Chapter 3:

SOLANA'S POV

"Solana, your call time was moved to eight-thirty.." saad ni Vanessa.

"Okay."

"And the director wants to review the revised script."

"Hmmm," mahinang tugon ko.

"There will also be an interview after the shoot."

"Okay," muling sagot ko at pagkatapos niyon ay napansin ko ang pananahimik niya.

Napabuntunghininga ako at dahan-dahang inangat ang tingin sa kanya...at sumalubong sa akin ang matalim niyang tingin.

"Why do I feel like you're not listening?"

I blinked. "I am listening, Vanessa."

"Then what was the last thing I said?"

"Something about an interview after the shoot?" patanong kong sagot dahilan upang lalong nagsalubong ang kilay niya.

She groaned.

"You're distracted."

"How can i be distracted when i answered your question correctly?" sarkastikong balik ko sa kanya.

Vanessa glared at me begore pointing her finger toward the black SUV parked outside of the cafe.

"The reason is standing over there," aniya.

My gaze immediately landed on the tall man standing beside the vehicle.

Kenjie Hanagata.

Black suit.

Black tie.

Cold face.

Same expression he had been wearing for the last two days.

I looked away first.

"Naka-dr*gs kaba?" hindi makapaniwala kong asik sa kanya.

"Wag mong ibahin ang usapan.." balik niya sa'kin.

I glared at her.

She laughed.

"Simula ng dumating 'yan dito lagi lang lutang. Kapag kausap kita pakiramdam ko ay nalulunod ako dahil sa sobrang lalim ng iniisip mo. Hindi ko masisid kasi hindi naman ako marunong lumangoy," banat niya, hindi ko alam kung seryoso ba siya dahil sa mga sinasabi niya.

"Tsk..stop over thinking. I'm not interested in that man, Vanessa--"

"I didn't say you are interested in him, Solana...." pagtatama niya at ng tingnan ko ang mukha niya ay mas lumaki ang kanyang ngisi.

"Baliw ka talaga," napapailing na lamang ako at pilit na iniiwasan ang tingin niya dahil kukulitin nkya lang ako lalo.

For the seven days, my brain had been in complete chaos. Not because Kenjie had done anything.

Actually, that was the problem.

He hadn't.

Not once.

Kaya mas lalo akong naguguluhan at mas lalo akong napapaisip kung nagkataon lang ba talaga na siya ang napili ni daddy na maging bodyguard slash driver ko.

---

*A few hours later...*

I climbed into the backseat of the SUV.

Kenjie was already behind the wheel. And when i already put the seatbelt...he started the car without saying anything.

Bahagya akong nagulat sa ginawa niyang iyon. At ng tumingin ako sa harapan ay bigla akong nainis ng makita kong wala man lang kahit kaonting ekspresyon sa mukha niya.

He didn't even apologize. Suddenly wanted to throw something at him.

"Dapat magsabi ka kung paaandarin mo ang sasakyan, para naman hindi magulat ang nakasakay..." reklamo ko.

Nakita ko ang pagtiim ng batang niya at ang tipid niyang pagsulyap sa akin.

"I'm sorry, ma'am. I'll be more careful next time.." tanging usal niya pero kahit katiting na sinseridad ay wala akong maramdaman.

The vehicle pulled away from the mansion.

The city passed outside my window.

Cars.

Buildings.

People.

Anything was more interesting than the questions currently attacking my brain.

I glanced toward the rearview mirror. But I immediately found myself staring at him.

His hands rested firmly on the steering wheel.

Strong hands.

The same hands that was moving too gentle that night.

Sa hindi inaasahn ay biglang sumagi ulit sa utak ko ang senaryo ng gabing iyon. Napamura ako at mabilis na iniwas ang tingin sa kanya.

"T*ngina..." bulong ko sa sarili ko habang nakatanaw sa bintana ng kotse.

Why was I doing this?

It's not like I had never seen an attractive man before.

I worked in showbiz.

I met handsome actors every week.

But none of them looked like him.

And none of them happened to be the father of my child.

My chest tightened.

"Do I have something on my face, Ms. Sevilla?"

I nearly choked when i heard him spoke.

My eyes widened when i glance at his way.

Kenjie was still looking straight ahead.

But there was the faintest hint of amusement in his voice.

Oh God.

He caught me.

"I wasn't looking at you."

"Of course why would a woman like you look at someone like me," sambit niya.

And that tiny hint of amusement appeared again.

I narrowed my eyes.

Was he making fun of me?

"You seem very confident."

"I simply have functioning eyes," sarkastikong aniya.

I clicked my tongue as a l looked at him with so much disbelief.

"Kasama ba sa kontrato mo ang yabangan ako? Hindi ba dapat ay nagmamaneho ka lang ng tahimik at tahimik ka rin dapat habang ginagawa ang trabaho mo?" balik ko sa kanya at hindi na maitago ang kaunting inis sa boses ko.

Sandali siyang nanahimik bago ko unti-unting nakita ang paggalaw ng ulo niya... hanggang sa muling nagtama ang tingin namin ng dumapo ang mga mata niya sa rearview ng kotse.

"Do you find me attractive, Ms Sevilla?"

That question came out unexpectedly.

Hindi ko inasahan na may ganito siyang personalidad. He looked so cold and intimidating so hearing him saying these words were very unexpectedly.

"You could've just said it, Ms Sevilla. Hindi iyon palihim mo akong tinititigan--"

"Ang kapal mo naman!" pasigaw kong putol sa kanya, kasabay niyon ang paghampas ko sa likuran ng leather seat na inuupuan niya.

Naramdaman kong bumagal ang takbo ng kotse at kinuha ko ang pagkakataon na iyon upang buksan ang pinto sa tabi ko at humakbang palabas.

Tumiim ang bagang ko. Mabigat ang bawat hakbang na ginagawa ko papalayo sa kotse.. hanggang sa naramdaman ko ang mainit na bagay na dumapo sa pisnge ko.

"Bakit ba ako umiiyak?" bulong ko habang pinupunasan ang luha ko.

Ilang sandali pa ay naramdaman ko ang mabibigat na hakbang na nakasunod sa likuran ko. At bago pa man ako makapagsalita ay mabilis niyang hinawakan ang aking siko at sapilitang hinila paharap sa kanya.

"We have to get back inside the car, Ms Sevilla. This place is dangerous for you," usal niya at paminsan-minsang tumitingin sa paligid habang paulit-ulit na umiigting ang kanyang panga.

I didn't speak. And the moment his gaze dropped on me...it softened, especially when he noticed me staring at him.

"Ms Sevilla--"

"Hindi mo ba talaga ako natatandaan?" tanong ko.

"Wala ka bang natatandaan? Like am i not familiar you? Kahit kaunting detalye wala kang matandaan tungkol sa 'kin?" sunod-sunod kong tanong at nanatili siyang tahimik.

I bit my lower lip at the bitterness wrapped around me. Hilaw akong natawa ng muli kong ibinalik ang tingin ko sa kanya.

"How about this..." wika ko na unti-unting ikinasalubong ng kanyang kilay.

Hindi kona siya binigyan ng pagkakataong mag-isip ng dahan-dahan akong tumingkayad... kasunod niyon ang paghila ko sa kwelyo ng kanyang damit.

Hanggang sa tuluyang naglapat ang labi namin sa isa't isa.