Love Letters: Stay With Me

Chapter 11

JESSICA's POV

"So how did the two of us meet?" 

I called the guy named Gab right after settling my stuffs on my parent's house. We're sitting in a restaurant kung saan gusto niyang kumain muna kami while talking. I knew he'll be glad on talking to me. 

Sabi nga ni Ethan, lalaki ko siya. 

Hindi ako halos makatulog kagabi thinking that I was the one who committed flaws between my marriage on Ethan. Ako yung naging taksil? Ako yung naghanap ng iba? Is this the reason why hindi ko gustong magkaanak ako sa asawa ko?

Is Gab the reason behind all of these?

Minahal ko ba talaga ang asawa ko?

Bigla siyang tumikhim para ibalik ako mula sa malalim na pag-iisip. 

"We've met here." gaya niya ang dalawang paningin sa lugar. 

Inikot ko ang paningin sa loob ng restaurant. So, that's why he wanted to talk in here. 

"So how?" tanong ko naman. 

Madali siyang sumagot. "You were sitting alone. May katext ka sa phone mo habang ako naman ay nasa sunod na upuan.  The moment you clang the door, pinatigil mo na ang mga mata  ko sa iyo and then I studied you for a long time.

"You kept on texting, calling someone. And  noong napagod ka na, nilapag mo ang cellphone mo at nag-order ka na nang isang wine. Bigla kitang nilapitan." dugtong niya. 

Sarcastically I laughed. "Really? You did?" 

"Yeah I did. Tanong ko sa iyo kung bakit mag-isa ka lang." sabi niya. 

"And?" - 

"You told me na hinihintay mo asawa mo but hindi ka niya sinasagot ng tawag. Sinabi mo rin nga na baka busy pa .. The moment you mention the name of your husband, I was stunned. Hindi ko akalain na may asawa ka na pala, then I've noticed the wedding ring in your ring finger." mahaba niyang explenasyon.

"And so bakit naging tayo?"- tanong ko naman uli. 

I saw how he smiled at alam kong may magandang pangyayari iyon. 

GAB's POV

"So I think he's not coming." I sounded so sure dahil bakas sa mukha ng magandang babae nito ang pag-alala na baka hindi dumating ang asawa niya. 

"He will. He promised." she said in a low voice. 

Tumango ako. Bumalik sa akin upuan at palihim na tinawag ang waiter na nasa may counter area na naghihintay ng tawag sa ilang costumer. But, it's already past 9 and this restaurant after hour or 2 hours, magsasara na. 

I ordered meal. Hindi para sa akin kundi para sa babaeng nasa harapan ko. 

For 25 minutes, food was served. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay na humarap sa akin mula sa pagkakatalikod. 

"You should eat. It's near 10." sabi ko pero walang tono ang lumalabas sa aking bibig, like a mouth gesture. 

Tumayo siya sa harapan ko at ngumiti. 

"Thanks for this but hindi ko matatanggap ito." she reasoned out. "Pag kumain ako, baka darating siya maya-maya hindi na ako makakain sa kakainin namin. So thank you talaga." 

"But what if he doesn't? At least food is there on your table ready to be eaten. Ipalagay na lang nating option mo yan para hindi ka magugutom sa kahihintay." Same as I reasoned out. 

Huminga siya ng malalim. 

"Thanks for this." sabi niya at bumalik sa kinauupuan. 

But then clock strikes passed. Wala akong kahit aninong nakita na pumasok sa restaurant. I looked at her in a distant. Nakayapos ang kanyang dalawang kamay sa kanyang dibdib. Sometimes, she do glance at her phone and call that guy who never came. 

Then she stood up and I guess she's leaving and so I followed her. 

I saw her standing at the corner of the street, waiting for a taxi to pass by. And so I passed by at her, opened the window of my car. Nagulat siya ng makita ako. 

"Where's your car?" I asked feeling so close. 

She shook her head. "I don't have one. I don't know how to drive."

"Then can I at least drive you home?" I asked again. 

Noong una ay humindi siya but then I know myself, hindi ako susuko lalo na pag gusto ko ang babae. She walked around my car tapos ay sumakay sa tabi ng driver's seat. 

"You don't have to worry I don't bite." I said laughingly nang hindi niya ni lock ang pinto ng kotse. 

Napayuko siya dahil doon. "I'm sorry but really thank you Mr? --"

"Gab." I introduced myself. 

"Thanks for the kindness . I don't even know how to repay you." 

Umiling ako. "You don't have to do such thing. I'm a nature gentleman." 

Tumawa siya ng malakas. Now she's so close. I feel so close. 

"Talaga ha?" Sabi niya. "But really, I insist. Okay, I  have my own bakeshop, I could treat you cakes and sweets. You can eat anything you want. No pay." 

Tumawa naman ako. "I don't eat sweets." 

"Fine. So just tell me what do you want in exchange for all the things, sa pagkain, sa pagsakay ko ng libre sa sasakyan mo. I saved a lot of time." - 

I made a sighed. 

"Your number if you don't mind."