When I Met You

Two

Beverly Hills, USA

Milena Pontes carefully looked at all her colored fountain pen collections in the glass box. She's been collecting different colors of fountain pens ever since she was young. She started to be fascinated with them as she watched her grandfather and father use them to sign documents. Now that she was almost done with her MA in Business Management with her twin brother, she already has a collection of over three thousand fountain pens ranging from Php 350.00 to Php 10,000.00. Amongst all her collection, it was her grandfather's fountain pen that was extra special because it was what he used often to sign bills and executive orders when he was still the head of their native land- the Philippines. 

Speaking of the Philippines, she was packing her stuff in her luggage because she has to go to the Philippines for a family emergency. Her brother got into a car accident. She also learned that he slammed his car on a tree because there was a vegetable vendor with his cart passing by, and he did not notice it immediately because he was on the phone comforting Kitkat, his baby mama, who was the daughter of their family friend.  

"Hay! Nakakaloka talaga si Gab!" She muttered as she put all her belongings in the luggage.

"Ba't magkasalubong na naman ang kilay mo?" she heard Andrew, her dashing twin brother who was oblivious of the fact despite her telling him that many of her friends wanted to date him. 

She looked at him from head to foot. Pabaliktad ang suot nitong cap, naka-sando, shorts at Birkenstock Arizona lang ito.  "Is that what you're going to wear to the airport?" she asked, feeling annoyed that he wasn't dressed up. "Have you even packed your luggage?" 

"Yeah, since yesterday." He quirked a smile. "Ikaw? Ba't ngayon ka pa lang nagiimpake? Sinabihan na tayo ni Mom since Monday na naka-schedule ang flight natin later." Anito. "At saka, bakit nga magkasalubong ang kilay mo? Because of Gab ba?" 

"Yes! He's so hardheaded na nga for not finishing his studies tapos ngayon, we need to go home because he got into an accident. Hindi nagi-ingat sa pagmamaneho. Hayan tuloy! His fans... ano nga tawag sa kanila? "pilit niyang inalala. "Soldiers!" Sambit niya. " His soldiers s***h fans are all blaming Kitkat for his accident, and she was forced to go to Italy para ma-protektahan ang baby nila." 

"Iyon ba talaga ang issue o ang fact na nauna pa sa'yo si Gab magka-love life?" panga-asar ni Andrew sa kanya. 

"Well, that's also one way to look at this heightened emotion I feel for our baby brother." Kibit balikat niya."Another reason is that Gab knocked up the daughter of Tito Utt and Tita Katniss. Of all people, anak pa talaga nila! Nakakahiya!"

Napakamot sa ulo si Andrew. Naalala kasi nito ang unang pagkakataon na nalaman nito ang tungkol kay Gab at Kitkat. " He sighed. "Well, it takes two to tango. Perhaps, it was already predestined? From what I heard,  Tito Utt used to court Mom and moved mountains just to come here to the Philippines for Mom. But, Tito Utt was already late because Dad came in the picture and married Mom. Baka ito na ang continuation ng hindi nila natuloy na love story. Mga anak pala nila ang magkakatuluyan. Crossed fingers. I'm rooting for them."

Napaisip si Milly at napangiti. "Oo nga, ano? I remember from the kwentuhan of our yayas was that Tita Katniss used to be Dad's campaign manager, but she fell in love with Dad, and stayed so far away because she knew it wasn't right since Dad was already married. And even if she had a death threat from Angela, she turned up to help Dad with the criminal case filed by Angela against Dad. Napawalang sala si Dad because of Tita Katniss. We owe a lot to them," she sighed. "And we should be sensitive and respectful to Tito Utt because he allowed Tita Katniss to help Dad and Mom back then. Tapos ito ang way natin to repay it? Ang mabuntis ni Gabriel ang kaisa isang prinsesa nila Tito Utt and Tita Katniss. Hay! Nakakahiya magpakita sa pamilya nila kung mamanhikan man tayo!"

"Well, the whole family will be there, I'm sure. It'll all work out." Umakbay si Andrew sa kaniya. 

"Yuck!" Sigaw niya at tinulak si Andrew dahil alam niyang kakagaling lang nito sa basketball game at pawisan ang kakambal. "Disgusting!"

"Psh! Neat freak!"

"Ew! Maligo ka nga! Kadiri!" She said annoyed with her brother and ran to her bathroom to take a bath herself. 

***

Italy

The Ponce and Pontes families arrived together in the hotel-like castle residence of the Romualdez in Tuscany. There they met close relatives, friends, and business partners of the Romualdez family. 

