Chapter IV

We talked a lot over our breakfast. Palakwento rin si Alex. A total opposite of what I thought businessmen are. I mean, by the looks of it kasi, hindi siya yung klase ng tao na bubbly pala at talkative. Not in the bad way naman kasi mahilig lang ata talaga syang mag kwento.

But sa hinaba ng mga napagkwentuhan namin hindi nya na nabanggit si Miranda sa usapan. Hindi nya rin nababanggit kung anong business ang ginagawa nya. Well, I didn't ask naman din eh. 

Kinwento nya sakin ang mga past time nya when he's off work like visiting one of his rest house sa province nila at tumambay sa farm daw nila. Kung wala naman daw sya sa province nila, he would usually go for a long ride or just stay at home. 

At dahil nga sa palakwento sya, he did share about sa mga gusto nyang gawin or masubukang gawin kaso he never had a time for it like mountain climbing and sky diving.

"Alam mo, kanina pako nagkwekwento and I feel like marami ka ng alam tungkol sakin pero ako, pangalan mo lang alam ko, first name lang din naman tsaka the info na licensed vet ka who owns a clinic somewhere na hindi mo rin sinabi kung saan"

He leaned back on his chair and crossed his arms. "Kwento ka naman kahit konti lang"

Napailing naman ako sa turan nya. "You know what, sa looks mo hindi ko aakalaing ang sipag mong magsalita hahahaha! Kagabi nga di mo masagot sagot si Miranda mo at ako pa gumawa ng paraan para makaalis ka sa kalandian non"

"Pfft! Hahahahaha" clearly what I said made him laugh hard. At nung nahimasmasan na sya uminom muna sya ng tubig.

"Okay, that was good. But Miranda is not we are talking about. For the record, ayoko lang talaga syang kausapin. I only talk to people that matters diba, Wife?"

'Okay, FOUL!'

Naramdaman kong uminit ang pisngi ko sa sinabi nya kaya napairap ako ng wala sa oras to hide my blush.

"Fine, mag kwekwento nako. But actually, there's nothing much to know about me."

Sa tingin ko, mapagkakatiwalaan naman tong si Alex kaya i'll just share some facts about me.

Total nasabi ko naman din na sa kanya ang propesyon ko.

"I don't have parents. Well technically meron since pano naman ako maluluwal dito kung walang gumawa hahaha," I joke while I started telling my story

Ang kaninang nakangiting mukha ni Alex ay biglang sumeryoso at ngayo'y taimtim syang nakatingin sakin.

"Don't be too serious or pity me. I'm good" I gave him a smile

"Anyways, yun nga, i grew up in an orphanage and ang naging nanay-nanayan ko dun ang mga madreng nag aalaga sa amin at mga social workers. There's this Sister Angela na sya talaga ang bestfriend ko doon since then" A thought of sister Angela made me smile

"When I aged out of the system, obviously walang umampon sakin which is in my favor kasi ayokong malayo sa nakasanayan ko na, I worked hard to support my needs to survive and my studies of course." Nag flashback naman sa akin lahat ng mga naranasan kong trabaho just to get through those times. Mapapangiti nalang ako sa tuwing maalala ko yun since hindi ko talaga inakalang malalampasan ko lahat ng challenges ko to reach here on where I am now.

But sadly, at the same time, it always reminds me of my extra works which until now links on my name. 

'Nah-ah. Huwag mong iisipin yan at baka makwento mo pa ng wala sa oras lagot ka'

It's not that ilegal sya o ano. Marangal naman din yun no.

"I see that you've been through a lot just to be who you are now."komento nya after all i've said.

"Yeah, pero it made me a better version of myself din naman which I never thought I would be"

He stared at me for a second which made me uncomfortable pero weird kasi I feel safe in his presence. 

I looked back at him, straight in his eyes. I can see that he's in deep thoughts. 

His perfect shaped brown eyes stares at me like I matter which I find weird but at the same time, it sends sweet sensations on my body. 

"What are you thinking? Are you checking me out?" he asked me with a smirk on his lips.

I raised a brow on what he just said and retaliate. "Nope, I'm just wondering bat ka niloko?"

I know it was pass the boarder but sorry not sorry.

"I like you." He just utter those words like he didn't think about it.

Tumawa nalang ako at tumayo. "I need to go. Thank you so much for taking care of me when I slept out my surroundings" I said while trying to look for my things.

"That's it? Ouch parang ginamit mo lang ako tas iiwan na." umakto pa syang nasasaktan habang nasa tapat ng dibdib nya ang isang kamay. 

"Anong pinag sasabi mo? Hahahaha i already caused you so much trouble even though you owe me then. Pero nothing to worry dahil bawing-bawi na. Now I just have to go to my hotel and start exploring Greece"

"Want to freshen up first before you go? Hatid nalang kita" offer nya habang tumatayo at naglakad palapit sa side table.

"Nah, sa hotel ko nalang. Isa pa, wag mo nakong ihatid. I'm sure may cab naman sa labas."

