Chapter Four

TOPHER

SHE’S NOT angry. Thank God!

Nag-alala ako, but I didn’t think she would be unreasonable. 

Lahat nang nakakilala kay Jenna Diana Lee sa office, gusto siya kasi hindi siya mahirap kausapin o abutin sa kabila ng koneksyon niya sa ultimate boss naming lahat. 

Nakakailang nga lang ang kanyang yaman pero once you started really talking to her, she wasn’t unfriendly or suplada. 

On the other hand, her uncle was one of the coolest men I’d ever met. 

The fruit did not fall too far from the tree, I see. 

Pero kinabahan pa rin ako na mag-isip siya nang masama kapag nagising siyang hubad. It was touch and go there, and only after I’d escaped the room did I think of this. 

Hindi ko na lang talaga kayang pumasok uli sa loob.

Hindi ako tsismoso, but I’d heard snippets about her story from the others in the office whenever I went there to submit my work or there’s a commission to finish. 

Mukhang hindi lang isang beses muntik nang maloko si Jenna nang kung sinong nagpapanggap na in love sa kanya dahil nga mayaman siya. Which was a shame. 

Bakit jerks ang lagi niyang nakikilala, gayong sa nakikita ko, siya iyong klase ng babae na madaling ka-in love-an?

She’s beautiful, and smart, and very creative. There was a party one time she had attended with her uncle, and she was wearing this black cocktail dress that fit her curves nicely—and she was so hot. 

Ni hindi ko nga lang siya nalapitan dahil hindi siya umalis sa tabi ng uncle niya.

Napapailing na nilagay ko ang palette ko sa ibabaw ng work desk at nagtungo ako sa kusina para ilabas ang hinanda ng mama ko for my Christmas Eve. 

I lived alone. My parents were divorced and had their own families. 

American ang ama ko at nasa Texas na siya uli habang ang Mama ko naman, may sarili na ring pamilya sa Baguio at may tatlo akong makukulit na sisters sa kanya. 

I would have loved to be with them today… but there’s work to get done. 

Mom was here a day ago because she’s Filipina, and she couldn’t rest until she knew I was really okay and depression wasn’t the reason I was staying put here instead of with family. 

She was an artist, too, so she eventually understood the chase for ‘the flow,’ so she at least made sure I had food to feast on before she went back to Baguio.

I would have wanted to drive up there with her, pero gahol na ako sa oras sa pagpeprepara sa exhibition ko come Valentine’s Day. 

My work this time, in collaboration with my artist friends, involved the theme of sensuality, being in love, and passion. We started this project before ‘the break up.’ 

I didn’t think there would be a break up. 

Iyon ang problema. 

Since naka-oo na ako, ang hirap bigla itrato ang theme na iyon habang heartbroken ako. 

It was a painful struggle. I was still three paintings short. And given that I still have a month more, hindi ko pa rin masabi kong matatapos ko ito in time.

I didn’t hear anything from Jenna Lee until I spied her coming into my kitchen. 

Sinulyapan ko siya, at muntik pa akong mapailing sa sarili ko dahil sa nararamdaman kong hiya sa kahit pagtingin lang sa kanya. 

She looked so fresh without make up, with her rich and shiny hair uncombed. 

She’s so at home on my shirt and boxers, with her feet naked on the carpeted floor. 

She looked so… sexy.

What was I? A grade schooler? So, I admit, she fitted the physical ideal of the woman of my dreams, pero nasa highschool pa ba ako?

“I’m sorry, mang-iistorbo ako uli. Nas’an ang mga damit ko?” nahihiya niyang tanong.

“It’s drying in the washer.”

“Ahhh. Ang kotse ko?”

“Sabi ng manager, kapag nagka-time na ipapa-drive daw niya sa condo mo. Don’t worry, ihahatid kita kung gusto mo nang umuwi. Not that I wanted you to go… kaya lang naghihintay na siguro ang family mo sa ‘yo. Christmas Eve na mayamaya.”

“Ahm… mag-isa lang ako ngayong gabi. I was planning on going to my uncle’s house for dinner pero lampas na sa oras so…”

Napatitig ako sa kanya. “Mag-isa ka lang?” 

“Yes.” 

Namumula ba ang kanyang mga pisngi? Pareho kaming nahihiya sa isa’t isa.

“But that’s okay. Sanay na ako. Madalas kasing nagta-travel ang mommy ko at boyfriend niya, saka malaki na ako.”

“Traffic siguro, so tiyak na kung ihahatid kita magtatagal pa tayo sa kalsada.”

“U-huh,” aniya, halatang distracted sa kape na sinasalin ko sa isang mug sa harapan ko. Then nag-focus ang mga mata niya sa mukha ko.

Well, yeah, I really wanted her to stay. 

Nakakahiya lang direktahin kasi baka mas gusto niyang umalis, and my agenda was really at stake here.

Kung iisipin niyang manipulative ako, and she ended up not liking my company, baka masira ang anything positive in our future friendship. Right? 

Just in case… really hoping to be friends with her. Ang tanga ko lang kung hindi ko pa sasamantalahin ang pagkakataong ito na magkakilala kami ng lubos. 

I really like her.

Dinampot ko ang mug, lumapit sa kanya, at ibinaba iyon sa ibabaw ng counter kung saan niya iyon madaling makukuha. 

And then I bit the bullet. 

“Why don’t you have dinner with me, Ms. Lee? Tutal, mag-isa rin lang ako at ang daming pagkaing iniwan si Mommy bago siya umuwi sa Baguio. I don’t have anyone to share them with… for the Christmas Eve tonight.”

“Ha?” sambit niya, nakaangat sa akin ang namimilog na mga mata. “Wala kang kasama sa Christmas Eve dinner mo?” tanong niya na parang awang awa sa akin.

Good. “Yes. Mag-isa rin lang ako ngayong Christmas Eve kasi may kanya-kanya nang pamilya ang mga magulang ko and they’re living far. Saka basa pa ang mga damit mo. I mean, if it’s okay with you.” 

“I can relate,” nangingiti niyang sabi. 

“My mom’s a real good cook. Pagkatapos mo sa kape mo, you can taste her cooking. You will not regret staying for that, at least.”

“Okay. Salamat,” sabi niya habang sumisilid sa stool na dinala ko sa kanyang tabi. “And please call me Jenna. Can I call you Topher?”

Ngumiti ako. “Yes, Jenna. Please.”

At nagkwentuhan kami.