She was proudly representing a knitted pink dress alongside a black leather purse that was swinging around her shoulder, both from the same brand, Chanel.
The pearls around her neck almost strangled her while all of her fingers are occupied with golden rings.
Her hair is curled up against her face and her lips are as red as the sole of her Christian Louboutin stilettos. She's the so-called walking luxury.
As she joined us, she slightly pulled down her Dolce & Gabbana's cat-eye sunglasses.
"Dana?" Tumaas ang kilay niya at tuluyang tinanggal ang sunglasses at isinabit 'yon sa neckline ng dress niya. Her eyes narrowed while looking at our intertwined fingers.
"T-tita Ching!" I greeted her. "H-hello po."
Tita Ching, isa sa mga circle of friends ni mommy. May ari siya ng isang napakalaking auction house sa Pilipinas.
Lahat ng mga halaman na nakadisplay bahay, dun nabili ni mommy sa auction house niya. She sells the rarest and most unique items all over the world. Most foreigners would come just to acquire those strange possessions.
Whenever she has auction events, our family is always invited. Kaya minsan, nagdadala ako ng ka-date doon. Napag-uusapan din siguro nila kung sinu-sinong lalaki nalang na nakakadate ko.
"How are you po?" Hilaw na ngiti ko.
Since she didn't press any buttons. Does that mean we're going on the same floor?
We still have 20 floors to go! She's the last person I wanted to see! Bakit ba kasi nagkataon na sa iisang building kami nakatira?
She shrugged.
"Well, still the same. Just living my life with my.." She wiggled her fingers, letting us see how sparkly she is. "..rings. How about you? Is he your new boyfriend?"
"U-uhm--"
"Still dating here and there?" She cut me. "Alam mo ba, the daughter of Marie is getting married. I bet she's younger than you."
Kung si Tita Marites ay napakachismosa, eto naman ay napaka usisera! Hindi mo talaga gugustuhing makausap siya! Hindi ko nga alam kung ano ang criteria ni mommy sa pagpili ng kaibigan.
"O-oh, I didn't know po. That's great for her, tita!"
"You did not know?" Her eyes widened. "Did she not invite you?"
Bakit naman ako iimbitahin? Eh, hindi ko nga kilala kung sinong Marie ang tinutukoy niya! At wala akong kilalang may nanay na ang pangalan ay Marie.
I just gave her a smile as my reply.
"That's a shame." She sighed. "I bet they're going for an intimate wedding. I think that's the uso nowadays. Kaya ikaw, you should make galaw-galaw na rin. Mahirap magbuntis kapag may edad kana."
I just repeatedly nodded to make it look like I'm interested in whatever she was saying. I silently gritted my teeth. What does it have to do with my age? May competition ba sa pagpapakasal? May grand prize ba? Bakit kailangan magmadali?
"By the way, are you two serious with each other? Because if not, Chino is available now. He had already broken up with his girlfriend. Sa tingin ko, magkakasundo kayo. Malay mo, baka kayo pala ang magkatuluyan-"
Bang!
It was Warren who slammed the upper panel. I almost forgot that he was with me, my hands felt numb as soon as this woman started talking.
"Sorry, there's a mosquito." Warren nonchalantly said. He has the expression of killing someone with his eyes.
"It's fine. Calm down." I mouthed.
"So," Tumikhim si Tita Ching na nakatingin sa amin na magkahawak-kamay. "Where did you guys meet?"
It seems like she's already getting the idea that there's something between me and Warren.
"He's my childhood friend po." I stated. "Warren, this is Tita Ching, Tita Ching, si Warren po."
The mood suddenly became awkward because of the late introduction. Both of them just stared at each other and no one offered a hand to shake.
She looked at Warren from head to toe. I somehow felt irritated by her belittling manners!
"Well, he looks fine. Pogi din at matangkad. Bagay kayo."
She flipped her hair and no one talked again until the elevator opened. Thank God! Nakahinga din ako nang makalabas na kami.
"It's nice seeing you, Dana." She kissed me on my cheek at isinuot ulit ang sunglasses niya. "Isama mo din ang boyfriend mo kapag may auction. Baka may magustuhan siya. I hope you're not bringing another man. See you around."
She turned around and swayed her hips through the entrance. Napabuntong-hinga nalang ako.
