TBBS2: The Restaurateur's Billionaire Bachelor (COMPLETED)✔

CHAPTER 11

Surprise, surprise! Enjoy reading! :)

Unedited.
*****

Xrizcianno Montero's Point of View

8:00 pm

I sighed as I saw the time on my wristwatch. It was already time for dinner. Kaya pala nagwawala na ang mga sawa, buwaya, at anaconda ko sa tiyan dahil oras na nila ng pagkain. Bawal pa naman silang malipasan ng gutom kasi bubutasin nila ang tiyan ko tapos maghahanap sila ng sariling pagkain tapos--

"Dude, are you still listening?"

Naagaw ni Zaccheus ang atensyon ko. Kunot noong nakatingin silang dalawa ni Gregory sa akin. We were having a meeting regarding some business and we started at six but until now we are still here in Zaccheus' office's boardroom discussing the papers.

"It's eight. Time to feed Xrizcianno's stomach pets." ang sabi ni Gregory habang nakatingin sa relo.

I rolled my eyes when Zaccheus smirked at me. They now me too well. They are my best buddies after all. We've been friends since college at magkakasama kami sa kalokohan. Si Zach lang ang nambababae. Gregory chose his ambitions more than girls while I chose foods over cleavages and skirts.

"Kanina pa kasi tayo usap ng usap wala namang pagkain," pagmamaktol ko. "Naghihirap ka na ba, Zaccheus?"

"Dude, I am far from being poor. I am filthy rich." Zaccheus boasted as he leaned back on his seat; he has a smug smile on his face.

"If that's the case, why isn't any food served? Kung makagastos ka sa mga babae mo, wagas na wagas tapos ang mga matatalik mong kaibigan ginigipit mo!" pagda-drama ko na may pekeng luha pa sa mga mata. "How dare you!"

Gregory and Zaccheus rolled their eyes on me.

"Stop being so childish, Ian. Nag-iipon yan si Zach para sa kasal niya kaya--" Naputol ang sasabihin ni Greg ng biglang tumayo sa Zach mula sa pagkakaupo.

Kunot na kunot ang noo nito at gusot ang mukha. Matalim ang tinging ibinigay nito sa aming dalawa ni Greg. Halatang inis na inis. Napangisi tuloy kami ni Greg.

"Tayo. Ililibre ko kayo ng sandamakmak na pagkain. Or if you like, I would buy you your own restaurant." Nauna na itong umalis na mabigat ang mga paa.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Greg at nag-apir pa bago sumunod sa nagmamaktol na si Zach.

Zaccheus Villamonte, a playboy, allergic sa salitang 'kasal'. Kapag yan na ang pinag-uusapan dali-daling aalis at iiwas.

A typical playboy enjoying his bachelorhood.

Napagkasunduan namin na magconvoy na lang papunta sa kakainan namin. I even suggested the place kaya ako ang nauuna.

I picked up my phone and dialled a number. I put it on speaker dahil ang sabi ng Mama ko, masamang gumamit ng cellphone habang nagda-drive.

I was hoping she'd pick up. Sana wala siya sa kusina ngayon.

"Hello?" came a woman's voice on the other line.

I momentarily lost my focus when I heard her voice. Muntik pa akong sumemplang sa gutter ng mablangko ang isip ko.

And damn! Why is my heart beating this fast?

"Hello, Ian? Are you there?" her voice came again.

And damn for the second time! Why does my name sound so sexy rolling out her lips?

I cleared my throat in an attempt to clear my mind and calm my nerves.

"Y-yes." Fuck it, I'm stuttering! "Yes. Yes, I'm here. Still in the restaurant?"

"Yeah. Bakit, dito ka magdi-dinner?"

"Yes. With my friends. Tatlo kami. Can you cook for us?" tanong ko.

"Sure. Anong pagkain?" she asked as I heard shuffling from the other line.

"Kahit ano. I trust you and your cookings." I answered.

I heard her laugh softly making my stomach tightened at the sound of it.

Damn, damn, damn! What the fuck is happening to me?

"Okay. Magluluto na ako. Malapit na ba kayo?"

"Siguro mga twenty minutes or so. Depende kung traffic."

"Okay. Bye. Ingat sa pagdrive."

"Okay, I will. Bye, sweetie." And she hanged up.

Napahinga ako ng malalim. I tried calming my racing heart and my nerves.

Oh, damn! I called her sweetie again, didn't I? God! How many times have I called her that?

I concentrated on driving. Baka maaksidente pa ako at hindi ko na siya makita--I mean, hindi na ako makakain.

Right.

If you are wondering why I have her number, go figure.

And just after fifteen minutes, I was parking on the space in front of the restaurant. Sa ganitong oras ay marami pa rin ang taong kumakain.

Lumabas ako sa kotse at hinintay ang dalawa. Nagtaka pa ako ng ilang segundo bago sila nakasunod sa akin. They park on a free space beside mine.

"Bilis, ah. Muntik na kaming hindi makasunod." ang sabi agad ni Greg paglapit nila sa akin.

"Excited kumain? Gutom na gutom?" sarkastikong tanong ni Zaccheus.

More on, excited makita ang nagluto ng kakainin natin.

I closed my eyes on that voice in my head. Fuck, dude. Kung ano-ano na lang ang naiisip ko. Gutom lang to.

Yeah, gutom lang to.

"Pumasok na nga lang tayo." naiinis na yaya ko sa kanila. More on naiinis ako sa sarili ko.

Pagpasok namin ay binati kami agad ng isang waiter. If I remember it correctly his name's Lucas. Yeah, the nameplate says I'm correct.

Dumiretso kami sa Table 13, ang reserved table para sa akin. Nagtaka pa nga ang dalawa kung bakit parang VIP daw ang treatment sa akin dito na nginisihan ko lang.

Ilang minuto pa kami naghintay hanggang sa nakita ko na ang papalapit na bulto ni Schulaika.

I caught my breath in my lungs as I watched her approach towards us. Everything seems to fade, everything seems nonexistent, everything seems to be in slow motion. She is the only person I can see. She is in slow motion.

Everything became mute. The only sound I can hear was the crazy thumping of my heart and the blood pumping through my veins.

Call me crazy but what the heck! I can even see myself holding her hand, hugging her tight, walking side by side with her, kissing the ground she walks on, worshipping her like a goddess, and kissing that supple lips I've been dreading to taste.

And as she gets closer and closer, my breathing became ragged. And I have this insane feeling that I wanted to pull her flush to my body, hug her tightly, and kiss her senseless.

Shit, dude! Nagayuma ba ako?