Chapter 1 - Mikaela & Rake Story

KATATAPOS LANG NG BOOK SIGNING NA DINALUHAN NI MIKAELA SA SM CLARK. Sasama pa sana siya sa lunch kung hindi lang nagtantrums ang inaanak niya. Hinatid niya ito sa bestfriend niya dahilsa Clark ito nagtatrabaho.

Kapag ganoong may free time siya'y dinadala niya ito sa ina nito. Ang usapan nila'y susunduin nito ang anak sa mall kaso dumating daw ang nobyo nito kaya hinatid nalang niya ang inaanak.

She's driving ng mapansin niya ang familiar na restaurant. Napangiti siya at naisip na maglunch muna doon. Nakahanap naman siya ng maayos na parking sa tabi ng white pearl montero sport. She's driving a magenta red 911 carrera 4S. Parang baby lang iyon ng itabi sa suv.

She love fast cars kaya nga niya nabili ang kotse niya. She owns two korean restaurants and she's acquiring lands na pinapamahalaan ng magulang niya. She can settle down anytime kung may nobyo lang siya.

Sinipat niya ang mukha sa rear view mirror. Inayos niya ang bangs niya at nagpahid ng face powder at lipstick. Kinuha niya ang wallet at cellphone sa bag at tuluyang bumaba sa kotse niya.

Hindi iilang pares ng mata ang sumululyap sa kotse niya at sa kanya. Medyo nailang siya pero nasanay na rin siya. She's wearing a white off shoulder thee forth sleeve sun dress just above her knee and her comfortable pair of flat shoes.

Kahit maliit siya'y may iilang nakakapansin sa kanya. Hindi niya alam kung dahil nagagandahan ang mga ito sa kanya o dahil sa kotseng nilabasan niya. Either way she don't care. She loves the attention pero minsan'y nakakapagod rin yun kaya nasanay nalang siyang di pansinin.

Itutulak na niya ang pinto ng restaurant ng may magbukas doon. Napaangat ang tingin niya only to meet a familiar pair of eyes and an oh so familiar face.

"Mikaela!" sabi nito at automatic na lumapit ang mukha upang hagkan siya sa pisngi.

"Hi, Rake!" sabi niya at bagaman nabigla ay ngumiti sa binata.

"Are you alone?"

"Yes how about you?"

"I am with my family," sabi nito at sinalubong ang tingin niya.

"Family? Are you married or something?" sabi niya akmang sasagot na ito ng may sumagot para rito sa likod niya.

"He's not married or something hija. My son's single. He's with us," pag pihit niya'y nakita niya ang ginang na siyang ina ni Rake.

"Ma'am sir, my name's Mikaela." Pakilala niya at automatic siyang nagmano sa ginang at ginoong nasa likod nito.

"Are you single hija? Why don't you join us? And drop the formalities,"

"Opo single pa ako," ngumiti siya sa ginang na agad na kumapit sa braso niya.

Next thing ay pinakilala na siya nito sa pamilya nito na parang matagal na silang magkakilala. They were teasing her and Rake. Apologetic naman ang pinupukol na tingin ni Rake sa kanya. She whispered it's okay ng magsorry ito sa kanya. Kumportableng kumportable siya lalo na kay mommy Rose.

"What do you do hija?" sabi nito na kinangiti niya.

"Nagmamanage po ako ng restaurant at nagsusulat rin po ako," sabi niya.

"You really got published that's impressive," sabi ni Rake na nakatitig sa kanya.

"Thanks hindi ko rin naman akalain 'yun. How have you been? Ano ng rank mo ngayon? It's been like what? 5 years," sabi niya sa binata.

"Major na ako ngayon. Nothing big. Ikaw you look amazing. What are you up to? You made mentioned about restaurant?"

"Yes may Korean restaurant ako. Actually dalawang branch palang 'yun one at my province, another at megamall. Dati maliit lang yun doon sa amin tapos lumaki hanggang nag branch out ako sa manila. Hindi ko akalain na magboboom. The next thing I knew may other investments na ako. I doing online trading too. I am writing too. I got published. Pangarap ko lang lahat ng 'yun ngayon ayan na." Sabi niya in animated tone at biglang natigilan.

