CHAPTER 5

Good morning. I'm sending pancakes to your office (the cheapest one I found in a fast-food restaurant) and caramel macchiato from Bitter Sweet café. If the pancakes and macchiato are not to your liking, I'm also on the menu. I can be your breakfast, lunch, and dinner—even a midnight snack and very early breakfast. Anyway, have a good day, Zee.

From the one who's going to make you say yes in twelve days, Reigo.

Receiving a message like that from Reigo for two consecutive days now, Zehannah had become immune to Reigo's suggestive words.

Pero dumuho pa rin ang lalaking 'yon, napakalandi kahit sa text.

But she couldn't really deny that just after a few days, she found something that made Reigo likable.

Hindi ito mapilit.

Kapag nag-aya ito ng lunch o dinner at sinabi niyang ayaw niya, wala na 'yong kasunod na tanong kay Reigo. Pero ang kasunod naman n'on ay pagkain na padala nito mula sa restaurant kung saan sila dapat kakain kung um-oo siya.

It was one of those small things that she really appreciated since she valued her peace and alone time.

"Mukhang may nanliligaw sa 'tin, Ma'am Zehan, a," tudyo ng assistant marketing supervisor niya sa kaniya nang makapasok ito sa opisina dala ang pinadalang agahan ni Reigo. "Para tanggapin niyo itong bigay na pagkain ng manliligaw niyo, mukhang wala nang pag-asa si Sir Dexter."

Napatingin si Zehannah sa kaharap. "Huh? Paano mo naman nasabi 'yan, Yumi?"

"Kasi, Ma'am Zehan, hindi po ikaw ang tipo ng babae na basta-basta lang tumatanggap ng bigay o regalo lalo na kapag galing sa manliligaw," anang assistant supervisor niya na ilang taon na rin niyang kasama sa trabaho. "Ilang beses ka nang binilhan ng kape ni Sir Dexter na hindi mo tinatanggap."

Sa narinig, hindi maiwasan ni Zehannah na mapaisip. Oo nga, 'no? Ayaw na ayaw kong tumatanggap ng bigay. Dahil ba binabayaran ko naman ang pagkain? Pero kahit na, binigay pa rin naman sa 'kin. Ano'ng pinagkaiba ng mga binibigay ni Reigo sa mga binibigay sa kaniya ng ibang lalaki na hindi niya tinatanggap?

Zehannah couldn't find an answer, and it bothered her.

"Ma'am Zehan?"

Napakurap-kurap si Zehannah saka umaktong walang nangyari. "Ano pala ang kailangan mo, Yumi?"

Naglapag ng portfolio si Yumi sa ibabaw ng mesa niya. "Galing sa website developer na kausap natin. It's for the theme, color scheme, and design of the website. They said they needed feedback from you by the end of the day."

"Thanks, Yumi. I'll talk to them later after I check this," Zehannah said while tapping the portfolio.

"Sige, sabihan ko sila. By the way, Ma'am Zehan, natanggap mo ba 'yong e-mail na s-in-end ko tungkol sa pagbabago ng schedule ng meeting with the investors?"

Tumango si Zehannah. "Yep. Hindi lang ako nakapag-reply kasi may ginagawa ako. See you there tomorrow. I'm sure they will bombard us again about the social media accounts they wanted to open on every social media platform."

Napabuntonghininga si Yumi. "Even if we advised against it because it's already too late and not really as relevant as our website, but what can we do if that was their decision?"

"Precisely." Zehannah blew a loud breath as she leaned back on her swivel chair. "Gawin na lang natin. I'll make a budget proposal plan for the social media accounts so the Accounting Department won't hound us in the meeting."

"Sige, Ma'am Zehan. Ako na ang bahala sa reports."

"Thanks, Yumi."

Ngumiti lang si Yumi saka lumabas na ng opisina niya. Napatitig naman si Zehannah sa pagkaing pinadala ni Reigo kapagkauwan ay kinuha 'yon sa lalagyan at inumpisahang kainin ang pancake. Habang ang caramel macchiato naman ay iniinom niya habang gumagawa ng budget proposal plan.

When she finished the caramel macchiato, it was already cold, but she didn't mind. She completed the budget proposal plan and sent a copy to the Accounting Department, then she turned her attention to the report she was reading about the market research that her department conducted a few months ago.

It was a busy day for Zehannah that if not for Cassia calling her on the phone to tell her it was lunchtime and she saved her a seat, she wouldn't even realize that it was time to eat.

Going down to the canteen, Zehannah's lunchtime had become a therapy session with Cassia. Araw-araw siyang sinusubok ni Lord pagdating kay Cassia. Palagi siyang stressed sa love life nito na pakiramdam niya kotang-kota na siya.

