42 - Date Night

RJ's POV

After confirming that Patrick is still enamored with Charm, I decided to accept Dad's request to lead the project for Patrick's company. Mas matututukan ko sya since his work here is to be his company's over-all-in charge to this project. And I got a nod from Dad that I will be concentrating on this project as well. Mike's team will take over all the projects that I am currently handling.

One day I hurried to go back to Cavite because I have a hunch that Patrick cancelled his meeting with my Dad to meet my wife. Call me paranoid, I really don't care. Kahit pa ipangalandakan nyo sa mukha ko na clingy ako, I still don't care. This is not about trusting Charm, I trust her words about Patrick. It is just that, I don't know what Patrick is capable of doing, hindi ko alam kung ano ang pwede nyang gawin sa asawa ko. I saw a glimpse of it, ang lakas magparinig ng lalaking yun kay Charm kahit pa kaharap ako.

At sinong magsasabing lamang ang 99% palagi. Oftentimes you have to trust your hunch because you won't be having that feeling just for nothing. Sa parking lot pa lang nakita ko na ang kotse ni Ledesma. Ang tanong, nagkataon lang ba ito o sinadya nya. Kung sinadya, sino ang nakapagsabi sa kanya na ngayon ang practice ni Charm, while Tuesday and Thursday ang regular schedule nya, she just decided to hit the tracks today because she does not want to stay alone in the house doing nothing at all.

Sige, benefit of the doubt, siguro nagkataon lang. But I will not abruptly cancel an important business meeting for the sake na tumambay lang sa motocross track na malayo sa bahay ko. As I enter the audience side, I saw Ledesma chatting with someone.

I don't know if Charm is already aware of his presence since my wife is already doing her favorite stuff in the tracks. I like seeing her in her comfort zone, because it is very evident that she puts her heart in every jump that she does. I will never get tired of watching her do what she does best. And I will never get tired of protecting her from people who are capable of hurting her.

And my hunch is correct, when Charm get off the tracks, I saw Patrick from the audience area immediately approached my wife. I immediately leave the audience area and I make sure that my eyes are glued on them while I walk towards them. And when I was a few meters from them, I heard him inviting Charm for a coffee. I quickly call Charm to make them aware of my presence.

"Sweetheart." I called as walk towards them. "Tapos ka na?" I asked and swiftly planted a kiss on Charm's lips.

"Yes, I'll just change then we can leave." Charm sweetly replied.

"Hello Patrick, I did not expect to see you here, sabi ni Dad may importante kang aasikasuhin kaya ka nagpare-sched ng meeting on Monday." I told Patrick and I don't know why he was not able to reply. And it only confirms my hunch na si Charm talaga ang dahilan ng pagpunta dito.

"We will go ahead Patrick, nandito na ang sundo ko. Let's go na, Love, dun mo na lang ako hintayin sa labas ng changing room" Charm told me.

I held her hand as we walk away from Patrick and Jacob. I felt how Charm tightly hold me. As if giving me assurance that nothing, even someone from her past could come between us.

I don't want the issue about Patrick to ruin our night, I don't want my preparation to go to waste. I only got less than ten hours to prepare for our first date therefore I was not able to get a decent restaurant reservation.

It was only this morning that we got a call from Charm's parents requesting Celestine to go to Bulacan because they want to bring her to their friend's children's party. Charm could not say no to Tatay Teddy because until now they treated Tatay Teddy's words as a command and not as a request. She was not able to object as well when Tatay told us about Celestine spending the night with them. Therefore we immediately drove ourselves to Bulacan to bring Celestine there.

On our way to Bulacan, I started thinking how to make this night special since Celestine will spend the night with my in-laws. I texted my secretary to find me place where I could bring Charm and have a romantic date with her, but until we reach home from Bulacan she were not able to find a place for me.

Charm decided to spend her idle time in the tracks so I brought her to Cavite for her abrupt practice. I did not oppose on her abrupt decision since I realized it could give me time to prepare for this sudden romantic date.

