He's My Ruined Luck

*** She was the most famous and in-demand interior designer of the country. She was Lianne Agonia, a twenty-seven-year-old woman who was tagged by most people that knew her, as sweet, charming and innocent lady. She was one of those few women who never experienced love, technically called as NBSB or ‘No Boyfriend Since Birth. Her attention and whole life revolved about self-love and career. For Lianne, it was better to experience a kind of love which came at the right time and at the right place. She would like to wait for the right man. She didn’t care if she’s nearing her thirties. She wanted too hold on to her belief that true love was something you didn’t have to seek for, because it would come if you’re ready enough to commit and give your all to your partner. Therefore, Lianne focused herself on making her dreams come true. Now, she was the mighty boss of her own business, Lavande Design, a company which offers the best quality of furnitures and interior lay-out for any types of buildings or establishments. Lianne’s company was the home of over seventy great and known interior designers nationwide, with thousands of manpower in different branches of Lavande Design--- surely, Lianne dominated her chosen field of expertise. Her company stood out from the rest. Thus, there has a lot of work to do on her plate. Kaya naman, hindi lubos na maintindihan ni Lianne ang sarili kung bakit siya pumunta sa bridal shower ng kaibigang si Angel at piniling igugol ang gabi ng kaniyang Sabado para magsaya na para bang wala siyang tambak na trabaho. Very unusual for her. "Lia! I'm glad you make it. Akala ko totohanin mo 'yung sinabi mong hindi ka pupunta!" Her friend, Angel, hugged her tightly, the moment she reached the lobby entrance of the hotel. Hindi siya sigurado kung bakit nandoon ang kaibigan at parang gwardya na may inaabangan. This bridal shower was for her long-time friend, Angelique, or she and her friends fond to call her, Angel. The woman has a wide smile on her lips and her eyes were twinkling, like a happy and in-love woman should be. Lianne could see how happy Angel was and she suddenly realized that it was a good decision to attend this bridal shower. In two weeks time, Angel would no longer be the woman Lianne used to know. She was aware that after marriage, Angel would be a different woman, a better version, to be exact. Lia smiled at her friend before clinging her arms around hers. Angel giggled and Lianne looked at her admiringly. Hindi siya makapaniwalang si Angel pa na siyang pinakabata sa kanilang magkakaibigan ang siyang mauunang humarap sa altar. Masaya siya para sa panibagong buhay na haharapin ng kaibigan. Hindi maiwasan ni Lianne na maisip ang posibilidad na baka bukas o sa susunod na mga araw, makilala niya na rin ang lalaking inilaan sa kaniya. "Honestly, I don't have any plan on being here. But then, I remembered my love for you, Angel," pabirong saad ni Lianne matapos siyang yakapin ni Angel sa ikalawang pagkakataon. “You miss me this much?” Lianne added and she giggled when Angel pursed her lips. “Bakit ba ako palagi ang trip mong asarin?” Angel asked before squinting her eyes at Lianne. Nagtawanan ang dalawa sa munting biruan na iyon bago muling niyakap ni Angel si Lianne ‘tapos ay pinauna na ang dalaga sa loob ng venue dahil kailangan niya pang hintayin ang iba pang kaibigan na huli na naman sa napag-usapang oras. “Susunod ako sa loob kapag dumating na ‘yung iba.” Angel waved her hand at Lianne who playfully gave her a flying kiss before finally getting inside the venue. Lianne took the elevator and was relieved when no one was inside. She immediately pressed the third floor where the function hall of the hotel was located. She was a bit confused why did Angel pick the hotel’s function hall than a regular hotel room. It’s not like, there would be a lot of attendees for this bridal shower to rent such big space. Pero naisip din kalaunan ni Lianne na baliw nga pala ang kaibigan niya at madalas maraming kalokohan ang naiisip. Huminga nang malalim si Lianne at itinatak sa isip na dapat maging handa siya sa kung ano mang pinlano ni Angel para sa gabing ‘to. The elevator stopped at second floor and Lianne couldn’t help but to roll her eyes. She’s not really fond of sharing elevator because the space was too small and would become crowded for two people. Nasanay din siya sa sistema sa kaniyang