Minsan Pa

Chapter Forty Four

"Tada!" Isang pumpon ng bulaklak ang bumulaga kay Cali pagbukas niya ng pintuan.

"Flowers for the most beautiful woman on the planet," si Drake. He was smiling at her widely.

Pinilit niyang tumawa. Inabot niya mula rito ang bouquet, "thank you."

"Are you unwell?" He asked. Kinintalan siya nito ng mabilis na halik sa mga labi bago nagtuloy pumasok. "Your voice sounds a little rough and your eyes look a little puffy," kumento ng binata, sinalat nito ng palad ang kanyang pisngi, checking if she has a fever.

"N-no. M-migraine lang."

"Uminom ka na ba ng gamot?"

Isang mahinang tango ang naging tugon ng dalaga. "Halika na, I cooked a special dinner."

Umikot si Drake sa kanyang likod at niyakap siya mula sa baywang. He buried his face on her hair, inhaling her scent. "Can't I have you first sweetheart? Hmmnn? I missed you so much..."

Please don't make this too hard for me, Drake... piping dalangin ng puso niya.

She inhaled and filled her lungs with air. Abot abot ang dalangin niya na sana ay huwag bumagsak ang mga luha niya. She bit her lower lip bago humarap dito at pilit pinasigla ang tinig. "Tikman mo muna ang mga niluto ko ha? I made lasagna, fillet mignon... and I bought a bottle  red wine too..." pinilit niyang ngumiti as she wrapped her arms around his neck.

"Wow special dinner? What's the occasion? Are you perhaps saying yes to me tonight?" Nanunukso ang tinig nito.

Nag-iwas ng mga mata si Cali. Hindi niya kayang titigan ang mga mata ng binata gayong sakit lamang ang masasalamin nito sa kanya. Yes, she is hurting right now more than words could say. She felt betrayed all over again. Gusto man niyang awayin ito, sumbatan, pero ano ba ang mababago ng mga iyon? Will that erase him from her heart? Will that ease the pain? For the last time tonight, she will let herself be the biggest fool, she will let herself love him one last time...

"Hay naku, lalamig na lahat ng niluto ko oh," pag-iiba niya ng usapan. Kumalas siya mula sa pagkakayakap nito at nagpatiuna sa hapag. She poured some red wine in their wine glasses bago muling tumingin kay Drake, "let's eat."

Habang kumakain ay nagkukuwento si Drake ng development sa Ambassador. Ayon dito ay on track naman ang project at mukhang makakapag launch ang hotel ayon sa schedule.

"I was thinking of quitting the CEO seat once the project is done," Drake said out of the blue. He raised his head and looked at her, inaantay ang kanyang reaksyon.

Cali reached for the glass of wine at bahagyang sumimsim mula roon. So, what Aimee told her was true. Alam niyang hindi kusang loob na magbibitaw si Drake, he is forced to do so and she knows the reason why.

"B-bakit?" She innocently asked.

Nagkibit ng balikat ang binata, "I guess I'm tired? Ilang taon na rin namang nasa akin ang posisyon. Maybe one of my cousins would be interested to take over," he paused and reached for her hand, marahang pinisil nito ang kanyang kamay na nakapatong sa lamesa, "I was thinking you and I could probably start our own little business once we're married... how about in the US or kahit dito sa Pilipinas?"

Tila may bumalalak sa lalamunan ni Cali, hindi na yata niya kayang pigilan ang mga luha niya. She abruptly stood up from her seat, "I-I'm just going to the washroom. E-excuse me..." mabilis siyang tumalikod at lumakad palayo. Naiwan si Drake na nakaguhit ang pagtataka sa mukha.

Isinara ni Cali ang pintuan ng banyo at sumandal doon. She bit her lip so hard to keep a sob that it almost bled. Tahimik siyang umiyak, clenching her fist near her chest. Saying goodbye the second time around is even  harder than the first one. Hindi niya alam kung paano malalagpasan ang gabing iyon na hindi bumibigay ang tunay na damdamin sa harap ni Drake.