Nicole

I found myself alone in the café, surrounded by the lingering scent of coffee and the quiet hum of conversation from neighboring tables. My friends were likely deep into their seminar by now, leaving me to enjoy breakfast in solitude.

As I indulged in a slice of cake, the richness of its flavor dancing on my taste buds, I couldn't help but marvel at the opulence of the café. Each bite felt like a luxury, a treat I rarely allowed myself in my everyday life. But here, at this moment, I savored every morsel, grateful for the chance to indulge.

"Nicole,"

I almost choked on my cake at the unexpected sound of my name. My gaze shot up to find Vince standing before me, his presence sending a jolt of surprise through me.

Vince.

"V-Vince..." I stammered, my voice barely above a whisper. There was something about being in his presence that always left me feeling off-kilter, unsure of myself. "A-anong kailangan mo?"

Umupo siya sa silyang kaharap ko nang hindi na hinihintay pang maimbitahan, his expression unreadable as he pulled out my sketchpad. My heart skipped a beat at the sight of it. How did he get his hands on that? I had been searching for it since the other day, and now here it was, right in front of me. Paano iyon napunta sa kaniya?

I reached out to take it, my fingers brushing against his as I did so. The contact sent a shiver down my spine, a sensation I couldn't quite explain. I quickly withdrew my hand, trying to ignore the flutter of nerves in my stomach.

"S-salamat," damn! Lagi na lang ba akong mauutal?

"Bakit nasa iyo 'to?" I couldn't help but ask, curiosity lacing my tone as I gestured to the sketchpad before me. Hindi ko na kasi maalala kung saan ko iyon maaring naiwan.

"You left it at the falls," he replied simply, leaning back in his seat as if the matter was of little consequence to him.

A pang of embarrassment washed over me as I remembered the events at the falls. I quickly averted my gaze, offering him a quiet nod of acknowledgment and a murmured expression of gratitude for returning my sketchpad. Marami akong mahahalagang sketches na naroon, kahit ang progress ng ginagawa kong cover para sa libro ni Donna.

Ipinagpatuloy ko ang pagkain ko, but I couldn't shake the feeling of his presence lingering beside me. Why was he still here? He had returned what was mine, so what else did he want?

"May sasabihin ka pa?" I ventured, breaking the silence that had settled between us as I took a sip of water, hoping to quell the unease building within me.

"Finish your meal first," he replied cryptically, his voice soft yet commanding.

So, may sasabihin pa nga siya? Ano naman kaya? What could he possibly want to discuss that couldn't wait until I had finished eating? Nevertheless, I forced myself to focus on my meal, determined to eat despite the growing sense of discomfort settling in the pit of my stomach.

With each bite, I could feel his eyes on me, watching my every move. It was unnerving, to say the least, and I found it increasingly difficult to concentrate on anything other than his presence.

Finally setting down my fork, I pushed my plate away and met his gaze. "Anong gusto mong ipakipag-usap sa akin?" I asked, my voice steady despite the nerves fluttering in my chest.

"My sister came across your sketches. She was truly captivated and expressed a desire to meet you."

I furrowed my brow in confusion. Sister? Who was his sister, and why would she be interested in meeting me? And, more importantly, what had she seen in my sketches to evoke such a reaction?

"Why?" Kunot-noo kong tanong.

"Because she was deeply impressed by your sketches," he repeated, his tone cryptic yet somehow tinged with a sense of urgency.

"H-hindi what I mean is, why me? Why my sketches?" Puno ng pagtatakang tanong ko.

He simply shook his head, declining to elaborate further as he gracefully rose from his chair. "Because of your exceptional talent. 7 PM tonight," tila nag-uutos na naman ang kaniyang tinig. Akala mo't bayad niya ang oras ko, ni hindi man lamang ako tinanong kung interesado ba akong makipagkita sa kapatid niya.

With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.

Pero anong sabi niya? Exceptional talent? Tinignan rin ba niya ang mga gawa ko?

I sat there as my heart raced at a pace far quicker than usual. Come on, Nicole. I scolded myself internally. Hindi naman ito ang unang pagkakataon na pinapurihan ako, bakit kailangan magpa-apekto? Yet despite my attempts to calm myself, I could feel the warmth spreading across my cheeks, betraying my blush. And wait, hindi pa naman ako umo-oo, ah? I shook my head slightly, sa sandaling panahon na kilala ko ang lalaking 'yon, ay mas tumitibay lang ang impression ko sa kaniya. Dominante!

I stood before the full-length mirror, examining my reflection. I was dressed in a cute black and white polka dot dress, its hemline skimming just above the knee. I had opted for a natural look, with only a light dusting of powder on my face, my hair neatly tied back, and a pair of white flats completing the ensemble.

As I surveyed my appearance, I couldn't help but roll my eyes. Why was I bothering so much about my look? This wasn't a date, after all! Yet, despite my rationalizations, there was an inexplicable urge pushing me to look my best.

Glancing at my wristwatch, I noted the time: 6:45 PM. It was almost time. Lumabas na ako sa kwarto at nanatili sa receiving area ng suite. Wala pa rin sila Donna, mamaya pa sigurong alas otso ang balik ng mga iyon. I decided to send a text to Karla, informing her of my whereabouts and assuring her of my safety. I didn't want them to worry. Ayokong kay Donna magsabi dahil paniguradong manunukso lang iyon at mang-uusisa.

