Chapter Twenty Eight

"Are you okay? Mukhang wala kang tulog? at saka kanina ka pa nakatulala diyan," puna ni Matt.

"H-huh?" she shook her head a little bit before focusing her attention on the document in front of her. 

Dumukwang si Matt upang tignan ang kanyang ginagawa. "Creativity block? aba'y kanina mo pa tinititigan iyan pero parang wala namang nadagdag na detalye ah!" ang tinutukoy nito ay ang interior design layout ng Ambassador na kanina pa niya pinipilit gawin. 

For some reason, wala kahit anong ideya ang pumapasok sa kanyang ulo, sa halip ay mukha ni Drake ang parati ay sumisingit sa kanyang isip.

She sighed bago tumayo sa kinauupuan at kinuha ang shoulder bag. "Let's go grab some coffee? I think I need some fresh air."

"Go ahead. Marami pa akong kailangang tapusin eh. But you can bring me a cup of Mochaccino later," nakangiting ani Matt.

Isang tango ang kanyang itinugon sa kaibigan bago lumabas ng opisina.

Dahil sa malapit lamang ang cafe sa kanilang opisina ay napag desisyunan ni Cali na maglakad na lamang. She could really use some fresh air, dahil kasi sa nangyari kagabi ay tila nabulabog ang buong pagkatao niya. 

Damn you, Drake Lustre!  Tila batang naipadyak niya ang mga paa dala ng inis, panandaliang nakalimutan na nasa gitna siya ng sidewalk.

Calm down, Cali...huwag kang masyadong magpa apekto sa hudas na 'yon! Show him you are no longer the naive Cali that he knew. Be professional and don't lose your composure...  She reminded herself bago muling naglakad papunta sa coffee house.

Matapos makaorder ay pinili niya ang isang sulok ng cafe kung saan walang masyadong tao. Isinandig niya ang likod sa upuan at saglit na ipinikit ang mga mata. The subtle jazz music and the aroma of coffee seemed to be effective in soothing her troubled mind.

"I might kiss you again if you keep that expression on your face, sweetheart."

Marahas na iminulat ni Cali ang mga mata, at hindi siya nagkamali, the very man who was troubling her mind since yesterday was seated across from her, nakakalumbaba ito at walang pakundangang nakatitig sa kanya.

"Ikaw na naman?! Stalker ka ba?" Iningusan niya ito.

Narinig niya ang marahang tawang pinakawalan nito, na para bang naaaliw sa sinabi niya. "I went to your office but you weren't there."

"So kailangan mo akong sundan dito?"

Umunat si Drake sa kinauupuan, "we need to go to the site now, may gusto akong ipabago sa interior plan," kaswal na anito.

"Are you serious? All the plans have been submitted and approved, all that's left are little details that I am already working on, hindi mo pwedeng basta basta na lang ipabago -"

"And why not? If I remember correctly, I am paying Perfect Space for the services, I have the right to change things in the plan as I deem fit and beneficial for the hotel," Drake answered in a business-like tone.

Bumuga siya ng hangin paitaas kasabay ng hindi maitagong pagikot ng mga mata sa inis sa kausap. "O siya sige po, boss," she retorted unable to sound genuine, "sabay na kami ni Matt na luluwas pa Tagatay mamaya-"

"No need. We will go together, that's why I'm here," putol ng binata sa sinasabi niya.

"I refuse. Matt and I will-"

"Matt said susunod na lang daw siya at may tinatapos pa. He said we should go ahead para mabilis matapos." Tumayo ito sa kinauupuan and held out his right hand to her, "shall we get going?"

She breathed deeply as her jaws tightened. She could kill Matt later for tossing her into the deep blue ocean with this bastard!

Padabog siyang tumayo at nagpatiunang tinungo ang pintuan palabas ng cafe, completely ignoring his hand. She didn't see the smile that crossed Drake's lips as his eyes followed her.

*******

Habang daan ay halos walang kibuan ang dalawa. Kulang na lamang ay patagilid maupo si Calista upang masigurong palagi siyang nakaharap sa bintana at hindi masulyapan ang mukha ng binata na siyang nagmamaneho. 

It's been so long since they've been confined together in a car like this, she can't help but feel nostalgic, na lalo lamang nagpatindi sa kaba sa kanyang dibdib. Parang nag sa-saumersault na yata ang puso niya sa kanyang dibdib! Everytime Drake is nearby, her senses seem to be heightened, maging ang samyo ng binata ay tila kinikiliti ang kanyang ilong, inevitably taking her back to places and times she wished she would forget altogether!

"Are you okay?"

"Just don't talk to me," mataray na sagot niya without even looking at him.

Sa kanyang pagkagulat ay malakas na tumawa ang binata, filling the car with his laughter. 

Galit siyang tumingin dito, "do I look like I am a joke to you, Mr. Lustre?!"

"Eh bakit ba kasi ang sungit mo? Why are you so hostile towards me Cali?"

