BOF 1: WYNN RAVEN

05

Kate was quiet while they were having their dinner. Hindi niya alam kung ano ba ang sasabihin niya sa lalaking kanina pa niya napapansin ang panay ang pagsulyap sa kaniya.

She was also secretly assessing herself if she looks good or what. Iniisip niya kung nahulas na ba ang makeup niya o hindi pa naman.

Galing siya sa trabaho kaya naman hindi niya maiwasang isipin kung maayos ba ang ayos niya o mukha na siyang haggard na haggard. She checked herself before she went out and she knew that she looked okay...

Pero hindi niya maiwasang hindi makaramdam ng kaba na baka hindi siya maganda sa paningin ng lalaki dahil wala naman itong sinasabi kapag tumitingin sa kaniya.

"Can you... can you focus on your food, Mr. Montes de Oca?" she uttered as she tried looking at him. Gusto niyang pagsisihan iyon dahil nagtama ang mga mata nilang dalawa at tila siya natutunaw sa paraan ng pagtingin nito sa kaniya.

He was looking at her like she's one of the food on the table...

"Hmm? Is there something wrong?" he asked her innocently. Humigpit naman ang hawak niya sa kubyertos habang pilit na tinatagan ang sarili sa pagtingin sa lalaki.

She shook her head languidly and looked down on her plate again to eat. Hindi niya alam kung makakaya niya bang titigan ng matagal ang lalaki dahil iba ang nagiging epekto nito sa kaniya.

Kate could feel her own heart beating loudly against her chest. Para bang tinatambol iyon sa bilis ng tibok nito sa kaalaman na tinititigan siya ng lalaki.

"Relax, Katherine," he said and smiled at her. "We're just having dinner, we're getting married after all. Dinner dates won't hurt, right?" sinundan iyon ng lalaki ng mahinang pagtawa bago ito sumimsim sa wine na naroon.

Hindi niya malaman kung ano ba talaga ang gusto ng lalaki sa pagsundo sa kaniya nito at pagyaya sa kaniya nito na kumain. He didn't even talk to her the day after that dinner, he just surprised her with a bouquet of flowers and picked her up to eat with her...

"I am very aware that you don't like to push through with the plan, Mr. Montes de–"

"Please, call me Wynn. My name is Wynn Raven and you kept on saying my last name. Anim kaming Mr. Montes de Oca, Katherine."

She looked at him again and slowly nodded her head.

"Wynn... okay..." sagot niyang muli sa lalaki at tinignan ito. "I am very much aware that you don't like the idea of marrying me. That's why I can't understand why you're doing this..." mahinang sabi niya sa lalaki. Nakita niya ang bahagyang pagngiti nito habang nakatitig pa rin sa kaniya.

"Like what I have told you, we don't really have a choice, do we? It's either you back out or I will... if I will, I will just pass the responsibility to Walter, you're older than him, by the way..." he sipped on his wine again while his eyes were fixated on her. "And I can clearly see that you don't want to stop this wedding as well."

"Excuse me?" hindi niya na napigilan na mapataas ang kilay sa mga sinasabi ni Wynn sa kaniya. Hindi naman dahil may nararamdaman siya sa lalaki, basta na lang din siyang pumayag sa kasal.

"I apologize if that came out wrong," he chuckled and leaned on his seat. "Ang sinasabi ko lang, wala naman talaga tayong magagawa sa kasunduang iyon, hindi ba?" tanong nito sa kaniya. Hindi siya nagsalita at nanatili lamang siyang nakatingin sa lalaki. "Like what they always say, it was long agreed even before we're born."

Napapansin niya rin ang ilang mga customers doon na tumitingin sa lalaki. Of course, they will look at him. Impossible naman din talagang hindi mapapalingon ng dalawang beses kapag may nakitang isang Montes de Oca. May lahing espanyol ang mga ito kaya hindi na rin nakakapagtaka na ganoon ang features ng mga ito.