Chapter 3

"Ma'am, may tao po," Idinilat ko ang mga mata ko saka nilingon si Mara na nasa pintuan. Kasalukuyan akong namamahinga sa silid na kakapagawa ko pa lang, maayos na ito at tamang tama lang para sakin.

Halata ang pag-aalinlangan sa mata ni Mara dahil pinutol nito ang saglit kong pamamahinga, pero ayos lang dahil baka importante ang nasa labas.

I tucked strands of hair behind my ear before facing who was outside. My irritation raised when I saw Cole, nakangiti nanaman ito habang nakatingin sa direksiyon ko.

My eyes automatically rolled "Ano nanaman ba ang kailangan mo?"

"You," He uttered casually, "We have a family dinner later—"

I cut him off "Bakit ako ang kinakausap mo tungkol diyan hindi si Adriana? Huwag ako, Mr. Velasco."

"It's Cole, nasa ibang bansa si Adriana ngayon." He answered, nilingon ko si Mara na nasa likod pa rin at nakikinig. Nang makita ako nitong nakatingin agad rin namang umalis.

I face him again "So in short, you'll use me?" I tried to lowered my voice because the customers might hear us.

Cole instantly shook his head "W-what? No! A sub maybe?" He smirked.

Gago!

"Pinaganda mo pa? Ayoko!" Tinalikuran ko na ito nang magsalita nanaman.

"I'll stop pestering you," that caught my attention, "only if you agree." 

Nanatili akong nakatayo hanggang sa mapagdesisyunang pumayag. Ayoko ng ginugulo ako nito kaya mas maayos na sigurong pumayag ako.

"Okay, fine!" I exclaimed.

He grinned "Good, I'll pick you up at seven."

"W-wait—What? Paano mo nalaman kung saan ako nakatira?" I shouted.

Hindi ako nito pinansin subalit inikot-ikot pa ang susi na hawak gamit ang pangalawang daliri.

Nang tumuntong ang alas singko ng hapon, nagmaneho na ako pauwi sa bahay. I wore my bodycon off-shoulder beige dress partnered with stilettos and a clutch purse.

Narinig ko na ang busina ng kotse mula sa labas ng bahay, baka siya na 'yon. Isang beses pa akong tumingin sa salamin saka inayos ng bahagya ang kinulot na dulo ng aking buhok.

"You really prepared for this night?" I heard him chuckled a little before opening the door of his Bugatti.

I don't know if he was referring to my clothes or the paper bag I was carrying. It was just a tea and coffee set; I don't know but I really love lending gifts or anything to other people because no one will become poor by giving.

Not gonna lie, he's smokin' hot in those black polo tucked inside his gray slacks with a belt and black leather shoes. Nakapatalikod rin ang buhok nito na mas nagpadagdag ng kakisigan niya.

"Baka malusaw," Usal nito dahilan para mabalik ako sa wisyo.

"I'm not even looking at you." I tried not to sound defensive. Maybe it worked.

"Buckle up!" He said before starting the engine of his car.

Walang nagsalita samin sa gitna ng biyahe, the atmosphere was very awkward, nakatitig nga lang ako sa labas ng bintana.

"Can I ask you something?" He asked.

I nodded.

"Why did you stop modeling?" His eyes were full of curiosity.

Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin dahil walang lumabas na sagot mula sa bibig ko. Hindi ko rin naman pwede sabihin sa kaniya ang tunay na dahilan.

"W-wala," That was the only word came out of my mouth.

Cole raised a brow "Ha? What do you mean?"

"I mean, there's no specific reason." I answered, bothered. Tumango lang ito.

Minutes have passed before he spoke again.

"Anyway, my parents don't know about Adriana. Huwag mo na lang banggitin ang pangalan niya." Usal nito.

I looked at him with a tinge of confusion "Paano nila hindi malalaman? She's famous!"

Nakita ko ang tipid na pagngisi nito "Connections,"

I became more baffled by what he mumbled. Sino ba talaga siya? Is he some kind of powerful person? Businessman? A CEO? I hissed in annoyance. Bakit ko ba kailangan pang isipin at malaman.

Pagkalipas ng ilang minuto nakarating na rin kami sa aming destinasyon. It was a big house–no, a mansion.

"Good evening, Sir Cole." The maids greeted, tinignan rin ako ng mga ito na parang gulat na gulat.

