CHAPTER 3

"IT'S YOU!"

I grabbed her wrist then made her face me directly. Her eyes, her nose, her lips—hindi ako puwedeng magkamali. The only difference is she no longer wears a green veil and white cowl with scapular in her neck. She's wearing a fitted peach dress covered with a black blazer. Even in my dreams I have memorized every angle of her lovely face.

"E—excuse me?"

I unconsciously held my eyes close. Damn. Her voice sounds like an angel. Noong una naming pagtatagpo ay hindi ko man lang narinig na nagsalita siya.

"Ilang linggo kitang hinanap. Halos suyurin ko na ang buong Pilipinas tapos dito lang pala kita matatagpuan."

I heard her gasped in surprise. For a second I was tempted to attack her perfect "O" mouth but I restrained myself. Baka mabigla siya at takasan na naman ako.

"H—hindi kita kilala. Hindi ko alam ang pinagsasabi mo. Bitiwan mo ako."

I grimaced. I hate the thought that she didn't want to see me. Napabitaw ako sa pagkakahawak sa kanya nang itulak niya ako nang bahagya bago niya paulit-ulit na pinindot ang 11th floor. Pero huli na dahil lumagpas na kami. Six floors left and the elevator will stop at the 18th floor where my friend, Theo, occupies.

"It's too late, babe. You'll have to wait until I reach my destination before this elevator goes down," I whispered to her ear.

"L—lumayo ka sa 'kin!" she exclaimed. I chuckled. My babe is buttoned-up, huh.

"Ang dali mo naman makalimot, babe. Didn't you miss my kiss?"

"Bastos!"

I laughed again. Her cheeks were burning red. I'd like to thank her parents eternally for creating a perfect girl like her. Kinindatan ko siya ngunit tiningnan niya ako nang masama. Her eyes were throwing invisible daggers at me but it didn't scare me a bit; instead, it turned me on. Damn these hormones!

"I'm just merely reminding you about me, babe. Kailan pa naging bastos iyon? Masyado ka bang nasarapan sa halik ko kaya nakalimutan mo ang guwapong pagmumukha ko?"

"Antipatiko! Ang yabang-yabang mo! Lumayo ka nga! Ano'ng ginagawa mo sa building na 'to? Ipapakaladkad kita sa mga guwardiya!"

"Shouldn't I suppose be the one asking you that question, babe? What are you doing in this building? Aren't you supposed in the convent?"

Her face turned into horror as if I just spilled a tea. Now she's becoming more interesting. I never really thought I would find her right in this building. I'll change my mind then. I will no longer wring Theo's neck. I could settle for a punch on his not so handsome face.

"Wala kang pakialam! Stop calling me babe! Masakit sa tenga! Lumabas ka na!"

She pointed the elevator's door when it opened. I just realized that we reached the 18th floor. Pinindot ko ulit iyon at pinili ko ang Parking 1.I pressed the 11th floor twice so it will turn off. I grinned when the door closed again. She glared at me.

"Why did you do that?"

She was about to press the 11th floor again but I grabbed her hand and held it tight. Hinarang ko ang sarili ko sa kanya para hindi siya makapindot.

"Not too fast, babe..." I winked at her.

"Get off me!"

"I spent millions just to find you, babe. Do you think you could get away from me that easy? After you ruined mind? Do you think I will let you slip from my grasp again? No way!"

"Wala akong pakialam sa pinagsasabi mo. Hindi tayo close kaya pakawalan mo na ako!"

"Don't be too excited, babe. We'll be getting closer soon that even the air can't get within us," I winked again.

"Namumuro ka na! I don't even know you! Why are you doing this to me?" Her face was getting frustrated. She's too cute, damn it!

"Because you ruined my every night for been thinking about you. Since the day that we met outside the hospital, I can no longer get you off my mind. And you owe me an explanation why you are here."

"Hindi ko obligasyon na ipaliwanag ang sarili ko sa 'yo, mister. Besides, aksidente ang nangyari kaya wala kang karapatang guluhin ako!"

"Hindi rin naman kita binigyan ng karapatang guluhin ang utak ko, pero ano'ng ginawa mo? Gabi-gabi mo ako dinadalaw sa panaginip ko. You bewitched me!"