"Tara na," Aya ko kay Warren. Inunahan ko ng maglakad papunta sa parking lot.
"I don't like her." Sabi niya sa 'kin nang matapatan na niya ang mga hakbang ko.
Napatawa nalang ako ng mahina. "Me either. Huwag mo ng isipin 'yung mga sinabi niya kanina. Wala na kasing asawa 'yun kaya wala na siyang pinagkakaabalahan bukod sa auction house niya ang mangusisa ng ibang buhay."
"Who's Chino?"
Bahagya akong tumingala at nakita kong nakakunot ang mga kilay niya.
"Bakit mo naman natanong?"
"I just want to know."
"Are you interested in guys?"
"The hell?! I'm not gay!"
Napakagat ako sa ibabang labi ko para pigilan ang tawa ko. Halos magkasalubong na ang dalawang kilay niya.
"Well, just tell me and I could set you up with him. Malay mo, baka lalaki rin pala ang hanap niya."
"Hey," Hinila niya ang braso ko at napatigil kaming dalawa sa paglalakad. "Stop that f*cking joke."
Napalunok ako. I heard him cussed many times before pero hindi ganito ka lutong.
"O-okay, sorry." Tinanggal ko ang kamay niya. "Gosh! Bakit ba ang defensive mo-"
Bigla niya nalang akong tinulak sa pader at marahas na hinalikan ang labi ko. I couldn't move. He's sealing my lips like he doesn't want me to breathe. He pinned my wrists against the wall para hindi ako makagalaw. What the hell is he doing?! We're in the hallway! Baka may makakita pa sa amin dito!
I shook my head to avoid his kisses but he made my mouth open, having access to play with my tongue. My mind went blank. Our head starts moving in the same direction. I couldn't breathe any longer.
After a series of deep moans, he suddenly pulled away and rested his head on my neck. Both of us were gasping for air.
"C-can you.." I panted. "..let go of my hands."
"No," Just as I thought he was finished, he started licking my neck. Napaigtad ako sa di maintindihang kiliti.
"Tama na," Mahinang bulong ko. Pakiramdam ko, mawawalan na ng lakas ang mga binti ko. "Baka may makakita sa 'tin dito, Warren. Malelate na tayo..hmm."
"Let them see." He whispered under my ears and it sent shivers to my whole body. Hindi ako naiihi pero pakiramdam ko, parang nababasa na ang panty ko.
"Please..I-I'm sorry."
Halos mapiyok na ako sa pagpipigil ng mga ungol ko.
He finally let go of my hands and I saw his face that was red as a tomato.
"Gag* ka talaga!" Sinuntok ko ang dibdib niyang kasing tigas ng pader. "K-Kadiri ka! Nilawayan mo pa talaga ako e kakaligo ko lang!"
Kaagad kong binunot ang panyo mula sa bag ko at pinahiran ang leeg ko. Sinabi ko lang 'yon para hindi maging awkward ang sitwasyon.
"You asked for it. Do you still think I'm gay?" He smirked.
I rolled my eyes and marched away. Dammit! My body feels hot! Hindi kaya dahil ito sa init kanina? Este, sa init ng panahon?
"Dana, hintayin mo naman ako."
"Bahala ka jan!"
Nakarating na ako sa parking lot at hinanap ko kaagad ang susi sa bag. Inangat ko 'yun at kaagad naman umilaw ang kotse ko. Binuksan ko na ang pinto at pumasok sabay suot ng seatbelt. Papaandarin ko na sana ang kotse pero hinarang kaagad ni Warren ang katawan niya sa harap. God, he's so big! I mean, his body is big! Why am I thinking like this?
Umikot siya at wala din akong magawa kundi papasukin siya. Isinuot niya ang seatbelt at tumingin sa rear-view mirror para ayusin ang buhok niya. Kung bakit ba naman kasi hindi nagdala ng kotse ang mokong na 'to?
"Akala ko ba malelate na tayo?" Sabi niya nang isandal ang likod niya sa upuan. Hanep! Nagmukha pa akong driver niya!
Ang sarap kurutin ng pagmumukha niya pero hindi ko magawa. I stepped on the accelator and we drove away.
Thank you po kay Maelna_Pineda sa power stones. Nagulat talaga ako nung binuksan ko ang app. Thank you po ulit!