Since I was not able to find a place where I could rent a place exclusively for the two of us, I thought our house is the perfect place for it. I went back home as soon as I brought her to Cavite for her motocross practice and asked our cook to prepare a special dinner for two and gave her an extra amount of money for her and the other helpers to have their early day off and requested them to come back the next morning. I want to make this night special for both of use because this is the first time the house is ours alone.

Charm was so surprised when she learned that we are alone in the house and I saw how her eyes spark when I told her about the abrupt romantic date at home. She may not say itm but I know I made her happy.

What we had was a simple dinner. I intentionally avoid mentioning the topic about Patrick, sayang ang gabi kung masisira lang dahil sa kanya. We just enjoy the food and let ourselves learn more about each other.

After dinner, our usual destination is the family room where we watch our favorite TV program or watch a certain movie from different sources.

"Aba at may pa-wine and fruits pa talaga, infairness may konting effort talaga." She teases.

"If I only have much time, this romantic date could have been better." I said.

"Binibiro lang naman kita, gusto ko naman yung ganito, simple lang walang ibang pasabog para hindi nakakapressure." She uttered.

"What movie do you want to watch?" I asked while pouring wine in the glass.

"Wag na, magkwentuhan na lang tayo, bitin ako sa kwentuhan kanina sa dining table eh, besides hindi pang movie ang wine, this is best while chatting kasi mas relaxing." She said while she started munching on the fruits.

"Ano pa ba ang gusto mong malaman sa akin, eh halos ako na nga lang ang nagsasalita kanina." I said.

"Grabe ka naman, I also had my share of kwento, mas madaldal ka lang talaga kesa sa akin kaya akala mo ikaw lang ang nagsasalita, ang tutoo hindi lang ako makasingit sa iyo." She said.

"O sige na, ask me anything I promise to answer it sincerely." I said.

"Sige take turns tayo para naman fair." She said.

"You go first, what would you like to know?" I asked.

"Bakit ka pumayag sa arranged marriage na 'to? Sorry ha, I know naitanong ko na 'to sa yo dati pero hindi kasi ako naniniwala sa iyo noon eh." She asked.

"Because of Rizza talaga, I could not forget how scared she was nung biglang umalis si Kuya RD. Sabi nya, mas mabait daw si Kuya RD kesa sa akin and yet he was able to go against Lolo and Dad's will. How much more daw ako, eh mas rebelde ako among sa aming magkakapatid. Grabe awang-awa ako kay Rizza, that's why I promise myself na ako na ang huli, I will have the option to file an annulment anyway. Ang tutoo sa annulment lang ako kumakapit." I said.

"At napabilib mo ako dun, honestly." She commented.

"Tutoo ba yan? Walang stir?" I asked.

"I say it sincerely. Nakakabilib yung love mo kay Rizza. It's your turn now, what would you like to know about me." She asked.

"Ikaw, bakit ka pumayag sa arranged marriage na ito? Hindi ka ba natakot na magpakasal sa isang lalaking hindi mo naman kilala?" I asked.

"Parang naitanong mo na rin yan sa akin noon hindi ka rin naniwala sa akin? Wala nga kasi akong balak magpakasal. I already had this mind-set to stay single for the rest of my life. Pero dun sa takot na magpakasal, it's a leap of faith. Kumapit ako sa parents ko kasi naniwala akong hindi naman nila ako ipagkakatiwala isang taong alam nilang sasaktan lang ako. Hindi naman ako nagkamali. It's been a long time since I trusted someone like how I am trusting you now." She replied.

"Thank you for the trust Mendoza Girl. It's your turn now." I said.

"Ok, you call off the wedding because of Celestine, why did you take it back?" She asked.

"Naguilty ako, hindi ako pinapansin ni Rizza, first time syang nagalit sa akin ng matindi." I said.

"Grabe ang bait mo naman talagang kapatid." She said.

"And there is something in me that says that I should proceed with the wedding." I said. "The first time I saw you in the tracks, I don't want to admit it but I find you really amazing." I said.

"Palibhasa muntik na kitang matalo sa karera." She said laughing.

"That was in Malolos tracks. I am talking about the San Mateo tracks." I said and she immediately stop laughing and stares at me.

