The Millionaire's Matchmaking

Matchmaking #7

Isang sigaw ang nagpalingon sa aming dalawa sa pintuan.

"Sir Carlooo - shet, gwapooo!" Sabay kaming napatingin sa b****a ng office ni Carlo. I saw my gay co- worker na mas mukha bang babae sa akin ang sumalubong at nakatingin kay Alex.

"Francine, wala si sir Carlo rito." Pagkuha ko ng atensiyon sa kaniya dahil naglalaway na itong nakatingin sa katabi ko. Francine palayaw niya pero in real life, Franco talaga yung totoong pangalan. Hindi man lang inalis ang tingin nito kahit nakalapit na sa akin bago kinuha ang braso ko at pinisil pa ako sa siko.

"~Eyym. Hende me nemen senebe se eken ne mey gwepe kang prend ehe~" Pabebe nitong saad habang nahihiya. Nginiwian ko lang siya at inikotan ng mata.

"Alex, katrabaho ko si Franco - Aray!" Sinabunutan niya ako kaya napahawak ako sa nagulo kong buhok bago ko ito pinanlilisikan ng mata.

"FRANCINE! Francine pangalan ko! Echoserang babae ito." He flipped her invisible hair. Mukha naman talaga siyang babae pero panlalaki pa rin ang cut ng buhok niya. Kung una mo siyang makikita, baka sabihin mong tomboy siya dahil sa feminine features niya, pero, opo, lalaki siya based on her certificate.

Liningon ko si Alex, my gaze locking into his. "Sige na, tatapusin ko muna ang shift ko. Umalis ka na baka maulol tong si Francine sayo. Hindi ka na makalabas." With a determined push, I ushered him towards the exit, his arm firmly in my grasp, while Francine lingered behind us.

"Girl, grabe ka ba naman sa akin. Let him stay kahit ilang minuto lang," Francine protested, reaching out as if to grab Alex's wrist. I couldn't let that happen, so I swiftly pulled him away, concealing him behind me.

"No. Huwag mo siyang dalhin sa kalandian mo, Francine. He is not available," I declared with unwavering seriousness.

In response, Francine dramatically covered her mouth, her feigned shock evident. "You... kailangan ka pang naging territorial, Bela? Are you in a relationship? May sinagot ka na? Why don't you say anything to me?!" Her voice, now raised to a shout, drew the attention of our co-workers who began to peer curiously in our direction. Nataranta ako dahil hindi naman 'to yung ibig kong sabihin.

I struggled to find my voice, my cheeks flushed with embarrassment. "Hindi 'yon yung gusto kong sabihin, Francine..." I muttered under my breath, realizing that this confrontation had taken a completely unexpected turn.

Nagkasunod sunod ang paglabas nila kaya dahil sa pagkataranta, hinila ko si Alex at lumabas na ng tuluyan hanggang sa naka abot kami sa counter ng bar. He just went to the flow at nagpatinaod nalang rin habang hinihila ko siya para makalabas kami sa opisina.

Liningon ko muna kung saan kami dumaan bago hinarap si Alex na ngayon ay hindi nawala ang tingin sa akin kahit kanina pa. Naiilang na ako pero hindi ko lang pinapahalata.

"Huwag ka munang magpakita, gigisahin ako ng mga kasama ko. Wala naman akong Ira-rason," I retorted irritably, The prospect of facing them in my current state wasn't appealing, especially without a good excuse.

"Why don't you say that I'm your boyfriend?" Alex suddenly suggested, causing me to blush. There was no way I could imagine Alex as my boyfriend. We were polar opposites, and besides, hindi ko siya type.

"Mas gigisahin ako... Wala pa akong naging boyfriend kaya ganyan sila ka-exaggerated," I admitted, taking him by surprise with my confession. His eyebrows shot up in genuine astonishment.

"Really?" His eyes locked onto mine with a curiousity.

"Oo, at sinasabi ko na sayo, huwag mo akong sabihan ng common phrases like, 'ganda mo pero hindi ka parin nagkakaboyfriend?' Yun! Nagsasawa na akong sagutin 'yan,"

He quirked his right eyebrow, a subtle but discernible sign of curiosity. His gaze remained fixed on me and his eyes searching for my reaction.

"I won't beat around the bush though," he began, a half-smile playing on his lips. He stepped closer, closing the distance as if to underscore his sincerity. "Let's skip the formalities. Straight up, want to be my girlfriend?" The words were flirty yet carried a hint of playful boldness.

