"Where are you taking me ba?" I asked Marcus when we finally stepped out of the elevator door.

Natatanaw ko mula sa mga glass walls ang mga buildings sa labas. Sa tingin ko ay nasa pinakamataas na palapag na kami ng hotel.

"It's a secret, Katrina," he said, positioning himself behind me.

His warm hands suddenly enveloped my eyes and there's nothing I can see but darkness. Magkadikit ang mga daliri niya kaya kahit subukan kong idilat ang mga mata ay wala ding sumisingaw na liwanag. Sa huli ay pinikit ko na lamang ang mga mata ko at nagpatianod na lamang sa gusto niyang mangyari.

Kahit na may piring ang mga mata ko gamit ng mga kamay niya ay nagawa ko pa ring maihakbang ang mga paa ko sa hagdan kahit na naka- heels. Mabuti nalang at masikap din naman niya akong binibigyan ng direksyon and I can sense the anticipation while he was doing it. At the back of my mind, masyado namang exaggerated ang hinanda niya para sa date na 'to if it ever turns out to be one!

The hell with this date!

"Saan ba talaga tayo pupunta?" I asked again, taking careful steps as we moved up until I finally set my foot on a plain flat surface.

Nararamdaman ko ang simoy ng hangin na nanunuot sa aking balat. Naririnig ko din ang tugtugin sa di kalayu-an.

"Here we are now," sambit niya.

Unti-unti niyang ibinaba ang mga kamay at naramdaman ko ang paglayo niya sa likod ko. Minulat ko ang mga mata at napakurap-kurap nang makita ang isang table sa gitna para sa dalawang tao. Pinalibot ko ang aking paningin at natanaw ko ang kabuoan ng lugar and I conclude that the hotel's helipad was designed for a romantic date. Patuloy sa pagtugtog ang mga musicians, making the ambiance more intimate. Well, for me.

"Marcus, this is too much," nahihiyang sabi ko.

I turned to him and meet his eyes for long but I looked away. I heard him chuckle then remained silent.

I'm weirded out. We're not exactly dating in the true sense of it. Why would he freaking want us to go through with this?

"I want this evening to be extra special," nausal niya at nagkibit balikat.

Parang may humawak sa puso ko ngunit pinaalalahan ko ang sarili ko na ang lahat ng paghahanda niya ay para kay Katrina Guerrero. Wala ng puwang sa buhay niya ang isang Azalea Marie. Funny how it seems but my jealousy is consuming me this very moment. At hindi ko mawari kung para ba sa sarili ko iyon o kay Katrina na hindi pa niya kailanman nakakaharap.

He put a hand on my back and guided me to the table, pulling out a chair for me.

I smiled a little. "Thank you."

"You're welcome," pormal niyang sabi at dumiretso na sa kaharap kong upuan.

Mayamaya'y lumapit ang waiter at nagsalin ito ng wine sa wine glass. I feasted my eyes on holiday lights coming from the lofty skyscrapers standing mightily around Harrington Hotel. Palibhasa ay November na kaya't kanya-kanyang pakulo ang mga gusali sa kanilang mga lights in preparation for the holidays. Nakahalumbaba ako habang pinagmamasdan ang pagsalit-salit ng kulay at ang pagpatay-sindi ng mga ilaw.

Marahan siyang tumikhim para makuha ang atensyon ko kaya napadako ang tingin ko sa kanya.

"Well, Katrina, I'm sorry to tell you this but I think there's nothing we can do to stop this marriage from happening. Our parents are so eager to bind us together," mahinahon niyang sabi.

Napairap ako. Nandito na naman ulit ang usapang-kasal na ito. But then, of course, that's entirely the reason why I'm here wearing this red dress and well- groomed like it's even necessary gayong mangungumbinsi lang naman ako ng tao na wag na ituloy ang desisyon nito na magpakasal.

"I can't marry you, Mr. Montañez," I firmly said, leaning my back in the chair.

I sipped from my wine glass and just looked away guiltily, fighting this urge to spill the beans. Matalim ang mga titig niya kaya naman naghuhurumentado ang puso ko at utak ko.