"Ma'am? Kayo ho ba yung sikat na m-model?" The lady in her 20's asked, stammering.

"Ay oo! Naalala ko na, Skye Erin Hernandez Claveron." Nag-bubulungan lang ito ngunit sapat na upang marinig namin.

The woman who was holding a feather duster looked up at me. "Nice to meet you, ma'am!"

I showed them my bright smile "It's a pleasure to meet you also!"

It warmed my heart, akala ko'y kapag tinalikuran ko ang pangarap ko makakalimutan ako kaagad ng mga tao though It's a part of life.

Iginaya na ako sa kusina ni Cole, nasaktuhan naman nang pagbaba ng mga magulang niya. His mother was stunning, kahit na may edad na ito hindi pa rin nawawala ang kagandahan at postura nito. Kasunod niyon ang pagbaba ng Ama nito na kamukhang-kamukha niya, para bang pinagbiyak na bunga.

Suddenly, a little kid ran towards me. He was holding a toy robot. Mukhang kakagising lang nito dahil papikit-pikit pa ito kung maglakad.

"Be careful!" I cautioned, mabuti na lang nasalo ko ito kun'di baka nadapa na siya sa sahig.

"I'm sorry po." Sambit ng bata, he's so cute! I want to pinch his fluffy cheeks but we're not that close yet. Lumapit ito kay Cole at tinaas ang magkabilang kamay, mukhang gusto magpabuhat. They look cute together.

Nadako naman ang atensiyon ko sa tinig ng isang ginang, it was his Mom. "Finally! Akala ko'y wala kang maihaharap saamin ng Dad mo." She chuckled "kailangan lang pala kita takutin ng kaunti."

"You have a great taste, son." His Dad stated.

Sinubukan kong hindi magulat ng hawakan nito ang kamay ko, Oh gosh! Bakit nga ulit ako pumayag?

"Of course! I won't settle for less, Dad" He even managed to intertwined our hand.

Naiilang man ngunit mabuti na lang at nagawa ko pa rin silang batiin "It's so nice to meet you, Mr. and Mrs. Velasco." Nilakad ko ang distansiya namin para maiabot ang paper bag "Just a simple gift for the both of you."

They looked delighted "How generous of you, darling. Anyway, I'm Nichole Velasco." Iginaya nito ang asawa, "while my husband is Raemond Velasco."

I nodded "Skye Erin Claveron po."

Tinuloy namin ang pag-uusap pagkatapos maupo sa hapag. Maraming nakahain na pagkain kung kaya't hindi ko alam kung anong ulam ang pipiliin.

"Paano nga pala kayo nagkakilala?" His father asked. It looks like Cole doesn't know what to say that's why I came up with an idea.

"Hindi po kasi tayo personal na nagkita pero ako po yung bumili ng lupa na pinagtayuan ng coffee house ko." I answered in as-a-matter-of-fact voice.

"Oh silly me! Ngayon ko lang naalala." He laughed.

"You're the famous model, right?" Mrs. Nichole asked.

Tinanguan ko ang ginang "Opo, but I already quitted."

Ramdam kong gusto pa nitong magtanong ngunit binaling na lang ang atensiyon kay Cole.

"Was it love at first sight, anak?" Her mom giggled.

I flinched, is that even real?

"I think so, she caught my attention at one glance." He smiled.

I felt something inside my stomach that's why I drank the glass of water in front of me.

"Ikaw hija, anong nagustuhan mo sa anak ko?" Mukhang kilig na kilig ito habang nakatingin saakin.

Pa'no ko ba naman sasagutin 'yon? Ang alam ko lang ay hilig niya ang magpaikot ng mga babae.

Their house was fully air-conditioned, yet I'm sweating, "There are so many reasons I can say but the thing that made me fall for him was his persistence. He won't even take no for an answer." We laughed at the last sentence.

Matapos ang mahabang hapunan hinatid na ako ni Cole pauwi sa bahay namin. Ayokong nananatili ng gabi sa bahay ko, nakakatakot na baka sa mga pagbabagong ginawa ko mag-iba rin ang ihip ng hangin.

"Thank you for today, Skye." Naramdaman ko nanaman ang kung anong bagay na nasa tiyan ko ng banggitin ng binata ang pangalan ko.

"No problem! You won't bother me again after this, right? I asked because I need assurance.

"We'll see about that." He winked before leaving.