Simply Yours (SPG)

Chapter 5

Hindi niya alam kung ilang minuto na siyang nakatitig sa matikas na likuran ni Nigel. Ito ay kasalukoyang nakikipag-usap sa ina ng batang lalaking nakayakap sa kaniyang binti.

"Thank you po kanina ate," saad ng bata dahilan para mabaling ang tingin niya rito.

She smiles sweetly and caresses the child's red and chubby cheeks. "Your always welcome sweetie,"

The boy giggles because of the endearment that she said. "I'm not sweetie po ate. Dansoy po ang tawag nila sa akin dito,"

"Dansoy?" Mas lumawak ang kaniyang ngiti. "You got a unique nickname and it suits you," puri niya rito.

"Talaga po ate?" Dansoy asks with gleaming eyes.

"Yes," she replied. "And you're quite smart too because you can understand what I am saying in just young age,"

"Hihi...hindi naman po gaano ate ganda sadyang magaling lang po magturo ang teacher ko," saad nito at bahagya pang namimilipit na tila ba'y kinikiliti.

Nakuha ng huling sinabi nito ang kaniyang interes, kaya nama'y bahagya siyang yumuko upang sila ay mas lalong magkarinigan at magkalapit. "May I know who's that great teacher is?"

"My teacher is a he po ate, but he is very good po at teaching. Mayroon din po siyang ibinibigay na prices and treats kapag po magaling sa class," Paliwanag nito na kaniyang kinaaliw.

She loves kids, in fact she's supporting five different charities and so as her other cousins's and brother. The only thing that makes it worst is that, hindi siya marunong magpatahan ng batang umiiyak.

Pero back to reality, she is very intrigued kung sino ang gurong tinutukoy ni Dansoy. That teacher sounds worthy and noble, then all of the sudden she feels like she knows who's that teacher is.

"Wow, you got a great teacher!" Bahagya niyang ginulo ang buhok nito. "May I know his name?

"Opo ate, he is really great po talaga. Ang kaso lang po nakalimutan ko ang name niya," he said and plastered an apologetic smile.

"It's okay, don't stress your self. Sige ka, baka sumakit na naman ang ngipin mo," pananakot niya rito dahilan para ito'y mapaatras habang may nanlalaking mga mata.

"No!" Sigaw nito at kumaripas ng takbo.

Malakas siyang natawa nang dahil sa naging reaksyon ni Dansoy, ngunit agad din siyang natigilan ng magtama ang mga mata nila ni Nigel.

Siya ay tumikhim, nag-iwas ng tingin, at umayos ng pagkakatayo. Bakit ba nakatingin sa kaniya ang lalaking 'to? Nakakailang ah! May dumi ba siya sa mukha? Alam niyang maganda siya, pero kailangan bang titig na titig talaga? Kulang na lang matunaw siya sa kinatatayuan niya.

"Hey," napaigtad siya sa pagbati nito.

Isang hakbang paatras ang kaniyang gawa at tumingala ng makita ang buo nitong mukha—and damn! What a man.

Ang asul nitong mga mata ay napakaganda, hindi lang 'yon—pati rin ang kilay nito ay pilikmata na kasingkulay ng blonde nitong buhok. He got a stubborn jaw, pointed nose, a strong chin, and a red full lips. Nigel got some height to, and she's guessing that he's maybe six feet tall—good thing she wear heels.

"Hi," she replied, flustered.

Oh god, why does she keeps checking him? Lagi naman siyang nakakakita ng makisig at magandang lalaki, pero ngayon lang siya natulala at nabighani ng ganito. Is it because of Nigel's eye color?

"Are you okay? Your cheeks are red. May masakit ba sa 'yo? Tell me," may bahid ng pag-aalala ang boses nito.

Mabilis naman siyang umiling at pasimpleng kinurot ang sarili upang pumirmi.

"W-wala...sa init lang siguro 'to," kaniyang palusot.

"Please wait for me," Nigel said and run away.

Kunot noo niyang sinundan ng tingin ang likuran nito, at ang kaniyang kilay ay awtomatikong napataas ng makita ang iilang dalagang tumititig at umaaligid dito.

"w***e," she utter to herself that shocks her too.

Mariin siyang napapikit, tumalikod at napasapo ng kaniyang noo. Nag-almusal naman siya pero tila nawawala siya sa tamang huwisyo.

"Here you go," a deep but soothing voice coming from her back said, that makes her jump in shock and squeal.

"Lord god!" She gasps in surprise and faces Nigel who's in all smile. "May balak ka bang patayin ako sa gulat?" Taas kilay at masungit niyang tanong dito.

