I Found Love at Thirty Two

XII-Lucy (Part 2)

I grabbed his key and his hand and pulled him to his car.

But it seems na bad trip talaga siya kasi pilit siyang kumawala sa pagkakahawak ko sa kamay niya. Hindi ko inakala na ganito pala ka-arte ang lalaking to! After the incident at the hotel and inside his car.

Okay. I'll admit it. I thought there's more to those kisses. I really don't believe in love at first sight pero akala ko, after the kisses we shared together, I just thought that he could be the one. I mean, at 32, I never allowed any random guy to kiss me but with him, I just let him do it dahil, ewan ko, hindi ko rin alam sa sarili ko. My own body betrayed me and responded to his kisses.

Siguro a part of me is hoping that maybe, I can promise my ever after with him and in God's perfect timing, William can be the one. Nothing is impossible naman diba? At alam ni God na my desire is to have my own family with the man I will love forever. 'Wag na kasing umasa Lucy. That was just spur of the moment thing at baka you are meant to be a single.'

Kung sa bagay, bakit pa ba ako umasa di ba? Eh sa gwapo ng lalaking to, mukhang marami na siyang babaeng nakasama sa buhay niya. I will not let him feel that I am disappointed. No. I will not.

"Look, I'm sorry okay. Can we just be matured adults and get to your car and eat?"

"Okay and just so you know, this is not my car. Dun na ka park yung kotse ko."

Nakakainis talaga siya! Yung ngiti niya, mapang-asar na--- ewan. Bad trip.

Binilisan kong maglakad at iniwan siyang mag-isa. Kasi naman, I pulled him to the car similar to his. Siguro dala na rin ng emotion ko di ko napansin na iba pala ang plate number eh. Bahala siya. No one knows that I can walk this fast, I mean with big steps nang hindi napapagod. I have ballet classes from time to time kaya "I can fly as a bird." Ballet is my escape when I am all stressed out with work. And ever since that video coverage of a ballet production two years ago, I've been doing ballet secretly.

Napahinto lang ako sa paglalakad nang maramdaman kong may mga bisig na yumakap mula sa likod ko and it could only be William. Mabilis din siyang maglakad? I tried to compose myself. I have to be ready with whatever he will do. Ayoko na ng third kiss. Tama na ang nagkamali ako ng dalawang beses. Sapat na yun. I need to wake up from this fairytale. But yeah, his scent is causing my knees to feel like jelly.

"I'm sorry Lucy. Alam kong wala akong karapatang magselos."

Bulong ni William sa tenga ko. Selos? Kanino? Tama ba ang narinig ko? At bakit ganito kabilis ang tibok ng puso ko? Pinilit kong kumawala sa mga bisig niya.

"Alam mo, kung anu-anong sinasabi mo eh. Gutom lang yan."

"Yeah right. Gutom lang to."

Pareho kaming tumawa at nag lakad papuntang kotse niya. Tahimik lang, nagpapakiramdaman sa isa't isa.

***

"Are you seriously driving?"

Tanong niya nang nasa harap na kami ng kotse niya. Finally, he decided to break our silence.

"Yup. Kaya dun ka na sa passenger seat."

"Alright."

I started the engine and headed off to the next restaurant. Sana naman di na puno at nang makakain na kami.

Tahimik lang ulit siya sa byahe, grabe nawala talaga sya sa mood pagkagaling namin ng Mr. Park's Kitchen. Bakit kaya? Maganda naman ang ambiance ng restaurant ni Chef ah. At dahil nga di ko mapigilang hindi magsalita eh I stopped the car and started the conversation again.

"William, I'm really sorry kung san san pa kita dinala ngayon, sa kagustuhan kong kumain ng Korean Food hindi tayo agad nakakain dahil punuan. Alam ko gutom na gutom ka na, kaya you take this first. Pampatanggal ng gutom."