And for some reason, Cassia started calling her Master Zehan, much to her disapproval. But Cassia was Cassia.

After lunch, she went back to work. Dahil hindi pa rin tapos ang trabaho niya, kahit masakit sa loob niya, nag-overtime siya.

As usual, Reigo sent her a text asking if she wanted to have dinner with him and she answered, 'Can't. Overtime.'

And Reigo only replied, 'Okay. Have fun.'

Gusto niyang tawagan si Reigo para singhalan ito at sabihing walang 'fun' sa overtime, pero marami pa pala siyang gagawin kaya hinayaan na niya ang binata at nagtrabaho.

Five hours later, she and Yumi finally finished the work needed by tomorrow.

"Hay. Kapagod..." reklamo ni Yumi habang nasa elevator sila pababa.

Napabuntonghininga rin si Zehannah. "Oo nga. Let's not do this again."

Hindi talaga fan si Zehan ng overtime pero may mga pagkakataon na kailangan talaga lalo na kapag bigla-bigla na lang nagbabago ang schedule ng meeting at may kailangan silang ihanda. Minsan lang mangyari, pero nakaka-stress palagi.

Napatigil sa pag-uusap sina Yumi at Zehannah nang tumigil ang elevator sa eight-floor at pumasok doon si Dexter na kaagad na napangiti nang makita siya.

"Overtime rin, Sir Dexter?" magiliw na tanong ni Yumi.

Tumango si Dexter saka tumabi kay Zehannah. "Yep. Anyway, since we just finished overtime, let's grab dinner together. What do you say, Zee?"

Gustong pagsabihan ni Zehannah si Dexter na huwag siyang tawaging Zee, pero ayaw naman niyang ipahiya ito sa harap ni Yumi.

"May masarap ka bang kainan na alam, Sir Dexter?" tanong ni Yumi nang hindi umimik si Zehannah.

"Oo. Malapit lang dito saka mura pa ang mga pagkain at masarap. No worries, ihahatid ko kayo pagkatapos. What do you say, Zehan?"

Nang marinig na 'Zehan' ang tinawag sa kaniya ni Dexter, doon lang siya sumagot. "Sorry. May leftover pa ako sa condo. At gusto ko nang magpahinga."

"Zehan, naman. Isang oras lang naman," giit ni Dexter. "At masayang kumain kapag may kasama."

"Nah. I like my peace when eating."

Dumating na ang elevator sa ground floor at si Zehannah ang unang lumabas nang bumukas 'yon.

"You're always like this, Zehan! You're always pushing people away!" wika ni Dexter na hinabol si Zehannah. "Dapat baguhin mo 'yang ugali mo hangga't hindi pa nananawa sa 'yo ang mga taong nagmamahal sa 'yo. Baka magsisi ka."

"Sir Dexter...!" For Yumi, that was out of line, and she wanted to stop Dexter, but Zehannah was not the kind of woman who would wither away by those words. She was a savage woman with no filter when she needed to be.

"Hindi ako magsisisi dahil ang tinutulak ko lang palayo ay ang mga taong hindi ko mahal at walang halaga sa 'kin," ani Zehannah habang naglalakad patungong exit.

And those words hit Dexter like a truck. Even Yumi covered her mouth in shock at how savage those words were.

As usual, Zehannah slayed her exit, but Dexter was persistent and followed Zehannah.

Gusto nitong ipaintindi kay Zehannah na kawalan ng dalaga kung hindi nito tatanggapin ang panliligaw nito.

"Zee, hear me out..." Dexter's voice weakened when he stepped outside the building and saw Zehannah staring at the man leaning on a slick-black Mercedes Benz with his hands in his pocket and his eyes were on Zehannah and then on him.

"Did he just call you 'Zee'?" The man looked irritated at him.

Zehannah waved her hand nonchalantly. "Don't make a big deal out of it. Ikaw lang ang tumatawag sa 'kin ng 'Zee' na sinasagot ko."

"Oh. Okay." Just like that, the man calmed down and returned his attention to Zehannah. "Want to have dinner?"

"Nah. I still have some leftovers from my dinner last night."

Zehannah's answer made Dexter happy knowing that he was not the only man she was pushing away, but the next exchange of words made his heart sink.

"Let me drive you home, then."

"Sure," Zehannah easily answered and walked towards the man's luxury car. "Is it just me, or is this a new car?"

"Kakauwi lang ni Dad galing Germany. It's a gift. Does it bother you?"

Zehannah sighed. "Sinasampal talaga ako palagi ng kahirapan kapag kasama kita."

The man just chuckled and went inside his car without opening the car's door for Zehannah, making Dexter frown in annoyance.

