I Lust You

Chapter Three

Miranda’s POV

I was already deeply engrossed sa pakikinig ng music while jogging nang may nakita akong aso malapit sa fountain. “Awww, you’re so adorable!” Hindi ko na napigilan ang aking sariling lapitan ito. “Paano ka kaya nagawang iwan ng amo mo, ano?”

Dinilaan naman nito ang aking mga paa dahilan upang ako ay mapaigtad sa kiliti. Kaya naisipan kong yumuko para magkapantay kami. “As much as I’d like to take you home with me, hindi kasi pwede eh.” I explained to it as if I was talking to another human being.

Nakita kong may suot pa itong collar kaya tinignan ko ‘yun para malaman ang kanyang pangalan. “Pwe! Walang ka-taste taste naman pala ng amo mo. ‘Di na talaga naawa sa pagbigay ng pangalan mo.”

“Good morning, Miss Miranda,” a familiar voice caught my attention, making me look from left to right. “It seems so early to talk behind others’ back, don’t you think?” Nang bigong mahanap ng aking mga mata ang nagmamay-ari ng boses na ‘yun ay tumingin ako sa taas.

Agad naman akong napatayo.

Ah! The world is indeed unfair. He still looked good in the morning or I should say he looked even better in the morning. He’s neither Edward Cullen nor a vampire but the sunlight definitely made him look better. It’s not that his body is sparkling, it’s his eyes. Yes! I think it’s his eyes, his hazelnut-brown eyes that seemed to glisten because of the sunlight. The same pair of eyes that I’m staring at right now.

“Are you done checking me out?” he snapped. And I also snapped back to reality.

“That explains kung bakit ang pangit ng pangalan niya,” mahina kong sambit.

“What were you saying?”

“A-ah, nothing. Sabi ko ang ganda naman ng pangalan ng dog mo, Dog pa rin,” sarkastiko ko namang sinabi sa kanya. “Sige, mauuna na ako sa’yo,” pamamaalam ko sa kanya. Alam ko kasing mauuwi lang 'to sa pagbabangayan 'pag nag-stay pa ako dito. Kaya I bent down again and bid my goodbye to his dog, “Bye, Dog!” Pagkatapos no’n, tumayo na ako at tumalikod sa kanila.

Hindi pa ako nakakahakabang nang bigla niya akong pinigilan, “Let’s have breakfast. My treat. Kahit sa’n mo gusto. As a sign of my gratitude.”

My face immediately lit up sa sinabi niya. Hindi naman sa naghihirap na ako pero mas masarap talaga kumain 'pag libre eh. Besides, gutom na ako kaya hindi ko pag-aaksayahan ang biyaya na 'to. God made us met in this park for a reason. At 'eto na siguro 'yung rason Niya. "Do you mean it?"

"Yes."

"Yay! Sa Mcdo na lang tayo since malapit lang naman 'yun dito." 

"Can we go somewhere else?" I made a face nang marinig ko 'yun. Luh! Sabi niya kaya kanina na kahit sa'n ko daw gusto. Tapos, ngayon may pa-can we go somewhere else siyang nalalaman. Aba, bastusan? "Fine, fine. But we will use my car."

"Duh! I didn't bring my car naman eh. Malapit lang kaya 'yung bahay ko dito."

Tahimik kaming naglakad nang tumunog ang kanyang cellphone.

He excused himself, "I have to take this call."

I nodded. Eh sa may magagawa ba ako? Umupo muna ako sa bench baka kasi matatagalan pa sila sa pag-uusap.

A few minutes passed by nang may nakita akong matandang lalaki. Agad kong nilapitan si Linus. I grabbed his T-shirt to get his attention. At parang effective naman ito kasi lumingon siya.

"What?" he mouthed.

I scratched my head, "A-ah, eh, kasi."

"Wait. Something came up. I'll call you later," sabi niya sa kanyang kausap sa kabilang linya. "It better be important," humarap siya sa akin.

"I-I didn't mean to interrupt your conversation. Pero kasi. Ay, nevermind. Tawagan mo na lang uli 'yung kausap mo kanina. Hindi naman kasi importante eh," I stuttered. Kinakabahan ako sa magiging reaksyon niya. Baka kasi magalit. Oh no!

"Ano ba kasi 'yun? Sabihin mo na lang kahit hindi importante," giit niya.

"A-ah," I stuttered again.

"Miranda," he let out a frustrated sigh.

Na-shock ako sa naging reaksyon niya. And it was also the first time that he called my name without the formality! Miranda, his voice echoed in my head. I like how my name sounds on him. Oh, come on! Give me a break!

"Magpapabili sana ako ng balloon," I lowered my head.

"Seriously?" he laughed.

"'Wag ka ngang tumawa!" Despite of what I told him, tumatawa pa rin siya. Phew! This is much better than I've expected. Akala ko kasi magagali siya. But, what he's doing right now is the exact opposite. Kaya I grabbed his hand and ran. "Tara na! 'Di na natin maaabutan si Manong."

"Oo na."

Oops! Bad move. I shouldn't have held his hand. Ayun tuloy, I felt this tingling sensation nang hawakan ko 'yung kamay niya. I looked at him pero he didn't seem to mind at all.

Bibitiw na sana ako nang hinigpitan niya ang pagkakahawak sa aking kamay. Heaven, help me!

"Manong, pabili po ng balloon," sabi ni Linus.

"Anong color, ijo?"

"Uy, ano daw na color?" pukaw niya sa'kin.

Since he's a lot taller than me, kinailangan ko pa talagang mag-tiptoe para bumulong, "Can I have all of them? Babayaran lang kita." Amusement is written all over his face. Parang nahiya naman ako dun.

"'Yang lahat po ang bibilhin namin," and then he turned to face me, "You don't have to."

Tapos na niyang bayaran ang balloons. In fact, ako nga ay bahagyang nagulat nang 'di niya kinuha 'yung sukli niya. Akalain mo may puso din pala 'yung mokong na 'yun? Besides, madami naman siyang pera eh. So okay lang 'yun!

"Could you please tie this sa wrist ko? Tignan ko lang kung liliparin din ako ng mga balloon na'to gaya ng bahay sa Up."

"Up?" he stared at me while tying it to my wrist.

"Oh my gosh! 'Di mo pa nakita 'yung cartoon movie na 'yun? You should watch it," I suggested.

"Pft. How childish. 'Kala ko naman kung ano."

"Whatever! Ang KJ mo talaga."

"Hindi ah. Masyado ka lang talagang childish," giit niya.

Tumahimik na lang ako habang papunta kami sa sasakyan niya.

"Ilagay mo muna 'to sa likod ng sasakyan mo baka kasi maputok lang 'tong lahat ni Dog," sabi ko sa kanya.

"As you wish, Ma'am," he grinned.

Once again, I felt that tingling sensation nang kinuha niya sa pagkakatali 'yung kamay ko.

He opened the door for me. Aba, gentleman! "Pumasok na po kayo, Ma'am," sabi na naman nito habang nakalahad 'yung kamay niya sa pinto. Okay na sana eh!

I just rolled my eyes at him dahilan upang siya'g tumawa.

He then started the engine.