Chasing Admon Damien

Chapter 22

Vandross and I talked for about thirty minutes over the phone. I spent most of my time that afternoon talking to him.

Naalala ko ang pag-alis ni Adam na hindi man lang nagpaalam sa akin. Bakit, sino ka ba naman sa buhay niya, Cres? You’re just a nobody to him since he can’t remember you. Don’t expect anything from him. He’s not your Adam.

Hindi ko nga pala natanong kung sino ang ka lunch date niya bukas. Must be a girl? No. I shook my head at that thought. He already had Katrina. Hindi naman siguro nabago ang pagiging faithful niya sa isang babae?


By the way, what would I bring him tomorrow? Nakapangalumbaba ako habang nag-iisip ng dapat gawin. Kung hindi siya kakain ng lunch dito, edi, gawan ko na lang kaya siya ng dessert. Yes, that’s it. Adam loves sweets. Surely, magugustuhan niya iyong gagawin ko. Hindi niya kayang tanggihan yun. Kaya naman napangiti ako sa naisip at medyo na-excite. Medyo matagal na din kasi noong huli akong nag-bake. Nasa New York pa ako nung mga panahong 'yun.

Si Lyca ang lagi kong kasama kapag nagbi-bake ako dahil siya naman ang matakaw sa sweets. Natatawa nga ako minsan dahil palagi niya akong kinukulit na mag-bake. Gustong-gusto ko naman dahil paano, kahit medyo palpak minsan ang gawa ko ay gustong-gusto niya pa din.


Medyo nakaramdam ako ng lungkot, na-miss ko tuloy yung babaeng yun.  Ang problema ko nalang ngayon ay kung may mga gamit bang pang bake si kuya sa condo niya. Hindi naman niya forte ang pagbi-bake at kailanman hindi pa yata siya nag-bake. Pero sana naman meron. 


Pagka-alas singko ay tumayo na ako sa upuan para makaalis na. Nakikipagkita  kasi sa akin si Vandross. He asked me  to meet him at Griddle after work. Kanina pa naman ako walang ginagawa kaya inayos ko na ang mga gamit ko. Some of the paperworks today and  tomorrow were done because I did it  yesterday so there's no problem about it. Ayoko kasi yung nagra-rush ako ng trabaho, may mga nakakaligtaan kasi akong gawin kapag ganun. Kaya iniiwasan kong mag-rush, at hanggat maaari, I am doing the important stuffs  ahead of time. 


Bago ako umalis ay nagtungo muna  ako sa comfort room para mag-freshen up. Ngumiti ako sa salamin at nagbuntong-hininga.

What if’s’ flooded my mind. What if the accident didn’t happen three years ago? Kasal na ba kami ni Adam sa mga panahong ito? May anak na din kaya kami? Sigurado akong masayang-masaya kaming dalawa dahil natupad namin ang aming mga pangarap.


If the accident didn’t happen, will he achieve all of these? Well, there’s no doubt on that. For sure, even if the accident didn’t happen years ago, he will still be as successful as now.

Isang pasada pa sa aking pangarap nakapagdesisyon na akong umais. I took a cab to Griddle and it took me about ten-minutes to get there. I smiled when I had a glimpse of Vandross sitting at the table near the window. Kung hindi unang dumating si Adam sa buhay ko siguro magkaka-crush ako sa kanya. Mestizo siya, matangkad at gwapo. He had soft features while Adam looked ruthlessly hot and handsome. I prefer Adam’s appeal than Vandross.

He instantly got up from his seat when he saw me.

“I’m not late, right?” I said as I approached him.

He pulled a chair for me. “Of course not, babe. Nauna ako kasi excited ako dahil na-miss talaga kita.”

If someone would hear us, he might think that we are lovers because of the way he addresses me and he is extra sweet to me. But I am used to him already. Hindi ko naman siya masisi dahil sa America siya lumaki. He was influenced with the culture there so I understand him. Hindi naman big deal sa akin ito noong nasa ibang bansa pa kami. But now that we’re in the Philippines wherein people are conservative, I can’t help but to be conscious.

“What do you want to order?” he asked when I was settled on my seat.

I started looking at the menu to order. “I am craving for cheesy spicy chicken and an orange juice.”