There was tension in the air, but thanks to Mary Sanders - Pontes and her husband Migoel Pontes, Kitkat's father, Utt Romualdez, cordially accepted Milly's family as they accompanied her younger brother, Gab in the private matrimonial ceremony. Hindi na makatangi ang ama ni Kitkat Romualdez dahil mga step brothers nito ang mga uncle nila Milly na Pontes brothers at tinuturing din nito na kapatid ang uncle nilang si Percival Ponce. Pumunta din ang mga miyembro ng Infin8 boyband na tinuturing din ng kanyang kapatid na si Gab na 'hyungs/ brothers' nito. They wanted to support Gab as he stepped into a new chapter of his life. 

As their families and close family and friends had a gathering in the reception area, Milly decided to excuse herself and went to the restroom. She wanted to escape from shaking hands with people because she has a thing about touching things and people. She feels paranoid na baka kung saan-saan nila inihahawak ang mga kamay nila, kaya naman palihim siyang nagsa-sanitize ng kamay o di kaya maghuhugas sa restroom, kung hindi man siya maaaring mag-gloves sa kanyang attire o depende sa occasion. But if it would only be possible, she would always wear gloves or mittens. She acknowledged that she was a complete neat-freak, which annoyed her twin brother Andrew. Napaka-linis daw kasi niya sa katawan.  

Milly immediatelysearched for the restroom, and saw the butler standing by the door. 

"Sir, may I know where the restroom is?"

"To your right, signorina." The butler answered. 

Agad siyang naglakad patungo sa hall at nakita ang dalawang pintuan na ang nakasulat ay 'DONNE' at "UOMINI". Napaisip siya kung alin ba doon ang restroom para sa babae at lalaki. Pasimple at dahan dahan niyang itinulak ang pinto upang sumilip kung alin ang para sa babae. Nungit pag-silip niya ay parehong naka-cubicle ang mga toilet at urinal. Hindi niya tuloy maaninag kung saan siya dapat pumasok. Tiningnan niya ang nakasulat na sign sa pintuan. Nanghula na lamang siya. Marahil ang 'DONNE' ay 'don' na ibig sabihin ay panlalaki, at "UOMINI" ay parang "Mini mouse" na ang ibig sabihin ay pambabae, kaya naman pasimple niyang tinuhod ang pintuan upang makapasok sa loob. She immediately searched for the sink to wash her hands, and found it. She was so relieved that the faucet was automatic. She immediately took her liquid soap in her small bottle organizer, and washed her hands. Naghugas siya mabuti ng kamay na untimo ang mga surgeons sa ospital ay mahihiya sa linis ng kaniyang mga kamay. Matapos niyang maghugas ay kumuha siya ng hypoallergenic na tissue, at kumuha ng maliit na bote ng lotion sa kanyang Gucci shoulder bag.

She felt relieved in the step-by-step process she followed. But, in a way, she wasn't exactly happy about it, too. Sometimes, her being neat-freak is bordering obsessive-compulsive. Or, maybe she really was already, and she just has not seen a doctor about it. She thought about it and considered seeing a doctor because this feeling of disgust or loathe has had effects on her social life. She knew to herself that it was the reason why she couldn't stand going on dates since it required shaking hands, touching, and if she would get lucky... kissing. But she did not want to kiss before her dates had brushed their teeth after meals and have a breath mint. She tried not to be OC about it but she would end up cringing in front of her dates.

She sighed at the thought of her love life. While some of her friends her age were already working, engaged, or married, she was still studying as requested by her parents, because she and her siblings were being groomed to manage the growing construction and hotel family business in the Philippines, and soon in Asia.

"Buon giorno, signorina." Milly heard from the back. Napatingin siya sa mirror at nakita ang reflection ng lalaking kasalukuyang lumabas sa isa sa mga cubicle. He had brown hair, perfectly arched eyebrows, beautiful brown eyes, a high and straight nose, a chiseled jaw, and red sensuous lips that quirked in a playful smile. She wanted to smile back to, but shook her head to come to her senses. 

A man in the women's loo? This should prompt your internal alarm, girl!  He must be gay. 

Napaharap siya sa lalaking iyon. "Sir, I'm sorry but I don't know Italian. If you can understand English, that'd be better. Uhm... I think you went to the wrong restroom." She informed and pointed at the door. She bit her lip as she anticipated that he would panic and feel embarrassed, and say sorry, and scoot out of the women's bathroom.

