Ngumiti siya kay P. She was clearly challenging him at hindi siya bale para pumatol. By now, nakukuha na rin niya ang ugali nito. Mamaya ay baka masampal pa s’ya ng wala sa oras. Tumuwid ng tayo si Ale. “Do you want to go out for a stroll later? Ililibre kita ng ice cream.”P’s face fell. May nasabi ba siyang masama? He’s totally acting like a gentleman here. “If you don’t want ice cream, we can do halo-halo or mais con yelo. I want something cold.”Hindi siya sinagot ni P at sa halip, niligpit nito ang gamit. She stood up and walked away from him. Ano’ng nangyari roon? Napailing na lang s’ya sa babae. Baka nga darating na ang period nito kaya moody. ***Kung ayaw nitong sumama ay okay lang. Taylor is busy with business kaya hindi niya inabala ito. Nang sumapit ang alas dos y media ng hapon ay lumabas s’ya. His car is an attraction to this town at nang umibis s’ya ng sasakyan ay nabaling naman ang pansin ng mga tao sa kaniya. Isang maliit na canteen ang napili niya at saka naupo. L
Ale told P what happened at the canteen minus a few details. He made it sound like he was interested with Maui kahit hindi naman niya ito type. "You know what, you don't make sense. If you really like this girl, get to know her. Bring her flowers or chocolates or bilhan mo ng isang dosenang halo-halo. I don't get this fake girlfriend thing. Mga paandar na ganito ang kinayayamutan ko." P complained while he listened. Lulan sila ng kotse at nagmamaneho s'ya papunta sa canteen. Inaya nila si Taylor pero busy daw ito kaya hindi sasama. The weather in Sta. Monica today was a little hot for their liking at tamang tama ang halo-halo para lumamig ang mga ulo nila. In his case, pati 'yong nasa baba ay damay dahil dalawang gabi na s'yang hindi makatulog ng maayos. Nagigising s'yang pawis na pawis at laman ng panaginip niya si P. The woman is driving him nuts with those erotic dreams he's been having. "Then why did you come? Pwede ka naman tumanggi?" "And miss out on a good halo-halo? Beside
P was all smiles even after they left the canteen. Nakahahawa ang ngiti nito kaya imbes na dumiretso ng uwi, nag-stroll sila. They don’t know where they are, but as long as they have gas, they will keep exploring.They found a lookout and Ale parked the car. Excited na parang bata si P na lumabas ng kotse at tinanaw ang bayan ng Sta. Monica. “The view from the top is great.”Tumabi s’ya kay P at sumandal sa hood ng sasakyan. Tumingin s’ya sa babae. “Yes, it is.”Lumingon ito sa kaniya at ngumiti. “Thanks for the treat earlier. Okay naman ang acting ko?” Ale smiled a little and nodded. Acting or not, he thought she was a good kisser. "Have you been to West Palm Beach?" "Florida?" P nodded. "Yes, when I was younger. I went there with a few friends after high school graduation. I actually celebrated my birthday as well while we were there. I went back to New York after that trip then left for Australia the next day to attend university. That's how I met Tay." "W-Were you dating anyon
Napaamang si P at hindi 'yon inasahan ni Ale. Bakit parang nagulat ito? If she knew all along who he was, then she shouldn't look like this. "Remember in Florida? I was your first kiss." Hindi pa rin siya sumuko. Malakas ang kutob niyang ito ang batang babae noon. Kung bakit ayaw aminin ay hindi niya maintindihan. She smirked. "I don't know what you're talking about, but you can't be my first kiss. I had a boyfriend and his name is Romeo. We went to school together." Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng selos. "Romeo? If you're going to lie, pick some name that are not from a famous book or movie, Pietra." Tumawa ito at umiling. "Why would I lie? Ano naman ang mapapala ko kung magsinungaling ako sa 'yo?" And now, he is beginning to think he made a mistake. "Kung sino man 'yong Gambina mo, hindi ako 'yon kaya relax ka lang. Kung kayo talaga, magtatagpo kayo ulit." The woman even tapped his arm lightly a few times. "Tila na ang ulan. Umuwi na tayo at baka hinahanap na tayo ni Taylor." It's be