"I'm not a witch!"

"You are, babe. You are a love-witch."

She rolled her eyes on me. Damn. Why does she look even more beautiful each second that I stare at her?

"Wala akong panahon sa kabaliwan mo, mister. Lubayan mo ako kung ayaw mong makatikim ng sampal mula sa takong ng sapatos ko!" banta niya.

Shit. I suddenly panicked when I saw that she was wearing 3-inch heels. That sharp-pointed shoe can definitely ruin my perfect face. From the looks of it, mukhang totohanin niya ang sinasabi niya.

Nang marating namin ang parking lot ay hinatak ko siya palabas.

"Ano ba? Bitiwan mo sabi ako!"

"I'm not gonna let you go until you talk to me, babe."

"Wala tayong dapat pag-usapan! At sinabing tigilan mo na ang katatawag sa akin na babe!"

"There is! I need to know why you are here. I need to know why all of the sudden you are not in your veil. Were you just pretending? Ano'ng ginagawa mo sa ospital na 'yon? Enlighten me."

She gave me a dagger look again. Of course, I readied my reflexes kung sakaling lumipad ang sapatos niya sa pagmumukha ko.

"Sinabi nang wala akong panahon makipag-usap sa 'yo! Kapag ako nasisante dahil sa kapabayaan sa trabaho ko, mananagot ka sa 'kin!"

"Pananagutan naman talaga kita, babe."

"Shut up!"

I chuckled again. It's really fun looking at her-- annoyed. She looks like a doll. Her eye-lashes were long and perfectly-curved. Sa buong buhay ko ngayon lang ako nakakita ng babaeng kahit walang kolorete sa mukha ay napakanda at napakakinis. I want to chastise myself when I accidentally looked down on her legs. Damn those long-creamy legs!

"Fine. Kung ayaw mong makipag-usap ngayon, atleast tell me your name."

"I don't give my name to strangers."

"My name is Levi Achilles Micaller. You can call me Levi or Achilles, but you can also call me babe if you wish. I won't mind. There. I'm no longer a stranger. Now, you tell me your name or I'll call you babe instead?"

Umasim na naman ang mukha niya. Siguro sa Datu Puti siya ipinaglihi ng nanay niya kaya ang hilig niyang umasim. Nevertheless, she's still beautiful.

"Napaka-conceited mo. Are you even real?"

"You can touch me if you want to prove, babe."

Mabilis kong sinangga ang mga kamay ko sa aking mukha nang akma niya akong susuntukin. Damn. May pagka-amasona pala ang babe ko.

"Fine! My name is Heaven. Happy now?"

I smiled triumphantly. Her name really suits her. I could stare at her angelic face the whole day. Siguro kapag nasa kama kami mas mapapanindigan niya ang kanyang pangalan.

"Idiot! Don't stare at me like that. I already gave you my name, now leave me alone!" she exclaimed before turning her back on me.

"Heaven..." I murmured. Napaharap siya sa 'kin.

"Your name suits you, babe."

"Whatever, idiot!"

"You're perfect, babe. I'm perfect, too—and we are perfectly made for each other."

"Pakyu!"

Pakiramdam ko'y biglang lumaki ang butas ng magkabilang tainga ko. Tama ba ang pagkakarinig ko?

"Now, I'm convinced that you're not someone I believe you are. Hindi ito ang huling pagkikita natin, babe."

I winked at her again but she just gave me a death glare then entered the elevator.

I bit my lower lip to supress another idiotic smile. Shit! Did I just meet the girl of my life? Tumingala ako at nagpasalamat. She's so damn beautiful and I promise to make her mine.

I was still lost in my reverie when I realized that the elevator's door closed.

"Wait, babe!"

Huli na dahil tuluyan na itong nagsara. Wala akong nagawa kundi ang maghintay para muli iting bumaba.

...

"FUCK YOU, MONTREAL!"

Halos gumulong sa katatawa si Elliot sa 'kin pagkarating ko ng opisina ni Theo. I was right, magkakasabwat sila sa pang-ti-trip sa 'kin.

Akmang susuntukin ko na si Theo nang biglang sumeryoso ang kanyang mukha.

