Chapter 2

GABRYEL Honasan looked like a man who came out from a very nice dream. He was a tall guy, almost filling the door frame with his height. He had the kind face of an angel. Malantik ang mga pilik-mata nito at maamo ang mga mata. Maganda rin ang ngiti nito. He looked sturdy and strong. He was every woman's dream. Ang kulang na nga lang dito ay pakpak at anghel na ito.

Except that he was her major nightmare. Ito ang huling lalaki na gusto niyang makita. Because he represented everything she was running away from.

"Sige, tuloy lang kayo ng kanta. Happy birthday, Kylie! Goodnight!" wika niya at nagmamadaling nilagpasan si Gabryel. Kung puwede nga lang ay mag-teleport na lang siya o maglahong parang bula para hindi na siya nito makita. Kaya binilisan na lang niya ang lakad niya para makarating agad sa bahay niya.

"Sindy, wait!" Bago pa siya makapasok sa gate ay napigilan na siya ni Gabryel sa braso. "Ang tagal nating hindi nagkita, `tapos tatakasan mo lang ako."

Huminga siya nang malalim at humarap dito. What's the use of running away from him? Nakita na siya nito. "Hi, Gabryel! Bakit? May pag-uusapan ba tayo?"

"Marami. I never thought you would be here. Sabi ng kapatid mo, nasa Europe ka raw ngayon. Doon ka nagtatrabaho."

"Iyon ba ang sabi nila?" Iyon marahil ang palusot ng pamilya niya para hindi niya mapagtakpan ang kahihiyang ginawa niya. "As you can see, I am here. More than two years na akong nakatira dito. And what are you doing here?"

The subdivision wasn't so classy at all. Hindi iyon ang tipo ng lugar na pupuntahan ni Gabryel Honasan. It would cramp his style.

"Kylie is one of my employees. I am invited to her birthday."

"She works as a creative designer for Weblink." It was a Web site and software development company.

"I am Weblink."

"I see," naiusal niya. That was very Gabryel Honasan. He won't say he owned a company. He would say he was working at the company. "I didn't expect you'd be interested in Web site and software development."

"A friend used to own Weblink but he sold it. Sa States na kasi siya titira. I think it's a nice investment since the company is really doing great."

"Good for you. It is good to see you again."

"You, too. Won't you invite me inside your house? I won't stay long."

"Sure. Then you will tell them what a rotten life I have," she said with a grimace. Simple lang naman kasi ang bahay niya. Iilan lang ang gamit niya. There was a comfortable rattan sofa that she shopped herself, a table for two in the kitchen, a single bed and her precious laptop computer.

Umupo ito sa sofa. "It looks cozy. Hindi crowded."

"Ang sabihin mo, wala akong kagamit-gamit."

"You are always sarcastic with me. We are friends, Sindy."

"We used to be friends because the Honasans and the Arevallos are friends. Pero baka nakakalimutan mong itinakwil na ako ng pamilya ko. And that's because I refused to have you as my boyfriend."

Niligawan siya nito noong college dahil na rin sa pagtutulak ng mga magulang nila. Pagka-graduate ng college ay binasted niya ito. Kasunod niyon ay umalis din siya ng bahay nila.

"They kicked you out because you refused to be an obedient Sindyrella. You want your own dreams. You simply love defying what your family wants for you."

"Is that so bad? Magkaroon ng sarili kong ambisyon?"

A writer's life was not very promising according to her mother. Iilan-ilan lang ang writers sa Pilipinas na kumikita nang malaki. Mas gusto ng mga ito na kumuha siya ng business course o kaya ay accounting o engineering course. Pero walang anuman sa mga iyon ang gusto niya. Pagsusulat ang talent niya.

"We both know your dreams had never been an issue between us. Kung may taong kakampi sa iyo sa ambisyon mo, ako iyon. We are still friends. Not because I am a Honasan and you are an Arevallo but we have our own bond. Kaibigan mo pa rin ako kahit binasted mo ako."

"Kahit hindi ako mayaman? Kahit ganito lang ang tinitirhan ko ngayon?"

Iniikot nito ang mga mata sa paligid. "I guess you are doing great."

"I am a starving writer," she said with a grin.

Pinisil nito ang pisngi niya. "Come on. Be serious."

"I know you might laugh at me. I am a romance novel writer."