All-Time Favorite: El Paraiso

Chapter Six

MICHELLE started at the sound of a deep, masculine voice. Lumingon siya kasabay ng pagpatay ng driver sa makina ng sasakyan nito at bumaba. The driver was tall and big. His face was shadowed against the pale light from the post.

"Bakit ka nakaupo sa damuhan sa dilim?" the man asked again in that almost familiar voice. At bago pa makuhang magsalita ni Michelle ay muli itong nagtanong. "Sa iyo ba ang sasakyang iyan?" He stared at the vehicle a little warily.

Tumango siya. May pag-asang umusbong sa dibdib. Mabilis siyang tumayo. "N-na-flat ang gulong ko sa likuran," she croaked.

"Hindi ba ang mas unang dapat gawin ay ang pumasok sa restaurant at humingi ng tulong kaysa maupo sa dilim at umiyak na lang?" he said, now there was amusement in his tone.

"I... I..." Hindi siya makahagilap ng sasabihin. Plano naman niya iyon, kaya lang parang gusto na muna niyang bigyang-daan ang mga hinanakit niya sa buhay.

"At hindi ka dapat nagbibiyaheng mag-isa," idinagdag nito sa banayad na pagsaway nang matiyak na wala siyang kasama. "May flashlight ka ba?"

She opened her mouth to say she had no idea, pero bago makalabas ang salita sa bibig niya ay umiling ito na tila nahuhulaan ang isasagot niya. Tumalikod ito at bumalik sa sariling sasakyan, an expensive four-wheel drive pick-up truck. Binuksan nito ang passenger side at may kinuha mula roon.

Ilang sandali pa'y pabalik na uli ito sa kinaroroonan niya hawak ang isang malaki at heavy duty flashlight. "You can hold this for me while I change your tire," he said, handing her the flashlight.

Michelle liked the sound of the man's voice in the dark. It was so male and there was a sexy lilt to it. She was about to reach for the flashlight when the man sucked in his breath as he had the chance to stare at her for the first time.

"It's you!"

Sandali siyang nalito sa sinabi at naging reaksiyon nito. Inilayo nito ang flashlight pero sapat upang pareho nilang makita ang isa't isa nang hindi nasisilaw.

A handsome face who had mocked her only two days ago was right in front of her. Natanto ni Michelle na ito ang lalaking nakatagpo niya sa elevator sa office building ng abogado ni Amador. Ito rin ang muntik na nilang mabangga ni Dexter noong nakaraang araw nang palabas sila ng motel sa Pasig. The man whose nearness unnerved her.

She sighed as she didn't know what to say. Talk of the world being small.

"Where's that gentleman lover of yours?" he asked sarcastically, putting emphasis on "gentleman". Tuluyang nawala ang palakaibigang tono nito.

Michelle was too weary to have a word war with this man who seemed haughty from the very first time they'd met.

"Kailangan din naman naming maghiwalay paminsan-minsan, hindi ba?" she said, a fake smile on her lips.

His face was grim as he raked a leering eyes on her slender body. Michelle groaned and raised her hands in the air. "Look, kung tutulungan mo akong palitan ang tire ko, ipagpapasalamat ko nang malaki. Kung hindi naman naman—" She shrugged "—no big deal." Nilinga niya ang dako ng restaurant. "Baka may mahihingan ako ng tulong doon nang walang maraming sinasabi."

He breathed harshly. Pabagsak nitong iniabot sa kanya ang malaking flashlight na muntik pa niyang mabitiwan sa pagkabigla. Tumalikod ito at binuksan ang likuran niya. Narinig niya ang pagdausdos ng patung-patong niyang mga gamit. He heard him mutter a curse as he tried to catch one heavy box from falling.

"What the hell are these boxes?" tanong nito na hindi naman naghihintay ng sagot at nilingon siya. "Nasaan ang tire wrench mo? Ang jack?"

"It... it must be here somewhere," she said in a mixture of confusion and embarrassment. "I really had no idea. I mean... I never expected a flat tire. Halos apat na buwan pa lang ang sasakyang iyan mula nang—"