CHAPTER 05
1228 Words
Mukhang tama ang sapantaha niyang magkikita silang muli.
She bit her lips as it starts to form a smile. Baka kung anong isipin ng lalaki. Mahirap na. Baka akalain nitong natutuwa siyang makita ito ngayong gabi. Pero hindi nga ba’t totoo namang sumaya siya nang masilayan ito?
“Excuse me?” paglilinaw niya sa sinabi nito.
“I mean your boyfriend. He’s late isn’t he?” sagot nito habang nakatitig sa hawak na baso ng alak.
She didn’t know when he got there. Dahil baka sobrang focused niya sa pagta-transfer ng pera sa nanay niya kaya hindi na niya napansin ang pag-upo nito.
“Ah, no. He’s not my boyfriend,” paglilinaw niya.
“Oh. Still he’s a he,” may ngiting sagot ng lalaki.
Doon na siya natawa. Tunog intrigero kasi ito. “He’s a friend. By the way, this is the third time we’ve met today,” puna niya. Coincidence na rin kasi ang pagkikita nila ngayong gabi.
A smirk appeared on his lips. “I hope you’re not stalking me.”
Muli siyang napatawa. “I’m pretty sure I don’t have such skills. How about you?”
“Nah, I just can’t stand the loud snoring of my male assistant who is sleeping in my room. I guess a little drink could help me forget he’s there.”
Mukhang ang tinutukoy nito ay si Luigi. Ang may edad na lalaking sinubukan niyang tulungan kanina dahil duguan. Hindi niya tuloy mapigilang mag-alala para sa matanda.“How was he?”
“Who?”
“The bleeding man awhile ago. Luigi, right?”
“Oh, him. He’s fine.”
“Are you sure? I was a bit worried because the wound must’ve cost him a lot of blood. Are you sure he doesn’t need to go to the hospital?”
“No, he’s okay. He’s resting now,” paninigurado ni Niccolo.
“So what happened to him, Niccolo?”
Bahagyang tumahimik ang lalaki at napatitig sa kanya. Later on, smile is written on his face. Hindi tuloy niya mapigilang magtanong.
“Have I said something wrong?”
Umiling ito pero hindi pa rin napapalis ang ngiti sa labi. “Ah, nothing. It was just an accident. He’s quite a bit old. You know, poor eyesight and all.”
May punto ito kaya napatango na rin siya. “It’s great that you’re looking out for him as his boss.”
“Well, I guess I am. It’s my job to make sure my people are safe.”
Abbey can sense pride in Niccolo’s voice. Napaka-dedicated naman yata nito sa mga tauhan. Pero hindi na rin siya magtataka. Siya nga ay tinulungan nito kanina sa restaurant.
“I hope it’s not part of your job to worry pitiful women or else you’ll end up broke. You can’t pay all our lunches and dinners and buy us chocolate cakes forever.”
Tumawa si Niccolo. “I’ll try to run away next time.”
Ngumiti siya pero saglit lang. Seryosong tiningnan niya ang lalaki sa mata. “I haven’t thanked you yet for what you did earlier at the restaurant.”
Napangiting inalis ni Niccolo ang mga mata sa kanya. Sumenyas ito sa bartender at agad namang lumapit ang huli.
“You can thank me by letting me buy you a drink,” anas nito nang ibalik sa kanya ang atensyon.
“Oh, no thanks. I have to keep myself sober for the rest of my stay here.” Totoo naman din iyon. Wala siyang planong malasing at baka kung may anong magawa pa siya na pagsisisihan niya. Hindi siya pwedeng gumawa ng eksena sa hotel na iyon habang nandoon sina Monique at Jock. Ayaw niyang mapahiya sa mga ito.
“Fine, can at least get your name? I find it weird that you keep calling me by my name yet I don’t even know yours,” reklamo ng lalaki.
Hindi tuloy mapigilan ni Abbey ang matawa. Pagkuwa’y sumeryoso siya sabay lahad sa kanang kamay. “My name is Abbey. Abegail, actually. But I prefer Abbey.”
Tinanggap naman ni Niccolo ang kanyang kamay. “Nice meeting you, Abbey.”
Napatingin si Abbey sa mga kamay nila ni Niccolo na kasalukuyang magkahawak. She can’t help but a feel comfort in his hand. Pakiramdam niya ay narasanan na niya ang ganoong pakiramdam noon.
Maybe with Jock? Siguro nga. Dahil si Jock lang naman ang lalaking pinag-ukulan niya ng pagmamahal. Si Jock na kahit ngayon ay hindi man lang siya binigyan ng halaga. He should have at least respected her time. Kanina pa siya naghihintay sa lugar na iyon.
“Anything wrong?” tanong ni Niccolo. Mukhang napansin nito ang pag-iba ng kanyang timpla.
Binawi niya ang kamay at pinilit na ngumiti. “Nothing. I’m just glad you’re here. I don’t want to die in boredom.”
“Good. The feeling is mutual then,” nakangiting sagot naman ni Niccolo.
“So, here in Vegas, is it business or pleasure?” tanong niya sa lalaki.
“I hope it’s pleasure but no, got some work to do,” sagot nito. He shifted and leaned his arm on the table. Ngayon ay nakaharap na ito sa kanya. “How about you? What brought you to Vegas?”
She took a deep breath and sighed. “Someone’s gotta be a maid of honor in one friend’s wedding. That’s me,” sagot niya sabay turo ng isang daliri sa sarili.
Bahagyang tumawa ang lalaki. Dahil doon ay naningkit nang bahagya ang mata nito.
Damn. What a sight. Parang wala siyang maalala na pinuri niya ang hitsura tulad ng kay Niccolo. Ang swerte malamang ng babaeng mapapangasawa nito. He seems smart, down to earth and ridiculously good looking.
“Don’t worry. I bet your wedding will be more splendid than your friend’s,” anas ni Niccolo.
Napataas ang isang kilay niya. “How can you tell?”
Bahagyang lumapit ang lalaki sa kanya. “Hotel wedding sucks. No originality. Lacks charm. Quite a generic, if I may say. Doesn’t suit you.”
Mas lalo siyang na-intriga. “Doesn’t suit me?”
“I think you’ll like it more if it’d be an outdoor venue. Private beach or garden wedding perhaps?”
“Beach sounds nice.”
“Damn! I’m right.”
She wanted to laugh pero nagpigil lang siya. “You know a lot about weddings huh?”
“Weddings, no. Hotels, yes.”
“You run hotels?”
“I’m almost living in hotels. I visit lots of countries because of work.”
“So, Mr. International, huh? You travel a lot. Must be tiring.”
“Yeah, have to deal with lots of troubleshooting for our family business. How about you?”
“You mean my job?”
Tumango ito. “What do you do for a living?”
“Well, I’m a... I’m a caregiver.” Alam naman ni Abbey na hindi kinakahiya ang isang marangal na trabaho tulad ng sa kanya. Pero hindi niya mapigilang makompara ang sarili sa katayuan nito. Nag-aalala siyang hindi na siya nito kakausapin kung malalaman nitong hindi ganoon kaganda ang trabaho niya.
“Now that explains the caring personality. I heard Filipinos are naturally caring people,” tila walang bahid ng pambobola na sagot ni Niccolo. Siya man ay nagulat dahil hindi nabago ang expression nito habang kausap siya.
“How come you knew I’m a Filipina?”
- Writer