He nodded and called the waiter to get our orders. As soon as the waiter took our orders, he quickly went off.


"So, how are the girls? Ang daya, bakit hindi nila ako tinatawagan? I  kept on calling them pero hindi nila sinasagot. Pati din si Drei. Busy ba silang lahat?" panimula ko.


"Darating daw sila dito next month, eh." 


I pouted at his answer. "Hindi man lang sila nagsasabi sa akin." 


"Well, honestly babe it's a surprise. But thanks to me I spoiled it."


I can't help burst into laughter. Yes, indeed. He really spoiled it.  "Oh, what an spoiler. "I teased him.


"Just act surprised if you saw them here  next month."  Mas lalo akong natawa sa kanya. Yes, of  course. I will. 


Iniba ko ang usapan.."Paano mo naman nalaman kung saang kompanya ako nagtatrabaho?" 


"You did mention it, babe."


Napakunot ako ng noo. "I did?"  Tumango lang siya at siya namang pagdating ng aming orders. “So, talagang pinagplanuhan mo?”

He chuckled sexily before he placed my foods properly in front of me.

“Nga pala, nagkita na kayo ni Vaughn?” I asked as I started to devour my food. I really love chicken wings. Buti na lang dito naisipan ni Vandross kami magkita.

“Not yet. His trip to Manila will be tomorrow morning. Sa private plane namin siya sasakay kaya makakadating siya kaagad. By the way, he’s with his girlfriend.”

My mouth formed into an ‘O’. I felt so giddy and excited about it. “Really? Can I meet them?”

He chuckled at my reaction. “Of course, he’s as excited as you.”

“Thank you!”

He brought his car and he insisted to drive me home. Ang sabi niya, hindi na nga daw ako nagpasundo sa kanya tapos tatanggi pa akong magpahatid. He took that ungentlemanly. Fine, edi siya na gentleman. Sana si Adam ganito din sa akin.

“Buti nakahanap ka kaagad ng place mo?”

“It’s not mine. It’s my kuya Kael’s. Wala pa akong nahahanap, eh. But I'll surely look  next week."


"I can accompany you. I know a lot of best  condominiums here."  I stopped on my tracks and laughed at what he had said.


"Wow, really? Coming from someone who just got back home and someone who was raised in New York." 


Napakamot siya sa kanyang ulo at nahihiyang ngumiti. "Fine, wala akong alam pero magtatanong din ako kay tito. I just want to help you out." 


Hindi ko mapigilang titigan siya at mapangiti ng totoo, yung galing sa puso ko. My heart is overflowing with joy because I am blessed with good friends.


Nagulat ako nang pagbukas ng elevator ay nakita ko si Adam na palabas. He's alone and he wears his signature look. He is wearing a semi-formal blue tee shirt and black maong pants. Wait, does he live here? Oh my gosh! Hindi na ako maghahanap ng condo, I will ask kuya to let me stay here! 

His gazed moved to me. Nagtagal ang  titig niya sa akin bago napunta kay Vandross. Then he glanced back at me. I smiled at him but he just ignored me.  With a dark aura, he moved out from the  elevator and left without saying anything. 

"That's your boss, right?"  And also my boyfriend, I wanted to add but refrained myself.  

“Ah, oo.”

My whole attention was on Adam’s back leaving the building.

“Tara na.”

I was startled when Vandross held my hand to pull me inside the elevator. It was past eight in the evening when Vandross left my unit. As soon as he left, naghanap na ako ng mga gagamitin para makapag-bake na ako. But I was dissapointed when I found no ingredients. Well, ano pa bang aasahan ko? Kuya Kael doesn’t bake kaya wala siyang mga ingredients pero buti na lang at may mga gamit naman siya na kakailanganin ko.

It was nine in the evening when I went down to go to the grocery store to buy for the ingredients I will be using. Naghanap pa ako ng mabibilhan dahil karamihan sa mga grocery stores ay sarado na at this time. Buti na lang at nakahanap ako wherein malapit lang sa unit ko.

Mag twelve na noong natapos ako sa pagbi-bake at parang napawi ang lahat ng pagod ko dahil masarap ang mga gawa ko. I gently put the blueberry cheesecake inside the box and put it in the refrigerator.

