The Big Brother and I (ON HIATUS)

Chapter Ten

Alas-onse na ng gabi ngunit hindi pa rin nakakatulog si Tiffany sa pag-iisip tungkol sa magiging reaksyon ni Jordan kapag sinabi na n'ya ang totoo. Mas nahirapan s'ya nang ipinatagal pa n'ya ito imbes na sinabi n'ya agad dahil sa namuong pagkakaibigan nila sa isa't-isa. Minsan ay nagi-guilty ito sa pinapakitang kabaitan ni Jordan sa kanya.

Hanggang sa nagulantang ito nang may nagdoorbell sa kanyang kwarto.

"...Hi." Bati ni Jordan sa kanya ng pagbuksan n'ya ito ng pinto.

"Hi."

"Glad you're not yet sleeping...I was just wondering if you would like to go out...for a stroll."

"Stroll."

"Yeah. Stroll." Tango nito.

"...Sure. Bihis lang ako."

Nakabistida s'ya na mahaba at nagpatong na lang ng alampay sa kanyang braso dahil sa malamig na hangin ng Norway. Naglakad lang sila sa kalye ngunit hindi naman sila nababahala kahit gabi na sa dami pa rin ng tao sa daan.

"We'll be in Sweden tomorrow." Jordan said.

"Yeah. Ang bilis ng panahon. Pang pito na pala bukas."

"Pang pito na pero... konti palang ang alam ko sa' yo."

"Hm?" Napahinto si Tiffany at napatingin sa Jordan.

"----Let's introduce ourselves to each other, then. Let's start over again. Shall we?" Sabi ni Jordan matapos ay ibinigay n'ya ang isang kamay nito kay Tiffany.

"Talaga lang ah..."

"Yeah... I...actually wanted to know more about you. Ikaw? Ayaw mo ba 'kong makilala?"

"...---gusto."

"Then let's start." Sabi ni Jordan at naglakad muli sila habang s'ya'y nagpapakilala ng kanyang sarili.

"My full name is Jorge Daniel Borromeo Lorenzo. I'm thirty years old. Harvard Business School Graduate--"

"Wow!"

"---I'm 5'9'' inches tall."

"Kaya pala ang tangkad."

"Well, I, I love to travel and at the same time taking pictures....Ah.. what else? I'm currently single. My last relationship was eleven months ago...What else? What else? Ah! I've been living in New Zealand and at the same time managing a real estate business there together with my dad."

"Huh?-----with your....dad?" Napalaki ang mata ni Tiffany ng marinig ito.

"Yes."

"...OK."

"It's your turn."

"Ah tapos na! OK-----...My name's Tiffany but my real name is Stefania."

"Stefania?"

"Yeah. Stefania Santamaria Veloso... I'm twenty-eight years old. I'm a graduate of Mass Communication and currently working as an Executive Assistant for almost two years. Five years na talaga ako sa company kaya lang bigla akong napromote para maging E.A. ng Chairman."

"Five years. Wow."

"Thank you....Ehem.. Sa'n na ba tayo?... Ah! I have two siblings; one is in college and the other one is in high school. My parents own a small cake shop and if you're curious if I do know how to bake, well, I do....Ahmm.... Relationships!.... Well, my last relationship was two years ago. It was my first and only relationship. It lasted for seven years but... life is too short so I have to move on..."