"Hmm?" He hummed while staring at her amusingly. "Of course not," dugtong pa nito at may kung anong bagay na ipinatong sa kaniyang ulo.

Irritated, she tried to remove it but she can't because Nigel is still holding it from the top.

"Ano ba?!" Singhal niya at tiningnan ito ng masama.

"Don't remove the cartwheel please..." Nigel said in a low soft voice, that she instantly obliged. "It suits you," dagdag pa nito habang deretsong nakatitig sa kaniyang mga mata.

She lowered her gaze and bite her lower lips to suppress her emotions. "T-thank you," she replied, stuttering.

Nagsimula na siyang maglakad upang gawin ang kaniyang tunay na pakay, ngunit sa bawat hakbang na kaniyang ginagawa siya'y kinakabahan sa kadahilanang si Nigel ay nasa kaniyang likuran. Kitang-kita niya ang anino nito, malaki at nakakatakot but he's gentle towards her—or is she imagining things?

"Where are you going?" Maligalig nitong tanong, and she founds it annoyingly cute.

"I am searching for pasty and cake shops nearby," she replied with a little smile—hindi naman makikita ni Nigel reaksyon niya kaya okay lang.

"For what?" Nigel sounds so curious.

"I like sweets," she murmured.

"Good thing I'm a dentist," Nigel replied that makes her laugh.

"Are you going to be my personal dentist then?" She asks jokingly, and now it is Nigel's to laugh.

But wait, siya lang ba o ang lapit ng boses ni Nigel sa kaniyang tainga? Without a word she turns around that she instantly regrets because Nigel's—and her lips are now an inch apart.

"W-why a-are you so close?" Naduduling at nauutal niyang tanong dito.

Nigel smiles and fixes her cartwheel hat. "Well, I can't hear you clearly so I lean closer."

At dahil malapit sila sa isa't isa, she can now smell Nigel's perfume and after shaved. Nigel smells so good and somewhat addicting, hindi iyon masakit sa ilong at paniguradong kaniyang hahanap-hanapin.

Akmang siya'y aatras na ng mabilis nitong hinapit ang kaniyang bewang dahilan para siya'y matigilan.

"What do you think you're doing?" Thanks god she didn't stutter.

"Stop taking steps backwards, muntik ka ng mahulog." Iritado nitong saad na siyang hindi niya maintindihan.

"It's your fault why I am stepping backwards. Masyado kang malapit ni hindi pa nga kita gaanong kilala!" Singhal niya habang masamang nakatingin dito.

Nigel, without a word just stares at her and swiftly exchanges their position. She gasps in surprise pero agad din naman siyang nakabawi at makailang beses itong hinampas sa dibdib.

"What did you do that?! Paano na lang kung natumba ka? Edi damay ako? Oh my god!" Sunod-sunod niyang sigaw at hinampas ito sa braso.

"I can catch you," Nigel replied calmly.

Napaingos siya sa naging sagot nito. "Catch?! Nahihibang ka ba? Tigilan mo nga ako! Ang aga-aga sinisira mo araw ko!" Sigaw niyang muli. "Nasa maayos na kalagayan na ako kanina tapos nilipat-lipat mo pa ako!"

Walang salitang muli siyang iniikot ni Nigel dahilan para siya'y mabalik sa orihinal niyang puwesto. Ngunit bago pa man siya makapagsalita—hinapit siya nitong muli sa bewang dahilan para siya'y mapaharap sa malawak at kalmadong karagatan.

Siya'y napakurap ng mapagtantong, marami na ngang nagbago sa bayan—bago mga ba 'to o kaniya lang nakalimutan?

"You see, we already reach the dead end of this town—which is the port, with no barricades at all. I would like to apologize for putting you in this situation because I got lost in your presence" Nigel said seriously that makes her breathing hitch.

Her hearts begins beating so fast and rapidly. Hindi niya lubos akalaing may mas ibibilis pa pala ang t***k ng kaniyang puso.

"A-after what I did iyan lang ang sasabihin mo..." Nahihiya niyang bulong habang nakatanaw sa malawak na karagatan. "You can badmouth me you know," dugtong niya pa.

"Badmouth you?" Nigel said and he sounds irritated.

"Y-yes," she replied, gulping.

"Why would I? You did nothing wrong."

"I did!" Sigaw niya at ito'y hinarap. "I shouted at you and call you names,"

"Because you didn't know," Nigel simply replied that frustrates her.

"Why are you so nice to me?" She whispered while clenching Nigel's collar. "You barely knew me...you don't even know my name,"

"I'm not nice, I'm just stating the fact. Ngunit tandaan mo, ang kabutihan ay wala sa tagal ng pagkakakilala at wala rin iyon sa ngalan," saad ni Nigel at hinila siya papalayo. "Huwag ka ng mag-isip ng kung ano-ano, 'di ba pastry at cake shop ang hanap mo? May alam ako," bahagya pa itong tumigil at siya'y nakangiting tiningnan.

