Nang makarating sa airport si Ale ay ipinarada niya ang sasakyan at iniwan ang susi sa loob. He doesn't care if someone steals his car away. All they need to do is pay the parking ticket dahil hindi nila mailalabas ang kotse kung hindi bayad 'yon. He doesn't have a sentimental bone in his body. Naniniwala siya na temporary lang ang lahat sa mundo. At katulad ng kotse niya, kahit mawala 'yon ay wala siyang pakialam. He can always buy a new one.
He would have booked his ticket online but there was a better chance that he would get a ticket this way. He approached the ground stewardess at the counter. She's slightly older than him but nevertheless, pretty.
"Good evening. One way ticket to Manila, please."
"Good evening, Sir. I would have to check as we have a lot of passengers tonight. It's peak season." She started typing while looking at the computer screen. Ale waited patiently.
"I'll triple the fare if someone would give up their seat. I need to leave tonight," dagdag pa niya. Wala siyang pasensiyang maghintay. People want money. At walang tatanggi sa pera— not when they can triple the amount of money they have without doing anything. They can always take the next flight anyway kung hindi nagmamadali.
"I'm sorry, Sir. The flight is full. Would you like to take the next flight if no one gives up their seat? I will try my best but I can't promise anything. However, there is one seat left at the economy." Pormal ang pakikipag-usap ng babae sa kaniya. Ale saw that the woman is married. She's wearing a wedding ring. Kaya siguro wala s’yang appeal dito.
"I don't like waiting. If no one would give up their seat, then I'll take what's left." Gusto na niyang makaalis sa New York. Bawat sandaling itinitigil niya rito ay parang napapaso siya.
One of the ground stewardesses came in to help at nagtanong ito sa mga pasaherong naroon sa first class. No one wanted to take the next flight. May pera rin ang mga ito at kahit pa yata gawin niyang ten times ang amount ay tatanggi pa rin. Mahina siyang napamura. All he wanted was to have a relaxing flight. Pati ba naman sa eroplano ay pinahihirapan siya ng langit?
Ale had no choice but to take the economy flight. Sa tangkad niya at haba ng biyas, abot ang tuhod niya sa upuan sa unahan. Bukod doon ay nasa gitna ang upuan niya. That would mean he has to excuse himself each time he needs to use the washroom. Napatanong tuloy siya sa sarili kung ano kayang kasalanan niya sa nakaraang buhay at ganito ang nararanasan niya?
Sa halip na sa gitna ay pinili niyang umupo siya sa aisle seat. Kapag dumating ang pasahero ay makikipagpalit siya at dodoblehin niya ang fare nito. Unlike the passengers from first class, ang mga pasahero sa economy ay panay middle class. They wouldn't say no to money. Sumandal si Ale at pumikit. Ang kaniyang bag ay nailagay na niya sa overhead compartment.
"Excuse me, Sir. You're on my seat."
Kaagad na kumunot si Ale pero hindi siya nagmulat. That voice. Narinig na niya 'yon.
"Sir? You're on my seat. I need you to move,” ulit nito at halata ang inis sa boses nito.
The thought of pretending to be asleep crossed his mind, pero para siyang napaso nang tapikin siya ng babae sa braso.
"I know you're not asleep. Move." Mas matigas na ang boses nito. "Pambihira naman. Pati sa flight nandito rin ang buwisit na 'to,” bulong ng babae.
Napabuntong hininga si Ale at saka nagmulat. Hindi siya nagkamali. Ito ‘yong babaeng bumangga sa dibdib niya kaninang umaga. "Can we just switch seats? I don't like sitting in the middle." Baka madadaan pa niya sa diplomasya ang babae at walang masamang sumubok.
Humalukipkip ito. "You pretended to be asleep. Now you're demanding we switch seats?" Halos magdikit ang kilay ng babae. "We're not even friends, so tough luck, macho man. I don't like sitting in the middle either. Move."
"I'll double the amount you paid for this flight." Hindi pa rin sumusuko si Ale.
