I Wanna Be Yours

Chapter 6

But baby tonight, I'm blowing up your line
I've got you on my mind
The truth is hard to find
So I'll be...
~ Drunk Texting - Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko

Leah double checked the address she had written down and then knocked on the door with the right number affixed beside it. Ms. Jack opened it.

"Leah!" She smiled and gave her a hug. "Hi, how are you?"

"Mabuti naman po."

"Come in, come in! You're here for Clark?"

Leah nodded shyly.

"Ah, naliligo." Ms. Jack led her further into the apartment. Leah looked around at the large but cluttered space. "Kumain ka na ba? May tinapay dito at nagluto ako ng spam at itlog."

"Salamat po pero kumain na po ako." She held up the cup of soda she was holding from the small restaurant she had breakfast at before coming here. "Grabe, ang laki naman ng apartment ni Clark. Condo po 'to?"

Ms. Jack laughed. "No no. It's an apartment, at alam mo ba, ang liit lang nito dati." She walked over to the living area by the windows. "This here, there used to be a bed here so this was the 'bedroom.' Where you're standing was the living room. That kitchen used to be smaller and this was all just one room. Sobrang liit...bachelor pad talaga."

Leah looked around, trying to envision it.

"But then Mrs. Mills, his neighbor, sold her apartment and Clark bought it and renovated. Pinalakihan niya at linagyan niya ng bedroom at office diyan. I tried to tell him to just sell the apartment. He could have bought a bigger place at less than the price to buy and renovate Mrs. Mills' apartment. Pero sentimental kasi si Clark. He can't let go of his first real home in San Francisco."

"Parang di ko ma-imagine na maliit 'to," Leah laughed.

"Dahil magaling mag-design si Clark. Sige Leah, may appointment pa ako. Hintayin mo si Clark, matatapos na 'yon."

"Sige po, Ms. Jack."

"Ms. Jack? Naku, Tita Jack na lang ang itawag mo sa akin. Ang bata na 'to talaga..."

"Um, okay po. Tita Jack..." Leah tested it out and found she liked saying it. She couldn't explain it but she could feel an immediate motherly affinity with Tita Jack. She was like a fairy godmother in Leah's life. She knew this campaign wouldn't have even made it this far if not for her.

"Yan." Tita Jack hugged her. "Sige, Leah. Make yourself at home! There's coffee there if you like."

Before Leah knew it, Tita Jack had flown out the door and she was left standing alone in Clark's apartment. She wandered around, sipping her soda, as she took in the details of Clark's home. She stopped by a row of picture frames. There was one of a young Clark which made her smile, next to it was a picture of a woman that must be Clark's mom, and then one of Clark with a younger boy and girl...his siblings. There were no pictures of Angela on display and Leah wondered why that was.

The bedroom door opened and Leah turned to see Clark walk out, still towel drying his hair. He was shirtless and Leah rapidly sipped the dregs of her soda as she took in the defined muscles of his pecs tapering down to his toned abs. Good God...the man could be sculpted. He was so smooth and flawless. Not a hair on his body except for a little happy trail under his belly button disappearing beneath his jeans. Leah's eyes couldn't help following that little line...

"Leah??"

She snapped out of the thoughts that she definitely should NOT be having and looked up at Clark's incredulous face. She realized she was staring (practically drooling) and quickly spun around.