Dangerous Kiss (Troublemakers 1)

CHAPTER THREE

BINABASA ni Dan ang agenda ng kasal sa folder na hawak-hawak, making sure that everything was going according to schedule. It was finally the day of the bridezilla's wedding, Miss Sy. Kasalukuyang nagaganap ang kasal sa Manila Cathedral. Sa bandang huli ay pumayag din ito na 'wag nang baguhin ang bulaklak. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sinabi ni Mal sa nanay nito pero mukhang effective naman. Minsan nakakatakot din talaga ang convincing power ng kapatid niyang 'yon.  

 Umuna na sila ni Mal sa venue ng reception para masigurado na maayos ang lahat bago dumating ang mga bisita. Nasa simbahan pa rin si Sin dahil kailangan nitong i-cover ang bawat sandali ng kasal. Kausap ni Mal ang caterer samantalang siya naman ay naglilibot-libot, checking every detail. Nang masiguro niya na nasa ayos na ang lahat ay saka pa lang niya hinayaan ang sarili na maupo. She sat at the bar and ordered a sparkling water. Habang umiinom ay hindi niya napigilan na pagmasdan ang cellphone niya.

 It has been a week since the party at the Ramirez' and not once did he even call. Saying that she's disappointed was an understatement. She really thought that their attraction was mutual. But maybe that's just her own ego talking at ang totoo ay imagination lang niya ang lahat. Siguro nga ay hindi ito interesado sa kanya but she sure as hell was interested in him. It was not just the attraction, it was more of the connection. Nakakalungkot lang na hindi sila pareho ng nararamdaman.  

 Just two days after that party, hindi niya napigilan ang sarili na i-search ito sa internet. She didn't find a lot, all she found was that he won the young businessman award and other kinds of award na may kinalaman sa magaling na pagpapatakbo ng negosyo. There was not much about his personal life. Obviously, he was a very private person. Ni wala man lang siyang nakita na kahit isang larawan ng mga naging kasintahan nito. God, she's being like a complete stalker. Napabuntung-hininga siya. She really got it bad. Really, really bad.

She has never been like this to the men she had a relationship with before. Ano bang meron kay Liam De Alva? Yes, he's handsome and hot. But so was all her exes. So anong kakaiba sa isang 'to? A single thought kept invading her mind. What if she feels so different about him because he is 'The One'? Muntikan na siyang mapatawa ng pagak. Heto na naman siya. Thinking ahead of herself. Bukas, makalawa, iisipin na niya na in love siya sa binata. Kaya siya nasasabihan ni Sin na mabilis ma-in love sa idea ng pagiging in love. She should really stop this bad habit of hers.

 Maya-maya pa ay lumapit na sa kanya si Mal at naupo tabi niya. "Nakahanda na ang lahat ng pagkain."

Pinalis niya muna ang lahat ng iniisip at ibinalik ang isipan sa nagaganap na kasal. "Wala din akong nakitang ibang problema. Naka-set up ng yung tutugtog na banda pati na rin yung DJ. Tumawag na ba sa 'yo si Sin?"

"Oo. Tapos na 'yong ceremony. Papunta na sila dito."

"Then all we have to do is wait." Muli siyang om-order ng sparkling water. "I would really be so glad kapag natapos na ang araw na 'to. At least we don't have to interact with that bridezilla anymore." 

 "Well, she really is handful." 

 "Handful? Try infuriating."

 "Baka she-demon kamo," biglang singit naman ng bartender sa usapan nila. Nagkatinginan silang magkapatid at pareho na lang napatawa. 

TININGNAN ni Liam ang wristwatch, mag-a-alas-singko na ng hapon. Iniisip niya kung pwede na kaya siyang umalis. Muntikan na siyang mapailing. Because he just can't help but feel a sense of deja vu. Just a week ago, it felt like he was on the same situation. Ang kaibihan nga lang, ngayon ay nasa reception siya ng isang kasal. At ang nakakainis do'n, ni hindi man lang niya kilala ng personal ang bride at groom. Napwersa lang siya na maging date ng maid of honor. At sino pa ba ang dapat niyang sisihin kung bakit nasa sitwasyon siya na kinasasadlakan? Walang iba kundi ang magaling niyang ina.

 His mother literally ambushed him yesterday while he was having lunch with an important investor. She acted na para bang coincidence lang na nagkita sila doon sa restaurant. Maniniwala na sana siya, kung hindi lang nito kasama yung anak na babae ng investor na ka-lunch niya. Of course they shared a table with them. Bigla na lang in-open ng nanay niya ang topic ng pagpunta ng anak ng investor nila sa isang kasal and that she needed a date. His mother suddenly suggested that why don't he take the girl to the said wedding. Siyempre hindi na siya nakatanggi. How could he gayong kaharap lang nila ang tatay nito who also happens to be a very important investor? The only reprieve he got ay ayos lang kahit hindi na siya um-attend sa mismong wedding ceremony at dumiretso na lang siya sa venue ng reception.

