The CEO's Woman

Chapter 9

Buong hapon siyang hindi lumabas ng kwarto at ginugol ang buong maghapon ng kung anu-ano para malibang.

Ayaw man niyang aminin ay namiss niya ang presensiya ni Andrew. Dalawang araw niya palang itong nakasama pero naninibago na siya na wala nang maingay, nangungulit at humahali– ano?! Hindi dapat ganoon! Ilang araw lang pero hinahanap hanap na niya ito. Gusto na ba niya ito?

Her heart skipped. She does. Oh, goodness!

Lecheng mga halik at ka-sweet-an kasi yan! Ano siyan ngayon? Nagmaganda pa siya’t nag walk-out kanina. Anong feeling niya? Pupuntahan siya dito at susuyuin? Gabi na. Kung susuyuin siya nito, kanina pa dapat.

Biglang may kumatok. Ang in-order na siguro niyang dinner iyon.

Pagbukas niya’y taong natatakpan ng napakalaking bouquet ng pulang rosas ang bumungad sakanya. It was a huge bouquet of red roses probably 12 dozens with one white rose in the middle. Manghang-mangha siya at lalo pang namangha nang bumaba ito at lumanta ang nakangusong si Andrew. A pouting Andrew Salcedo. He is so cute! Pero hindi niya iyon aaminin dito.

“Bati na tayo please. Nakakabaliw mag-isa two days with you and I already got used to your presence kahit hindi mo naaappreciate mga banat ko sa’yo.”

She wanted to burst! Parehas sila ng nararamdaman! Hinablot niya ang bouquet saka ibinaba saglit saka biglang tumalon sa binata na nagulat rin mabuti nalang ay nasalo siya nito at hindi nawalan ng balanse. Nagsumiksik siya sa leeg nito. Narinig naman niyang tumawa ito. Ngumuso siya, nakasubsob parin dito.

“You missed me that much huh?” anito pero gumanti naman ng mas mahigpit na yakap.

Mayamaya pa’y ibinaba na siya nito saka pinakatitigan saka hinalikan ang noo.

“I’m sorry din” aniya bigla “Nagmaganda pa ako kanina at nag walk out. Dapat nga magpasalamat pa ako dahil may-ari mismo ang sumasama sa akin libutin ang El Nido. Wala ka naman talagang kasalanan sabihin mo man o hindi na ikaw ang may ari nitong resort, wala na dapat ako dun.”

Bigla siya nitong hinapit sa baywang at pinakatitigan. “Never say sorry to me okay? Wala kang kasalanan. Ako.”

“P-pero...”

“Kalimutan nalang natin okay?”
Tumango siya rito.

“Let’s go.” She gave him a puzzled look.

“Ha? Saan?”

Hindi ito umimik at hinila nalang siya patungong elevator at palabas ng hotel. Naglakad sila hanggang sa may dulong parte ng dagat na sakop ng resort na medyo may mga bato na.

Napaawang ang bibig niya nang makita kung ano ang naroon.
It was a romantic picnic under the moonlight. There by the rocks lay a blanket with pillows a wine beside and a picnic basket. There’s also a bonfire nearby. What made it more romantic is the moonlight itself the small lights around the place.

To be honest, this is her ideal date. Not a surprised romantic candlelit dinner in a exclusively reserved fine dining restaurant like what others like. I can go on a road trip for all I care. For me a date will always be perfect wherever it is if you are with the man you love. So this is a date? Her mind butt in but she disregard it. Date or not, she will enjoy this night.

“I wanted to go after you the moment you walked away pero inisip ko mainit pa ulo mo kaya nag isip ako kung paano ka susuyuin so this is what I came up the whole afternoon.”

Lumingon siya dito. “Oh, Andrew.” Hindi na niya napigilan, she suddenly pulled him by the nape and kissed him on the lips which he gladly accepted and responded.

Katatapos lang nilang pagsaluhan ang dinner na dala nito. Natawa pa siya nang inilabas nito ang dalawang quarter pounder burger and of course fries at may Hawaiian pizza pa! Very healthy sabi ko pa nga saka kami nagtawanan pero naubos naman namin. Nagulat pa ito nang walang kahiya hiyang sinunggaban niya ang mga pagkaing dala niya.

They are now lying on the blanket with his arms as her pillow as they stargaze maya’t maya nitong hinahalikan ang tuktok ng ulo o noo niya kaya napapangiti nalang siya.
Mayamaya’y binalingan niya ito. She looked up at him.

“Andrew?”

“Hmm?” he said and looked down to meet her eyes.

“What are we?”

“People” kinurot niya ito sa tagiliran, napa aw pa ito arte di naman niya diniinan eh.

“Andrew naman eh.”

“Why do you want to know?”

“Dahil ayaw kong mag-assume because assuming means aasa ka at masakit umasa lalo na sa mga taong mahal mo.” Seryoso niyang saad. She bravely asked him because she need to because she know how it feels to have people tell you they love you but then leave you.

“Bakit, mahal mo na ba ako?” did she just saw hope passed through his eyes?

“No. But I like you and I know if this continues I might get there and if you have no intention of getting there, we might as well stop this now to save ourselves with pain.” She hoped that is not the case. Nilakasan na niya ang loob at tinanong ito because she knew how it is to have people tell you they love you but then leave you.

Tinanggal nito ang ulo niya sa braso nito saka pinalitan ng unan saka itinukod ang siko para magkaharap sila ng mas mabuti.

“Do you remember what I told you sa bar? Hindi kita lalapitan kung alam kong may girlfriend ako. Now I am telling you, hindi kita patutulugin sa bahay ko, sasamahan mag island hopping, dadalhin sa ganitong lugar at hahalikan kung hindi kita gusto.” He said with all the sincerity in his voice.

She's lost for words.

“And about your question kung ano tayo? We are on our getting to know stage plus the kissing.” He chuckled. “I like you. Honestly, I want to court you right away and make you my girl but I want to take it slow. I want it slow with you because I want us to savor and enjoy discovering everything about each other together.”

Hinaplos niya ang pisngi nito. “I like that too, Andrew.”

He smiled and then his head started to lower. “Now, can we continue getting to know each other?” he said before he claimed her lips.

That night, they just cuddled, watched the stars and talked until they fell asleep.