VANCOUVER, BC"What time should we meet?" She was on the phone with Cas. Hindi niya alam na pupunta rin ito sa Vancouver para bisitahin ang mga pinsan. If she knew, nagsabay na lang sana sila. "Well, what time do you finish your workshop?" "Uhm, four in the afternoon. I am staying in the same hotel where the conference is so I have time to get ready.""That's convenient. What do you feel like having? Steak? Seafood? Chicken? I would cook for you if I had my own place here, but I don't so I'm going to take you out." Alam niya ang sinasabi nito. The Carnegie family is close knit. Palibhasa ay napakatipid gumawa ng bata ng mga ito kaya kapag may pagkakataon ay palaging nagkikita-kita. It was a surprise for her dahil usually, most British family are reserved and see each other during the holidays. Hindi ka basta pwedeng bumisita with short notice. "I will eat anything. I am not picky." She was in the washroom at may kinse minutos silang break from the workshop. Nagreretouch s'ya ng ma
Nakabalik s’ya sa workshop, pero wala na roon ang isip niya. Ale occupied her whole mind and she can’t stop thinking about the damn kiss. She kept looking at the time. Gusto na niyang matapos ang workshop ngayon para makapagbabad s’ya sa tub. She definitely needs a drink after this. She was sitting near the back at maraming bakanteng silya. Since she does not know anyone, wala s’yang katabi. Hindi niya alam kung nagdedeliryo ba s’ya o hindi, o baka naman kumapit na sa damit niya ang amoy ng lalaking 'yon, dahil ngayon ay naaamoy niya pa rin si Ale. Her back felt hot. Kanina nang umupo siya ay siguradong walang nasa likod. But now, she's not so sure anymore. Unti-unti s’yang lumingon at namilog ang mga mata niya. There he was. Again. Hindi niya alam kung paano ito nakapasok sa workshop nila. Wala naman ito sa listahan. “What are you doing here?!” asik niya sa lalaki. Mahina ang kaniyang boses dahil ayaw niyang maka-attract ng atens’yon.“Just listening. Mancini’s a friend." She kn
"Whatever you're going to say, you can say it from there. And say it fast, I want to get some rest before I go out tonight." He frowned. "You're going out on a date?" Pietra didn't answer him. Tumayo s'ya at naglakad papunta sa babae. Sa kauurong nito ay muntik ng mapatid sa silya. Mabuti na lang at kaagad niyang nahawakan sa baywang. They are so close together at hindi nakatulong ang suot nitong bestida. He can still feel the heat from her body. "Y-Yes." "I asked you to be with me, but you said no. Are you dating exclusively now?" He does not like this. Not at all. And even if they were dating exclusively, it's not going to stop from getting what is his. Sigurado s'yang ang batang babae na hinalikan niya noon sa Florida ay si P. Why she's denying it is another matter, but he will find out why sooner or later. He remembered that young girl saying she's saving her first kiss for the man she's going to marry or her future husband. Something like that. And he intends to do just that.
He's okay with pursuing her. But not kissing her?? She can't be serious."You do realize you're half naked right now. And if I didn't stop, something would have happened between us.""And your point?" tanong nito sa kaniya. Hindi pa rin umaalis mula sa kandungan niya. "Don't like as if this is the first time you've seen tits—""Pietra!" Pero rumolyo lang ang mga mata nito. "What?" Natatawa itong tumayo at dinampot ang bra pati na ang bestida na tinanggal niya kanina. "Just because you got to third base does not mean that I will automatically become yours. Besides, I want to see how you're going to pursue me. Gusto mo, bigyan pa kita ng kompetisyon para ganahan ka?""Don't you dare." "Then galingan mo." Pietra went to the bathroom and turned on the shower. Nakita na lang niya na isinara na nito ang pinto. Iniwan lang s'ya ng basta-basta. He wrote her a quick note before leaving her room. Nang makapasok s'ya sa sariling suite ay hindi niya alam kung maliligo na ba s'ya o tatawagan si