Sage was sitting across a petite yet strikingly attractive girl while having dinner at a Michelin-starred restaurant in a five star hotel. The heiress of Eresse Enterprises was a mestiza of Spanish descent. Not a hair was out of place in her long, naturally wavy, light brown hair.

But Sage realized that he preferred someone else's short, shiny, jet black hair. Daniela's light brown eyes were focused on Sage yet he seemed to miss those narrow eyes with almost black irises that rolled at almost everything he had to say.

"Sage? You spaced out, okay ka lang?" Nahimasmasan siya nang marinig ang boses ng kanyang ka-date. He internally scolded himself for being insensitive and looked up to see her concerned expression.

"Sorry, I just lack sleep." Ngumiti siya at hiniling na sapat na ang dimples niya para bumawi sa kawalan niya ng atensyon kay Daniela. "You were telling me about Barcelona, right?"

Her face brightened up and Sage was relieved. Tuloy-tuloy na ang pagkukwento ng dalaga at ang dami nitong kwento. Mula sa finance degree nito hanggang sa aso nitong Shih Tzu, naikuwento ng dalaga kay Sage. He was listening but he knew that like most of the high profile girls he used to date, stuff about her can easily be found online.

Naalala niyang ganito rin si Lily. Sage knew that Lily had a degree in international studies and business management. He also knew that she was an only child, went backpacking in Thailand last year, has a cat and regularly donates to charitable organizations. Alam niya lang lahat ng 'yon dahil sa online articles tungkol kay Lily.

He used to be indifferent about getting to know people through their Wiki article or their magazine feature but now, it kind of bothered him. Wouldn't it be much nicer to have known them while they comfortably chatted under the stars? 

Ito na 'yong chance niya para makilala si Daniela sa gano'ng paraan pero iba ang laman ng isip niya ngayon. Napailing siya nang maalala na naman ang sa eksena sa terrace ng penthouse niya noong nakaraang linggo. He should really stop thinking about that.

He then realized that his date was looking at him with her eyebrows furrowed. "Sure ka bang okay ka lang?" she asked.

"Yeah, sorry ulit. Am I ruining our date? Please allow me to make it up to you," Sage replied with an unsure smile.

Daniela smiled back. "Kanina pa ako nagkukwento tungkol sa sarili ko. Sana ikaw naman, gusto ko rin kasing makilala ka."

Sage looked at her and noticed how her eyes showed great interest in whatever he had to say. He can't help but think about how easy it would have been for him to get ahead with his grandfather's challenge if he had approached Daniela instead of Lily yet he can't deny that his life had been a lot more interesting during the last few weeks—he got to judge a pageant, got a black eye, almost drowned, discovered the whereabouts of an ex-model, and been auctioned as payback for a favor. Pero napansin niya ring hindi niya na gaanong naiisip si Yumi. That made him uneasy. Marami naman na siyang naging girlfriend dati at matagal nang yumao ang first love niya. They didn't even officially date but why did he feel like he was cheating on her?

He used to have a hedonistic lifestyle. Araw-araw nasa party at linggo-linggong nagpapalit ng girlfriend. Buong akala niya ay mami-miss niya ang gano'ng pamumuhay pero simula nang ligawan niya si Lily, iba na ang nagbibigay ng excitement sa kanya.

Sage blinked twice when he realized that he was spacing out again. He noticed Daniela looking intently at him, eagerly anticipating whatever he was about to say. He cleared his throat and talked. "I don't know where to start, may gusto ka bang itanong?"

"Hmm," she started. "How's life? Anong pinagkakaabalahan mo?"

Gusto mang magkuwento ni Sage tungkol sa babaeng kumukontra ng bawat galaw niya na nagiging source of excitement sa buhay niya ngayon, that seemed inappropriate so he gave a general answer instead. "Okay naman, I don't really need to work so I've been living the chill life since last year when I returned after getting my LL.B. in the UK."

He was waiting for Daniela's comments on how lazy he was or how he was totally wasting his education but she just nodded and seemed to be actually impressed so he continued on.

"But don't think that I have an easy life, ang hirap kaya maging gwapo." Sage pretended to sigh. He was again anticipating biting remarks or at least some disagreement but to his surprise, she agreed with him.