Hinampas ko siya. Girlfriend agad? Wala bang ligaw muna? pero biro lang 'yon.

Sinalo niya agad ang kamay ko at hinawakan ito. Nanlamig ako sa ginawa niya dahil masyado na niya akong tinitigan.

What's happened to him? He is being obvious! Pero hindi ko magawang magalit. Binawi ko ang aking kamay at tumalikod agad.

"Let me finish my shift first. See you later, Alex." And with that, I started to step my feet completely leaving him.

*****

I searched for Alex in the crowd to inform him that I had already finished my shift, but he was nowhere to be found. Ni anino wala. The bar was too crowded even it's already midnight and take note, hindi 'to mga customers namin kung hindi, Guests ng nagrent. I even saw some famous actors and actresses pero wala naman akong pakialam dahil isa lang ang hinahanap ko ngayon.

Siguro ay umuwi na or lumabas? Nagkibit balikat nalang ako at lumabas ng bar. Kung wala siya, uuwi ako mag isa. Wala rin naman akong contact sa kaniya. Hindi ko pa nga siya naitatanong kung bakit niya ako mabilis nahahanap.

I walked aimlessly on the dark side of the road while scrolling on my social media when I heard voices not far away from the bar.

"Stop it, Lavinia! Don't do things that will ruin everything!"I hide myself on the post back at hinahanap kung saan ang boses nanggagaling.

"You said it was the last time, why did you still do it?!"

"Take a moment to think. You liked messing with my feelings, and now you expect everything to be easy? Since that incident, you've changed a lot. Well done! Blaming me seemed like the easy way out, without even trying to understand where I was coming from."

Hinigpitan ko ang suot kong bag habang sinisilip sila. Alam kong tsismosa na ako pero naiintriga kasi ako sa pagtatalo ng dalawa. Hindi ko na narinig ang pag uusap ng dalawa dahil sumabay ang tunog ng sasakyan na dumaan sa kalsada.

The woman turned and walked away, disappearing into the night. I remained hidden for a moment, giving them space, before I slowly stepped out of the shadows.

Napahilamos si Alex ng kaniyang mukha at inis na sinipa ang kawawang bato. "Is everything okay?" Ang boses ko ay nag-aalangan, hindi tiyak kung dapat ko bang buksan ang nasaksihan ko ngayon lang.

Nabigla ito nang makita ako. "Isabella, I didn't realize you were here."I offered a sympathetic smile, my heart still heavy with the weight of their exchange.

"I overheard the argument. Are you alright?"

His weariness was evident as he ran a hand through his hair and his gaze momentarily dropped to the floor.

"It's complicated."

"Naiintindihan ko," sagot ko nang malumanay "If you ever want to talk, I'm here."

Mabuti nalang at hindi ako sinigawan ni Alex dahil narinig ko sila pero wala rin naman akong karapatang questionin siya. We just matched but we are not friends or anything.

*****

Tahimik kami sa loob ng sasakyan. Wala rin akong planong magsalita dahil baka magiging awkward lang rin ang atmosphere lalo. Tinuro ko sa kaniya kung saan ako nakatira at dirediretso lang siyang nagmamaneho roon.

"I will fetch you here tomorrow afternoon, just bring your important things. May pupuntahan lang tayo bago mag-travel to Hawaii," He casually informed me.

I blinked in surprise at his last statement.

"H-Hawaii? Mali ba ako ng narinig?" I stammered, my eyes widening at the unexpected revelation.

He chuckled, clearly amused by my reaction."No, we are really going to Hawaii. We will attend my friend's wedding," he explained, his smile is warm. I nodded in agreement, still slightly in disbelief, before finally exiting his car.

"Salamat sa paghatid," Offering him a grateful smile. He returned the gesture with a smile of his own and started the engine, preparing to drive away.

Hindi ko maiwasang ma excite nang marinig iyon. Maybe I should enjoy this lalo na at adventurous si Alex. It's new to me though dahil hindi naman ako masyadong namamasyal. Ako yung taong bahay, school at trabaho lang even when I was younger. Hindi ako pala gala.

Pero isa sa mga pangarap ko ang mamasyal abroad dahil kahit naman hindi ako pala-gala, gusto ko rin maranasan ang ibang atmosphere sa ibang bansa.

Excited akong pumasok sa apartment ko. I took off my shoes while sitting on the couch at mabilis na kinuha ang cellphone ng bag at dinial ang number ni Shena.

