman ako sa sinabi niya. "She has nasty attitude. I don't really like her but it just happened that I'm drunk that night."

"Inakit ka?" Curious lang naman po ako.

"I know that she's not loyal to Zach. But Zach won't believe me. He still choose to believed her." Natahimik ako sa sinabi niya.

Ganoon ba siya ka in love sa ex niya? I look at the magazine sa table. Natural, ganyan ba naman ka perfect yung babae, syempre hindi mo na papakawalan.

Napahiya naman ako sa sarili ko. Sino ba naman ako para palitan si Katrina sa buhay ni Zach.

"Siya naman pala ang may problema eh. Pinag away pa kayong mag kaibigan." I rolled my eyes at the magazine. He just laughed.

Maganda lang siya... Matalino naman ako sa math!

***

"Thank you for coming!" As I waved and bid goodbye to my customer who just purchased a product from our shop.

Yeah... I should be more smiling and have a long patience to gain more clients and customers. Minsan nakakapagod nang ngumiti.

I was about to sit in the couch when the door opens again. Kaya napatayo ako wearing a smile but it's just Zach. I look at my watch. It's almost 5 pm. Aga niya ah.

Yup... Hatid sundo na niya ako. Ewan ko ba kung anong nakain niya. Sabi niya lang utos daw ni tita baka daw mawala na naman ako.

Pilit kong sinasabi kanya na huwag na niya akong ihatid tuwing umaga sa shop at baka ma late siya sa trabaho niya. Pero he insists daw. Pinabayaan ko nalang. Kaya napaka weird niya these days eh.

"Your early." Umupo na ako habang umupo naman siya sa harapan ko.

"Maaga natapos ang meeting." He leaned on the couch. Halatang pagod siya.

"I told you. Huwag mo na akong sunduin. Pagod ka sa work, kailangan mo pang bumyahe papunta dito. Hassle na masyado sa buhay mo."

"I promised mom. And it's you Hera, I can't ignored that." He close his eyes while leaning on the couch.

Lumabas ako ng shop para bumili ng coffee for him, binilhan ko na rin ang dalawang empleyado ko. Yeah... May dalawang babaeng empleyado ako. Sila ang nagbabantay ng shop dahil minsan naglalakwatsa ako. Ako naman ang nagbabantay ng tagabantay ko. Gets nyo? Bahala kayo.

After I take my order. Bumalik na ako sa shop.

"Kate, Sheila... Take this. You can go home. Thank you for this day." Inabot ko sa kanila ang milk tea dahil bet nila yun.

"Thank you po, ma'am." They grab their things. "Mauna na po kami, ma'am... sir." Ngumiti naman si Zach sa kanila.

Lumapit ako kay Zach at tumabi sa kanya. I gave him an iced amerikano.

I sip my milk tea nang bigla niyang agawin iyon sa akin.

"Hey..." I looked at my milk tea when he sips until half of it. Napanganga naman ako sa ginawa niya. I smacked his arm. Favorite ko yan eh!

"I like this more." He smirk at me. I just rolled my eyes at him. Kinuha ko ang iced amerikano and sips it. Sana sinabi niya para milk tea lahat ang inorder ko.

Pero bigla niyang inagaw ang iced amerikano ko, and drink it. May saltik ba siya?

"But I like this more." WHAT? "This is so sweet." then he gave me the milk tea.

He smirk. Sisigawan ko na sana siya pero bigla siyang tumayo at lumabas ng shop wearing that ugly smirked he has.

Baliw!

(Zachary's POV)

I sip my iced amerikano while leaning in my car. I just watched outside habang siya ay nagdadabog sa loob ng shop. I smiled. Muntik ko na kasing naubos ang paborito niyang milk tea. Girls are really weird, masyadong mahilig sa sweets.

I'm waiting for her to finish packing up to close the shop. Talagang tinagalan niya ah para paghintayin ako ng matagal dito sa labas.

Yes, it's my choice to monitor her everyday. Hinahatid sundo ko na siya baka kasi uminom na naman sa labas tapos kung ano na namang mangyari.

She has this habit whenever she's drunk, she will kiss whoever that person in front of her and she can't remember the next day what happened. After the birthday party of mom, I cant figure it out if she just pretending not to remember.

You know in Paris... she even remember that night, so I must say she is not drunk while we doing it. I just smile on my thought. Naalala ko na naman.