Napangiti lalo ang lalaki sa kaniya. Kung hindi lang siya naeeskandalo na nasa restroom ng mga babae ang lalaking iyon ay iba ang aatupagin niyang pag-isipan. Her mind will reel away to daydreaming and fantasies of this guy washing his hands, brushing his teeth, before he would amorously wrap his arm around her for a deep, passionate, clean kiss.

"Oh, cuore mio!" Napahawak ang lalaki sa dibdib nito at tila nagpipigil tumawa. " Ma'am, this is the men's room. The sign says uomini which means male or man." He explained.

Napasinghap at nanlaki ang kanyang mga mata. "Imposible! Toilet ito ng mga babae!" Nasambit niya at napatingin sa paligid. Sinilip din niya ang toilet na pinangggalingan ng lalake at ma-ingat na hindi mahawaka ang pader at pintuna nito. She hoped she was right, but once she saw the urinal, she knew that she had to manage the embarrassment she felt. She tried to straighten her back to the man who was behind watching her. 

"Oh!" She said as she turned to face him. "Sorry! I'll go out now." Aniya at nagmadaling lumabas. "Shocks, Milena! Kaloka ka!" Sa sobrang stress niya ay nakalimutan niyang gumamit ng tissue sa doorknob kaya naman paglabas niya ng pinto ay nagtatalon siya sa pandidiri. "Ew! Ew! Ew!"

Kung ano-ano na ang mga naisip niyang mga bagay katulad ng mga lalaking pagkagamit ng restroom ay hindi naghuhugas ng kamay at ginagamit ay tissue lamang at kung anu-ano pa. 

Agad siyang pumasok sa restroom ng mga babae at napansin na ibang iba nga ang restroom ng mga babae sa lalaki. Sa babaeng restroom ay may wallpaper na rosas, samantalang sa mga lalaki ay kulay Blue. Kinilabutan siya at muling naghugas ng kamay. She tried to pacify herself and breathed. She couldn't stand it any longer. She took out her gloves and wore them then exited the restroom. Nang papalabas siya ay naroon na ang lalaki sa may pintuan. 

"Are you okay?" he asked. This time, hindi na ito nagpipigil ng pagtawa kungdi nagaalala na. "I heard you said ew! ew! ew! Baka kako napaano ka." 

Nagulat siya na nakakapag-Tagalog ito, dahil mukha itong foreigner. Marunong ka mag-Tagalog?"

"Yeah, I'm Filipino. I'm a family friend of the Romualdez family. In fact, I saw you earlier in the wedding ceremony." He said. "I assume you're a relative of the groom?" Aniya.

"Yes, I'm Gab's sister." Tipid niyang tugon. 

He nodded his head. "I'm Quitos, a childhood friend of Kitkat. But you can call me Kit." He smiled and offered his hand. 

Napatingin siya sa kamay ni Kit. "Malinis yang kamay ko. If you want, you can spray alcohol to sanitize." He offered. 

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya dahil ito ang unang lalaking nag-offer sa kaniya na i-sanitize ang kamay nito. Hindi na siya nagpatumpik-tumpik pa. She took out her alcohol spray and was about to spray on his hands. "Are you sure, okay lang?" she had to ask.

"Yeah! Sure!" He offered his hands with a smile on his eyes. She was sure he was not mocking her. She observed that he was entertained by their interaction. 

She sprayed his hands and he shook them dry before he offered them to her.

"Nice meeting you, Gab's sister." He said as they shook hands. She felt his warm hand and sent her a tingling sensation. He held her hand with a firm grip that was non-threatening nor domineering. It was the first time she felt comfortable touching someone else. And that was because she knew his hands were sanitized.

"I'm Milena Ponce." She shyly offered.

"Beautiful name, signorina." He complimented and smiled at her. 

Milly noticed his teeth. They were in a straight line, white, and fit perfectly in his mouth. She instantly judged na alaga sa braces ang lalaking ito. She also assumed gumagamit ito ng dental floss. 

I like!

And, he had dimples on both cheeks. 

I like all the more!

A gorgeous man that looks neat, mukha naman mabango and is cool with alcohol spray... 

Milly thought that these are good signs that this day may be promising, which was a new one for her in terms of her social interaction with men.