 Wala siyang duda na plinano ng nanay niya ang lahat. Tiyak na sapilitan na naman nitong kinuha sa secretary niya ang schedule niya. Simula nang mamatay ang ama halos dalawang taon na ang nakakaraan, naging goal na yata ng ina sa buhay ang makita siyang makasal kaagad. He was only twenty-nine, for Pete's sake. Wala pa sa isip niya ang pagpapakasal. Pero higit sa lahat, he can't bear the thought of marrying a woman who's a complete clone of his mother. Because that's what they are, those women na ipinapakilala sa kanya ng ina. Every last one of them.

 Maaari ngang masyado siyang nagiging judgemental considering na hindi naman siya nag-e-effort na mas makilala pa ang mga ito. Pero hindi lang talaga niya mapigilan ang sarili na magkaroon ng ganoong klaseng mentality. Because his mother would never consider anyone worthy of marrying him unless she thought that the woman was like her. And that's why he has an automatic dislike para sa mga babaeng ipinapakilala sa kanya ng ina. He'd rather be caught dead than be married to one.

 Kung darating man 'yong panahon na magpapakasal siya, it would be to someone na hindi takot ipakita ang sarili nitong emosyon, someone who has a warm smile, at isang puso na handang magbahagi ng pagmamahal sa iba. Sa kung anong dahilan ay bigla na lang pumasok sa isipan niya niya ang imahe ng isang partikular na babae. One with a face of a fairy princess and a smile of a seductress. Marahas siyang umiling at pilit na pinalis ang mukha nito sa kanyang isipan. Pero kagaya ng madalas mangyari nitong nakaraang linggo, he can't seem to stop once he thought of her. It was really... infuriating.

 Nasa kanya pa rin ang calling card na ibinigay nito sa kanya. Hindi nakalagay doon ang pangalan nito, only the name of some company kung saan siguro ito nagtatrabaho and a cellphone number. Hindi na niya mabilang ang beses na sinubukan niya itong tawagin but he would always stop himself at the last second. And thank God for that dahil kahit paano ay may natitira pa rin pala siyang common sense. That woman is just reeking of trouble. Sasakit lamang ang ulo niya if he involved himself with her.

Pero sa kabila no'n ay hindi pa rin niya mapigilan ang sarili na patuloy itong isipin. He was attracted to her. Katangahan na lang siguro kung itatanggi pa niya 'yon. But the problem was, it's not just a normal attraction. He'd been attracted to other women before but nothing even came close to what he felt for that woman. As if all of his senses were being bombarded. And to think na hindi man lang niya alam kung ano ang buo nitong pangalan. All he knew was that people call her 'Dan'.

Napabuntung-hininga siya. He should really stop obsessing over that girl. Muli niyang tiningnan ang wristwatch. Anong oras kaya siya makakauwi? Kailangan pa ba niyang tapusin ang reception? Katatapos lang nilang kumain. The father of the bride was now doing the toast. Pansamantalang natigil ang pag-iisip niya nang bigla na lang nagsalita ang katabi niya sa lamesang inookupa.

 "That was such a beautiful toast," wika nito. "Don't you think so, Liam?" 

 Sinulyapan niya ang babae. What was her name again? Ang tanging alam lang niya ay anak ito ng isa sa mga investor nila. Ah, nevermind. Sigurado naman siya na hindi na sila muli pang magkakaroon ng interaction nito. He will make sure of that. 

 Tumayo siya. "Excuse me. I'll just go to the restroom," wika niya in his most polite tone. 

Nagsimula na siyang maglakad. He just really want to get away, kahit ilang minuto lang. Palabas na siya sa bulwagan kung saan nagaganap ang reception nang may biglang mahagip ang mga mata niya. Parang bigla siyang bumanggan sa isang napatigas na pader dahil sa nakita.

What the-- 

 Nakatayo ilang hakbang mula sa kinatatayuan si Dan. She was wearing a simple white blouse tucked in a cream colored slacks. But despite that, mas nangingibabaw pa rin ang taglay nitong ganda kesa sa ibang babae na nando'n sa kasal. Hell, she was even more beautiful than the bride. Habang pinagmamasdan ito ay paulit-ulit na nag-e-echo sa utak niya ang mga salitang 'trouble at complications'. But simply looking at her wasn't enough. He wanted more, much, much more. 

To hell with reasons.

 At nagsimula na siyang maglakad palapit dito. 

PINUNASAN ni Dan ang namumuong luha sa mga mata niya. That was such a beautiful toast. Ramdam na ramdam niya ang pagmamahal ng ama ng bride sa anak nito. Even the bridezilla of the year was teary-eyed. This is why she loves weddings. All the emotions, all the love, it was all very wonderful.  

