Chapter 6

Halos lumuwa naman ang mata ni Gabby. No one ever talked to her that way. She tried to take her hand again. 

Matt interlaced their fingers instead. 

“You’re - You’re rude!” She gritted her teeth.

“I am just being honest.  We already have babies. What’s the problem?” Matt turned his head and smiled at her before he faced front again. 

“My babies. My kids!” madiin ang bawat kataga na pagtatama naman ni Gabby. 

“We’ll see, Gab. We’ll see.” Sagot ni Matt. 

He let Gabby have her hand when she pulled it again. 

Mas pinili naman ni Gabby na tingnan ang mga dinaraanan. They were travelling farther than she expected. 

“We can’t travel too far. I have to be back by my twin’s bedtime.” Gabby said coldly. 

“What time do they sleep?” tanong ni Matt. 

Ayaw sanang sagutin ni Gabby ang tanong nito. Pumikit siya saglit, She needs to be clear headed when talking to Matt. She could have rephrased what she said and avoided any mention of the twins. 

“I need to be back at 9 PM.” 

“Then we will be back by 9 PM.” 

Hindi naman nakalampas kay Gabby ang sinabi nito. I can go home alone. She wanted to answer back but she kept her mouth shut. She just needs to settle things once and for all at dinner and she will go home alone as she planned. 

GABBY STEPPED OUT OF THE CAR as soon as it stopped at the entrance of one of the luxury hotels in Pasay. 

She tried her hardest not to look at Matt but she saw him toss the keys to a waiting valet. She started walking as soon as she saw him walk towards her. 

Mabilis namang kinain ng malalaking hakbang ni Matt ang distansya sa pagitan nila. He caught up with her right before she was about to enter the hotel.

A warm hand on her hip. Gabby resisted the urge to slap the hand away. 

“I want you to wait for me to open the door next time we go on a date.” Bulong ni Matt. 

Patience, Gab. Patience. Gabby endured keeping her mouth shut.

Matt looked at the tightly pursed lips of Gabby. He just smiled inwardly. He can feel her irritation and anger. He liked that she was reacting to him kahit pa naiinis ito. He was known to stalk his prey in the business world. Like a predator, he was patient and calculative. 

Gabby felt the hand hold her hip tighter. It was not light touch on her hip. He comfortably rested his hand on her hip. He was using it to indirectly lead her where to go. 

Gabby noticed some of the staff greet Matt. They entered the elevator, she was about to step away when he pulled her tighter into his side. His hand rubbed the side of her hip up to her waist.

“What are you doing?” Gabby slapped Matt’s hand from her side. 

She moved away but Matt followed crowding her in a corner. Gabby pressed his hands to his chest to prevent him from further crowding him in. 

Abut-abot na ang kaba ni Gabby. She was afraid but she felt an unfamiliar excitement at the same time. 

“This - This is harassment. I can’t believe a guy like you will actually do this.” 

Matt moved his head closer.

Napapikit naman si Gabby and bit her lip. 

Matt smiled, he did not intend to kiss her… not yet, anyway. He just moved his head closer and smelled her floral and citrusy scent. 

“In my book, this is seduction, Gab,” Matt whispered. His lips were so close to her ear.

Gabby can almost feel Matt’s lip on her ear. 

“And I love that it’s working.” tuloy ni Matt sa sinasabi.

Gabby felt Matt’s lip brush against her ear. May kung anong kuryente ang dumaloy sa katawan niya from her ear to her finger tips to her breast and straight down between her legs. 

She bowed her head to move her ear away from Matt. She inwardly gasped when she saw two points make a dent in her satin blouse.

When she looked up, she met gray eyes smiling at her. 

Matt looked down, making sure she was aware he noticed and brought his eyes back to look at panicking brown ones. He shrugged off his semi-formal dinner jacket. 

