Chapter 4- Dream Date

Hindi malaman ni Eloisa kung matutuwa ba sya or maiinis na bumalik ng opisina si Andrew. Kung kailan pa naman hindi sya nakapag ayos ng itsura nya. Ang busy pa naman kanina kaya alam nyang iba na ang itsura nya.

Humahangos si Andrew at tila nagmamadali. Talagang nagdiwang ang puso nya nang mag alok itong isasabay siya sa pag uwi. But unfortunately ay umulan e plano pa naman nila mag commute. Hindi niya alam ano ang trip ng boss nya kaya naisipan mag commute.

May payong sya pero hindi nya inilabas sa pag asang magsi share sila sa payong. She did not expect na aalisin nito ang coat at ipapandong sa kanya. He held her in his arms. Nabasa sila ng ulan pero hindi niya maipaliwanag ang sayang nadarama nya. Mas nangingibabaw ang kilig.

Inihatid sya nito hanggang sa tapat ng apartment na tinutuluyan nya.

"Gusto mo ba muna mag coffee or sabaw para mainitan ang tyan mo?" yaya ni Eloisa but Andrew declined.

"It's fine. You're soaking wet. I should have brought my car para hindi ka nabasa. You should get changed."

In her mind mas okay ang nangyari. Mas nagkadikit ang kanilang balat. Dama niya ang kuryenteng dumadaloy sa kanyang balat. She loved being inside his arms. He trying to protect her from rain.

"Magpalit ka rin muna kahit tshirt."

"No, I'll have to go. See you tomorrow."

Sobrang magkalapit ang mukha nila. She was expecting a kiss kaya pumikit pa sya. Pero nadismaya sya nang pagdilat niya ay ang amused na tingin ng lalaki.

Namula ang buong mukha nya sa pagkapahiya at dali dali na syang nagpaalam at pumasok sa apartment.

"You're unbelievable Eloisa! Nakakahiya ka!" anyang nagpapapadyak.

That night hindi makatulog si Eloisa. She kept thinking about the date. Kung ano mangyayari or kung maglelevel up na ang relasyon nila. Magiging boyfriend na ba talaga nya ang boss nya? Ang delulu nya talaga.

Napansin na sya ni Helena na labas masok sa kwarto. Si Helena ay kashare nya sa house pati expenses. Ito ang tanging confidante nya. Magmula nang maulila siya, parang nakakatandang kapatid na ang turing nya kay Helena na handang sumaklolo everytime she'd be in trouble.

Sinabi na nya kay Helena ang sitwasyon.

"First date namin. Kinakabahan ako."

"Relax. It's just a date!"

"I know.. but this is different..."

"Why it's different?"

"I like him." pag amin ni Eloisa at namula.

"I see."

"But he doesn't like me."

"Magugustuhan ka rin nya. It's just starting."

"Helena, hindi sya katulad ng ibang mga nakakadate ko. He doesn't like me because of my body plus he doesn't like me at the very least."

"Hindi ka ba dehado dyan?"

"I already told you. I will make him fall for me."

"How? E wala pala effect sa kanya ang charms mo olus hindi nya gusto ng physical contact."

"Ipagluluto ko sya. Last time ipinaglaba ko sya coz he was too busy with work."

"Okay ka lang? Hindi ba sobra naman yun? Lalo na't di ka naman nya gusto."

"I don't mind. Gusto ko ang ginagawa ko. I want him to know how I feel for him."

"Ooohhh. You're so sweet Eloisa! May balak ka bang sabihin sa kanya ang nararamdaman mo? To make things faster you know.. kasi kung gusto ka rin pala nya. You won't know..."

" Hindi ko alam paano ko sasabihin maybe I'll start with actions. Saka may nakikita naman akong progress."

"Details please!"

"Pumayag syang mag date kami.. He said only real couples go on dates saka sabi nya he won't eat the food that I'll make dahil hindi nya ko girlfriend but he ate the food I left at his pad."

