Romancing the Devil

CHAPTER 2

“Callum Travis Villanueva,” he handed me his hand while looking so intimidating in front of me.

I gulp before shaking his hand firmly, “H-Hailey Avery de Guzman.” pagpapakilala ko sabay bawi ng aking kamay sa kaniya at iwas ng tingin.

“It’s a pleasure to finally meet you, Ms. de Guzman.” his husky voice sent shivers down my spine.

“L-Likewise. And uh . . . Hailey or Avery na lang ang itawag mo sa akin. It’s too formal if you’ll call me Ms. De Guzman every time.” I said while looking away from his intense eyes.

He chuckled, “I prefer to call you Avery. I like it more.” he said seductively.

I frowned and look at him straight in his eyes. “Okay,”

“You can call me Callum or Travis.” he said without taking his eyes off me.

“Callum,” parang sanay na sanay akong bigkasin ang kaniyang pangalan nang tumama ang aking dila sa aking ngala-ngala at ngipin.

It feels like a deja vu.

He was my crush... When I was in College. He’s my senior that time and I was a freshman. Mga panahong bago ako sa eskwelahan dahil iyon ang una kong pasok sa isang totoo at prestihiyosong eskwelahan. Because I was homeschooled. I don’t know his name, it’s just his face. Lalo na’t nakakahiyang magtanong sa mga kaklase ko tungkol sa pangalan niya.

And when I first laid my eyes on him, I felt my heart throbbed so hard as I look at him with so much adoration. But he never laid an eye on me. He never look at me because I’m just a mere freshman that time. He won’t look at me how hard I tried.

“Let’s have a sit now,” ani Daddy na nagpagising sa diwa ko.

Marahan akong umupong muli sa kinauupuan ko habang tinitingnan si Mr. Villanueva na umuupo sa katapat kong couch.

He’s dashingly handsome. Walang pinagbago sa kagwapuhan niyang taglay. Only that he aged and matured. His bodybuilt matured. His hair isa disheveled that made him more attractive. His serious light brown eyes still looks distant and mysterious. He really can pass as a GQ model if he wants. But I know he wouldn’t like it. He’d like to have his own privacy and far from those medias. Kahit naman noong college.

He’s I think 3 or 4 years ahead of me. Because when I was a freshman, he’s already graduating. Sayang nga at hindi ko man lang siya nakausap o hindi man lang ako nagkaroon ng pagkakataong makausap siya. Dahil hindi naman din ako palakaibigan.

“Let’s order first, shall we?” ani Mommy dahil nagsisimula nang mag-usap si Daddy at si Mr. Villanueva tungkol sa kung saan.

Pumasok ang waiter at kinuha ang aming order. Nang maka-order na kaming lahat ay umalis na rin agad ito.

“She’s my second daughter and she’s intelligent, Mr. Villanueva. Paniguradong magugustuhan mong makasama siya dahil mabait ang batang ito.” ang tinig ni Daddy ay para na talaga niya akong ibinubugaw sa lalaking kausap niya.

When I looked up to who’s in front of me, I caught him looking at me intently. Hindi ko makayanan ang tindi ng kaniyang titig kaya naman agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin sa kaniya at napalunok nang mariin.

Nagpatuloy sila sa pag-uusap tungkol sa akin na parang wala ako rito. If they’re asking me, that’s when I will talk. Pero kapag hindi, tahimik ako at nakikinig lamang habang tinitingnan kung sino ang nagsasalita. Pero kapag si Mr. Villanueva na ang nagsasalita ay hindi ko matagalan dahil bigla-bigla siyang napapabaling sa akin na nagiging dahilan ng pag-iwas ko ng tingin.

Dumating ang order namin at isa-isa ‘yong inilapag sa aming lamesa. Ngayon ko lang naramdaman ang gutom dahil hindi naman ako kumain sa bahay bago umalis. When the waiter leave, they continued what they’re talking.