The other night too. The time when she confessed, hindi niya maalala. So I'm really wondering if she is pretending or not. But I guess, she really can't remember.

Lumabas na siyang nakabusangot ang mukha. She rolled her eyes and opened the door of my car muntik pa akong matumba dahil nakasandal ako doon. Childish! I just laugh at her actions.

Pumasok na ako sa drivers seat, and drived to our place. After we arrived in the parking lot at the Milano Residence, we headed inside and enter the elevator.

"Oh right, let's have dinner at my place. Mom, send me some abalones" she look at me.

"Abalone?" She look excited.

"Yeah, I'll cook." She claps.

"Sarapan mo ah!!" We headed outside when we reached out floors. "Magbibihis lang akooo!!!" She runs towards her unit.

I chuckled. It's just an abalone, why is she so excited.

Pumasok na ako sa unit ko. I changed my clothes first and go straight in my kitchen. I will cook Braised Abalone with Mushroom and Abalone Stir Fry. I prepare my ingredients first.

Maya-maya, someone doorbells. Maybe it's Hera. Hindi ko maiwanan ang ginagawa ko kaya I texted her the passcode of my door.

After seconds, I heard someone punching my passcode outside. Then the door opens and she entered inside.

"Zach!"

"Here!"

She run towards the kitchen while smiling from ear to ear.

"Need help?" Tumingin ako sa kanya ng may pagdududa. "I know how to wash them, dude. Don't look at me like that." She rolled her eyes.

"Fine, wash the mushroom." I pointed the mushroom at the table. She grab the mushroom and headed to the sink.

***

Thank God at walang krimen na naganap sa kusina ko. Hera kept insisting to sliced the the garlic and onions. But I don't trust her, so she kept bugging me.

We finished cooking and getting ready to eat now. Hera prepares the table.

We were just quiet while eating. Halatang gutom si Hera kasi nasa pagkain ang focus niya.

Until we finished our dinner. Hera insisted to wash the plates, so I just let her.

I am here in the living room watching a news in tv. Hera came out of the kitchen holding a snacks and a can of beer. I just look at her at umupo siya sa paanan ko. She even slap my legs asking me to move.

"Kakakain mo lang, kakain ka na naman?" She just noded.

"Sabi mo, pwede ako uminom basta ikaw kasama ko." And she took a sip of a canned beer. I just smile that she remembers that. She's being a good girl now. "Atsaka, masarap uminom ng beer pagkatapos kumain ng abalone."

Umayos ako ng upo at inagaw ang snacks niya.

"Saan mo naman narinig yan?"

"Kdrama" ano bang meron diyan sa kdrama na yan at maraming naaaddict sa kanila manuod.

Umiling nalang ako sa paniniwala niya.

After minutes of watching tv. She stood up and entered the kitchen again. Later on lumabas siyang may dalang limang canned beer

"Hindi ka ba uuwi? Tapos ka nang lumamon. Uubusin mo pa yang beer KO." I snatched a beer from her and drink it. She just pouted and continue drinking MY beer. Tsk.

Lasinggera talaga.

(Hera's POV)

I look at the clock, 11 pm. Zach is sleeping in the couch while I'm sitting at the carpet leaning in his couch where he is sleeping.

I'm watching a kdrama on his tv. Medyo may tama na yata ako dahil sumasakit na ang ulo ko at nahihilo na rin.

Maybe uuwi na ako. Kailangan ko pang magising ng maaga bukas para buksan ang shop.

Tumayo na ako para iligpit ang kalat, nang maapakan ko ang isang empty canned beer na nasa sahig dahilan para ma out of balance ako.

May humila sa kamay ko. Si Zach. I landed on top of him. He's awake. Is he awake all this time?

Ang lapit ng mukha namin na ramdam ko ang bawat paghinga niya at alam kong ramdam din niya ang kabog ng dibdib ko.

My heart beating so fast. It's racing.

Akmang tatayo na ako when he hold tight my waist. He's embracing my tightly. I stare at his eyes. Lasing ba siya, kasi ako hindi masyado. Three cans of beer lang naman ang naubos ko, pareho kami.

He just stare at me intently. "What? In love ka na ba?" I ask him jokingly.

"Yeah." Napatigil ako sa sagot niya. Biglang bumilis ang kabog ng aking dibdib. Kinakabahan ba ako? Anong ibig sabihin niya sa 'yeah'?

"I like you too, Hera." s**t!

I gasped but then he kissed me.

.

.

.

He's drunk... right?!