The woman smirked. "You think I need money?"
"Do you?" balik tanong ni Ale.
"Unbelievable,” mahinang bulong nito. Halatang na-dismaya sa inasal niya. “MOVE."
Inirapan siya ng babae habang hinihintay siyang tumayo at lumipat sa upuan niya. Kinuha pa nito ang cellphone sa bulsa at nagtipa roon. Nakakunot ang noo nito habang nagtatype pero nang makakuha ng reply ay tumawa. Narinig pa niya ang tunog ng notification nito.
Nilingon ni Ale ang nasa gilid niya nang marinig ang pagtikhim nito. Nasa singkwenta anyos na ang edad ng babae at Pilipina ito. "Lumipat ka na at mukhang naglilihi na 'yang asawa mo," mahinang wika nito sa kaniya.
"Asa—" Napahilamos is Ale sa kaniyang mukha. Napagkamalan pa silang mag-asawa!
"Ganiyan talaga kapag naglilihi. Mainitin ang ulo. Sige na,” dagdag pa nito.
Walang nagawa si Ale kung ‘di ang lumipat ng upuan. It's bad enough that he's on an economy flight— nasa gitna pa ang upuan niya, at katabi niya ang nakaiiritang babae for seventeen hours! It's a fucking long flight and he has to endure it. It’s not like he has a choice either. Naupo ang babae sa aisle seat at saka inilagay ang seatbelt.
"Sinusundan mo ba ako?" tanong niya sa babae.
Tumaas ang isang kilay nito. "Napaka-humble mo talaga, kaya tuwang tuwa ako sa 'yo." Her eyes were on fire at kulang na lang ay tustahin siya nito. The woman has a smart mouth too! Ale wondered what else that mouth can do.
"Well, you bumped into me at the park. Now we're on the same flight. Ano ang gusto mong isipin ko?" Ale does not believe in fate. Fate is for foolish people. Tao ang gumagawa ng sariling buhay nila at walang kinalaman ang kapalaran.
The woman finished typing on her cellphone at saka ini-lock 'yon. She faced him and Ale realized that her face was bare. Natural na makapal ang maamo nitong kilay. Matangos ang ilong at mapula ang labi na lip balm lang ang nakalagay. Natural na malantik at makapal ang pilik-mata ng babae at bumagay 'yon sa mga mata na ngayon ay nanlilisik na nakatingin sa kaniya. Damn her for waking up his buddy.
"That you're so full of shit." Ale was taken a back. Wala pang babaeng sumagot sa kaniya nang ganito. Those women he met before her begged for his attention, pero ang isang ito ay walang interes sa kaniya. "Don't look at me and stop talking to me,” dagdag pa nito.
Friendly ito sa park kanina at sinabi pa ang pangalan. Iisang letra kaya paano niya makalilimutan. It was P. He kept quiet but his eyes didn’t leave her face. At nang maramdaman nito ang pagtitig niya ay inis siyang nilingon.
"Seriously. What is your problem?" mataray nitong tanong sa kaniya, bagamat mahina ang tinig.
"What does P stand for?" tanong ni Ale sa babae.
Ito naman ang natigilan at kumunot ang noo. Ale tried to read her mind pero pabago-bago ang expression ng mga mata nito. The woman is driving him crazy every second. And the fucking plane hasn't even taken off yet.
