Serena Alcazar“Serena!” tawag ni Mama.I was sitting on our sofa. Nakatayo si Mama sa harap ko, nagsesermon. Nakabaon ang ulo ko sa throw pillow. Not because I'm crying but because I couldn’t help my smile.At wala sa hulog ang ngiti ko dahil pinapagalitan ako.I cleared my throat and pretended I was sad. Tumingin ako kay Mama.“Mama, kailangan kong sumunod sa Palawan. Alam mo namang importante ’to kay Tito. Nakita mo naman kung paano siya nagalit noong natagalan akong ipaperma sa CEO ng Helexion ang contract, diba?” pagpapaalala ko sa kanya.Natigilan si Mama at kalaunan ay tumango rin. Umupo siya at saka kumalma. I had to bite my lips to stop myself from smiling.I kissed Levi twice! And all that when he gets to know I'm not Jimenez—when I thought I no longer had a chance with him.Wala nang nagawa si Mama. Binigay ko na lang sa kanya ang souvenir na binili ko at saka natulog na rin.The next day, ang aga kong pumasok sa opisina. Alam ni Mrs. Mercado ang nangyari sa akin sa Palawan
Levi FerrerI was humming to myself when I saw the traffic light turn red. I hit the brake. Kagagaling ko lang sa paghatid kay Serena. I smiled when I remembered her red face. She didn’t expect the kiss.Malakas lang siya nang akala niya ay hindi ko siya papatulan. She didn’t know I was dying to taste her lips.Plano kong pahirapan siya. That flight to Palawan…that could have been prevented. Alam kong made-delay ang delivery. I could’ve told her that, but I didn’t.Plano kong ignorahin siya at huwag nang pagtuunan ng pansin nang dumating kami ng Palawan. Matapos niyang marinig na dumating na ang delivery, iniwan ko na siya.The next day, I didn’t expect to see her. Akala ko ay babalik na siya ng Manila. Pero dahil siguro sa bagyo kaya hindi siya nakauwi.And so much for ignoring her. The moment she accidentally landed on my lap, every bit of resolve I had disappeared. Damn it.I even offered her my villa. I was damn losing it that time. Mabuti na lang at pinili niya sa villa ni Ariel.
I let out a soft moan when I felt Levi suck on my lips. Nararamdaman kong unti-unting nanghihina ang tuhod ko. Kaya nang medyo na-out balance ako, nahawakan ako ni Levi sa bewang habang patuloy kaming naghahalikan.Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto kaming naghahalikan. I just know it was enough for me to get out of breath. Hindi ko namalayan na nakaupo na ako sa kandungan ni Levi. His kiss went down to my neck habang naghahabol ako ng hininga.Nanliliit ang mata ko nang bigla kong makita ang isang waiter na lumalapit sa gawi namin dala ang order namin.Natauhan ako at agad na tumayo. Hinihingal akong tumingin kay Levi. He too was out of breath, namumungay ang mata.“Ito na po, ma’am… sir, ang order niyo,” putol ng waiter sa paninitig ko kay Levi.I cleared my throat. “Thank you.”Umupo ako sa upuan ko at saka inayos ang sarili. My heart was still beating so fast. At ngayon na natatauhan kami, hindi ako makatingin sa kanya. Pumikit ako nang mariin at saka kunwaring kinuha ang snack ko p
He remained silent for a few seconds, and it’s making my heart beat so loud. Nakatayo lang siya sa harap ko at hindi ko mabasa ang reaction niya!“You’re not a Jimenez,” he said with a serious tone.Napalunok ako. I guess he heard my conversation, huh? And this ends here?Bitterness spread through my nerves. Hindi man lang pinaabot na makauwi kami ng Manila? Why the hell is he here outside? It’s late and he’s supposed to be sleeping!“Serena, you’re not answering me,” he said again in a serious tone.Kumunot ang noo ko. “I didn’t know you were asking a question. It sounds like a statement to me!” bitter kong sinabi.“So you’re really not a Jimenez, huh? And you never told me?” The accusation in his voice is too much, as if I did him a crime.“I don’t remember you asking me,” defensive kong sinabi. “You just assumed I’m a Jimenez!”“And you enjoyed it? You didn’t correct it because you enjoyed being mistaken for a daughter of the Jimenezes?”It’s not that I enjoyed it. It’s the privile
Hiyang-hiya ako nang pumunta ako sa upper deck. Totoo naman na ako ang tatanungin kung may mangyari sa kanya kasi ako ang kasama niya.Si Levi ay nasa lower deck para magbihis. May dala siyang extra clothes kasi plano pala talaga niyang maligo.Humiga ako sa sun lounge at saka pinagmasdan ang dagat. Pero napansin ko rin na parang bumabalik na kami sa resort.Tumingala ako sa langit. Hula ko nga, nasa alas-kuwatro na. Okay na rin na bumalik kami.I was in that position when I fell asleep. Naalimpungatan lang ako nang bigla kong marinig ang mga nag-uusap sa tabi ko.Pagdilat ko, kita ko agad ang isang tauhan na may sinasabi kay Levi. Bumaba ang mata ko sa katawan ko. May kumot na sa ako.Sa kabilang sun lounge ay naroon si Levi, nakahiga rin, nasa ulo niya ang dalawang kamay habang nakikipag-usap sa tauhan.Kalaunan ay tumango ang tauhan at saka kami iniwan. Bumaling ako sa paligid. Tanaw na namin ang resort. We were about to dock. Tamang-tama pala ang gising ko.Umupo ako at saka nag-u
I enjoyed the experience of riding a yacht with Levi. Matapos naming kumain, pinasyal niya ako sa buong yate. Dahil sa upper deck kami kumain, he didn't bother touring me there. Kita ko naman na ang kabuuan. May dalawang sunbeds, maliit na table kung saan kami kumain, at ang railings na tanaw ang dagat. The view was stunning—the horizon stretched endlessly. Bumaba kami sa main deck. Nando’n ang maliit na sala, may couch at coffee table, at may bar sa gilid. Malinis at minimalist ang interior, halos parang private cabin sa resort.I nodded as I was appreciating the place. He thought I’ve been on a yacht before, but no. This is my first time kaya namamangha ako. I was just trying not to show too much reaction.“The resort keeps this maintained for guest use,” baling ni Levi sa akin habang binubuksan ang sliding door. “We could stay as long as we want.”Ngumiti ako. We could stay? That is tempting, but no. Aasa lang ako.“It’s cozier here,” sabi ko just for the sake na may masabi ako.“