"If I were you, Micaller, I will think twice before hitting my face with your fist. Remember, you're standing right inside my territory."

Naibagsak ko pababa ang aking kamao. Mahaba talaga ang pasensya niya pagdating sa girlfriend niyang si Arianne pero ang totoo numero unong pikon siya. Baka bago pa mag-landing sa mukha niya ang kamao ko, mauuna nang dumugo ang ilong ko. Palibhasa kasi mas guwapo ako sa kanya at mas matigas ang abs kaya napipikon siya kapag nasasapawan ko siya.

Kinuha ko na lang ang throw pillow sa sofa saka binato iyon kay Elliot. Sinalag niya naman iyon gamit ang kaliwang kamao niya.

"Stop laughing, you asshole!"

"Pft! Tangina naman kasi, Micaller, napaka-gullible mo. Mukha ka pang kandidato na kapapanalo lang sa eleksyon sa porma mong 'yan. Hahahahaha!"

"Tarantado!"

I gave him a death glare. Tatandaan ko itong araw na ito. Humanda talaga siya kapag siya naman ang tinamaan ng isang babae, hinding-hindi ko siya tutulungan.

"We really can't believe you've taken everything seriously. Gano'n ka na ba kabaliw sa madre na 'yon? Geez! You've gone crazy, Micallerl!" komento ni Sid.

"Nagsalita ang parang asong habol nang habol kay Serenity. 'Di ba nga ayaw na sa 'yo ng ex mo pero pinagpipilitan mo pa rin ang sarili mo sa kanya?"

Dumilim ang kanyang mukha dahil sa sinabi ko. Iisa lang talaga ang hilatsa ng bituka ni Dela Vega at Montreal, parehong mga pikon. Buti na lang sa akin ibinigay ng Diyos ang lahat ng magagandang katangian.

"Shut up, Micaller! My story is different from yours. Ikaw, alam mo namang hindi kayo puwede, habol ka pa rin nang habol. Are you nuts? Isang madre  papatusin mo? Marami ka namang babae. Why can't you  find someone else?"

"Hindi siya isang madre. Kaya nga dumiretso ako dito para alamin ang tungkol sa isang empleyada mo dito, Montreal." Binalingan ko si Theo na mariing nakatingin sa akin.

"Ano'ng ibig mong sabihin?" tanong ni Sid.

"Nakasabay ko siya sa elevator. Hindi ako maaaring magkamali, kamukhang-kamukha niya ang madreng iyon. Dito nagtatrabaho sa Montreal Estates ang mystery girl ko."

"What?"

"You heard it right, Montreal. Nagkausap nga kami. Nakuha ko ang pangalan niya—Heaven. Naniniwala akong may iba siyang dahilan kaya siya nakasuot ng kasuotan ng isang madre nang magkita kami sa ospital. At iyon ang aalamin ko. I need your help again, man. Kailangan kong kunin ang 201 file ng empleyada na nagngangalang Heaven."

Napaayos ng upo si Montreal.

"Huwag mong isali ang mga empleyado ko sa kalokohan mo, Micaller. At hindi mo makukuha ang gusto mo. Hindi ko ibibigay ang anumang detalye ng empleyado ko sa 'yo unless may permiso niya."

"Are you serious?"

Shit! Hindi ako makapaniwalang nakipagtagisan ng tingin kay Montreal.

"Nasa confidentiality clause ng bawat kontrata ng empleyado ko ang hinihingi mo kaya hindi puwede."

Tsk! Unbelievable.

"I'll pay you five hundred thousand."

"I don't need your money, Micaller. I have lots in my bank accounts. Kung gusto mo talaga siyang makilala, ikaw ang gumawa ng paraan."

Sumandal ako sa sofa. Mga wala talagang utang na loob ang mga ulupong kong kaibigan. Pagkatapos ko silang tulungan sa kani-kanilang mga problema, ganito lang igaganti nila sa 'kin?

I really think they're jealous of my eight-pack abs.

I settled my feet at the top of the center table while leaning against the sofa.

Ngumisi ako.

Alam ko na ang gagawin ko para mapaamo si Heaven...

©GREATFAIRY