Namumula naman ang pisngi ni Gabby. Agad nyang iniwas ang tingin. She did not protest when Matt offered his jacket for her to wear. She was enveloped by his fresh, clean scent with a hint of lemon and wood. It was a very subtle scent that smelled really good to her. Parang gusto niyang laging amuyin. 

Hindi niya namalayan na bumukas na ang pinto ng elevator if not for Matt’s hand on her elbow. 

“Sir, this way,” they were greeted by the restaurant manager and they followed him to a secluded table near the windows. 

There was soft music playing. Matt pulled a chair for Gabby before he sat. 

“Can we just talk already?” inikot ni Gabby ang mga mata sa paligid and the restaurant obviously catered to romantic dinners. The place was softly lit. It was not crowded and tables were tastefully given privacy with the use of plants and dividers. 

“The food is great here,” maiksing sagot ni Matt as if it was the best reason they continue with the date that he kept insisting. 

“Nice! So how many dates have you brought here?” Gabby rolled her eyes. 

Matt just smiled. “Jealous already?” sabi nito na nanunudyo. 

Napailing naman si Gabby sa kayabangan nito. 

“This is one of my hotels,” Matt explained. He observed Gabby closely. 

Iwinaksi naman agad ni Gabby ang panibagong kabang naramdaman. How wealthy is this guy exactly?

May lumapit naman sa kanila and served their first entree, the chef even went out and explained the course meal for them.

“Sorry if I ordered in advance. I don’t think you will be in the mood to browse through the menu.” Matt said after they were left alone. 

Gabby picked up her utensil and started to taste the food. The sooner she was done eating, the faster they can talk. 

Halos hindi sila nag-uusap. Gabby focused on speed eating while maintaining her poise and Matt was busy observing her. 

“Are you in a relationship, Gab?”  Matt asked Gabby trying to test the waters. 

Gabby did not know if she will ever be used to someone calling her Gab. It felt great to hear her name sound like an endearment though. 

“We have decided to fix some things at the moment,” Gabby answered straight-faced. ”I have decided that I will focus on my kids for now.” Finally, an opening she can latch on to. 

Tumangu-tango naman si Matt, “A very recent break-up.” Napapangiti si Matt as he looked at Gabby trying her hardest to focus herself on eating. 

“I am still very much in a relationship. We are just fixing some things.”

So this is how she wants to get away. Matt mentally noted. He decided to play along.

“Do our kids like him?” 

“MY kids,” Gabby said putting emphasis on saying “my.” “And yes, they liked him.” 

“When did you last meet?” 

“Three months ago.” 

“How long were you together?” 

Gabby did not answer right away. She can’t make up a story that is overly complicated na makakalimutan niya ang detalye later. 

“Three years.” 

“Neat.” He said. “Three months ago. Together for three years. Easy to remember.”  A side of Matt’s lip raised in a knowing smile.

“Bahala ka sa kung anong gusto mong isipin.” Inirapan ni Gabby si Matt. “We are here not to talk about me.” Paalala niya dito. 

“We’ll get to that point, Gab.” 

Their dessert was served and just like the previous courses, Gab finished her food as quickly as possible. She dabbed the corner of her lips with the table napkin then slowly semi-folded the napkin and placed it on the left side of the plate indicating she was done with dinner. 

“They are not yours, Matt,” She called him by his first name, both to appear friendly to him and to stand as his equal. “Hindi imposibleng may mga taong may pagkakahawig. I hope this is the last time we will meet. Thank you for dinner. It was delicious.”

“A paternity test will confirm that.” Matt drank the rest of his tonic water and dabbed at the corner of his lips too. 

Napabalik naman ng upo si Gabby who was already standing to leave. 

“That is completely unnecessary.” Mahinahon nyang sambit. 

“I’m also interested in you. So, break up with that imaginary boyfriend of yours and go out with me.” Matt said. 

Gray eyes met brown ones. His was filled with excitement and lust. Hers was angry and afraid.