Monasterio Series #5: Risks and Chances

Kabanata 26

Kabanata 26

Yakap

"Pupunta ka?" tanong sa akin ni Alas habang nasa isang coffee shop kami. He fetched me from the office and asked where I wanted to stay for the meantime.

"My family will be there so..." I shrugged my shoulders.

It's late new year when we both received an invitation for a business tycoon's birthday celebration that will be held in Peridot hotel. Nabanggit na rin sa akin ni Daddy ang tungkol dito kaya siguradong magpupunta sila.

"Susunduin kita. Magkasama tayong pupunta roon." sabi niya.

"We will be partners?" Natawa ako. "How about your sister? You two should be partners. Ganoon rin kami ni Zadriel."

Umiling siya saka hinawakan ang kamay kong nasa ibabaw lang ng mesa. He played with my fingers like he finds it interesting.

"She's an introvert."

"She is? I didn't notice that."

"Yeah. She's a man hater, too. I don't know why but we all respect if she's acting that way. It's her life after all."

Tumango-tango ako. Hindi ko inasahan na ganoon ang kapatid niya. The first time I met her, I even thought to myself that we're alike. Na parehas kaming may pagka-bitchesa.

"I'll fetch you by seven in the evening. Sa penthouse mo?" tanong ni Alas.

Tumango ako. "Doon ako uuwi pagkatapos ng trabaho."

Plano kong ipagtapat na kay Alas ang totoo. Na may nararamdaman na rin ako para sa kaniya. Pero kailangang siya muna ang magbukas ng tema tungkol sa amin. I don't have the guts to open that topic up all by myself. Ni minsan ay hindi ko pa naranasan ang gumawa ng unang hakbang pagdating sa lalaki.

Naisip kong hindi naman siguro masama kung pagbigyan ko ang sarili kong mahalin siya nang walang limitasyon at takot. Zadriel is right — I need to trust Alas. Hindi ko malalamang totoo nga siya sa akin kung hindi ko susubukan.

And it's months since Trish broke up with him. She must be happy right now with her life without Alas. There's no reason for her to come back and be with him again. Kung babalik siya, sana noon pa.

Time to give yourself a chance to be happy, Ania.

Inihatid ako ni Alas sa penthouse kinagabihan. Dito na rin siya kumain ng hapunan at nagluto pa para sa akin. I can cleary see his efforts to show me that he's seriously in love with me. Ramdam ko naman, matagal na. Ako lang talaga ang humahadlang sa sarili ko.

"I wonder what I'm going to wear tomorrow." I said while my eyes are on the TV screen.

Nasa tabi ko si Alas, kumakain ng pop corn at seryosong nanonood. I can say that he's into action movies. Ni isang eksena ay hindi niya pinalagpas. Kahit kapag kakausapin ko siya, sasagot siya ngunit hindi aalisin ang mga mata mula sa pinapanood.

"Whatever's you're comfortable with."

"Hmm, even it's too revealing?"

"It depends. If you can carry it without looking disrespectful in everyone's eyes, then it's no big deal"

I chuckled. "It's surprising to hear that there's still someone who has that kind of belief. Men nowadays are too possessive. I find them very toxic."

He threw some popcorns inside his mouth and munched. "I have no problem with my woman wearing revealing clothes, Ania. It's not for me to deal with it."

"Hmm, open-minded, huh?"

Sinulyapan niya ako at nginisian. "But my baby doesn't wear revealing clothes. Always the elegant one."