Chapter Five

Bad Liar

"I want to see her again." 'yan ang mga unang salitang lumabas sa aking bibig sa panibagong araw matapos ang pagkikita namin ni Imara.

Halos lumuwa ang mga mata ni Somerset sa aking sinabi. Muntik pa siyang mabulunan.

"W-what?"

Last day I was ranting about how awful that girl was and now I was telling her I wanted to see her again. I know it was really fucked up, but after that interaction last night, I feel like there was a chance. Na baka masyado lang kaming parehas judgemental at mainit ang ulo sa una naming pagkikita kaya hindi kami nagkaintindihan. She was not in her right mind when she hooked up with the waiter, but everything that happen in that party didn't matter to me anymore. As if the five hours I was with her was enough for me to forget all that.

"Am I hearing that right kuya? You want to see the girl you just told me you hated so much?"

"We met again last night."

Tuluyan na niyang nabitiwan ang hawak na mga utensils. I was glad kaming dalawa lang ngayon ang nasa hapag dahil parehas kaming late nang nagising at wala na ang iba pa naming pamilya dahil kung hindi ay baka maging topic 'yon ng mga kapatid ko hindi lang buong araw kung hindi linggo.

"Y-you met with her again? How did that happen? Knowing how mad and turned off you are after the party, paano mo nagawang makipagkita ulit sa kanya?"

"She texted me and ask me for another chance. I agreed and she apologize. And honestly, I had the best night with her and I never had that connection for such a long time now."

Hindi agad nakapagsalita ang kapatid ko. That gave me time to reminisce one of the most entertaining night of my life... with Imara.

"W-what do you mean..."

I pulled my hands away from her, hindi ko rin inasahang gano'n ang iaasta ko. I never done that to any girls I met. I never became too cheesy with my lines, too, and that made my lungs hard to breath I needed to pull away and laugh a little.

"I'm just saying that I'm a believer of love and maybe I can help you believe in it, too. We're both single and our parents wanted us to be together so maybe we can give it a shot?"

"R-right..." may pag-aalinlangan siyang tumawa, ang mga pisngi ay pulang-pula pa rin.

"You're too good at this. Baka lang napipilitan ka at mapasubo ka kung gagawin mo. I mean, bukod sa akin alam kong marami ka pang choices—"

"Do you have a lot of choices, too?"

That made her pause. Inayos ko ang pagkakahilig sa lamesa upang ipirmi ang mga malamlam kong mga mata sa kanya.

God, I really wanted this woman. I know it's too early to tell, but I never liked anyone like this. I was enchanted by her beauty and I don't know if I can let this one missed.

"If yes, may I know who they are?"

"N-no. I don't actually have a lot of choices when it comes to this."

"So I'm lucky I was your only choice then?"

That put her sweet smile back on her lips.

"You're really good at this, Soronious."

"Eux, you can just call me that."

"Right, Eux. I honestly like you tonight. We really messed it up the first time and I hope this isn't the last. Sana hindi ka lang napipilitan ngayon."

"No, no. It's the opposite actually. I never expected us to have a chill conversation and I like it. This is clearly not that last. I mean, kung okay lang sa 'yo?"

"Of course. I really like to know you more. You seems perfect. No wonder why my parents keep talking about you."

"I'm not. But really? They are talking about me?"

"Constantly. Walang tigil ang mga 'yon dahil manghang-mangha sa 'yo lalo na si daddy. He's really amazed by you especially because of the success you did as a successor of your father and you did it in such a young age. Walang bukambibig si daddy kung gaano ka kagaling pagdating sa paghawak ng negosyo. My father said you once had a meeting with him but he turned down the project because he doesn't want to risk it lalo na't bago ka pa lang sa industriya ng hotel and restaurant, but look at you now thriving. You're one in a million he said."

"And what do you think of that? Are you annoyed hearing my name?"

"No! Of course not! I'm with him, Eux. Your success is really outstanding and I really like how you involve yourself in charity stuff. I mean, nakakamangha na kahit do'n may oras ka pa."

"It's my mom. She likes doing it to give back to the community and sometimes she asked for my presence just for display."

She giggled. "And you're humble, too. I like that."

"I don't have time to brag, I guess."

"Because you don't have to. Your surname will automatically do that for you. It's already a flex."

"Oh yeah?"

She nodded vehemently.

"Do you want to have it, too?" nakangisi kong tanong dahilan para makagat na niya ang kanyang namumula't mapang-akit na mga labi.

"Hey! Are you daydreaming?!"