Napangiti si Millyat napatitig sa mukha ni Kit. She liked him, but she didn't want to give him a hint about how she feels, especially that it was her first time to feel this way. Tuminging siya pababa upang huwag sila magkatitigan ni Kit, ngunit napansin niya ang itim at matabang fountain pen na nakakabit sa animo'y lanyard. Yun nga lang, hindi tipikal na lanyard ang suot ni Kit. Isa itong 24K na gintong lanyard. Sigurado siyang mahal ang kwintas nito, at sa tingin niya ay hindi lang isang ordinaryong fountain pen ang gagawing pendant ni Kit sa gintong kwintas nito. She immediately assumed the fountain pen was something special. 

"Do you like it?" naputol ang pag-iisip ni Milly sa tanong ni Kit sa kaniya, habang nakatitig siya sa fountain pen. 

Naramdaman niyang ang pag-init ng kaniyang mukha na mahuli siya ni Kit na nakatitig sa itim na fountain pen. 

Napahagikgik siya sa kahihiyan habang sinubukan niyang mag-isip ng palusot sa ginawa niyang pagtitig sa itim at matabang fountain pen. 

Napakagat labi siya at inipit ang kaniyang buhok sa liko ng kaniyang tenga. "So-sorry," sambit niya. "Mahilig kasi ako sa mga fountain pens. Yung sa'yo unique... mataba saka medyo mahaba siya." Aniya. Napakurap siya saglit sa pagkarinig sa sarili niyang tugon. "That did not sound right." Lalo siyang namula.

Napangiti lalo si Kit sa kaniya, at tila gusto pa nitong magkalapit sila. Napansin nga niya na tila napapausod siya sa sulok ng hall papunta sa rest room ng mga lalaki kung saan hindi sila gaanong mapapansin ng mga tao. 

"This pen, " he softly said. "Is very special to me." He explained as her eyes followed the pen on his hand that he wiggled. Tila nahi-hypnotize pa nga siya habang sinusundan ang pag-galaw nito ng fountain pen sa kamay. 

"Milly... can I call you Milly? Or, should I say Ms. Milena? We're acquaintance naman na diba? So, Milly is okay with you? " he inquired with politeness, which she was a sucker for.

"Hehe, Milly is fine with me..." she said. It was a big step for her especially that she was a shy type. But she wanted to remove the formality between them because she wanted to be more than acquainted with him. "...Kit." She uttered his name, and immediately thought that because of this gorgeous man, the nickname Kit was now associated and declared the sexiest name in her own universe. And, should they part ways and never see each other again, the name Kit would be in the top of her list of baby boys' names, if ever she would have a son. But first, she thought, she must have a sperm donor, especially that she had an aversion with having physical contact with men, especially those that did not pass her 'good hygiene (admittedly off the charts) standard.

"Milly, my new girlfriend," he said in a teasing way. "Would you like to take a walk in the garden to get fresh air?"

She bit her lower lip and immediately said yes. He arched his arm and offered it to her. Without thinking, she held it. 

As they walked, she wondered how Kit knew that she wasn't into holding hands, so his offer was the best option for her. Mas lalo tuloy siyang kinikilig ngayon.

"Where are we going?" she shyly asked as she followed Kit out of a big door that led to a wide display of a garden with a small lake and old brick bridge that was surrounded by the various colors of flowers. 

She thought it looked so beautiful and the place was perfectly romantic to have a day's walk. But she wondered how he knew where to go. 

"I have special memories here in this garden..." He shares as they strolled. "This is where Kitkat and I used to play as children." Malungkot na hayag ni Kit. 

"Call it woman's instinct or whatever you want, but I've got a feeling that Kitkat might be someone special to him." She thought and wanted to probe more. "She must be very special to you since you are her childhood friend... best friend?"

Tumigil si Kit sa paglalakad at humarap sa kaniya. He smiled that megawatt smile that could make her swoon.

She couldn't do anything but sigh as she stared at him with admiration. But she noticed that he suddenly shifted his eyes towards the garden wall. Susundan niya dapat ng tingin kung saan man nakatitig si Kit ngunit pinigilan siya nito. 

He held Milly's arms and swirled her for a surprising kissed her. It was just a chase kiss but it made her heady and out of breath. Mabilis ang pangyayari para sa kaniya dahil tila nagmamadali si Kit na alisin ang kwintas nito at sinuot sa kaniyang leeg.

"What-- why?" nalilito niyang tanong, habang inaalalayan na siya ni Kit na maglakad pabalik sa kastilyo. 

