Private Love

Chapter 6

I just switched my position.  I touched something soft. Kinapa ko it was a pillow. Wait, what a pillow? The last time I checked I was riding a limousine.

I slowly open my eyes. A golden color of wall and ceiling. Yan ang bumungad sa akin. I yawned. Then I brush my hand to my messy hair. Am I dreaming or what?

Umupo ako. Luminga ako sa right side ko and I saw the lined date palm outside. Now I know where I am.

Emirates Palace Hotel huh.

My stomach's gurmbles

Nagugutom na ako. Nakakaloka walang foods. Si Rod kaya nasaan?(Yiee manang hinahanap si PRRD haha)

Tumayo ako saka humarap sa may salamin. Kinuha ko nag suklay. Nagugutom na talaga ako kaya lalabas ako at kukuha ng pagkain.

While combing my hair, I wondered. Sino kaya ang bumuhat sa akin kanina. Alangan naman si Rod eh oldies na yun baka di ako keri nun. Baka pinabuhat ako sa Arabo. Oh no!! Baka kung sino sino bumuhat sa akin.

"Imee gi-"

"ayy heart! Nagugulat ka naman!", I said while chuckling and my right hand lie on my heart.

PRRD is smiling. "Gising ka na pala Josefa."

"Rod di pa ko gising!", I stated sarcastically. I don't call him PRRD or Mr. President when we're alone. (Overthink pa nga!)

(Yung kinilig ako sa nickname nila sa isa't isa. Ako Lang ba?)

Rod take a sit on the golden sofa.

"Rod wala bang foods? Yung mga alaga ko gutom na!"

"Meron na nasa baba pinahanda ko na! Kaya nga ako pumunta dito para gisingin ka sana at tanungin kung gusto mong kumain.", Sabi niya habang nakatingin sa akin.

"Ganun ba? So sa baba kakain?", tanong ko.

"Yes, but if you want pwede namang ipaakyat...

"No okay lang sa baba. Sabay na tayo ha. *I smile to him Hintayin mo lang ako saglit mag-aayos lang ako.", Sabi ko.

"Huwag ka ng mag-ayos. You already napintas!", Rod exclaimed. (Napintas-  it means pretty or beautiful in Ilocano.)

I looked to him and say, "Bola na naman yan Mr. President."

After saying that Rod stand up from sitting in sofa. Lumapit siya sa akin. Medyo kinabahan ako. Ewan ko ba, when it comes to him kinakabahan ako while debating sa senate or public speaking hindi ako nakakaramdam ng ganito.

Nang makalapit siya sa akin. He put her arms around my waist.

Para akong tinakasan ng hininga. Napalunok ako.

"You don't need to fix anything, you're already beautiful... undeniably beautiful.", he said habang nakatitig sa akin.

I'm a woman who never run out word yet I was speechless at this moment. So, I just smiled.

Sabay kaming pumunta kung saan kami kakain. Rod hand stay on my waist. A lot of times I tired to make palusot para sana alisin niya ang kamay niya sa bewang ko.

I tried to say na may nakalimutan ako kineme, but he just said you don't need anything to eat.

I tried to see some paintings on wall para lumayo sa kanya yet he insisted to see it too.

The last thing, kiniliti ko siya sa tagaliran para umigtad SANA, but his hand seems had a glue that keep stuck on my waist.

I ended giving up. I don't easily give up pero I feel safe while his hand is on mine. I feel secured.

Pagdating namin sa naprepare na table. I was quite surprised. The table was set so beautiful. From skirting to where it placed it's kinda have romantic vibe beacause of those pink and white roses.

Nang makalapit kami sa table. Rod grab the chair and pull it out. He's looking at me. Is he want me to sit?

"Have a sit?", He softly said. Gosh, help me dear God! Irene ano ba!!! Ikaw kasi na babae ka kung ano-anong sinabi mo ngayon para akong tanga. Kung ano-ano ng naiisip ko.

"Mr. Pres-"

"Imee don't be to formal, tayo lang dalawa ngayon.", he cutted me off .

By that umupo ako sa upuan.

I look at him and said "Thank you!".

Umikot si Rod saka umupo sa tapat ko.

PRRD's POV

Is she tensed or what?

Parang kanina pa siya naiilang.

"Imee may problema ka ba?", I asked. I don't usually asked questions like this but I felt like I needed to ask her.

"Wala naman. It just that, I felt nervous I think."

"Nerbyos? Nakakaramdam ka din pala ng ganya." pabiro kong sabi.

"Oo naman noh!", she answered in Imee Marcos way and with her unique expression.

"Kasi naman where living on a country that has a lot of issues."

"Kaya pala lumalayo ka.", Sabi ko.

"Nahalata mo? Sorry!", she said awkwardly. Ang cute ng expression talaga nitong babaeng to.

Hinawakan ko ang kamay ni Imee na nakapatong sa ibabaw ng mesa. "Huwag kang mag-alala walang chismosong media dito. Beside this is just a friendly lunch date.", pabiro ko ulit pero ang totoo crush lunch date. Humagikhik si Imee.

She tapped my hand na nakapatong sa isan kamay niya "Kumain na nga tayo! Nagugutom na ako.", she said . Kahit kailan talaga matakaw to.

"Shawarma, Tabbouleh(tuh-boo-lee), Hummus, Baba Ganoush, Chelo Kebab, and Manousheh.", she read in British accent the name of famous Arab dishes in front of us. She sounds expensive.

"Ang arte hahah!", she added pagtapos niyang basahin ang mga pangalan nito.

"Shawarma for me, *she get it and put on her plate, then nilagyan niya Yung plate ko, Shawarma for you."

Then we eat.

"Tabbouleh, in pilipinas salad.", sabi niya saka kumuha.

"Ito, scrambled egg.", sabi ko sa Baba Ganoush, saka tinikman.

"Masarap pala ang itlog na binatil na may kalabasa at kanin.", Sabi ko.

"Tikman mo?", I said saka kumuha ng kaunti nito at sinubuan ko siya. (Imagine pa hahha, hulaan ko nakangiti kang kinikilig)

"Pwedeng gawin yan sa Pilipinas masarap pang almusal. Hihihi.", Sabi niya.

"Ikaw magluluto?", tanong ko.

"Oo pagdadaan ako ng malacañang ng maaga.", Sabi niya habang nakangiti.

"I will looking forward to it!", Sabi ko na habang ginagaya ang bristish accent ni Imee.

"Langya ka rod! Mga kalokohan mo talaga. ", tawang-tawa sabi ni Imee

We've had a non-stop chika while eating. I did enjoy it. A not so romantic lunch date yet fun.

Parang gusto ko na sanang huwag matapos eh.

Author's Note:

Happy Birthday _Nimee_ ! Enjoy your day! Thanks for reading! Muah!