Domineering Night

Chapter 11: The Three Days Courtship

"Baby."

Halos madapa ako nang marinig ko ang pamilyar na boses ni Jasen. Kalalabas ko lang sa Starlight dahil kinuha ko ang schedule ng shooting ko para sa Love Amidst The Grudges.

"What are you doing here? Katatawag mo lang kanina a?" Nagtataka kong tanong.

"Let's date."

Muntik ko nang mabitiwan ang hawak kong folder dahil sa sinabi niya. What the hell? I told him to give me time to think!

"Sabi ko, bigyan mo 'ko ng oras—" he cut me off.

"Hindi naman kita minamadali." Napakurap ako nang buksan niya ang kotse niya. "Baby, I heard from a friend that girls never entered in a relationship without courtship. So I think we could use these upcoming three days to prove my sincerity towards you. I'm here as your suitor so let me bring you out for lunch date."

Halos mahulog ang puso ko sa narinig ko. Again, what the hell? Anong klaseng manliligaw ba siya? He's practically saying that I don't have the right to reject him! At ano raw? Don't tell me tatlong araw lang siyang manliligaw?

Umawang ang mga labi ko nang rumehistro ang mga iyon sa isip ko... Forget it. It's better than his original plan na pipilitin niya akong makipagrelasyon sa kaniya nang hindi ko man lang siya nakikilala.

"Okay," pagpayag ko at sumakay sa sasakyan niya.

I could use this three days courtship to know if he's worthy of knowing Jaze. If he's a good person. I know that with his immeasurable wealth, he could give anything to Jaze. But could he be a good father? That's what I want to know.

"When did you start acting?" Napatingin ako sa kaniya nang basagin niya ang katahimikang namayani sa paligid namin.

I pondered for a moment, remembering the time where I started to love acting. "No'ng high school ako, I remember the teacher assigned me to play the role of Laura in Florante at Laura. Nahihiya pa 'ko no'ng una kasi nga, first time ko. Pero as I read the script and studied the emotion of the character, I thought that acting isn't bad. Simula noon, I started volunteering as an actress whenever we have a play." Kuwento ko habang nakangiti.

"Entertainment industry is terrible," sambit niya. Sinulyapan niya ako at hinawakan ang ulo ko. "But if that's what my baby wants, I'm willing to support you. I will not meddle with your business but..."

He licked his lower lip. "...kung may nanggugulo man sa 'yo; nasangkot ka man sa eskandalo o sinisiraan ka. Baby, I can't just sit back and watch your reputation be destroyed."

His voice became domineering and overbearing. My heart warmed because of what he said. Sa estado kasi ng buhay niya ay nasisiguro kong hindi hangin ang laman nang bawat salitang lumabas sa bibig niya.

I smiled at him, "thank you," sambit kong puno ng sinseridad.

Nanlaki ang mata ko nang iparada niya ang kotse niya sa pinakamahal na restaurant sa buong Fiorantine at maging sa buong kontinente ng Adreia.

"H-Hoy! W-Wala akong pambayad dito!" Napapalunok kong sabi.

Imbis na ikain ko rito ay ibibili ko na lang ng mga mamahaling damit ang anak mo! Singhal ko sa isip ko.

He impatiently looked at me, "am I a loser to let you pay for our meal? Baby, even if you have money, I can't bear to let you pay for the bill."

Natahimik ako at sumunod na lang sa kaniya. He didn't even glance at the manager and walked straight to a gothic style door.

Umupo kami at nagtingin ng mga pagkain sa menu. Napansin kong walang presyo ang mga pagkain sa menu kaya nagsalubong ang kilay ko. He seemed to read what's on my mind so he leaned towards me and stared at my face. Nakakalunod ang mga titig niya kaya hindi ko siya matingnan.

"Baby," his low deep voice uttered his endearment for me. "This restaurant belonged to Magnus Corporation. Naturally, I have my own private room here. You don't have to get curious about the menu. Mapupunta rin naman sa akin ang perang ibabayad ko so why bother to pay?"