"I will need to leave for a while, but would you mind keeping this for me? It's my gesture of letting you know that I will be back for it... err.. I mean for you, beautiful Milena." He said and kissed her again for a quick second. He tried to compose himself and walked away, while she was still dazed with that kiss. It may have taken a while for her to stop staring at blank space because she did not notice her brother, Andrew, waving his palm at her. 

"Milly tara na! Family photo op na. Dali." 

Saka pa lamang siya natauhan at naptingin sa paligid. "Nakita mo ba si Kit?" tanong niya sa kakambal.

"Kit? Who's Kit?" taka nitong tanong sa kaniya.

"Si Kit! Yung matangkad, guwapo, may dimples sa cheeks, mapungay ang mata, matangos ilong, mabango, yung malinis sa sarili niya... "

Napatawa si Andrew habang nakikinig sa kaniya. "Seems like he's your dream guy... guy sa dream... get it?" natatawa ito sa sarili nitong joke.

"Hindi ako nagbibiro." Simangot niya sa kakambal. "Totoo siya. Hindi siya panaginip. Sabi nga niya childhood friends sila ni Kitkat." Aniya.

"Well, kung childhood friend siya ni Kitkat, I'm sure nasa loob na yon ng function room and probably greeting the newly weds." Anito. "Tara na," hinila nito ang kamay niya. 

"Ew! Ew! Did you even wash your hands? I'm sure kung kani-kanino ka na nakipag-kamay dun sa loob!" Aniya at binawi niya ang kaniyang kamay. 

Napakamot ng ulo si Andrew. "Ang OC mo talaga! Pagkatapos nitong family event natin, I'll tell Mom to bring you to a doctor. Hindi na talaga normal yang ginagawa mo." Naga-alalang komento ni Andrew.

"I'm normal, hello? In fact, kanina nakipag-shake hands pa ako kay Kit. And..." napakagat labi siya. "We kissed!" Nahihiya man niyang amin ay nakaramdam pa din siya ng pagka-proud sa kaniyang sarili. 

Imagine, Milly! You? A germaphobic

"Wow! Kung totoo man yang si Kit, well, I must say Milly that it's wrong to be kiss-and-tell. But, since  I've never seen Kit around the whole time, therefore, he must be your imaginary boyfriend; so, I would say you're not violating anything, twin sister."

Kahit na kiss-and-tell siya dahil sinabi niya sa kapatid ang naganap sa kanila ni Kit kanina, natatabunan yun ng saya sa puso niya dahil na-overcome niya ang aversion niya sa pagiging pisikal sa ibang tao.

"Totoo si Kit at totoo ang kiss namin!" She insisted, while starting to feel infuriarated with her twin brother. "In fact..." napaisip siya ng puwedeng patunay niya sa kapatid na nagdududa sa existence ng dream guy niya. Napatingin siya sa gintong kwintas na may itim at matabang fountain pen sa kaniyang leeg. "Here! This is my proof that Kit exists. He told me to keep his fountain pen." 

"Sus, Milly, saan mo na naman binili yan fountain pen na yan? Baka mapagsabihan ka na naman ni Mom na gumagastos ka ng malaki sa ganiyan bagay imbis na ipunin mo at itulong mo sa mga nangangailangan." Sabi ni Andrew sa kaniya. 

"Nakakainis ka na, Andrew! Hindi nga sa akin ito! Pinapatago lang sa akin ni Kit ito. Sabi niya babalikan niya sa akin. You wait and see!"

"O sige, kapag hindi nagpakita sa atin si Kit sa reception, you're going to date my friend who has been begging me to set you together up on a blind date ." Anito.

She gasped at the thought of going on a blind date. It was just torture for her. 

"And if I win?" she asked.

"I'll buy you a fountain pen."

Napalunok siya. "Kit could just be around this castle. Sabi naman niya babalikan niya itong fountain pen niya eh, so I will not need to be afraid to agree to this bet with my foolish twin brother. "

Wala sa isip na humawak siya sa fountain pen. Napatingin siya dito at napansin ang naka-engraved na salita. 

"Sparkle..." nasambit niya habang sinisipat ang kumikinang na salita. It seemed na totoong ginto din ang pagkaka-engrave sa salitang iyon. 

"This must be very a very expensive fountain pen. I'm sure babalikan sa akin ito ni Kit at nandito lamang siya sa paligid." The thought that Kit would return, and she would get a chance to see him again, made her feel excited. 

Huminga siya ng malalim. "Deal." She confidently agreed.

"Let's go, then." Ani Andrew at sumunod na siya sa paglalakad habang mahigpit na hawak ang fountain pen sa kaniyang kamay.