After a few rings, the call was answered.

"Shena, you won't believe what happened today!"

Hindi ko maitago ang excite na nararamdaman ko. First time ko rin kasing makapunta sa labas ng bansa lalo na at first travel ko to in my 22 years.

"Oh,Please tell me that you meet the elusive billionaire?"

Na-iimagine ko ngayon ang pagtaas ng kilay habang sinasabi iyon ni Shena.

Tumawa ako "Not exactly. Pero inimbita niya akong sumama sa kasal sa Hawaii." I suppress my voice to shriek.

"Hawaii? Is he proposing on a beach with a ukulele serenade?"

Maarteng saad nito sa kabilang linya. I rolled my eyes. "Oh, stop it. It's not like that. We're just going as FRIENDS." I don't know about friends though, hindi ko kasi feel.

"Yes, yes. bilang kaibigan. E, ano'ng dress code? Nakatapis na gawa sa damo?"

"Ang kulit mo talaga. I don't know, hindi niya pa sinabi."

"Hmmm, 100% mag shoshopping kayo bukas. Alangan naman maghubad kayo sa wedding?"

"Hindi ko nga alam pero siguro? basta excited ako!"

"Dapat lang! Excited na akong madiliga- Ahem! I mean, ma enjoy mo yung sarili mo doon!"

"Ano 'yon? Bakit parang may iba kang sasabihin Shena?"

"W- wala, sabi ko nga enjoy ka lang hanggang sa nabubuhay ka pa."

*****

I got up early asual. Nakalimutan ko pang may lakad pala kami ni Alex ngayong araw kaya mabilis kong natapos ang ginagawa kong paglilinis at lumabas muna ng Apartment para bumili ng ulam.

Nang makapili ako ng makakain, lumakad agad ako para bumalik sa building sa apartment. When I was about to touch the gate, nag-vibrate ang aking cellphone dahil sa tawag ni Alex. Kinuha niya ang number ko bago niya ako inihatid.

"Hello?"

"Isabella, it's Alex. I have a proposal for you." Aniya, Proposal?

"Oh, talaga? Dapat bang mag-alala ako?" Tugon ko na may kasamang tawa. I heard him softly chuckled. Is he in a good mood today?

"Hindi, huwag kang mag-alala. Naisip ko lang na baka gusto mong mag-shopping ngayon."

"Shopping?" Tumaas ang kilay ko. "Hindi kita ine-expect na shopaholic, Alex."

Tumawa ulit siya. "Believe it or not, I do have my moments. And besides, I thought it would be a fun way to spend the afternoon."

Hindi ko mapigilang ngumiti sa suggestion niya. "Sige, interesado ako. What's the catch?"

"No catch, I promise," Alex assured me. "I just figured we could check out some shops, maybe find something nice for the wedding in Hawaii."

"Okay, nakuha mo ang atensyon ko. Pero bina-bantayan kita, marahas ako kapag sale." I don't want to ruin his mood kaya go with flow nalang muna ako ngayon.

"Challenge accepted," sagot ni Alex, tumawa ako.

"O sige, I'll join. Saan tayo magkikita?"

"I'll be downstairs in my car in about ten minutes," He said. "Ready to embrace the world of shopping, Isabella?"

"I'm ready!" Hindi man halatang excited no?

Tinupad nga ni Alex ang sinabi niya at dumating siya sa building gamit ang isang makintab na pulang kotse. Lumabas ako sa gate na may pilyang ekspresyon sa mukha habang lumalapit rito.

"Nice car," puna ko, habang pumapasok sa upuan ng malapit sa driverseat.

"Thank you. It's not everyday I get to chauffeur a shopping expert," Alex said with a wink.

I grinned. "Don't say I didn't warn you."

Habang nagmamaneho patungo sa mall, nag uusap naman kami ng mga iba't ibang bagay na parang walang nangyari. He even smiled widely na parang may nabalitaan yata siyang maganda sa araw na 'to.

"Narito na tayo," Anunsiyo niya nang dumating na kami.

Pagkatapos naming pinarke ang sasakyan ay mabilis akong nakalabas at tinatanaw ang paligid. Ilang buwan na ba akong hindi pumupunta ng mall? Wala rin naman akong bibilhin kaya bakit pa ako pupunta hindi ba? Masyado na rin pala akong busy kaya hindi ko na namalayan na wala na akong oras sa sarili ko.

"Let's go?" Ngiti kong nilingon si Alex na nakangiti rin ng marahan sa akin.