Romancing The Vixen

02

“Ayaw mo bang sumayaw?”

I sipped on my drink before looking towards Danielle who just got back from dancing. Napailing naman ako nang makitang medyo kalat na ang pulang-pulang lipstick sa labi niya.

“Nah. Iiwan mo rin naman ako dance floor dahil may nahanap kang bagong kahalikan,” biro ko. I lifted my shot glass while looking at her. “Wanna drink?”

Danielle scoffed before sitting in front of me. “Madali akong malasing, nakakalimutan mo na? Gusto mo akong painumin nang painumin tapos magrereklamo ka sa akin kapag nalasing ako?” she asked in a matter of fact tone.

“Come on. Dito ka na lamang uminom kaysa uminom kasama ang iba riyan. Delikado na lalo pa’t hindi natin kasama sina Kuya Dylan o si Iverson,” udyok ko pa sa kaniya.

Napailing siya bago nagsalin ng alak sa shot glass niya na kanina ko pa binabantayan. Mahirap na dahil baka mayamaya, may mailagay na roong kung ano. I leaned on my seat while sipping my drink. Hindi ko naman napigilang iikot ang aking mga mata sa lugar.

I sighed for the umpteenth time, gazing on the dance floor. People dance while technicolor lights shining dimly. I can’t help but to wince because of the loud music. Unlike Danielle who likes partying and socializing with people, I prefer to have peace on my own. Ayaw ko na nakikihalubilo sa kung sino-sino. I am fine being alone because I was raised like that.

Hindi ko naman kailangan ng maraming kakilala. People already knew who I am. Hindi ko na kailangan pang magpakilala sa kanila. Kung kailangan man, I am sure it’s just because of my surname.

“Anong plano mo ngayon? Babalik ka sa hacienda niyo na parang walang nangyari? Na parang hindi ka na-reject sa trabaho?” tanong ko kay Danielle bago tumingin sa gawi niya.

She lifted her shoulder in a half shrug. “Medyo tumaas ang expectation ko dahil akala ko, papasa ako. I sent them my best designs. Tita Monika and Tita Layla both told me that my designs were great that’s why I expected so much. But maybe they just said that because they don’t want to hurt my feelings. Baka. . .” Malakas siyang bumuntong hininga bago tumingin sa kawalan. “Baka hindi naman talaga ako magaling.”

I let out a harsh breath because of what she said. “You’re good! Come on, Danielle. Nagyon ka pa ba susuko? I can pull some strings so you can present your design—“

“Maurice,” angal niya kaya’t bored ko siyang tiningnan. “I want to hear compliments from other people because of my own craft. . . my own talent. I don’t want to depend on who we are in this industry. I know that I can be a b***h sometimes but I won’t tolerate this kind of stuff. Paano naman ‘yong mga magagaling talaga, ‘di ba?”

“Danielle, you’re good—“

“Pero may mas magaling pa rin kaysa sa akin.” Pinutol niya ang dapat na sasabihin ko bago tumingin sa gawi ko. “I am not like you, you know? Magaling ka sa lahat ng bagay kaya baka hindi mo alam kung paano maging sakto lang. Let’s just say that I am jack of all trades master of none. Marunong ako pero hindi ako magaling.”

Hindi agad ako nakasagot sa sinabi niya. Gusto kong sabihin na hindi naman ako magaling. . . pinipilit ko lang.

“Pahingi naman ng tips kung paano maging perfect, Miss Perfect,” biro ni Danielle ngunit sa halip na matawa ay hindi ko napigilang mapasimangot. Alam ko naman na nagloloko lang siya pero kasi.. ..

Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga at nag-iwas ng tingin sa kaniya. “Hindi naman ako perfect, Danielle. I am not good at everything. Kung pwede lang sana maging perfect, eh ano? But I am not.”

Danielle chuckled. She leaned towards the table and pour me a drink. “What do you mean you’re not perfect? You’re the epitome of perfection, Maurice. You’re pretty, you’re talented, you’re kind, you’re smart, you came from a well-known family, you’re wealthy. . . ano pa bang hinihingi mo?” Natatawang tanong niya.

Sa hindi ko na mabilang na pagkakataon ay hindi na naman ako sumagot sa tanong niya. As if naman masasabi ko sa kaniya kung ano talaga ang gusto ko. Contrary to what everyone was thinking, I like the simplest things. They probably thought that I already have everything. . . but that’s not true.

“See? Hindi ka makasagot kasi lahat ng bagay, mayroon ka na,” sabi niya bago inabot sa akin ang shot glass. “Inom na.”

Napailing na lamang ako at tinanggap ang ibinigay niya. “Alam mo kasi, Danielle, lahat ng tao, hindi makukuha lahat ng gusto nila. No matter how much you want a certain thing, that doesn’t mean that you can have it right away. Minsan, may mga bagay na hindi talaga para sa atin kaya hindi natin puwedeng makuha,” sambit ko at diretsong nilagok ang ibinigay niya.

Danielle scoffed as she slouched in her seat. “Kung hindi pwede sa atin, e ‘di ipilit natin!” parang batang sabi niya.

I laughed while shaking my head. “Sira,” natatawang komento ko sa sinabi niya. “But that doesn’t mean that you should give up. Hindi naman porque na-reject ka ng isang beses, sa susunod ganoon ulit. It’s a process, Danielle. Kapag tumigil ka, para saan pa at nagsimula ka?”

Hindi niya ako sinagot at nagkibit-balikat na lamang sa akin. Sabay kaming napatingin sa katabing upuan nang may mga bagong dating na nag-okupa niyon. My eyes brightened upon seeing a familiar face but my smile immediately faded upon seeing someone else.

May kasama pala siya.

“That’s Kayden Destura, right?” tanong ni Danielle bago tumingin sa direksiyon ko.

I inhaled a sharp breath before looking down. “I guess?” patay-malisya kong tanong.

“Ano kayang ginagawa ng team nila rito? Your company did better than them. . . bakit sila nagcecelebrate?”

Nagkibit-balikat ako at muling uminom ng alak. “How am I supposed to know? As if naman nag-uusap kami, ano. You know my Dad, Danielle. He won’t let me near towards him. Akala mo naman papatayin ako no’ng tao,” may halong inis at dissapoinment sa sabi ko.

Danielle, on the other hand, laughed. “Oh, come on, Maurice. Hindi ba’t medyo close kayo noong College? Magkasama kayo sa org noon, hindi ba? Hindi kayo nag-usap noon?”

I glanced towards Kayden’s direction but my face immediately darkened upon seeing his girlfriend sitting on his lap. “We’re civil,” I answered Danielle, still looking towards their direction. Matapos ang ilang minuto ay saka ako nag-iwas ng tingin sa gawi nila at malakas na bumuntong hininga. “Dad doesn’t like them.”

Natahimik si Danielle kaya’t akala ko ay hindi na siya magsasalita pa at makaka-move on na sa topic na iyon. However, to my surprise, she spoke once again. ”Ikaw. . .”

Nag-angat ako ng tingin sa kaniya at kunot-noo siyang tiningnan. “Hmm?”

“Ikaw ba? Ayaw mo rin ba sa kanila?”