Marahas akong napatuwid ng upo matapos umalingawngaw ang mga salita ng kapatid kong humila sa akin sa kasalukuyan.

I cleared my throat. Wala sa sariling napainom din ng tubig dahil sa kaba at pagkakahuli niya sa aking nababaliw na yata dahil kay Imara.

"Oh shit... You're clearly daydreaming kuya! Talagang tinamaan ka sa babaeng 'yon at mukhang malala ang tama!"

"Stop. I'm just too pre-occupied with work. That's it."

"You're such a bad liar! Hindi bagay sa 'yo."

I just shook my head as I finish my food. Hinayaan kong asarin ako ni Somerset hanggang sa matapos kaming parehas. Even when I left home, she made sure I was entertained by her messages. Marami siyang mga katanungan tungkol sa babae. I bet she had her research about Imara by now. At alam kong ngayon pa lang ay dapat na akong maghanda dahil mamaya ay kalat na ang mga pinag-usapan namin sa dalawa ko pang kapatid. I just hope it wouldn't reach our mother. Malalagot ako at baka lalong ma-pressure kapag nalaman niyang naulit ang pagkikita namin ni Imara at may positibo nang reaksiyon sa aming dalawa.

Naging abala ako sa trabaho. I then went to play golf after five hours at the office. I need to chill more. Iniiwasan kong magbabad na naman sa trabaho dahil baka doon muling maubos ang oras ko.

I sent Imara a good morning text earlier pero dahil walang sagot ay hindi ko na muna kinulit. Kalahati ng puso at isip ko ang umaasang mag-ti-text siya pabalik para muli ko siyang makausap. Naging maayos naman ang lahat kagabi at masaya kaming naghiwalay. I was just anxious why she wasn't texting me back. Saka lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag nang tumunog ang telepono ko't lumabas ang pangalan niya.

Imara:

Hey! Sorry I left my phone at home. Kauuwi ko lang din. How's your day?

Walang sabi kong binitiwan ang hawak na golf club at hinayaan si Vlasta na pulutin iyon matapos kong senyasan na siya na ang magpatuloy ng nilalaro ko.

I sat back on the golf cart. Gamit ang dalawang kamay, nagtipa ako ng reply kay Imara habang parang teenager na abot tainga ang mga ngiti.

Ako:

Nothing. Just playing golf right now. How's yours?

Imara:

Tired. Maraming meetings and I have a three day conference next week so I'll be more busy.

Ako:

Oh, I see. I'm up if you need to chill before that though. Just let me know.

Imara:

That's so kind of you. Are you free tomorrow?

I replied right away kahit na kaliwa't kanan din ang meetings ko.

Ako:

Yes and I'm free even the day after tomorrow. Where do you want to go?

Imara:

What's on your mind?

Ako:

Hearing your voice right now. Can I call you?

Imbes na mag-reply ay parang may kung anong tumalon sa puso ko nang makitang siya na mismo ang tumatawag sa akin ngayon! I hurriedly answered it.

"Hey!"

"Hi Eux! Are you sure hindi ka busy at pwede tayong lumabas?"

"Oo naman. Where do you want to go? I'm up wherever and whatever you want to do."

"Are you an extreme guy? I mean do you like adventure?"

"What kind of adventure?"

"Do you like the ocean?"

"I'm a great diver when I was in college. How about you? Do you like the ocean?" humigpit ang kapit ko sa aking cell phone at binalewala ang nakangising mukha ni Vlasta nang lingunin ako't mahuling ngising-ngisi.

"Yes, I do. Ocean is my therapy kung hindi mo naitatanong. I always go to the beach whenever I'm stressed."

"Are you stressed right now? Do you want me to schedule a flight to El Nido tomorrow? Saan mo gustong pumunta?"

"No, Eux! Oh God, nakakahiya sa 'yo—"

"I want to see you again, Imara..." I cut her off. "So please let me have the honor of doing this just so I can let that happen. Please don't make me beg you so much because even though I am not that kind of man, I damn willing to do it just to share a moment and be with you again..." seryoso ko nang sabi, hindi na napigilan ang sarili dahil ang totoo ay pakiramdam ko sinasakal ako ngayong kausap siya pero hindi nakikita ang kanyang kabuuan.

I missed seeing her face. The way she blushed every time I say something sweet. I missed praising her. And I really want to see her again. Kung pwede nga lang ngayon, kung hindi masyadong kabaliwan ay pupuntahan ko talaga siya.

"O-okay... let's go to El Nido tomorrow then." she answered sweetly I almost jumped because of too much happiness.

Damn, is this already love?