Chapter 53

Plan

Isn't it wrong to imagine that my story would shift to something else? From a princess surging in a winter breeze with my arm against it and a long track leading to a tall ice castle, but a princess facing a prince in the middle of spring with full of blooming flowers and colorful butterflies.

Isn't it wrong to compare him to someone else? If Keaton Samonte is my prince in winter, then Leiden Arellano is a prince in the spring, warm, bright, and lively.

If I happened to fall in love in spring, wouldn't it be this difficult?

Would this heart of mine ache like this? Would I still wake up with tears in my eyes, and would I be completely happy?

I was like a caught princess, conflicted to cross the two separate worlds. There's a thin line on the ground which was waiting for my decision.

I smiled at him before I started to continue my steps and walked towards him.

"Thank you..." I answered as he handed me the rose.

"Nag-abala ka pa, Leiden."

Namulsa siya at mas lumawak ang ngiti niya habang nakatitig sa akin. "How could you be so beautiful and looked worried at the same time?"

"Huh?"

"I can see it in your eyes." Inilahad na niya sa akin ang kanyang braso.

I awkwardly placed my arms on his. "Shall we? Where do you want to eat?"

"Seafoods."

"Alright. I missed to watch you eat."

I rolled my eyes. "Pinagtatawanan mo pa rin ba ang lakas ko sa pagkain?"

"Nah, it's cute. Until now, I am still in awe with your metabolism. Saan mo inilalagay ang mga kinakain mo? Mas marami ka pang kumain sa akin."

While waiting in the lobby, as we looked for an electronic beach car, I couldn't help but remember Keaton. He was still my boss during that time, he was so cold yet, I really enjoyed that day.

I shook my head. I shouldn't think about him right now. Narito ako dahil may dapat kaming pag-usapan ni Leiden at para maabala ako sa ibang bagay.

"Seriously?" rinig kong sabi ni Leiden.

Nang sundan ko ang tinitingnan niya ay awtomatiko na rin kumunot ang noo ko. How could he quickly move so fast? Sa pagkakatanda ko ay nauna ako sa kanyang bumaba.

Bakit naging driver na naman itong si Aldus Ferell?

"I'm sorry about that idiot—" nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Leiden.

"No, you don't need to worry. Ako ang—"

Pero mukhang wala na sa akin ang atensyon ni Leiden kundi kay Aldus Ferell na naman. "Bakit ako ang nakikita ng mga gagong iyan?"

Napangiwi ako. "W-Why?"

"They are pushing a certain girl with me..."

"Oh my gosh, really? Sino?"

He shrugged. May tumigil ng electronic car sa harapan namin, sinabi ni Leiden kung saang restaurant kami papunta.

"I already gave our coupons. You can refund your money at any moment, Ashanti."

"Thanks, Leiden."

Nang nakarating kami sa restaurant na sinabi niya, hindi ko maiwasang humanga. Matagal na akong nagpapabalik-balik dito sa Montenegro Resort pero parang laging may mga bagong nadadagdag.

"Mayroon na rin pala sila nito? It's so nice."

A floating restaurant!

"Nagulat din ako na kasama sa coupon nila Antonia. Those girls don't know where to put their money."

"Good evening, Sir, Ma'am! Welcome to Floating Plates!" Bumati sa amin ang isa sa crew na naka-hawaiian shirt.

Leiden gently shoved the shell curtain for me. "After you, my lady..."

An overwhelming strum of guitar welcomed my first few steps. My eyes wandered, and it landed on a reggae performer in front of a small stage sitting on a primitive drum.

The ambiance of the whole place was too cozy, warm, and undeniably fascinating! The lights were dim, fresh flowers in each table, the music was lit, and even the crews were interesting!

This restaurant is far way different from the others in this resort. Mostly are screaming of wealth and money. This one gives not just a comfortable ambiance but also an addictive vibe that would convince everyone to come back.

One of the crews guided us to our seats, gave us our menus and left us, still fascinated with the place.

"I know that you'll love this place, Ashanti."

Ngumiti ako bago ako uminom ng colored juice na naka-straw na nakahanda na sa lamesa.

"Yes."

"What do you want? Wanna try their best seller, Miss Appetite?"