She didn't answer him and Ale felt irritated. Hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit ganito ang reaction niya sa babaeng ito. Granted— she's pretty. Very pretty. But she is the most annoying woman he has ever met! Naiinis ba siya sa babae dahil hindi ito interesado sa kaniya? Is it because she wounded his ego? Nagpakawala si Ale nang isang malalim na hininga at isinandal ang likod sa upuan. The other passengers were still trying to get into their seat at dahil punuan ay crowded ang aisle. The overhead compartment remained open for the others to put their carry on. Sapul sana sa ulo ang masungit na babaeng katabi niya kung hindi siya naging maagap na masalo ang backpack ng isang pasahero. Inis na ibinalik 'yon ni Ale sa lalaki. "I'm sorry, Miss. Are you okay?" apologetic na wika ng isang foreigner kay P. "I'm fine." Ngumiti si P sa estranghero at iyon ang nagpakunot ng noo ni Ale. Halos magdikit ang mga kilay nito sa inis. How can she smile at that careless man, pero sa kaniyang sumalo
Kindat lang pala ang katapat ni P. Hindi na ito nakapagsalita at lihim s’yang natuwa. The woman was a puzzle to him. It fascinated him how P can rile so much emotions in him so quickly. She has a smart mouth. Naisip niyang baka lawyer ito dahil napakatabil. Pero napailing din s’ya pagkatapos. Parang napakabata pa nito para maging abogada. Baka nga nasa kolehiyo pa ito. Dear God, Ale. Magiging cradle snatcher ka pa yata. Tulog. Kain. Tulog. Kain. Iyon lang ang ginawa niya sa natitirang oras sa loob ng eroplano. Hindi na muling yumakap si P sa kaniya. Still, having her near helped him sleep quicker. Naisip niyang baka ang amoy ng shampoo nito ang dahilan. Or maybe it was her presence. Whatever it was, he liked it. Pansamantala niyang nakaligtaan ang sakit na naramdaman sa pagpapakasal ng kapatid sa babaeng itinatangi niya. Time heals all wounds, they say. Pero para sa kaniya, hindi naman talaga 'yon naghihilom. You just learn to live with the pain and hope that tomorrow would be bett
The woman is going to be the death of him. How hard is it to say his fly was open and not say anything else? Napaka-pilya talaga at bagay na bagay ang pangalan nito sa ugali. Tawagin ba namang baby 'yong kaniya?! The woman clearly needed prescription eyeglasses if she think he's small!Ale managed to finish his soup at ganoon din ang babae. The stewardess came to clean up and afterwards, the forms they need to fill out were handed out to them. Patapos na siya nang mahulog ang ballpen ni P at nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon na makita ang papel nito. Pietra Isabella Profaci. Napakunot pa ang noo ni Ale nang mapansin ang edad ng babae. She's not as young as he thought. "Did you just snoop on my paperwork?" Nakaangil na naman ito sa kaniya. "Tsk. Bintangera." He kept a straight face, pero inirapan siya ni P at saka mabilis na itinabi ang passport at form.She was holding an Italian passport. P was probably on a working visa or just plain tourist in New York. He was born and raised in New
“Hindi ako lampa,” mariing tanggi ni P. “Oh? Natakid ka sa Australia kaya mo nakilala si Taylor. And the other day at the park, you did the same thing to me. Is that your way of—“ Taylor shot a warning look at Ale. “Making friends?” Hindi niya itinuloy ang gustong sabihin. It wasn’t appropriate anyway.“Kung ikaw din lang, hindi na.” Inirapan siya ng babae. That left him dumbfounded, habang si Taylor ay nagpipigil ng tawa. He kept quiet after that. The woman is clearly nuts, at hindi niya alam kung paano natatagalan ito ni Taylor. Para bang kahit ano’ng sabihin niya sa babae ay offensive ang dating. At isa pa, napakadali nitong maasar sa kaniya. Well, ganoon din naman siya kaya amanos lang sila. Ipinikit na lang niya ang mga mata kaya tuluyang maubos ang pasens’ya kay P. Sa traffic at pagod ay nakatulog s’ya sa biyahe. Nang maalimpungatan ay naka-park na ang sasakyan sa harap ng isang condo, kaya nagtatakang tiningnan niya ang kaibigan.“Tay, I’m staying at the hotel,” wika niya ba