She tapped her shoulders. "I'm happy that you are finally willing to love again.. I'm genuinely happy for you."

"Thanks, Helena."

"Do you need help?"

Umiling si Eloisa. "Just being there, you have already helped Helena. Di ko alam gagawin ko kung wala ka."

"I'll always support you."

Kinabukasan ay maaga nakarating sa meeting place si Eloisa. She is all dolled up. Helena helped with her make up and also helped her pick her outfit.

She even sprayed an expensive perfume. Helena gave it to her. Di naman nya afford ang mamahalin na pabango.

After thirty minutes, wala pa rin si Andrew. Wala pa rin text or tawag. Ano kaya ang nangyari sa lalaki? She is starting to get worried.

Maybe he is on the way, she was trying to convince herself na na late lamang ang lalaki. At 45 minutes, laylay na ang balikat ni Eloisa.

"Maybe he finally came to his senses na ayaw nya talaga sakin. I'm just delusional."

Nagsimula ng mag unahang pumatak ang mga luha nya. She was about to leave nang magflash ang name ni Drew sa phone nya. Agad niyang sinagot ang tawag.

"Eloisa..." his voice sounds weak.

"Nasaan ka na?"

"I'm really sorry. I told you na babawi ako but right now.. I cant come."

"W-what happened? Is it over? Does it mean hindi mo talaga ako gusto----"

He cut her words.

"N-no! Stop over thinking. It's just that I can't come over since I'm not feeling well. I wanted to but I couldn't stand properly.."

"M-may sakit ka?"

Halata nga sa boses nito na medyo husky na.

"Do you want me to come over?"

"No, you don't have to."

"I insist. I want to take care of...."

"I'm fine. Maybe I just need some rest."

"No, you can't say no to me! You promise that you'd see me today."

" Okay. Can you wait for me? I'll just change clothes and I'd go there."

"No! You stay there! I'd go there." iyon lang at pinatay na nya ang cellphone.

She has decided to go to his pad. No one or nothing can stop her from coming to him. She has to be there for him.

Pagdating nya sa pad alam nyang matatagalan ang paghihintay nya sa labas since he might be struggling to walk.

Bago sya nagtungo roon ay dumaan muna siya sa grocery to buy some food para sa may sakit and pharmacy to buy him meds. She'll be happy to take care of him.

She was right, when he opened the door, he almost fell onto the floor kung hindi lang sya mabilis at napayakap sa kanya si Drew. He was really hot like he was burning.

"I didnt want to bother you..."

"Sssshh. Save your energy. I promise, I wont be a nuisance. I just want to take care of you."

"It's just fever. I just need rest."

Namumungay ang mga mata ng binata. Halatang exhausted ito at hindi maganda ang lagay. Inalalayan ni Eloisa na makarating si Drew sa higaan nito and carefully put him to bed.

Agad nag init ng tubig si Eloisa at went back to him oara punasan si Drew before putting wet towel on his forehead.

Nagluto na rin sya ng lugaw. After preparing the food, bumalik sya sa kwarto ng binata to check on him. She saw him peacefully sleeping. Ayaw man niya gisingin ang lalaki but she needs to para makainom ito ng gamot.

Dahan dahan nagmulat ng mata ang lalaki at mukhang confused ito sa nangyayari.

"Kumain ka kahit konti para makainom ka ng gamot."

Muli ay dinama nya ang noo ng lalaki. Mainit pa rin ito. He's still burning hot pero nadidistract si Eloisa because he still looks freaking hot even when sick!

Hindi tumanggi ang lalaki ng subuan nya ng lugaw at sumunod naman ito na uminom ng gamot.

"This is embarassing..." ani Drew sa babae na mejo namumula ang pisngi.

She found his blushing face cute.

"I'll leave once your fever goes down."

Akmang aalis na sa kwarto si Eloisa para ibalik ang mangkok when his hands stopped her.

"Can you stay a bit more?" nagulat si Eloisa nang pigilan sya ng kamay ni Drew.