"Can't? Oh, well, I thought you only wanted your freedom Katrina but deep down, I guess, you must have other reason why you're very reluctant to this marriage," he said coldly.

Bumalik agad ang mga mata ko sa kanya. He cocked his head to the side and glared at me, reading my actions.
I cleared my throat and sipped from my wine glass again. Bakit ang tagal ng pagkain? I'm not yet hungry but I want to eat now before someone swallowed me whole.

Napabuntong-hininga ako. "Yes, you said it right, Mr. Mont---"

"I prefer to be called Marcus, Katrina," puna niya at hinilig niya ang likod sa upuan.

"Fine, Marcus. You said it right. I have my compelling reason..." Tinukod ko ang kamay sa mesa habang hawak pa rin ang wine glass. "I love someone."

"Mahal ka din ba?"

I refused to answer. I just choose not to. I know it didn't sound right to remain silent when I can just simply say "yes" and let this all be done. I am Katrina Guerrero tonight and someone like Aries loves her so much. Bakit ayaw kong sabihin iyon?

Tinapunan ko siya ng matalim na tingin at napabaling ang tingin ko sa paparating na waiter na dala ang pagkain. Nakaka-relax sana ang tinutugtog ng mga musikero pero stressed ang buong sistema ko.

"I know the idea of marriage is creeping you out, Katrina, but then, the merge is really a serious matter."

The hell with the merge. It's stealing away the happiness of the people involved in a serious relationship.
I don't really know what's the freaking merge about but I can tell that the profit will rise tenfold once it happens. Yet, it takes two to tango so if I say NO, no matter how willing he is, no marriage will happen unless some idiots try to use dirty tactics just to make Katrina sign the marriage contract.

Oh, Kat, this will be a long fight.

"The matter of heart is also a serious matter to me, Marcus. I said I love someone and I can't marry you. Period," I firmly said, not minding the waiters placing the food on our table.

Nagawa ko pa rin sulyapan ang mga pagkain. There were oysters and steaks.

He waited for the waiter to leave and spoke again.

"Alright. I concede," madiin niyang sabi. Napapikit siya ng marahan. "I'll see how I can vouch for you if this discussion comes to the table again."

Bahagya akong ngumiti nang sa wakas ay sumuko na din siya. He looked surprised when I reached for his hand across the table and touched it gently. The rush of electricity enveloped my hand as it made contact to his skin. I don't know if he feels the same way about me. Kinuha ko din agad ang aking kamay at nilagay iyon sa aking binti at kinuyom iyon. Gusto ko iyong kinukulit niya ako na magpakasal.

I like the feeling of being pursued but it just stopped there.

Tipid siyang ngumiti. "Shall we eat?"
I slightly nodded, picking up the utensils. We started eating as we listened to the music played by the 5 musicians all wearing black long sleeves. It's giving off a kind of romantic vibe as I listened and it will be indeed romantic if we're just both in love with each other which isn't the case.

Tahimik lamang kaming kumakain at tanging kalansing lang ng mga kubyertos at himig ng musika ang maririnig.

"Anong plano mong gawin pagkatapos nito?" he asked, then chewed his food.

I wiped the side of my mouth gently with the napkin, so as not to make smudge again like the last time.

"To work like I use to do," usal ko at bumalik na sa pagkain.

"I wonder what exactly you do for a living," marahan pero may diin niyang sinabi.

"I told you before, I own a cafe and I work there every day," I tried to be calm.

His brows furrowed. "As a crew?" he asked bitterly.

My heart doubled in beat. Was he referring to Katrina or me? I looked away, gathering my thoughts together.
Tinagilid ko ang aking ulo at sinikop ko ang aking buhok at nilagay sa kanang balikat.

"Oh, yes, I do the job of crews sometimes," I said with confidence.

I realize there's really nothing to worry about since Kat is indeed working as a crew in her own cafe if he ever finds out the truth.

Bahagya siyang tumango like he understood everything I just said. Or maybe, he was just pretending that he did?