"I'm sure you can enchant anyone with those dimples." She giggled. Sage tried to laugh convincingly with her as he attempted to hide his disappointment. Bakit ba kasi siya naghahanap ng kaaway? Hindi ba masaya naman siya dati na madali niyang naaakit ang mga babae?

He knew that his thoughts were again drifting elsewhere, or more specifically, towards someone he shouldn't be thinking about so he kept the conversation going. "Are you working for Eresse Enterprises?"

"I'm the current CFO of the company," she replied slowly. She seemed hesitant about discussing work. Kailangan pang galingan ni Sage para makuha ang gusto niya.

He reached across the table to place his hand on top of hers and Daniela's eyes widened in surprise. "I need your help." Diretso niyang tiningnan ang dalaga sa mata. Sisiguraduhin niyang hindi ito makakatanggi sa pungay ng kanyang mga mata.

"W-what do you n-need?" she asked as a faint blush crept across her face.

Sage was starting to doubt his looks after spending too much time with Lily and Ken who seemed to be immune to his charm kaya naman pilit niyang pinipigil ang pagngiti nang gumana ito kay Daniela.

"I'm friends with someone working for Zafiro Malls. May gusto lang sana silang itanong sa'yo pero nahirapan silang kausapin ka last time." He then explained the pageant issue and how the investigation progressed while the heiress stared blankly at him. Mukhang wala talaga itong alam.

"So it was true," she finally said after Sage showed her the video of her assistant's car. "I swear, I don't know anything about this. Please tell your friend that I'll be looking into this ASAP." She groaned and began rubbing her temples.

Nagulat ito nang kunin ni Sage ang kanyang kaliwang kamay at halikan ito. "Thank you, Daniela. This means a lot to me," sambit ng binata. Sinasagad niya na ang paggamit sa angking natural na kagwapuhan. "Don't stress yourself too much."

He was distracted when he noticed a swift movement, a few feet behind Daniela which made him drop her hand at once. Mabilis ang pagtalikod ng babae pero kahit hindi nakita ni Sage ang mukha nito, kilala niya 'yon. Kanina lang, hinahanap-hanap niya ang buhok, mga mata at walang sawang pambabara ng babaeng iyon.

"I think I saw someone I know. Wait lang, ah?" Sage said, not taking his eyes off the girl who was briskly walking away while skillfully dodging waiters with trays. Without waiting for a reply, he stood up and followed Ken.

* * *

"Uhm, okay," sagot niya kahit malamang, 'di na 'yon narinig ni Sage. Daniela sighed as she watched Sage rush out of the restaurant.

Matamlay niyang hinahati ang cheesecake nang may biglang kumausap sa kanya. "Hindi na babalik 'yon. Wanna bet, Daniel?" Hindi niya na kinailangan tumingala sa pinanggalingan ng boses para malaman kung sino ang may-ari nito. There was only one person who called her using the masculine version of her name.

"Mind your own business, Valerie," she answered, using the feminine version of his name. She didn't bother using her sweet voice for this guy but she remained polite.

"But I guess, wala ka nang pampusta. You spent two million for this date, only to be left in the middle of dinner." Tinapik-tapik nito ang ulo ni Daniela. "You must be really sad."

Tinanggal ni Daniela ang kamay sa ulo niya. "Please don't touch my hair and let me eat in peace," she said as softly and as politely as she can. Wala siyang balak patulan ang pang-aasar ni Valerian.

"Whatever makes you happy," sagot ng kausap niya, sabay kuha ng potato chips sa plato ni Sage.

"Hoy, hindi sa'yo 'yan!" suway ni Daniela. Medyo nawala ang poise niya. Well, Valerian had always known how to push her buttons.

"My cousin wouldn't mind," Valerian Hermoso, goalkeeper of the national football team, replied smugly as he took another piece. "'Di na nga siya babalik, 'di ba?" He stuck his tongue out at her before walking away.

Daniela watched him return to her grand-aunt's table. Nakita man siya ni Valerian na iniwan sa gitna ng date, hindi naman nito alam na siya ang dahilan kung bakit isang matandang babae ang nanalo sa charity auction para maka-date ito. Hindi lang kasi si Sage ang ginastusan niya sa charity auction.

She couldn't hold back her smile while thinking of Valerian's ignorance.