"I'll just put this in the sink real quick."

Pagbalik nya sa kwarto ay nakapikit na ang lalaki. He must be really sleepy and she hopes the meds he took would start acting up.

She stayed hanggang bumaba ang lagnat ng lalaki. She was about to leave nang makita ang isang larawan.

She grabbed the photo at pinakatitigan ito. Is it really him or his twin brother? Wait. Ano ba ang alam nya kay Drew? Wala syang masyadong alam tungkol sa lalaking nagugustuhan nya.

Nakikita nyang si Drew ang lalaki at may kasama itong magandang babae sa larawan. They looked so much in love. Gusto nyang lamukusin ang larawan. The way he looked at her shows how so much in love he is with the woman. In fairness maganda ang ex.

Ito kaya ang dating nobya ni Drew? Nakaramdam siya ng kirot sa dibdib. She is definitely jealous. How much does he love her? Mahal pa rin kaya nya ito? The reason why he is still single. Does he want her back?

Ang daming tanong sa isip ni Eloisa but she knows where she stands. Wala syang karapatang alamin.

She puts back the photo but she turned it facing down. She wonders if he still look in that photo. She has to know kung nakamove on na ang lalaki. If not, she's willing to help him move on. Kahit na maging rebound pa sya! Ganoon na ba talaga sya ka desperada?

Naipilig ni Eloisa ang ulo. She must be crazy. Kung ano ano na ang naiisip nya. Malamang kahit rebound ay ireject sya ng lalaki. He is unlike other guys na purely physical ang habol. Kaya nga ba immune ito sa charms nya.

Nang muling icheck ni Eloisa ang temperatura ni Drew she was relieved na bumaba na ito kaya nagpasya na syang umalis. She wanted to stay a bit longer at makasama pa ito but she knows her limit. Baka mas mamagneto sya sa lalaki and she would start taking advantage of him while he was sleeping. Instead na tumaas ang points nya baka lalo pang mabawasan ang puntos nya. She can't touch him or make any physical contact with hìm. Pag sila na, maybe they could start doing all of those things including being intimate. She could kiss or hug him up to sawa. For now, magpipigil sya.

She stared longer to his face na tila kinakabisado ang bawat kanto ng mukha ng lalaki. Pinagsawa niya ang mata na titigan ang maganda nitong mukha. To her surprise, dumilat ang mata ng lalaki and he seemed confused at first. He tried standing up pero pinigilan nya.

"Stay still. Magpahinga ka muna."

Tila nalilito pa rin ang nakikita ni Eloisa sa mata ni Drew.

"I just came para makakain ka and makainom ng gamot. I'd go home if you want."

Aalis na sya dapat ng kwarto nang hilahin ni Drew ang kamay nya. "Didn't i tell you to stay?" He squeezed her hand.

Tumango lang siya bilang tugon. "Is that an order?" biro niya sa lalaki.

He stared back at her with such a longing eyes. "It's a request."

She smiled sweetly at him. "Sus. Yun lang pala eh. Ang lakas mo kaya sakin."

"Don't smile like that to some other guys. "

"You sound like a jealous boyfriend already."

Hindi sumagot ang lalaki. Does that mean yes? Hay nako, delulu na naman si Eloisa.

"Do you still feel dizzy? Gutom ka na ba?"

"I still feel a bit colder."

"I'll get you another blanket." akmang tatayo muli si Eloisa.

"No. Don't touch my stuff. Maybe I just need body heat."

He suddenly pulled her close into a hug. OMG! It seemed like a wish come true. This is way better than a regular date. Pero ang hirap umasa. Maybe he was just grateful that she came to take care of him. She is a willing victim anyway.

Hindi na nya alam kung gaano katagal sila sa ganoong posisyon but she definitely love his scent and the feel of his warmth. His fever had subsided but he is still burning hot.

Panandalian niyang inalis ang hiya at yumakap na rin sa lalaki. Maya maya ay pareho na silang nakatulog habang magkayakap.