kumpanya kung saan may sarili siyang elevator na hiwalay sa mga empleyado niya. Lianne focused her gaze on the elevator buttons when a man entered the elevator. Tumayo ito sa harapan niya at kaagad na pipindutin sana ang buton nang kaagad matigilan. She felt his gaze averted to her and she saw his reflection wherein he looked at his behind, where she was standing. “Ah, nakapindot na pala iyong third floor,” the man in white shirt and maong pants said. His deep voice yet playful tone made Lianne’s body rigid with no apparent reason. Hindi tinapunan ng tingin ni Lianne ang lalaki at nanatili ang mga mata niya sa mga buton ng elevator. She was silently counting the seconds that the elevator has to travel to reach the third floor. She could feel the awkward air between the them. Hindi maintindihan ni Lianne kung bakit gano’n kabigat ang atmosphere sa pagitan nilang dalawa ng lalaking ‘yon. “Do you believe in strangers becoming lovers?” Mula sa mga buton ng elevator na malapit nang matunaw dahil sa tingin ni Lianne, nag-angat ang mga mata niya sa lalaking nakatayo sa kaniyang harapan. His back was facing her and she could not help but to notice his wide and strong pair of shoulders. He was tall too and his body has a nice built. The unknown man was wearing a black shirt matched with denim jeans. He was not looking at her, so, she was not really sure if he was asking her that question. She did not answer but her gaze remained on his back. “May nabasa akong libro. According to that book, attraction can be felt even with people you just met for the first time.” Lianne’s forehead creased. “Excuse me, Mister? Are you talking to me?” Her hold on his bag tightened and her body became stiff. Hinahanda niya ang sarili sa kung ano mang gagawin sa kaniya ng binatang tanging kasama niya sa elevator. Bakit nga ba kasi ang tagal ng segundo para marating ng elevator ang third floor? “If I kiss you here because I am attracted with you, are you going to scream?” Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Lianne sa sinabi ng ‘di kilalang binata. Her throat became suddenly dry as her heart started beating erratically. Wala pa siyang first kiss. She never imagined having her first kiss with a stranger. That’s not ideal and what she planned. Lianne was supposed to answer back when the man turned his body around and finally faced her. She gasped with the sudden movement and her mouth hanged half-opened when she saw the man’s face. “S-Sigaw ako,” maikling saad ni Lianne habang pinipilit pakalmahin ang kakaibang kiliti na naramdaman niya sa kaniyang loob dahil sa matamang titig sa kaniya ng binata. “Don’t you dare come near me,” she added with her low and breathy voice. The man, with curly jet black hair which some strands were falling on his forehead, turned his head to the side as he stared at the blushing woman in front of him. His thin and naturally-red lips turned into an upward curve when the woman took a step back from him. He could feel her nerves as her wide eyes looked at him in mixture of confusion and anticipation. He was really aware that he could cause such reaction to every woman he would meet. “See you when I see you,” he said after seconds of staring directly at Lianne’s eyes. As if on cue, the elevator’s ‘ting’ sound was heard by them, indicating that the elevator finally reached the third floor. Ilang beses napakurap ng mga mata si Lianne bago tuluyang bumalik sa ulirat. She was the only one inside the elevator and the unknown and weird man already left the elevator. Her heart was beating against her chest as she calmed herself until her legs finally found the strength to take steps and exit the elevator. “Bakit ba kailangan kong makasalamuha ng gano’ng ka-weird na lalaki, universe?” Lianne asked with irritated groan. She really hated it when the universe plays with her when all she was doing in her life was to make sure that everything was in plan and in control. “Sana last na ‘yon, universe. Please lang,” she uttered in her low voice as she tried to calm down herself. Lianne, always believe with the power of the universe to control and influence someone’s life. Palaging kay universe niya iniaasa ang tadhana niya, kaya nga siguro umabot siya sa ganitong edad na patuloy na hinihintay ang lalaking para sa kaniya. If the universe didn’t give him, she would not commit herself to him. In universe, Lianne trusted her life… specially her heart.