"Sorry too much of me. How are you?"

"It's okay. Looks like you're really having fun with your life and you're pretty well off," sabi nito na kinangiti niya.

"Thanks," sabi niya at napatitig sa binata.

"Are you still single? Wala kang namention sa lovelife mo."

"I am. I got so busy with my life I forgot to track my love life," sabi niya na kinangiti ng binata.

"Ang daldal mo pala talaga no?" sabi nito kaya bahagya siyang napatigil.

"Yeah. Ikaw bakit single ka pa?"

"Inuna ko muna career ko. Saka ayos lang naman lalaki ako I can get married anytime. Pero sa totoo lang gusto ko na," sabi nito na kinangiti niya.

"Then find someone na," sabi niya in a friendly tone.

"I found you na. Can we start again?" sabi nito kaya napatahimik ang lahat.

Parang tumigil ang puso niya sa pag tibok. Hindi niya inaasahan yun. Nasa kanya rin ang atensyon ng lahat pero wala siyang pakialam doon. Nasa lalaking katabi ang buon atensyon niya.

"Are you sure you wanted to date me? I am a brat. As you see only child ako. I am jealous type too alam mo na yan. Can you always assure me na ako lang through words and action? Can you spend most of your time with me kapag wala ka sa trabaho? I won't ask you to quit your job but I will ask you to move in with me once we get really serious," mahabang sabi niya na kinatango ng binata.

"You will move in with me once we got married that's for sure. I know all of that and I still wanted to date you. I want you in my life. Have let you passed by before and I am not letting that happen again," sabi nito na kinatango niya.

"I am going to assure you everyday by kissing you senselessly and whispering how much I am falling for you everyday. Fate has let me meet you, I avoid you by choice and fate has brought us back together."

"I'll date you then. Your phone please?" sabi niya at agad nitong inabot ang cellphone sa kanya.

"I am saving my phone number here. I am also adding myself on your facebook. I can't get away from you this time, can I?" sabi niya na kinatawa ng malakas ng binata.

Bigla tuloy siyang nailang dito dahil nasa kanya ang atensyon ng lahat.

"If you only showed me this side of yours,"

"I tried let's forget about that. Mahalaga we're starting over," sabi niya na kinangiti ng binata.

"You're really straight forward and easy. Sa ibang babae I will have to guess."

"I hate guessing game, Rake. Alam mo 'yan. I can't make you guess because I know what I want and I am telling you what I want. I actually get what I want this days. I hope I won't fail with you," sabi niya at nakatitig lang sa mata ng binata.

"Just ask and it will be yours," sabi nito na kinangiti niya ng maluwag.

"I will have to give you your first mission then," nakangiting sabi niya.

"Your family's telling you are single but I want it documented Major. Give me a hard copy of your cenomar," sabi niya na kinangiti nito.

"Sure," sabi nito at tumayo.

Medyo lumayo ito sa kanila at tanaw niya ito sa kinauupuan niya. May kausap ito sa telepono.

"Do it now. I am giving you an hour to deliver it here. Yes nasa Binulo ako," sabi nito at medyo rinig niya ang tinig nito.

"Don't make me wait Lieutenant!" Sabi nito at alam na alam na niyang tumataas na ang boses nito.

"Good see you later," sabi nito and ended the call.

Pagbalik nito'y sinerve na rin ang pagkain nila. Nasa kalagitnaan sila ng kainan at kwentuhan ng may lumapit sa kanilang lalaking nakacivilian. Sumaludo ito kay Rake.

Akmang aabutan ito ng pera ni Rake ng tumangi ito at agad ring nagpaalam. Rake handed her the brown envelope and she saw the document she requested.

"Why did you stay single for a very long time Rake?"

"Because I waited for you," sabi nito na kinabigla niya.

"Ikaw? I thought you're dating?"

"I did. I even tried dating someone on your field but we failed back when I was a company slave."

"You dated a soldier?"

"Yes an army but not an officer. He was very young back then. I though he was only busy because that's what he told me. But he has issues too about money and all. It's really difficult to date someone back then. I was not stable enough I felt I'll never be good enough."