"Mayaman nga, wala namang asal. Hindi man lang pinabuksan ng pintuan si Zehannah—"

"I don't think that's the case, Sir Dexter," putol ni Yumi na iba pang sasabihin ni Dexter. "I think that's his way of respecting Ma'am Zehan's independence."

"Ano...?"

Walang imik na nilampasan ni Yumi si Dexter at hindi na nagpaliwanag saka pinara nito ang taxi na paparating. Samantalang nakaalis naman na ang sasakyan na kinalululanan ni Zehannah at naiwan si Dexter na nawalan na ng ganang kumain.

"Who was that man?" Reigo asked while driving Zehannah to her condo that was just around the corner.

"Katrabaho."

"Manliligaw?"

"Gusto niya, pero ayoko."

"Why?"

"Same reason I gave you," ani Zehannah habang nakatingin sa labas ng sasakyan. "Wala ako sa mode—" Natigilan sa pagsagot si Zehannah nang mapansing lumiko si Reigo. "Saan tayo pupunta?"

"May dadaanan lang ako," anito. "Don't worry. I won't force you to have dinner with me."

Zehannah was not worried. Alam naman kasi niyang hindi siya pipilitin ni Reigo. He was not like that after all.

"Nag-order ka ng pagkain?" tanong ni Zehannah nang i-park ni Reigo ang sasakyan nito sa harap ng isang restaurant.

"Yeah," he answered. "I wanted to have dinner with you, but you said you're working overtime. Then I thought of waiting for you and asked you to dinner again, but I remember you telling me you don't like eating dinner outside, so I just ordered something for you."

Tumaas ang kilay ni Zehannah. "Katatanong mo lang kung gusto kong mag-dinner kasama ka."

Reigo shrugged. "Just pleasantries. I know you'll say no."

"Wow. I'm impressed by how attentive you are."

"Praise me, then."

Zehannah smiled and went along with Reigo. "Good job, Mr. Vasquez."

"If it's you, I want praise plus a kiss."

Tinuro ni Zehannah ang restaurant. "Kunin mo na lang ang in-order mo, gutom lang 'yan."

"No need. They'll deliver it to my car."

And just like what Reigo said, a waiter—no, it was the manager—came out and gave the takeout food that was put inside an expensive-looking basket to Reigo.

"Thank you for your patronage, Mr. Vasquez."

Reigo just nodded, thanked the manager, and gave Zehannah the basket with food before he maneuvered his car out of the parking lot and drove her straight to her condo.

"Have a nice dinner," was all Reigo said after he parked his car.

Humigpit ang hawak ni Zehannah sa basket na nakapatong sa hita niya saka nagpakawala ng malalim na hininga bago bumaling kay Reigo. "Want to have dinner with me?"

Reigo stilled before he asked. "You sure?"

Tumango si Zehannah. "I wouldn't have asked otherwise."

A soft smile grazed Reigo's lips. "Naaakit na ba kita?"

Zehannah smiled back softly. "Binabawi ko na ang imbitasyon ko."

"Wala nang bawian," ani Reigo saka pinatay ang makina ng sasakyan at nauna nang lumabas sa kaniya pagkatapos nitong kunin ang basket na nakapatong sa mga hita niya.

Napabuntonghininga na lang si Zehannah saka lumabas na rin ng sasakyan nito at sabay silang pumasok sa loob.

Iyon ang unang beses na may hahayaan siyang pumasok sa condo niya na hindi niya pamilya. Tanging ang Papa at Papi lang niya ang puwede sa condo niya. Si Cassia na rin minsan noong wala pa itong asawa. Pero maliban sa tatlo, wala na. She never invited her exes in her condo, even how much they wanted her to. Hindi siya komportable.

But here she was, inviting Reigo over to have dinner.

'Gutom lang siguro 'to,' ani Zehannah sa sarili saka binuksan ang condo at inaya sa loob si Reigo.

The first that came to Reigo's mind when he entered Zehannah's condo was aesthetic. It was simple, cozy, clean, and pretty. Even at first glance, anyone could tell that the one living in that condo took good care of it.

"Nice place," Reigo commented.

"Thanks. The kitchen's there." Tinuro ni Zehannah ang kusina. "Magpapalit lang ako ng damit."

Napatitig si Reigo kay Zehannah. "Don't say that to my face. It's giving me ideas."

Zehannah just waved her hand nonchalantly and went inside her room.

Napailing naman si Reigo saka bumubulong na tinungo ang kusina. "Zee should thank and praise me for being a gentleman when it was so hard to be one. Yeah... I should be praised with a kiss. I deserve it."

Reigo was still muttering to himself while taking out the food from the basket when Zehannah entered the kitchen.

"Ano'ng binubulong-bulong mo riyan?"

