Chances (The Girl Ghost Writer 2)

Chapter 6

Natatameme pa rinako dahil sa hindi ko alam kung paano... Well, he's a known businessman. Emily is in the business world. So, that explains everything.

Inabot nanaman niya yung mga kamay niya. I stared at him, pagtatakang titig.

"Call me Raphy," sabi niya.

Nakatitig pa rin ako sa kanya, sa kamay na inaabot niya.

"I guess hindi ka nakikipag shake hands, miss," and he put his hand down.

Gosh! That's so rude of me.

"I'm sorry," inabot ko ang kamay ko. "Debline. But you can call me Debby."

Kinuha niya iyon at hinalikan.

"A hand shake isn't fit for a stunning lady like you."

Nakakagulat. May parang biglang kumuryente sa buong katawan ko.

"I'm sorry?" tinanggal ko sa pagkakahawak  kamay ko.

"Did I say something wrong?" he said, smilingly.

"No... I mean... wala ka..." Shoot! I forgot I was wearing a mask the whole time! "... nevermind. Have a seat," I smiled back at him at umupo na.

Umupo rin s'ya.

We talked. Getting to know each other perhaps. He's a fine man. Sort of a gentleman. Pa sweet. Yung tipong every woman would want. Yung hinahanap-hanap.

He's 6 foot  tall. Matikas. Gwapo even behind his mask. Mayaman.

Bigla s'yang tumayo.

"I guess you owe me a dance then," he started.

"Sorry?"

"Sa pagmamataray mo sa akin sa mall and here."

"I-I..."

"You thought hindi kita makikilala? The 'girl-you-don't-want-to-meet, huh?"

"I-..."

"Shall we?"

Without a word from e, kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinila niya ako sa dance floor.

"Hindi ako marunong sumayaw," I whispered.

"Same."

"Kaliwa lahat ng paa ko."

"Really?"

"I told you I don't know how..."

Nag iba yung beat ng music. It was a sweet one. The dance turned to be a sweet one.

He puts my arms around his neck. His hands landed to my waist. We were like couples clinging to each other.

Unti-unitng nagkakalapit ang aming mga mukha. He was so gentle and handsome.

"Ouch!"

"Oh, I'm sorry. I told you, kaliwa ang paa ko."

He laughed. Yung tawa na parang ewan. Pinagtitinginan kami ng mga tao.

"Bakit ka tumatawa?" pabulong kong sabi sa kanya.

"I can't help it. You're funny. And beautiful. And I..."

Biglang lumapit sa amin sina Kaye at Tom.

"Did we interrupt you?"

Tinanggal ko agad ang mga kamay ko sa leeg niya.

"Kaye, Tom. Oh, I'm sorry. Raphael De Monteverde."

"Raphy. And you're Kaye...?" kinuha niya ang kamay ni Kaye.

"Kayenah Smith. This is Thomas..." hindi na pinatapos ni Tom si Kaye. At kinuha rin ni Tom ng pagkakahawak ni Raphy sa kaamay ni Kaye para i-shake hands.

"Tom. Just Tom, bro. Nice meeting you."

Bumalik kami sa table. Kumuha sina Kaye and Tom ng chairs para apat kami sa isang table. Parang ang tagal na nilang magkakilala. They were laughing with each other, specially Tom. They have a common hobby- photography.

After awhile, lumapit kami kay Emily to bid goodbye. Sumaa na rin sa amin si Raphy.

"A nice party you got there, Emily. It was fantastic," started Kaye.

"Sayang naman. You won't see my son. I'm sure he'll be here in any minute."

I'm really sorry, Emily," said Tom.

"Kung bakit naman kasi..." natigilan si Emily. "...oh! There he is!"

I saw her son. He's handsome kahit may maskara s'yang suot. And he looks familiar. Lumapit s'ya kay Emily, sa amin.

"I'm sorry ma, I'm late. May inayos lang ako sa office. Happy birthday," sabay halik sa cheeks.

"That's okay, son."

Tinignan ko sina Kaye and Tom. Naninigas ang dalawa. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang problema nila.

"Tom?" gulat na sambit ng anak ni Emily. Tumingin sya sa amin. Sa akin. "I-I'm sorry. I need to... Excuse me." Umalis s'ya. Nagmamadali. Hindi na s'ya pinigilan ni Emily dahil sinalubong agad s'ya ng isang businessman.

"I'm sorry for his rudeness."

"It's fine, Emily," I said.

"No, it's not."

"It's fine, really. Medyo late na talaga and nagmamadali rin kaming umuwi. Nag-iisa lang kasi sa bahay  mom ni Tom."

"Yes, I know. Thank you for coming."

Hinatid kami ni Emily sa gate. Nag-uusap sina Kaye and Emily habang naghihintay kay Tom na kinukuha ang sasakyan.

"So, can I see you tomorrow?" asked Raphy.

"What for?"

"Wala lang. I want to know you more."

Biglang dumating si Tom. Bumusina ito. Nagpaalam na kami kay Emily and Raphy. Binuksan ni Raphy ang car door. Pumasok na ako sa loob. Binuksan ko ang bintana at nagpaalam kay Raphy.

"Wait, what do you think about a dinner tomorrow night?"

"I'll think about it." At sinara ko na ang window.

Kinakantyawan ako nila Kaye and Tom.

"So, are you going tomorrow night with him?" asked Kaye.

"Ano ako? I'm not as easy as he think I am."

"Yes, I know. And he's idiot not to get your number."

"At wala rin akong balak ibigay ang number ko. Besides, babalik rin naman tayo ng New York."

Natigilan sina Kaye and Tom.

"What?"

"Wala," said Kaye.

"By the way, Emily's son. He looks really familiar."

"Of course! You know him," biglang tumigil si Kaye sa kaka murmur niya.

"I know him? What do you mean?"

"Nothing."

"Gosh Kaye!  Why do I know him?"

"Maybe because naging client mo s'ya. He's in New York all the time doing business. Maybe nakagawa kana ng column about him or edited some."

I thought about what she said. Maybe she's right. Sa dami rin naman ng na interview at nagawan ko ng column, maybe he's one of them.

"Talagang you know Emily that much."

"Of course! She was my client. A loyal one and a big time."

"Well."

Nakarating kami sa bahay. Pumasok sa mga rooms namin. Nag shower na ako, nag pajama at humiga na.

It was great day except for the part na nagkita kami ni Zed.

Zed. I wonder kung kumusta na s'ya. Maybe he's happy now. Sa mukha niyang iyon. Yung mukhang masaya.

Hindi ko namalayang tumulo na naman ang luha ko.

"Why, Zed? Bakit ka pa nagpakita?" at pinikit ko ang aking mga mata sabay sa pagdaloy ng aking mga luha.