Chapter Twenty One

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Tanong niya sa binata sa kanyang harapan, her voice as cold as ice.

He smiled and Louise couldn't help sucking in a deep breath, the bastard is still as devilishly handsome as ever. Aging only added to his appeal.

"C'mon Louise, aren't you even a little glad to see me? We haven't seen each other in a long time" sinenyasan nito ang waiter na mabilis lumapit sa kanila "we'll have 2 glasses of Pinot Noir for starters, please"

"Kung alam ko lang na ikaw pala ang makikita ko rito, hindi na sana ako nag abala" dinampot niya ang bag at akmang tatayo.

"I have a proposal for you, one that would save your dad" kaswal na wika nito. Nabitin sa ere ang akmang pagtayo ni Louise sa sinabi nito. Muli siyang umupo.

"You must be enjoying this. I mean, having all the cards in your hands. Hindi ko lang maintindihan, kung paanong nangyari na napunta sayo, I mean sa AG Group, ang halos lahat ng mga ari-arian namin. Something smells fishy you know" nakataas ang isang kilay niyang wika.

"That's life sweetheart, tables turn" isang makahulugang ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi nito.

Dumating ang waiter at maingat na inilapag ang dalawang kopita ng red wine. Si Gael ay umorder ng pagkain para sa kanilang dalawa, ni hindi ito nag abalang tanungin kung ano ang gusto niya.

"I hope you still like fillet mignon" he said, dinala nito ang kopita sa mga labi at sumimsim ng wine, ang mga mata nito ay nanatiling nakatitig sa kanya.

Louise's heart skipped a beat. Those eyes. She's never met any other man whose stare could pierce through someone's soul. Kahit pa malakas ang kabog ng dibdib ay pinilit niyang tapatan ang titig nito, she won't cower away. She'll make him see na hindi na siya ang dise-sais anyos na mabilis maapektuhan ng presensya nito.

"Actually, I would have preferred salmon, if you had bothered asking me. Hindi na ako ang dating Louise na kilala mo, Mr. Aragon. Everything you thought you knew about me, have changed" she actually lied. Steak pa rin ang paborito niya, she just doesn't want to give him the pleasure of knowing na tama ito. That a part of the old Louise he knew still exists.

Tumaas ang kilay nito at pilyong ngumiti "really?"

"Kung ano man ang business proposal na sinasabi mo, please sabihin mo na at nang makaalis na ako" nauubusan na siya ng pasensya, kailangan na niyang makalayo sa lalaking ito, kung hindi baka makahalata ito sa kabang tunay niyang nararamdaman.

"Why the rush? You came here willing to spend at least a few hours with Kurt, didn't you?"  Bahagyang nagtagis ang mga bagang nito sa sinabi.

"Yes. If it was actually Kurt who came here tonight, instead of the devil!"

"Devil huh?" He leaned on the table towards her, titig na titig ito sa kanyang mga mata "didn't you miss the devil's kiss, sweetheart?"

Her heart pounded in her chest. Hindi niya inaasahan ang tanong na iyon mula rito. She controlled her breathing at pinilit umaktong normal "hindi" she answered flatly "alam mo kasi, mas marami pa palang magaling humalik kesa sayo" she seriously don't know kung bakit niya iyon sinabi. It was a complete lie dahil wala naman ibang nakahalik sa kanya all those years. But she was glad she blurted out that lie dahil nakita niya ang agad na pagdilim ng mukha nito.

"You better be lying, Louise. I told you before, akin ka lang" muli itong umayos ng pagkakaupo at sumandal sa upuan.

"You have some nerve to say that after what you've done!" Nanggigigil niyang wika rito, mababa ang kanyang boses ngunit madiin ang bawat katagang binitawan niya. The nerve of this man!

Hindi ito nakasagot dahil dumating ang waiter at inilapag ang kanilang order.

"Can we eat in peace first before we get down to business?"

Bumuntong hininga siya. Fine! After all, nasa binata ang alas, kung ano man ang sinasabi nitong proposal that would save the hacienda, she's prepared to take it.

Although masarap ang pagkain ay halos hindi niya ito nagalaw. Wala naman siyang anxiety issues pero pakiramdam niya ngayon ay nagkakaroon siya ng massive anxiety attack. She's putting on a calm facade pero ang totoo ay daig pa niya ang pusang di mapaanak sa loob.

"You barely touched your food" kumento nito.

"How much I eat is none of your concern, Mr. Aragon. Pinagbigyan ko na ang gusto mo, I stayed till the end of dinner. Now tell me what your brilliant proposal is"

"Marry me, Louise" kalmadong sabi nito, his eyes never leaving hers "marry me, and I will make sure your father gets back all of his properties"

"What?!" hindi napigilan ni Louise ang pagtaas ng boses kasabay ng pagtayo sa narinig niyang tinuran ng lalaki.