Taylor drove him to the hotel, at naiwan si P sa condo. She was tired from the trip and went straight to bed after they ate. Hindi niya alam kung mananatili si P sa Maynila o sa Sta. Monica ito titigil. Hindi niya maintindihan ang sarili kung bakit aligaga siya. He should not care where P stayed, but there is that pull he keeps trying to resist. Iba si P sa lahat ng babaeng nakilala niya. “She’s different, no?” Hindi siya umimik at hinayaan ang kaibigan na magsalita. “Pietra came from the Profacis of Palermo. Have you heard about them? They are the leading suppliers of diamonds in Italy and the majority of Europe.” That meant she came from old money, Ale thought to himself. “What does she do for a living?” “She’s an architect— a really good one. P works for one of the top firms in New York as a consultant,” sagot nito sa kaniya. There’s a hint of pride in his voice towards Pietra. “Mayaman naman sila. Bakit kailangan niyang magtrabaho para sa iba? She doesn’t even need to work at
“What the—“ Nalaglag sa sahig si Ale mula sa kama at ‘yon ang nagpagising sa kaniya. Gising na si P at ngayon ay nagniningas ang matang nakatingin sa kaniya habang nakaupo sa gitna ng kama. Magulo ang buhok ng babae at para itong leon na anytime ay sasagpangin siya. “Ano’ng ginawa mo sa akin?!” Maang na napatingin si Ale at saka tumayo para harapin ang babae. “Ginawa— Are you serious?” Lalong tumalim ang tingin nito sa kaniya at kumuyom ang mga kamao. “Ano naman sa tingin mo ang gagawin ko sa ‘yo?”“Magtatanong ba ako kung alam ko?” masungit nitong tanong sa kaniya.She was loud and Ale’s head is hurting from drinking last night and lack of sleep. Nang mahagip ng mga mata niya ang orasan ay wala pang alas sais ng umaga. This woman will be the death of him.“Ako na nga ang nagmagandang loob, ako pa ang masama?” Pietra looked lost. “Sa sobrang saya mo kagabi, naparami ang inom mo. Taylor left early kaya naiwan ka sa akin. And I didn’t have the keys to his condo, so I brought you here.”
Ale made a call downstairs and ordered a few things for P. As much as she is okay going out without a brassiere, mababaliw si Ale kapag nagsimulang mag-attract ng atens’yon si P sa mga lalaki. Baka bumaha ng dugo sa hotel. He can’t understand his feelings right now but something is off with him when it comes to Pietra. Kahit hindi sila nagkakasundo sa maraming bagay, may mga pagkakataon na lihim siyang napapangiti nito. She talks a lot. She talks back at him. But he loves how she can freely speak her mind and not be afraid of the repercussions. A true Profaci princess— that’s what she is. Ibinilin niya kay P na i-receive ang order niya kapag dumating ito. Tanda niya ang sukat nito. She’s a 34B cup. It’s perfect for her size. It’s not too big, but not too small. He even ordered a new underwear to match and a pantyliner to boot. Tatlo silang magkakapatid na lalaki, pero hindi naman siya tanga para hindi malaman ang mga gamit ng babae. Back then, he wanted to know what women need so wh
Ale pinched the bridge of his nose when he heard P’s voice. She’s using Taylor’s phone at hindi niya alam kung bakit. Sa background ay alam niyang nasa bahay ang mga ito. “Saglit lang, Ale. May inuutos lang si Tay sa kasambahay. Are you busy? I can call later—" “It’s fine.” Sinenyasan ni Ale si Leah na mukhang hindi natutuwang nabitin. She looked like she was ravaged. “Do you know why he needed to talk to me?” Leah was trying to work on Ale with those sensual kisses on his neck while he was on the phone. But whatever Leah is doing is not working for him. Kausap niya si P sa kabilang linya at pakiramdam niya ay mali ang ginagawa niya ngayon. They are not even dating. Daig pa niya ang nakulam. “I don’t really know, but he was on a another phone call earlier. Tay looked upset.” “Okay. Just give me a second,” sagot niya sa babae. Tinakpan ni Ale ang mouthpiece at hinarap si Leah. “I can’t today. Rain check?”Leah looked disappointed, but he can’t do anything about it. “Alright. I’m h