"Just telling myself that I deserve a kiss for being a gentleman."

Zehannah rolled her eyes at Reigo before she helped him set the table for two. "What's with you and kisses?"

"I like it." Tinigil ni Reigo ang paghahain saka tinitigan ang mga labi ni Zehannah. "Your lips and kisses. It's addictive."

"Kawawa ka naman," sarkastikong sabi ni Zehannah.

"Yeah. So why don't you put me out of my misery and just kiss me? With tongue, please," he requested as if he was just asking for an additional ice cube for his water.

Tinuro ni Zehannah ang pagkain. "Gutom lang 'yan. Kumain ka na."

"Heartless," Reigo mumbled before he sat on the table.

And Zehannah heard that. "Yes. Yes, I am."

As Zehannah sat at the table to join Reigo for dinner, their conversation shifted.

"Are you free this weekend? Let's have a date," aya ni Reigo.

"Akala ko ba 'you're a busy man'?" She quoted in the air.

"I can make time for you."

"Hmm. Let me think about it," ani Zehannah saka ini-slice ang karne ng baby back ribs na in-order ni Reigo saka nilagyan ito sa pinggan na ikinatigil nito sa pagkain pero hindi iyon pinansin ni Zehannah. Nasanay na siyang gawain 'yon kapag kumakain siya kasama ang Papi at Papa niya. "If I may ask, where do you plan to 'date' me?"

Reigo cleared his throat. "Food hopping."

That immediately piqued Zehannah's interest. "Sige. Sa 'yo na ang Sabado ko."

"Give me your Sunday too, if you don't mind, please."

"Give me a reason."

"More food."

Napatigil sa pagnguya si Zehannah kapagkuwan ay napatingin kay Reigo. "Fine. I'm all yours this weekend."

That made Reigo smile, and he was gorgeous.

"No kissing."

Reigo immediately lost his smile. "How could you be so mean? I want a kiss."

"Nope. I'm not kissing you."

"Can I kiss you then?"

"No."

Nanglumbaba si Reigo sa mesa habang nakatingin sa kaniya. "What am I going to do, then? My lips are itching to kiss you, Zee."

"Scratch it."

"I'd rather you scratch your lips against mine."

Napabuntonghininga si Zehannah. "Nakakakita ka na ba ng lalaking nagngangalang Reigo na nahampas ng spatula ang labi?"

Reigo stilled and subtly covered his lips with his fingers, then whispered grudgingly, "Am I not kissable enough...?"

Napailing na lang si Zehannah saka tinapos na ang pagkain. Kapagkuwan, sinubukan ni Reigo na tulungan siyang maghugas pero nang mabasag nito ang isa sa baso niya, nagdesisyon itong tahimik na umupo na lang sa tabi at panoorin siya.

"Sige na, uwi na. Matutulog na ako. May pasok at meeting pa ako bukas," pagpapaalis ni Zehannah sa binata habang tinutulak ito patungo sa pintuan ng condo.

Nagpaubaya naman si Reigo at nang makalabas ay humarap ito kay Zehannah at pinakatitigan ang dalaga.

"What?" Zehannah asked while holding the door of her condo so she could close it immediately once Reigo left.

"Thank you for inviting me to have dinner in your condo," Reigo spoke earnestly while looking into Zehannah's eyes. "I would say thank you for the hospitality too, but you threatened to slap my lips with a spatula, so no... but, really, I appreciate the invitation. It'll be an honor to dine with you again in your place."

Humilig sa hamba ng pintuan si Zehannah saka pinagkrus ang mga braso sa harap ng dibdib. "Talagang malaking karangalan na makapasok sa condo ko. You're welcome."

Reigo stared at her again—the kind of stare that could make a woman uncomfortable or swoon, but not Zehannah. She stared back without backing down and only blinked when Reigo suddenly leaned forward and claimed her lips.

When Reigo pulled away, he was expecting a furious Zehannah, but she only narrowed her eyes at him.

And then Zehannah showed something from her back—a spatula!

"I have a feeling you'll do this, so I readied my spatula—"

Reigo immediately took off by running as if his life depended on it. "Good night, my Zee! See yah!"

Ibinaba ni Zehannah ang nakataas na spatula kapagkuwan ay ang labi niya ang masuyong tinampal-tampal gamit 'yon.

Her lips were tingling. And it bothered Zehannah.

She sighed. "Seriously, that guy..." She sighed again. But it's not like I disliked it. It actually felt nice. But the reluctance was still there, so she was not sold yet.

Tatlong araw pa lang sa labing-apat na araw na napagkasunduan nila ni Reigo.

Now, she couldn't help but wonder if she'd have a change of heart and say yes in eleven days.

CECELIB | C.C.