Mondragon Empire 02 - Astraea Denise

Chapter 9

Having a mutual feeling with the one you like is truly a blessing. Napatunayan iyon ni Nox matapos ang unang date nila ni Theia. They realized that they were like magnets. They are opposite but they do attract. Their differences are too apparent that they've decided to adjust and compromise with one another.

They both like company. Walang problema sa kanila kahit may makakasama sila sa kahit saan. But Nox is more sociable than Theia. She prefers keeping her circle small to being a part of a crowd. Something uncommon for a city girl like her.

Nalaman niya na kahit malapit ito sa mga kapatid, kasambahay, at pamilya nito, Theia spends most of her time in her room. Reading a book, listening to music, clearing up her things, or just lying on her bed doing nothing. The funny thing is, may isa silang pagkakatulad. They share the same hobby.

Ang hobby na itatago nila sa pangalang pagtulog.

"Second date pa lang natin pero magho-hotel agad tayo? Grabe ka na, Anghelo. Gusto mo lang yata ako i-check in," naiikot niya ang mata ng marinig ang sinasabi ng dalaga sa kanya.

"You made it sound like I will do something bad to you," napailing na lang siya ng tawanan lang siya ni Theia. Her smiles are like a glow in the dark, it lighten him up.

"Hindi naman," pagtanggi nito, "who says I won't allow you to do bad things to me?"

"Ah, Theia!" napahawak siya sa ulo ng maramdaman ang pagpitik ng kung ano sa loob niya, "You make me dizzy."

"Chill, I'm just joking."

Kaya nga nakakahilo kasi hindi totoo, "Stop teasing me, woman. You'll regret what you are saying later."

"Alam mo ba, Anghelo, I feel so safe with you. No one has ever heard me say those words that I have told you. I was pure and innocent to these people. Ang sarap pala sa feeling na mayroon kang taong pwedeng pagsabihan ng kahit ano," masayang sabi nito na nakaupo ng paharap sa kanya. She's seating on his car's passenger seat. At kahit naka-seatbelt ito ay maya't-maya niya pa rin itong tinitignan dahil ang likot likot nito sa sasakyan.

"As much as I want to see your beautiful face, my darling, please umupo ka ng maayos. Ang likot mo."

"Are you complaining?"

"No," under da saya agad ako sa kanya, hindi pa kami mag-asawa, "but you might hurt yourself if I accidentally step on the break or something."

"Maayos ka naman mag-drive. Isa pa, hindi mo naman ipapahamak ang sarili mong buhay, 'di ba? And I feel safe now because I'm with you so you don't have to be worried."

"Pinapakilig mo ba ko?"

"Hindi," inismiran siya ni Theia at sa wakas ay sinunod siya nito at umayos ito ng upo, "assuming ka."

"Well, kinikilig ako sa sinasabi mo."

"Tumigil ka na nga," paninita nito sa kanya.

"Are you blushing?" hinimas niya ang pisngi nito gamit ang likod ng kanyang daliri, "kinilig ka, 'no?"

"Heh! Para kang tanga," natawa siya ng marinig ang pagmura nito sa kanya.

"Welcome to Midnight Hotel," pagbati ng receptionist sa kanila ni Theia ng makarating sila sa lobby. Nasa siyudad pa rin naman sila. Doon niya napiling dalhin si Theia para hindi sila gabihin kung gusto nitong umuwi rin agad.

"Wow, I love the combination of the Blacks and Blues. Moon ba 'yon? And Stars... woah, so pretty."

"Not as pretty as you, baby."

"I know," pagyayabang nito kaya natawa siya.

"Welcome to my first baby."

"Ah, hindi ako ang first baby mo?" natigilan siya sa sinabi nito, "Kidding. What do you mean by the first baby?

"Midnight's my first project. Before I became the CEO. Pinatayo ko ang Midnight on my last year in college. The construction ends two weeks before my graduation. After launching Midnight to the public, Dad leaves his position and announces that I am the new CEO of Romualdez Group."

Anyone can sense the pride in his voice. It is his first great achievement in life, "Juggling my activities with academics and the responsibilities, pakiramdam ko ito ang isa sa pinakamalaking achievement ko sa buhay ko. Hindi ko inakala na kakayanin ko pagsabayin iyon lahat."

"I'm so proud of you."

Nagpasalamat siya dito. Bakas sa mata ni Theia ang pagiging totoong tao nito. No envy, no jealousy, just pure love and adoration. Her reaction is as genuine as her feelings. "Can we check in now?"

"But of course, I wouldn't miss the opportunity to be able to spend the night here at Midnight's."

"Spend the night?"

"Bakit, uuwi ba tayo agad?" tanong nito sa kanya.

"Hindi pero hindi pa naman tay—"

"We're not together? I don't mind."

"Theia, people may judge you. It is not right to see a man and a woman, who are not married, in the same room." bulong niya dito.

"We will share a room, Anghelo. A room and not a bed," pag-iling pa nito. "People will still say something inappropriate even if you are helping others in need. Let's just ignore them."

"Okay, but if you're uncomfortable," hindi na niya natapos ang sasabihin ng humawak si Theia sa braso niya.

"Mayroon bang room dito na may kitchen?

"Yes, my penthouse."

"Can we get that?"

"No need to ask, baby."

Matapos itong magtingin-tingin sa lobby ay saka lang ito nagyaya na umakyat sa penthouse. Totoo nga ang sinabi nito, she is so pure. Theia was like a child that went on a weekend getaway for the first time. She opened the windows, checked his kitchen, and went to the bathroom before coming back to the living room where he was sitting... waiting for her to finish checking his unit's interior.

"Sorry, feel at home ako." sabi ni Theia na nakita niyang nakayapak na.

"Feel free, baby. Whatever's mine is yours as well."

"Sabi mo, hindi pa tayo."

"Doon din tayo papunta," pagkindat niya pa na ikinatawa nito.

"Speaking of papunta," tumabi ito ng upo sa kanya. Umurong siya pakaliwa para makaupo ito ng maayos. Pasimple niyang pinaikot ang kamay niya sa balikat nito. Imbes na lumayo ay mas lumapit pa ito sa kanya kaya parang nakayakap na tuloy siya dito, "pumunta ka sa grocery. I'll make a list for you. Bilisan mo, ah. Bumalik ka agad dito."

"What?" napanganga siya ng tumatawang tumayo ito pagkatapos siya nitong utusan.

"Walang laman 'yong ref mo."

"Hindi kasi ako madalas mag-stay dito. I still go to my parent's house, alam mo na... only child."

"Okay, now go to the grocery and buy me some stuff." hindi ito nakatingin sa kanya. May itina-type ito sa cellphone nito. Maya-maya lang ay tumunog ang sarili niyang telepono. Napakunot-noo siya ng makitang message iyon galing kay Theia.

"Grocery List? Seriously?"

"Sasama ba ko o hindi? Ang tagal mo, eh. Sama na nga ako. Tara na!"

"Are we getting all these? Herbs, cocoa, sugar, and egg?"

"And probably more because we will be staying here often starting today. It's time to stock and make this a suitable home. Ang ganda ng unit mo, don't waste it." wala na siyang nagawa kung hindi sumunod dito sa paglabas nang kaladkarin siya nito.