Puyat, yes, but I know it’s worth it. I slept with a smile on my face even if I was so tired the whole day.

Pagdating ko kinaumagahan sa opisina ay nandoon na si Adam nagtatrabaho. Very  workaholic. Does he even have a decent  sleep? Sana hindi niya binubugbog ang sarili niya sa trabaho. 


Before I entered his office, I made him  first a black coffee. He doesn't use  creamer I suppose because I cant find any creamers in the pantry.  With the box of cheesecake and coffee in my hands, I entered his office.

Naabutan ko siyang may binabasa sa  kanyang computer at seryosong-seryoso. With the black ray ban, he looks breathtakingly handsome. Hmm.. Ang sarap sigurong maupo lang sa kanyang harapan at panoorin siyang nagbabasa maghapon. I won't get bored, promise!

"Good morning, sir. I made you coffee and a cheesecake to sweeten your day.”

Nag-angat siya ng mukha at nakakunot-noong tumitig sa akin.


"Here, I baked this last night."  Lumapit ako sa upuan niya at nag-umpisang buksan ang box para makain niya na ang cheesecake.  

“Why didn’t you just give it to your boyfriend?”

“Binigyan ko na.” of course, I am referring to him.

But it just made his mood more sour. Parang anumang oras ay masasaktan niya ako kapag nagpatuloy pa ako dahil sa nakikita kong inis sa mukha niya. Pero may tiwala akong hindi niya ako sasaktan. He’s not a violent person. I just don’t want to push his buttons so I stopped talking. I bowed my head and continued unboxing the cheesecake.

“I’m not fond of sweets so it’s okay if you won’t give me next time.” Mahinahon niyang wika at may pag-iingat sa kanyang boses. Napapikit siya at hinilot ang kanyang sentido.

Liar. I know you love sweets. Don’t push me away, baby. Please. Ipinikit-pikit ko ang mga mata para hindi tuluyang mahulog ang mga nagbabadyang luha. “Bibigyan pa din kita.” Ngumiti ako ng plit nang humarap sa kanya. “There, kainin mo, ha? Baka sakaling maalala mo ang mga hindi dapat kinakalimutan.”

Nag-angat siya ng tingin pero nanatiling nakakunot ang kanyang noo sa akin. I smiled and massaged his creased eyebrows. “Have a good day.”

Nasa harap na ako ng pintuan nang may maalala. Muli akong pumihit paharap sa kanya para makapagtanong.


I caught him staring at the blueberry cheesecake as if trying to decipher it. Muntik na akong natawa pero pinigilan ko lang. I cleared my throat and it made him look at me.

“Kagabi, doon din ba ang condo mo?” I asked bravely.


“No.” maikling sagot niya.

No? Napasimangot naman ako doon. Eh di, saan pala?

“Eh, anong ginagawa mo doon?

“I believe it’s a private matter, miss Enriquez. I didn’t question you what you and your boyfriend did in that place.”

Kumunot ang aking noo. “Boyfriend?” Hindi siya nagsalita at nanatili lang na nakatitig sa akin. His eyes are serious and dark.

“Inihatid lang niya ako-“

“Wala na akong pakialam doon, miss Enriquez. He's your boyfriend and you can do whatever you want to do." 

My face heated up at what he had said. What does he mean by that? His words  came out adulterated for me. He then started  focusing on the papers on his desk and I took that as a sign that he is dismissing  me. 

"Wait up there, he's not my boyfriend." I caught his attention. He is observing me intently as if I am a piece of puzzle he  has to solve.  "Hindi ko nga siya boyfriend." giit ko  pa. Para akong batang napagalitan at nagpapaliwanag sa harapan ng magulang. 


"Boyfriend or not, wala na akong pakialam dun. Thanks for the cheesecake. You can go back to your work now."   Masungit niyang wika. Muli niyang itinuon ang buong atensyon sa mga papeles sa kanyang harapan.


Nangilid ang mga luha sa mga mata ko. Bakit napakahirap niyang paamuin? I’m doing everything I can para mapansin niya pero walang epekto sa kanya. Ano pa ba ang pwede kong gawin? God! Bigyan Niyo pa po ako ng mas mahabang pasensiya para hindi sumuko.