Tumaas ang kilay ko. Pinagkrus ko ang mga hita ko bago ako humigop ulit ng juice. It was sweet! "Sure..."

"Alright."

Leiden pinged the bell on our table. Hindi rin nagtagal ay may lumapit sa amin na crew. Sa sobrang dami niyang sinabi parang hindi na makapaniwala iyong crew.

"Anything else, sir?"

"That's all."

Nang maiwan kami ni Leiden ay humigop na rin siya ng juice. His brows arched a little after tasting it.

"It's not a juice. This is Matini... 'di mo napansin?"

"Oh, really?"

Napatingin ako sa baso ko na malapit ng maubos ang laman.

"I think it's not matapang naman. Mataas naman ang tolerance ko sa alak. It's okay."

Mas lalong tumaas iyong kilay ni Leiden. "Mataas ang tolerance..." rinig kong bulong niya sa kanyang sarili.

He sounded so doubtful. Wala naman akong natatandaan na nawala ako sa sarili ng mga panahong umiinom ako.

I am confident about my alcohol tolerance. At wala rin naman akong naririnig na reklamo sa akin, kaya hindi na ako nag-aalala sa tuwing umiinom ako.

Habang naghihintay kami ng pagkain kung anu-ano na iyong pinag-uusapan namin hanggang sa maalala ko iyong sinabi niya sa akin tungkol sa babaeng itinutulak sa kanya ng mga Ferell.

"So, tell me about this girl. Hindi naman basta magtutulak ng mga babae ang mga Ferell ng babae, right? Kung supply na rin naman ng babae ang pag-uusapan, siguradong sa Leviathan ay sa kanila pinakamarami."

Basta babae, hindi mauubusan ang mga kamoteng iyon. Hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang nakita sa kanila ng mga babae, pero ako, hindi nila talaga maloloko.

"Agree. But I don't have plans to take their idiocy. Many got caught and became their victims, but I am not willing to take their traps."

Nangalumbaba ako sa harap ni Leiden. I suddenly got curious about this certain girl. Taga- Enamel kaya siya or taga Leviathan?

"Hindi mo talaga type?"

Naningkit ang mga mata niya sa akin. "You know that I am still into someone else... minsan taga Enamel siya, minsan taga Mexico." Natawa ako sa sinabi niya.

Hindi man niya sinabi sa akin ng diretso kung sino iyon, hindi naman ako manhid para hindi malaman na ako ang tinutukoy niya.

Ramdam ko ang biglang pagbigat ng tensyon sa pagitan namin.

Wala sa sarili kong kinuha ulit ang baso at inubos ko na ang laman niyon. Huminga ako ng malalim at tumingin ako sa labas.

"I wish I could do something about this, Leiden. But this is not curable, kahit anong gawin ko..." I looked at my own reflection in front of the glass wall.

"Because you are not willing to be cured by someone else..." nakagat ko ang pang-ibabang labi ko.

"Hindi iilang beses na inisip ko na kung ikaw iyong pinili ko, na kung sa 'yo ako nahulog hindi siguro ganito na nahihirapan ako at umaasa. Nangangapa ako sa mga nangyayari. I fell in love with a very complicated man."

Kahit ilang beses kong sabihin sa sarili ko na nagagalit ako sa lahat ng ginagawa sa akin ni Keaton, at the end of the day, hindi ko magawang patagalin iyong galit ko sa kanya.

I don't know if I could call myself foolish, pero parang ganoon na nga. This might be because of my Mexican blood, marupok siguro talaga ang mga Mexicana at hindi ko na kasalanan iyon.

I bit my lower lip. When things are getting deeper and complicated, I tend to make it lighter and think of it as a joke, sort of like my escape from my problems.

"We have our own complication, and I know how to keep mine. Besides, if I wanted to convince a lady, I wouldn't show my weakness. Kung anuman ang nakikita mo sa akin, Ashati, iyon lang ang gusto kong makita mo."

Ngumisi ako sa sinabi niya. "Indeed. Everyone has a skeleton inside their closet."

Ilang minutong namayani ang katahimikan sa pagitan namin. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko ipapasok sa usapan namin ang tungkol sa nangyaring halik sa pagitan namin. It was the first time that Leiden used force on me.