"Tapos narealized ko ngayong may pera na ako, ako bang bubuhay sa idadate ko? You see I have lots. Tapos narealized ko mas mahirap palang makipagdate now that I have much. So I just shut off the though of dating. Sabi ko sa sarili ko if I ever find someone who can provide for me na hindi maiintimidate sa pera ko. 'Yung guy na simple lang baka magpakasal ako," sabi niya kaya napatango ang binata.

"You're not spending your money on me. I can provide for you. I got a businesses too. Tried having few with my close friends dahil feeling ko kukulangin yung sinasahod ko para makabuhay ng maayos ng pamilya.

"So what is it?"

"It's really good, one is floating restaurant in Tarlac and another is resort here in Pampanga. May other investments rin ako. One of these days dadalin kita doon that is if you still wanted to date me," sabi nito sa paraang hindi sigurado.

"Be sure to date me or else I will come and get you on your base," she playfully tell him kaya malakas itong tumawa kaya napunta nanaman sa kanila ang atensyon ng lahat.

Inirapan niya ito kaya nag sorry ito.

"Sorry I can't help it. You are natural," sabi nito and reach for her hand.

"I like this side of you Mikaela. You remind me of my younger years."

They're almost done with their meal at wala na sa isa't isa ang focus nila. Mikaela mixed with his family easily. Ang sinabi lang nila'y nagkakilala sila five years ago.

They kept the topics on present which made them really comfortable dahil parehas na silang stable at nakuha na ang mga gusto sa buhay nila.

"Uuwi ka ba ngayon sa inyo?" Tanong nito.

"Nope tomorrow pa. May lakad ako bukas. I will meet an investor."

"Can I come with you?"

"Sure,"

"Where are you staying? Sa bestfriend mo ba?" Alanganing tanong nito.

"Nope. Andoon ang boyfriend niya ngayon can't stay there tonight. I have a condo here ichecheck ko pa kung may nagpabook. Kung wala I will stay there. Kapag meron guess I will have to check in," sabi niya and excused herself pero hindi na siya umalis sa tabi ni Rake.

Calling Andrew...

"Yes ma'am. Will you go home tonight?"

"Nope. Ikaw munang bahala sa restau. Don't allow mom and dad to get tired or I'll fire you out," she threatened him.

"Opo. Wag kang magalala ate Mik. Akong bahala rito. Nameet mo na si..'yung investor? 'Yung cousin ni Ms. Jeanelle?"

"Joshua that's his name. Not yet tomorrow morning. Brunch meeting 'yun. Contract is almost done. I've seen the photos of the area at napuntahan na rin namin. Lumang bahay siya na idedevelop. I will show him my designs."

"I will email it to you. Let's work on the design tonight though meron na akong nasimulan. I will share it to you so you can edit"

"Pupusta akong tapos na 'yan," sabi nito na kinatawa niya.

"Almost but not yet. Where are they? Andyan ba si mommy?"

"Yes, gusto mo ba siyang kausapin?"

"Please?"

"Anak," ang mommy niya.

"Mom. I met an old soul. I am having lunch with him and his family,"

"Boyfriend mo na ba anak? Aba bilisan mo," tukso ng ina niya.

"Kilala kita susuplahin mo 'yan kung di mo gusto. Magkasama pa ba kayo ni Gelo?" Ang tinutukoy nito'y ang anak ng bestfriend niya.

"Nope nahatid ko na siya. Pinapacheck ko pa kay Andrew yung sa condo. May meeting pa ako bukas and I will have to meet ate Jean before I go home."

"Why don't you stay for awhile para makasama mo si old soul?" Tukso ng mommy niya.

"Sounds like binubugaw mo ako," she laughed.

"Ayos lang kami have fun okay? Your dads having fun with the xbox. Wala ring humpay sa panunuod."

"I want to remind you about the vacation I booked for the two of you. It's on Hong kong and you have to leave Sunday night."

"Why don't you stay there until Sunday night. So you can send us of?"

"Mom Thursday palang ngayon. Sayang 'yung kikitahin ng condo for the weekend I usually generate good cash flow during the weekend. Mas mura pa ang hotel accommodations . Besides tingin ko fully booked na siya this weekend."