Hindi siya sumagot, bagkus ay muling ibinalik ni Cali ang paningin sa labas ng bintana.

Why am I mad at you? How dare you! As if hindi mo alam, you bastard!  Gusto sana niyang isigaw sa mukha nito, ngunit sa halip ay itinikom niya ang bibig.

Naipagpasalamat ni Cali na hindi na kumibo si Drake. Mahaba pa ang araw but she already feels tired from their bickering. Sa totoo lang ay hindi niya alam kung paano niya tatagalan ang maghapong kasama ito sa iisang lugar.

Sandaling katahimikan ang namayani sa pagitan nilang dalawa. Drake must've reached and turned on the radio after a while, dahil isang kanta ang pumainlanlang:

And I don't know how I knew it

But I knew it somehow

You're the answer to the question, no one's answered till now...

...stars that glisten, lips for kissing

Honey listen it's true, no one ever loved you better

I love you honey, I love you...

Natigilan si Cali pagkarinig sa musikang banayad na pumupuno sa sasakyan. Hindi niya namalayan ang agad na pamamasa ng mga mata. Ihinarap niyang maigi ang mukha sa bintana upang itago ang emosyong hindi niya lubusang maitago. She would look like a fool in front of Drake if he finds out that this simple song still affects her. Disimulado niyang pinahid ang luhang nagbabadya mula sa mga mata.

"Do you remember this song?" there was a hint of tenderness in Drake's voice.

"Please turn off the radio... I don't want to hear it," she answered.

Tila walang narinig si Drake. "This was the song on our first date in Tagaytay and -"

"I said I don't want to hear it!" she snapped, kasabay ng marahas na pagharap dito.

"Okay, relax..." pagpapaubaya ng binata. He reached for the radio button and turned it off, pagkatapos ay walang imik na ibinalik ang atensyon sa pagmamaneho.

Cali turned her face to the window and bit her lower lip to keep her from crying. Nagagalit siya sa sarili dahil naaapektuhan pa rin siya ng nakaraan! Just how long will she be a prisoner of the past? Just how long will she hurt dahil sa mga maling desisyon niya sa buhay? How long will this bastard hurt her?

********

"So, what did you want to change in the plan?" matabang na tanong ni Cali habang sinisipat ang kabuuan ng bulwagan ng hotel. Malapit ng matapos ang buong arkitektura at hindi magtatagal ay sisimulan na nila ang proyekto.

"I was thinking that the hotel could use a more modern, contemporary theme." Sagot ni Drake. 

Marahas ang naging paglingon niya sa binatang nakatayo sa kanyang likuran. "What? You're kidding, right? How could you go from a Venetian inspired theme to contemporary modern, right at this time when the project is almost starting!"

"I've had a change of heart, that's it. I think the hotel would be better with a modern-inspired interior instead of the original Venetian," kibit balikat na anito.

Change of heart? Right. Just like the old Drake who could just have a change of heart as he pleases!

"Change of heart?" She laughed without humor. "Sabagay, sanay ka naman nga pala na bigla na lang magbago ng isip at itapon na lang na parang basura ang mga bagay at tao hindi ba?" Huli na para bawiin niya ang sinabi.

Kumunot ang noo ni Drake na animo'y hindi naiintindihan ang sinabi niya. "Just what do you mean by that?"

She pretended she didn't hear what he said. "It's impossible to do what you want. Nakahanda na ang lahat, kung gusto mong biglang ipabago ngayon, baka ma-delay at mas tatagal ang trabaho, which means, we will miss the targeted date of launching this hotel."

"Walang problema. I could give you more time. But don't tell me it can't be done."

Isang malakas na buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ni Cali, "I am telling you. It's impossible!"

"Then terminate the contract if it's impossible for Perfect Space." Naghahamon ang tinging ibinigay nito sa kanya.

"And what? Magbayad kami ng termination fee?! Napaka tuso mo talaga!" Nanggigigil na sagot niya. This bastard knows they can't afford to terminate the contract dahil sa termination fee na kailangan nilang bayaran.

"That's not my problem anymore. Both you and your boyfriend signed it. I take it that you read all the contract conditions, and if you haven't, let me tell you that as the client, it states that I have the right to make amendments to this project."

He started walking towards her, all the while his eyes were glued onto hers. Gustong tumakbo palayo ni Cali ngunit parang naestatwa na yata ang mga binti niya at ayaw tuminag!

Drake stopped a few inches away from her, halos magkadikit na ang kanilang mga katawan sa lapit nito. 

Cali's chest heaved up and down, pinipilit niyang kalmahin ang puso niyang sunod-sunod ang pintig.

"There's actually an easier way Cali. You don't have to go through all of these..."

Pati yata dila ni Cali ay umurong na dahil wala man lamang salitang namutawi sa kanyang mga labi, sa halip ay tila siya tangang  nanatiling nakatitig lamang sa guwapong mukha ni Drake, unable to move or say anything.

Drake slowly bent his head and brought his lips near her ear as he softly whispered, "...be my woman again, Cali..."