His quick decision regarding the marriage after just a small talk still baffles me. Is he up to something?
Huwag ko nalang alalahanin iyon. Marcus keeps his words.

Nagtagumpay ako sa gabing ito and the most important thing is that I carried out the plan very well. I'm crossing my fingers and hoping that Katrina and Aries will find their way to be in each other's arm again. Sana naman para hindi masayang ang lahat ng ito.

Minutes later, the waiter approached our table again and put the desserts. Hindi ko muna kinain at patuloy lamang ako sa pagsimsim ng wine. I didn't want this night to end soon. Gusto kong sulitin ang mga sandali na kasama ko siya at nakakausap. Gusto kong pagbigyan ang sarili ko sa mga ipinagkait sa akin ng panahong hindi kami nagkita. No communication for 8 long years isn't funny.

After this, we'll not be seeing each other anymore.

Parang binabayo ang ulo ko matapos kong naubos ulit ang laman ng aking baso. Nakakarami na ako ng naiinom at ganoon din si Marcus.

Napaangat ako ng tingin sa kanya nang bigla siyang tumayo at lumapit sa akin.

He held out his hand, not breaking our eye contact. "Can I ask you for a dance?" malambing niyang sabi.

"Sure," nakangiting tugon ko at tinanggap ang kamay niya.

'Cause, why not? Balato ko nalang ito sa sarili ko.

Iginiya niya ako malapit sa kinaroronan ng mga musikero. He gently placed his hand around my waist and his other hand on the small of my back so my body slightly bended. Namilog ang mga mata ko at awtomatikong napakawit ang mga braso ko sa kanyang leeg.

I've never learned to dance but I found myself taking gentle steps with him in this long slow dance.

Nakakapanibago ang karanasang ito but I feel like it's all worth it.

Something about our closeness as we dance seems so intimate, so gentle. Dumungaw siya sa akin at matamis na ngumiti.

"Hmmm. What are you thinking?" malambing niyang tanong.

I shook my head a little. Hindi na naging pantay ang paghinga ko. Kung sasabihin ko ba ang laman ng utak ko sa mga sandaling iyon ay may magbabago ba?

"I don't want this evening to end," now, I sound like a demanding child.

He sexily chuckled. Tumaas ang kilay ko at tumahimik na lamang. Pinahiya ko na naman kasi ang sarili ko. Dahil ba ito sa ininom ko at nawawalan ako ng hiya sa mga pinagsasabi ko?

He relaxed a bit. "Me too," he huskily said as he rested his chin on top of my head stroking my back.

Inihilig ko ang aking ulo sa kanyang dibdib at pinulupot ang aking mga braso sa kanyang baywang, sumasabay sa saliw ng musika.

How can he make me feel like I'm a nothing and valued at the same time?

How can he make my heart pound and relax the same way?

We stayed in that position for quite a while until I feel the droplets dripping down my bare skin. Inangat ko ang aking ulo at nagkatinginan pa kami ni Marcus hanggang sa tuluyan nang nahulog ang malalaking butil ng ulan.  

"Shit!" he hissed.

Kumalas siya sa pagakakayakap sa akin. He took off his coat and used it to cover me as we hurriedly left the helipad. Maagap din ang pagkilos ng mga kasama namin kanina sa pagligpit ng mga kagamitan doon.
Mabilis ang mga hakbang namin pababa ng hagdan at nang marating namin ang unang palapag mula sa taas ay kapwa kami hinihingal. Pareho kaming napatawa sa nangyari. Sinablay nito sa isang braso niya ang coat na pinantakip sa'kin kanina.

Hindi naging sapat iyon para hindi ako maulanan. Pareho pa rin kaming basang-basa. Mas lalong bumakat ang aking dibdib dahil sa pagkakadikit ng basang tela ng aking damit sa aking balat. Pinamulahan ako ng pisngi at narinig ko ang marahas na paghinga ni Marcus.

I swallowed, willing my stomach not to start heaving as I watched the beads of water running down his face to his neck.

"I can't let you go home all wet," he controlled his voice.

He then reached for my hand and brought me to a room.