 Kasalukuyan nang nagsasayaw ngayon ang bride and groom. After that, all the guests were free to dance. Natigil ang ginagawa niyang pagbabasa sa program nang bigla na lang niyang maramdaman ang pag-vibrate ng cellphone niya. Kinuha niya 'yon mula sa bulsa ng suot na slacks at nakita na isang unknown number ang nakalagay sa caller i.d. Nagtataka man ay sinagot pa rin niya ang tawag.

"Hello?"

 "Hey." 

 A shiver ran down her spine nang marinig niya ang tinig ng nasa kabilang linya. Hindi siya maarang magkamali, that sexy baritone, it could only belong to Liam. Bakit naman ngayon pa kung kailan siya abala ay saka ito nagdesisyon na tawagan siya? Pero hindi pa rin 'yon nakapigil para makaramdam siya ng kasiyahan. He finally called! 

"Would you like to dance?" muli nitong wika. 

 Ah, she really loved hearing his voice. Ilang segundo pa siguro ang lumipas bago rumehistro sa kanya ang sinabi nito. ¬Wait- dance? And why does his voice sounds so close. Na para bang, para bang-- Marahas siyang lumingon. And there was Liam, standing in all his six feet gorgeousness. 

"A- anong ginagawa mo dito?" tanging nawika niya. Hindi niya napansin na ibinalik na niya ang cellphone sa bulsa. 

 "I'm a guest," simpleng sagot nito. "Someone brought me." 

Ang bawat guest ay maaaring magdala ng plus one. Sigurado siya na hindi niya nakita ang pangalan nito sa guest list. So he must be someone's date today. Hindi niya maintindihan but she didn't really like that.

 "So how about that dance?" muling wika nito. 

 "Hindi kaya magalit ang date mo kung makikita ka niyang nakikipagsayaw sa iba?" 

 "She might. But I really don't care."  

 Napangiti siya. "You really are not a gentleman."

 "I think we already established that." 

 Tuluyan na siyang napatawa. It's so like him to not even bother denying it. "Sorry Liam, but I don't think I can dance with you." 

 "Do you want me to drag you to the dance floor, kagaya nung ginawa mo nung huli?"

He sounded so serious na muntikan na naman siyang mapatawa.

 "No, I'm currently on the job right now." 

 "On the job?" 

 "Isa ako sa mga wedding planner. It would be quite unprofessional kung makikipagsayaw ako sa isa sa mga guest." And I don't think the bridezilla would want that. Pero sayang, it would be such a treat, dancing with him again. 

 Panandalian naman itong natahimik. "I see." 

 "But you can just stay here with me," wika niya bago pa nito maisipan na iwan siya do'n. Sa halip na magsalita ay naglakad lang ito patungo sa tabi niya which only made her smile. "You know, I don't usually give my number to random people," pagkakuwan ay wika niya. "Tapos hindi ka man lang nag-abalang tawagan ako," kunwa'y nagtatampong wika niya. 

 "I tried, but I always stopped myself at the last second."

 So he did try to call me. "Bakit naman?"

 "Because you're trouble." Napatanga naman siya dito. This guy is really blunt. 

 "What kind of trouble?" 

 "The kind I can't easily shake off even if I wanted to."

 "Then bakit mo ko nilapitan ngayon?" 

 "I can't really ignore you when you're just a few feet away from me. I don't have that much self-control."

 Hindi niya inaasahan ang sagot na 'yon. The simple statement made her heart go all fluttery. Hindi na niya napigilan ang mapangiti. So he's interested after all. Humarap siya dito at bago pa magbago ang isip niya ay tumingkayad siya at kinintalan ng munting halik ang pisngi nito. "Your reward for giving such a wonderful answer."

Hinawakan nito ang pisngi at napatitig sa kanya. Then a tint of red creeped up his face. Daglian itong nag-iwas ng tingin sa kanya. "What a sly woman."

Napangiti lamang siya. He's really adorable. "It's funny, acting like this when we haven't even have a proper introduction."

 "It's your fault. Sa halip na sabihin sa 'kin ang pangalan mo nung huli, you just dragged me to the dance floor."

 "True. Then let's have one now." Inilahad niya ang kamay dito. "Ako nga pala si Dan Saavedra. And you?"

Naiiling na tinanggap nito ang palad niya. "Liam De Alva."

There was that again, the sudden jolt na dahil lamang sa pagdidikit ng mga palad nila. She really liked the sensation. And she knew he must have felt the same dahil dali-dali nitong binitawan ang kamay niya na para bang napaso ito. 

"What is 'Dan' short for?" bigla ay tanong nito.

 Isang ideya naman ang pumasok sa isipan niya dahil sa tanong nito. "Let's go on a date, then I'll tell you," nakangiti niyang sagot. 

 "You really think that I'll take you on a date para lang malaman ang buo mong pangalan?"

 "Yup. Because even though you don't want to get involve with me, hindi mo pa rin mapigilan na maging interesado sa 'kin. So just give in, Liam. I promised, I won't be that much of a trouble." 

Tinitigan siya nito at pagkakuwan ay nagpakawala ng isang malalim na hininga. "Fine."