She tried to calm herself down nang mapansing nakuha niya ang atensyon ng ilang mga guests sa restaurant na iyon. She breathed slowly at muling umupo. "What did you say Mr. Aragon?"she asked again looking straight into the man's eyes. Kung nagbubuga lamang ng apoy ang mga mata niya, tiyak niyang natupok na ito.

He chukled a bit as he leaned towards her, amusement in his eyes, tila ba nag e-enjoy ito sa nakikitang galit at disbelief sa mukha niya.

"Just like how you heard it Ms.Saavedra. Marry me and I will make sure your father gets back all of his properties...including Hacienda Saavedra" idiniin nito ang pagbitaw sa huling salita.

"Sira na siguro ang ulo mo para maisipan iyan!" she said gritting her teeth "what makes you think I am desperate enough to even consider this?"

"are you not?" he challenged, amusement still in his eyes. He is clearly enjyoying this."Don't worry, it will be a marriage of convenience. No feelings involved. Your dad gets back his properties and I won't lose any of mine that way"

"Hindi ko pa rin maintindihan?" Ang kilay niyang kanina pa nakakunot ay lalong nagdikit sa pagkalito sa mga sinasabi nito.

"Consider it as a kind gesture from an old flame. If you marry me, ibabalik kong lahat ng mga properties ng pamilya niyong nasa AG Group. But because you are married to me, technically ay wala ring mawawala sa akin. It's a win-win situation"

Shrewd bastard! Hell will have to freeze over bago siya pumayag sa gusto nito!

She gathered her bag and gracefully stood up. Nanatili lamang roon si Gael na nakaupo, boredom on his face.

"Thank you for the wonderful dinner, Mr. Aragon. I don't think I will be seeing you again". Tumalikod na siya at nagsimulang lisanin ang lugar na iyon.

Sinundan ng tingin ni Gael si Louise. She was wearing a tight fitting black dress and is as elegant and beautiful as he remembered. Hindi na ito ang teenager na minahal niya noon, she has become a woman - a smart, confident and sinfully attractive one. Now more than ever ay hindi siya makapapayag na hindi makuha ang gusto. Louise will be his once again, even if he has to give up everything he has, he will, mapasakanya lamang itong muli.

We'll see about that Louise... we'll see about that.

*******

Talaga sigurong nasiraan na ng ulo ang lalaking yon! Kasal?! Saang lupalop ng mundo ka makakakita ng ganyang business proposal? Akala yata ni Gael ay nasa telenovela sila!

Nagpupuyos pa rin ang kalooban na pinaandar niya ang makina ng sasakyan. Sumagi sa isip niya si Kurt na lalo niyang ikinainis, how dare he na i-set up siya with Gael! Mga hindi talaga mapagkakatiwalaan ang mga lalaking yan! She took out her phone from her bag at i-dinial ang number ni Kurt na kanyang i-sinave kaninang umaga. Nag ring ito ay hindi nagtagal ay sumagot ang lalaki.

"What's your reason for setting me up with Mr. Aragon?" Bungad niya rito. She's mad at ni hindi siya nag hello man lamang dito.

"Woah. What are you talking about, Louise?" Takang tanong nito.

"Huwag ka nang mag maang maangan pa! You called me to meet you but instead si Mr. Aragon ang dumating!"

"I didn't set you up with him, Louise. Last minute ay kinansela niya ang meeting ko sa Sta. Martha and instead asked me to attend a business signing deal sa Davao. I flew here kaninang umaga but I asked my secretary to call you para ipaalam sayong hindi ako matutuloy diyan. Did she not call you?" Paliwanag nito.

"No" Gael must have planned this then.

"I apologize, Louise. I will talk to my secretary pag balik ko ng Maynila. I was in a hurry for mg flight to Davao and didn't have the time to call kaya mahigpit kong ibiniling tawagan ka niya"

"It's okay. I'm sorry if I was rude" hinging pasensya niya. Medyo naibsan ang inis niya rito ng mapagtanto kung ano'ng nangyari. Napahiya rin siya sa paraan ng pagtawag niya rito.

"Oh no, don't be. Kasalanan ko naman. I would be upset too if I were you" nakakaunawang sagot nito " I promise to make it up to you when I'm back. I'll go there to meet you kahit walang business meeting"

Hindi sumagot si Louise. Hindi niya gustong mamis-interpret nito ang dahilan ng kanyang pagtawag. Matapos makapag paalam ay nilisan na niya ang parking lot ng restaurant. Ilang sandali pa ay tinatahak na niya ang daan pauwing hacienda.

Buong magdamag na iyon ay biling baliktad lamang siya sa kama.

Marry me and I will make sure your father gets back all of his properties... including hacienda Saavedra...

Marry me...

Marry me... no feelings involved...

Ugh! Padabog niyang tinakpan ng unan ang ulo, as if to silence those voices na paulit ulit niyang naririnig.