Wanton Temptation [SPG]

CHAPTER 3: TEMPTATION

Years passed. Things were so wild and overpowering back then. But here I am. Renewed. A new person with a new profile. I came back to Philippines for almost a week. A decent Nyssa Hidalgo. The owner of Hidalgo fashion line, Pierre Monroe na napalago ko. We founded it in Paris and we have now in the Philippines.

"Nyssa?" Nakasalubong ko ang isa sa mga kaklase sa University. Wala namang alam ang mga ito sa buong pagkatao ko. Wala silang alam kundi ang pagiging anak ko ng isang prominenteng tao. Kami lang ni Cecille ang nakakaalam. But she's gone and my secrets are just for mine to keep. "Oh my... You're.. w-wonderful. Lalo kang gumanda."

Inalis ko ang suot kong sunspecs. "Oh, hi. Thank you!" I smiled.

A few talks and we go our ways. Narinig kong nag-ring ang cellphone ko. Ang president ng isang mountaineer group na sinalihan ko ang tumatawag.

"Hello?"

"Miss Hidalgo!" Masiglang bati sakin ng nasa kabilang linya. "Welcome to Alpinist. I just called to inform you of our upcoming excursion. Out of the country. Are you in the Philippines now?"

"Well, yes." Sagot ko. "What about the excursion again?"

"We have an upcoming excursion in different countries like Australia, Malaysia, Brazil and Africa." Balita nito sa akin.

Brazil ang tumatak sa isip ko. "Oh. Brazil? Where in Brazil?"

"Yes. Meron tayo sa Brazil. Rio de Janeiro. The mountains near it."

Bahagya akong nag isip. Meetings. Appointments. "Kailan ba yan?"

"Next week, Miss Hidalgo." Sagot nito.

"Well, perfect." I said. "Wala akong appointments."

"Great!" Bakas ang galak sa boses ng kausap ko.

"For how long will it takes?"

"Two weeks."

"Two weeks." Ulit ko. "Fine then. I'm in."

"You'll be having fun, Miss. Sinisigurado namin yan." Sabi pa nito.

I smiled. "Yeah. Thanks!"

"Have a good day, Miss." And the line went dead.

May ilang araw pa naman ako para maghanda. It seemed to be fun. Brazil huh? Africa sana kaso mukhang hindi ko kakayanin ang init. Malaysia. I've been there when I was a kid. Autralia. I don't feel going there. Brazil then. Well, let's see. I've joined that group recently. Grupo ng mga mountaineers and travellers. Travelling had been one of my passion. I want to have fun and forget all of the bad things. My past. My addiction. All of it.

Mabilis lumipas ang mga araw and the day came. Napagdesisyunan na sa airport na magkita ng grupo. 7 AM. Unfortunately, hindi ganun kaaga ang gising ko. So I arrived late. 30 minutes. Mabuti nalang at 8 pa ang flight kaya naman nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

Ako nalang pala ang hinihintay nila. We're 13 in all. At sa tingin ko ako lang ang walang partner. Hindi ko pa sila nakikilala ng lubusan. I met 8 people. The other 4 is just around the corner.

"Hi! Miss Hidalgo, right?" Bati ng isang babae. She might be in her late 30's with a man on her side.

Iniabot ko ang aking kamay. "Yes. You are?"

"Ako ang nag approved ng request mo sa Alpinist." Inabot niya ang kamay ko kasunod and isang matamis na ngiti. "Abby. At ito ang aking asawa..." Sumulyap ito sa lalaking kasama na may katandaan na rin. "...si George."

"Nice meeting you." I gave them my sweetest smile.

Maya-maya pa ay dumating ang isang lalaki kasama ng isang babae na halos kasing edad ko rin. Hindi pa man sila nakakalapit sa kinatatayuan namin ay napansin ko na agad ang kakaibang karisma na meron ang lalaking ito. There's something in him. Something that made me feel so different.