Napatigalgal ako. That... sounds logical at all.

I ordered chicken ravioli pasta and blue lemonade. He picked black rice steak and water. He glanced at me before ordering a tiramisu ice cream which was their best seller ice cream.

Nang matapos kaming kumain ng tahimik ay elegante niyang pinunasan ang magkabilang gilid ng bibig niya. He looked at me but I noticed that his ash-colored eyes had a hint of apology.

"I'm sorry for not being talkative. I couldn't start an interesting topic to lighten our mood." His voice that's usually cold and stiff was soft and there was shyness on it.

I couldn't explain why I felt happy... I loved how he wanted to converse with me, I loved how he wanted to get to know me, I loved how he got shy in front of me.

I bit my lower lip and said, "are you really sure you wanted to try me? With your looks, status, and power, you certainly don't lack of beautiful women admiring you."

"Do you think you can even made me pursue you if I'm not sure about you?" seryoso niyang tanong. Humalukipkip siya at tiningnan ako ng deretso. "Also... fuck those women who admired me. I only want you, your attention, and your admiration. What will I do to them if they're not you?"

Napariin ang pagkakakagat ko sa aking ibabang labi ng marinig ko iyon. Ramdam ko ang bilis nang pagpintig ng puso ko kasabay ng pag-akyat ng dugo ko sa ulo ko. My cheeks flushed as butterflies invaded my stomach.

"Baby," he softly called me. "I know that you have a jerk and scumbag ex. Let me proved that I'm completely different from him, hmm?" His voice was full of sincerity, assurance, and affirmation.

I subconsciously nodded because I felt like his deep voice hypnotized me. His pursed lips curved into a rare gentle smile. Lalo lang akong natulala dahil tila naging ibang tao siya sa paningin ko nang ngumiti siya.

Inihatid niya ulit ako sa Starlight. Nang makita kong nakaalis na ang kotse niya ay saka ako pumara ng taxi para umuwi.

Kinabukasan, nagkumpulan ang mga tao sa opisina ni manager Rivero sa hindi malamang dahilan. Kaya naman nagtataka akong pumasok para makiusyoso.

"Ang swerte ng newbie na handle ni Tiara."

"Kaya nga, nakakainggit."

"Ang mahal kaya ng isang piraso ng bulaklak na 'yon."

"Talagang mahal 'yan. Iyan ang bulaklak na hindi nalalanta ng sampung taon. Tinatawag iyang decade flower."

"Kaya mahal ang ganiyag bulaklak, bukod sa matagal malanta ay rare plant species din ito."

"Sa mga nagyeyelong lugar lang daw pinapatubo ang decade flower. Sa North and South pole lang daw mayroon niyan sabi ni Hexagraphic."

(A/N: Hexagraphic is equivalent to google in reality.)

Ilan lang 'yan sa mga bulungan na narinig ko. Nang tuluyan akong makapasok ay nakita ko ang malaking kumpol ng bulaklak na sinasabi nilang decade flower. Para itong tulips pero ang tangkay ay mistulang babasagin dahil glossy.

"Sai, may nagpa-deliver nito kanina para sa 'yo. May sobre sa loob pero hindi ko binuksan." Iniabot ni manager Rivero ang isang itim na sobre na parang imbitasyon sa isang grand event.

May sealed na golden emblem pa ang bukasan ng envelope at tanging paghigit lang sa emblem ang paraan para mabuksan ito. I carefully pulled the emblem at sumama pa ang napunit na parte ng envelope. I opened the neatly folded paper.

It's just a short message with a very beautiful penmanship but my heart warmed and my smile widened. My heart beats so fast that it could rivaled to the sounds of racing horses. My face reddened like a bright red tomato as I read it again.

My baby,

        Good morning! Flowers for my future woman. Do you like it? I hope you do. I missed you, baby.

I'm Chasing you.

I'm not a fool not to realize that the sender deliberately made the first letter of the world 'chasing' capitalized because his second name was Chase.