Saktong alas siete ay bababa na sana ako sa lobb ng hotel, but the buzzer rang. I felt a sudden chill run down my spine, inexplicably nervous. Malakas ang pakiramdam ko na si Vince iyon, kung paano niyang nalaman ang suite number ko ay hindi ko na sigurado. Slowly, I opened the door, and standing before me was him in jeans and a simple black polo shirt. Despite his casual attire, his undeniable handsomeness couldn't be concealed. Vince had a stoic expression, pero kahit ang pagsusungit niya'y hindi nakakabawas sa itsura niya.

Blushing, I felt his eyes roam over me, taking in every detail of my appearance from head to toe.

"That will do," he remarked before turning away and starting to walk.

Iyon lang? That will do? Iyon lang ang masasabi niya? Parang napipilitan pa nga. After all the effort I had put into getting ready, was that all he could say?

But then again, who said I needed to prepare for this evening? I sighed, realizing the absurdity of my frustration. Fine, I thought to myself, trying to brush off the annoyance. It was what it was. Wala namang nagsabi sa akin na magsayang ako ng halos dalawang oras para paghandaan ang gabing ito, ginusto ko 'to kaya bahala na.

With a final glance at my reflection in the mirror, I followed him, steeling myself for whatever the night had in store.

Walang salita ko siyang sinundan hanggang marating namin ang kaniyang sasakyan. I couldn't help but feel a pang of annoyance as he walked straight to the driver's seat without even bothering to open the door for me. Hindi naman sa pa-Disney Princess ako, pero 'di ba? Chivalry is dead na nga talaga.

"Hey, are you just going to stand there staring?" he asked, his tone tinged with irritation. At siya pa nga talaga ang nainis, huh?

I rolled my eyes. "Napakayabang na nga, hindi pa gentleman," I muttered under my breath.

"What?" he asked, furrowing his brow.

"Wala," napairap na lamang ako.

Pero ano pa nga ba naman ang aasahan ko, 'di ba? Hindi nga naman kasi ito date! Kulit ko rin, eh.

I walked over to the passenger seat and got in without another word. Although, I couldn't deny the flutter in my stomach as I realized how close I was sitting next to him. Hindi naman ako ganito sa iba, o baka dahil na rin sa sirkumstansya ng naging una naming pagtatagpo kaya ganito ang pakiramdam ko sa kaniya.

The ride progressed in silence, the only sound the soft hum of the engine and the occasional shift of gears. Pero hindi naman nakatakas sa akin ang panaka-naka niyang pagsulyap sa akin. Each stolen glance sent a shiver down my spine, leaving me to wonder what thoughts were running through his mind. At dahil panay ang tingin niya, iisipin kong gusto niya ang kaniyang nakikita.

Despite my best efforts to remain composed, I found myself stealing glances back at him when I thought he wasn't looking. Oh, bakit? Siya lang ang puwede?

He punched in the key code, and the knob of the giant mahogany door clicked open immediately. Was he just a guest here? It seemed he had access to more than just a temporary stay. He mentioned we were headed to the penthouse. Penthouse pa! Manager ba siya ng hotel?

He entered, while I hesitated at the threshold. Paano naman kasi, hindi ko sigurado kung puwede ba kami dito o ano ba?

"Hey, are you planning on just standing there all day? Is that your idea of a hobby?" His teasing remark snapped me out of my reverie, prompting me to step inside and join him.

Upon stepping into the penthouse, it was evident that a man lived here. Not because of any disorder, but because of the atmosphere. The space exuded masculinity, yet it was impeccably organized and spotlessly clean. The color scheme was a sophisticated blend of black, brown, and white, with high-quality furnishings that oozed understated luxury.

Dito ba siya nanunuluyan? If so, then puwedeng hindi siya guest lang dito sa hotel.

"Finally!" A woman emerged from a partition that I assumed led to the kitchen. I frowned as I recognized her—his girlfriend, apparently. It seemed she too was staying here, and her appearance confirmed it. She wore short shorts that showcased her long, slender legs, paired with a plain white spaghetti strap top that barely reached the waistband of her shorts. Her blonde hair was pulled back into a messy bun, and her face bore no trace of makeup, allowing her freckles to peek through.

Bigla akong nakaramdam ng panliliit sa ayos ko. Chiara De Salvo was effortlessly beautiful. She seemed at ease in her own skin, radiating confidence without even trying. Samantalang ako, halos hindi pa mapakali sa isusuot ay gagawin kong ayos sa aking sarili para sa gabing ito.

"Dinner is ready," Chiara greeted me warmly, her smile lighting up her face like the sun breaking through the clouds on a rainy day.

Napalingon akong sandali kay Vince nang mapansin ang biglang pagkalukot ng kaniyang mukha na tila ba hindi nagugustuhan ang masayang bungad sa amin nito.

Chiara rolled her eyes playfully, her hands raised in a gesture of innocence. "I did not cook. I swear. I had it delivered," she declared, her voice tinged with amusement as she sauntered over to us.

Approaching closer, Chiara seemed to radiate an ethereal glow, her presence commanding attention and admiration.

"Hi," she greeted me, her voice soft yet captivating. "I'm Chiara, but just call me Chi." With a graceful movement, she leaned in to kiss me on the cheek, leaving a faint trace of her luxurious perfume lingering in the air. Lalo ko tuloy gustong mahiya.

I found myself momentarily speechless, still reeling from the surreal experience of being this close to Chiara De Salvo herself.

Before I could collect my thoughts and offer a response, Vince interjected with a brief introduction.

"She's Chi, my sister," he stated matter-of-factly.

NOTE: The first 10 Chapters will be posted here on Wattpad.

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