"L-Leiden..."

Since he's the guy I knew how to read the atmosphere, he didn't make it difficult for me.

"About what happened three years ago. I wanted to say sorry. I knew that I scared the hell out of you because of that kiss, Ashanti. I was an asshole."

Pinakatitigan ko siya at kinapa ang sarili ko. I was too mad at him that time, pero ngayong lumipas na ang nakaparaming taon at ngayong kaharap ko na ulit siya, hindi ko maramdaman iyong galit.

It's hard to be mad at him.

"It happened in the past, Leiden, but what I wanted to know was your words..." nahihirapan akong tingnan ang mga mata niya.

I heard the version of Aldus about Keaton's past and my parents' connection with him. Maybe this is the right time that I'll know his connection with the Arellanos.

"You knew anything about him, right?"

"A bit? I went overboard during that day, Ashanti. I was too desperate to steal you away from him. Kaya nasabi ko iyon."

"So those words were meant to give me doubts?"

"Yes. And I was glad that before I did something terrible, you gave me a wakeup slap at hindi ko natuloy ang hindi ko dapat sabihin."

"So, I won't be getting any information from you now?"

Tipid na ngumiti si Leiden. "Would that make any difference? Maaagaw ba kita? I already learned my lesson, Ashanti. I gave up. Besides, it's not my right to tell you something about him. Nalinawan na ako."

Sa pagkakataong iyon si Leiden naman ang tumingin sa labas.

Muli akong huminga ng malalim. "So, this date is really meant for us to have a proper closure..."

He softly chuckled. "I must say, it's a day for me to let go. Wala namang tayo, ako lang iyong nagbaka sakali."

Hinawakan ko na ang kamay niya. "Leiden, I know that someday you'll meet someone else. Someone that will love you... everything about you."

He weakly smiled. "I shouldn't expect too much..."

Dumating na ang pagkain namin at iyon na ang binigyan namin ng atensyon. While we were enjoying the foods and music, I noticed other guests near our table. Hindi naman ako kasama sa populasyon ng mga babae na matalas ang mata pagdating sa sikat na mga Ferell, pero sa tuwing nakikita ko ang isa sa kanila laging may bagay na nakakakabit sa kanila na talagang aagaw sa atensyon ng mga tao.

Hindi ko alam kung kailan ako hahanga o maiinis kay Aldus Ferell. How could he easily change his outfit and character?

Kung kanina ay driver siya, ngayon ay isa na siyang guest at may kasamang sobrang sexy na babae. Saan na naman kaya niya nahila iyan?

When our eyes locked, instead of rolling my eyes, I slowly raised my middle finger at the side of my chair. Siya lang iyong nakakita. Ilang beses siyang nasamid.

I devilishly grinned before I turned my attention back at Leiden. Parang timang talaga iyang si Aldus. I admired his loyalty for Keaton. Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala kung paano nag-click ang ugali nila ni Keaton.

"Actually, Leiden, hindi lang ikaw ang dahilan kung bakit may isang Ferell na umaaligid na naman dito."

"I know. I am aware of Keaton's connection with Aldus."

"Hindi ka ba naaasar sa mga asungot na iyan? Wala na yata silang magawa sa buhay nila kaya nanggugulo sa mga taga-Enamel o baka wala silang friends doon sa Leviathan." Nakangiwi akong lumingon sa pwesto nila Aldus, gumagawa ng bilog bilog na drawing iyong daliri niya sa likuran ng babae.

"Si White ang malapit talaga sa kanila. I was civil with them before, pero pansin ko na napapadalas na rin na kasama ko sila. I told you they are fun to be with, kahit mga gago."

Umiling ako sa sinabi ni Leiden at umirap na ako kay Aldus. "I will never like them. Mga pakialamero."

Natawa ulit si Leiden. "Do you want to make a twist? Since I assumed, we're done with our conflict, right?"

Muli akong sumulyap kay Aldus, bago humarap ulit kay Leiden. I could see the wicked glint in his eyes.

"Yes. What's the plan, Mr. Arellano?"

Leiden slowly leaned at me, and whispered. "Let him report something that would make his dearest friend run back to you..."