How can he smile like that after what I did? How can he be so nice? I called him different names but he instantly forgives me.

"I'm sorry..." Kaniyang panimula habang deretsong nakatingin sa mga mata nito. "Akala ko kasi you're taking advantage of me, na you're being rude like that but it turns out you're just looking out for my safety. I'm so sorry," she explained, guilty.

Nigel heave a sigh and fixes the cartwheel hat that she's wearing. "Just like I've said, I'm fine—it's nothing. Don't overthink things and just enjoy your stay here,"

"Stay?" Kunot noong tanong niya rito.

"Yes," saad ni Nigel. "Aren't you a tourist?" Kunot noong tanong nito.

"Of course not!" Mabilis niyang tugon at bahagya pang umiling. "Sa ating dalawa ikaw pa nga itong mas mukhang turista," walang prenong saad niya.

Nigel stops but instantly laughs because of her remarks.

"Well, I am foreign." Nigel said, shrugging.

"Halata naman," sang-ayon niya. "You look like a doll," she added that caught Nigel off guard.

A wide smile forms in her lips when she saw Nigel's ears turns red—isa lang naman ang ibig sabihin no'n, she got him good.

"By the way I'm Krista," she said while smiling widely. "I'm sorry for what I've done and thank you for showing me around,"

She saw a gentle smile forms into Nigel's lips that makes her knees tremble and her heart shakes.

"This way my lady," Nigel said in playful way with matching hand gesture.

She chuckles because she finds it cute and amusing, that a huge man like Nigel with scary features can joke around like that.

"Thank you my lord," kaniyang pagbawi at bahagya pang yumukod na parang prinsesa.

Well, prinsesa naman talaga siya—disney princess to be exact kagaya ng tawag sa kaniya ng kaniyang Kuya Kohen.

She and Nigel starts on walking and looking around the town. She enjoys every bit of it and she'll admit, she's starting to like and get use on Nigel's presence.

When they finally reached the first pastry shop in town, she was so shocked when Nigel bought all of the desserts and drinks there just for her to tastes it. And when the clock strikes eleven thirty in the morning, Nigel treats her again—in short, in the whole day—she got spoiled by the man she barely knew, named Nigel Vaughn Caine.

Alas kwatro ng hapon na siya nakauwi, at sa paglabas niya ng kotse—ang nakabusangot na mukha agad ng kaniyang Kuya Kohen ang kaniyang nakita.

"Where have you been?" Salubong kilay at seryosong tanong nito.

"Sa bayan lang kuya," tugon niya at bahagyang tumingkayad upang ito'y hagkan sa pisngi, ngunit siya ay napanguso ng ito ay umiwas.

"Kanino ka nagpaalam? Anong oras na ngayon ka pa lang umuwi? Balita ko maaga ka pang umalis? Ano ang ginawa mo sa bayan? Bakit ngayon ka lang?" Sunod-sunod nitong tanong habang masamang nakatitig sa kaniya.

Nakanguso at nanlalambing siyang yumakap sa bewang nito at sinabing, "I got lost in the scenery and things there kuya. Ang dami na palang nagbago sa bayan 'no? Alam mo ba marami akong narinig doon na tungkol sa 'yo, sabi nila magaling at malinis ka raw na politiko,"

Hindi naman sa pagmamayabang pero alam niya kung paano pakalmahin ang kuya niyang 'to. Kunting lambing lang naman ang katapat nito with matching pang-uuto.

"Talaga? Tapos? Ano pa ang narinig mo?" Nakangiting tanong nito na siyang kinalawak ng kaniyang ngiti.

"Narinig ko rin na ikaw ang iboboto nila sa darating na halalan sa kadahilanang ikaw ay mayroong magandang plataporma at background," wika niyang muli. "Iba ka talaga kuya!" Tinapik niya pa ang braso nito ng bahagya.

"Mas lalo akong ginaganahan sa sinabi mong 'yan disney princess," at ito nga't tumawa pa.

Napailing na lamang siya sa kadahilanang walang kahirap-hirap niya itong napaamo. Kapag disney princess na ulit ang tawag nito sa kaniya, ang ibig sabihin no'n ay wala na siyang atraso.

Her gaze went down to her right hand, and a wide genuine smile forms in her lips when she saw the pastel pink cartwheel hat that Nigel gave her.

She will surely treasure this one.

A genuine gift from a genuine person.

Nigel is one of a kind.