"What do you mean San Mateo tracks? Hindi tayo nagkita sa San Mateo." She said.

"Hindi nga, kasi hindi ako nagpakita sa iyo." I said.

"Nag-stalk ka sa akin?" She asked.

"I just want to know kung ano ang pinagkakaabalahan ng magiging asawa ko. Honestly I don't know what I was thinking that day, I just find myself driving to San Mateo after I met with you to talk about the annulment. Curiosity na rin siguro kasi sa liit mong yan, extreme and sports mo." I said.

"Kinilig ako." She said and I chuckled kasi natuwa ako na napakilig ko sya. "Oh ikaw na." She said.

"How was it raising Celestine alone?" I asked.

"Yung sinasabi nilang mahirap, technically speaking, hindi ko naman naramdaman yun. Kasi nandyan naman ang pamilya ko. Siguro yung hirap ng kalooban kapag nagkakasakit sya, yun lang ang hirap na naramdaman ko. Kahit kailan hindi ako nahirapang alagaan si Celestine kasi masaya ako na nandyan sya." She replied.

"And I commend you for raising her well." I said.

"Thank you, dahil din naman yan sa Tatay at Nanay ko. Tinulungan nila akong palakihin ng maayos si Celestine. O turn ko na ha, ako na ang magtatanong." She uttered and I nodded.

"Go ahead." I said.

"Five years ago in Calatagan, why did you leave me without saying goodbye?" She asked and honestly, I never expected that question from her kasi akala ko ayaw na nyang pag-usapan.

"The following morning, I woke up because my phone was continuously ringing, it was my Dad fuming mad because of a problem sa site and I was told to be there at once. I left without waking you up because I thought makakabalik ako agad. Bumalik ako Meng, pero wala ka na eh. Hindi ko naman alam kung saan ang cottage mo. Hindi ko rin naman alam ang pangalan mo para sana maitanong ko sa front desk. Believe me Meng bumalik talaga ako." I said.

"Alright, follow-up question, bakit ka bumalik?" She asked.

"I have been to so many one-night-stands but lahat nang nakasama kong mga babae nuon, nasa matinong pag-iisip." I said.

"Sobra ka naman, wala ba ako sa matinong pag-iisip nun?" She asked.

"Kung nasa matinong pag-iisip ka, bakit tingin mo sa akin nuon si Patrick? What we had that night was different Meng. I came back because I know I owe you an apology because you are at your weakest that night and I took advantage of it. Pero nung bumalik ako na wala ka na sa cottage ko, inisip ko na lang na maybe, that is our last encounter together and I just treated that night as one of those regular escapades that I had." I said.

"Okay, at least now I can erase in my mind how much jerk you were then, for leaving me alone after spending the whole night with me. I felt so wasted that time, I realized how much I messed-up and felt that I was a big mess, too." She uttered. "Oh next question na." She quickly said and obviously avoiding to lengthen the discussion about what happened to us then.

"Kanina sa tracks, sa harap ni Patrick, why did you call me 'Love'?" I asked. "If I remember it right, I told you we will only have that endearment kapag in-love ka na sa akin. The way you call me earlier, was that because you love me already or was that just a show for Patrick?" I further asked.

"That was a show for Patrick, para hindi nya ako kulitin, he was actually inviting me for a coffee bago ka dumating." She said and pain is all over my chest and I was not able to breathe properly. "I want Patrick to realized that everything about us is over at wala na syang babalikan. I am already in-love with someone else. Mahal ko ang asawa ko at hindi ako gagawa ng kahit ano na makakasakit sa kanya." She further said. I felt an imaginary lump in my throat as I could not uttered any word. Tutoo ba yung narinig ko, mahal na ako ni Charm? "O bakit ka tulala? Hindi ko ba nasagot ang tanong mo?" She asked, beaming.

I did not reply anymore but instead I cupped her face and passionately kissed her. I don't care how long it lasted, what I want now is to make her feel how much she makes me very happy. My hands slide inside her shirt and started caressing her, as she moans the kiss went deeper. Until she whispers "Not here, Love."

"Yes, Love. Not here." I said and carefully carried her to our room.