Kinuha nya ang phone nya, I belive it's his since hindi naman akin yun at kami lang ang naririto. May kinuha din syang susi which obviously sa sasakyan nya.

'Duh xandra!'

"I insist. Kaya tara na. Mamaya-maya pa naman din yung business meeting ko kaya okay lang."

I shrugged "If you insist, who am I to say no."

Napangiti naman sya ng hindi nako umalma pa. Kinuha naman nya ang mga gamit ko at sya na ang nagdala palabas ng kwarto hanggang sa makarating kami ng lobby.

"Wait for me here, i'll just get my car."

Bago pa sya makaalis ay pinigilan ko sya.

"Hmm?"

"Hindi ba, naka limousine tayo kahapon? Yun din ba ang gagamitin mo ngayon? Kasi if that's the case baka sobrang hassle na para sayo."

Tsaka parang ang sosyal naman kasi talaga pag naka limousine no.

"Nope, don't worry. Let me just get my car and wait for me okay?" 

Tumango nalang din ako at tumingin-tingin nalang din sa paligid. hindi naman din ako ganun katagal naghintay dahil bumalik na rin agad sya.

"Shall we?"

I nodded and followed him after he carried my things and went ahead towards his car.

Napamangha naman din ako sa sasakyan nya.

"Is this yours??"

Napakamot naman sya sa ulo niya at tumango "Yeah that's it. Sorry, did I dissapoint you?"

Napairap naman ako. "Are you kidding me? huwag kang humble this is a Tesla Alex. Tesla!"

Napatawa naman sya habang nilalagay ang gamit ko sa backseat

"This is not as expenseive as other cars you know?" He gave me a side glance while saying that.

"Eh ano naman ngayon? Wala naman sakin yun eh tsaka hindi naman akin kaya it's none of my business. As long as umaandar naman keri na yan."

He closed the backseat door and looks at me amusement all over his face.

"You're one of a kind woman Ally"

Naningkit naman ang mga mata ko sa kanya sabay bukas ng passenger seat door. 

Kinapalan ko na ang mukha ko at sumakay agad sa kotse nya. When I closed the dorr, I found him laughing while shaking his head outside of the car.

Damn! Bat ang gwapo nya?

Agad naman syang pumunta sa kabilang side at umupo sa may driver seat. Still with a smile on his lips.

"You ready?" he asked when he started the car.

"Marunong ka naman mag drive diba?" biro ko pang tanong sa kanya na ikinatawa nalang nya at nag maneho na.

Actually medyo seryoso ako dun sa tanong na yun. Pano nalang kung di naman sya marunong mag drive?

Pero pano nga naman din sya magkaka lisensya at magkaka kotse kung hindi diba? 

Nga naman.

It was not a long ride towards the hotel i'll be staying in. Hindi din uso ang traffic dito di gaya sa bansa natin kaya nakarating din kami agad.

Bababa na sana ako ng pinigilan nya ko. 

"Let me open the door for you. I didn't get to do that kanina since you amused me."

Eh..??

Hindi narin ako nakasagot since bumaba agad sya at binuksan ang pintuan sa side ko. He offered his hand for me to hold pababa.

Tinanggap ko naman yun and nag thank you ako pagkalabas ko ng kotse.

Nang mailabas nya ang mga gamit ko, nagpasalamat ako ulit sa kanya.

"Nah, I shoud be the one saying thank you. Thank you sa ginawa mong pagpayag sa favor ko sayo kagabi."

"Sus ano ka ba, medyo nawindang lang din ako dun pero okay lang yun no. It's nothing compared sa pagpa stay mo sakin sa place mo and sa breakfast. Abala na masyado sa side mo"

Nagngitian naman kami.

"So, I guess that's it?" sabi ko sabay extend ng kamay ko sa kanya for a shakehands.

"Nice to meet you Alex and thanks for the ride also." 

Tinanggap naman nya ang kamay ko para magkipagkamayan.

"Nice to meet you too Ally and thanks again."

Okay. I'm not gonna lie but i'm feeling quite dissapointed dahil sa tawag nya sakn. 

Oh well, it's not like we'll be meeting again. I mean, what are the odds nga naman diba?

"Sige na, pasok nako at ng makapag check-in na."

Bumitaw naman kami sa shakehands.

"Yeah, and I should go too."

"Okay, goodbye and take care." i gave him a sweet smile.

He went to his car and just when I'm about to turn around para pumasok na sa hotel, 

"Ally," tawag nya sakin kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.

"For how long are you staying here?" tanong nya.

Napatawa naman ako sa tanong nya.

"Weeks, I guess? I'm not sure. We'll see each other kung nakatadhana"

He mysteriously smiled.

"Now talking about destiny? What are the odds right?"

I just thought of that Mr. Sarmiento.

Tumango nalang ako at nag wave sa kanya.

"Take care" he said.

"You too." Pagkasabi ko nun ay naglakad na ako papasok sa hotel. I didn't look back again at him.

What are the odds Xandra? 

Sa anong paraan naman kaya kami magkikita ulit?

Hmm. Alex Sarmiento. Will I see you again?