The Empire Series 5: Vanna Lei Shrewd

Chapter 6: Date

"You know what? Tayo na lang ang mag-date," natatawang sambit ni Clyde bago siya mabilis na hinawakan sa kamay at hinila. Hindi pa siya nagkaroon ng pagkakataong tumanggi dahil humimpil na lang bigla ang sasakyan nito sa tabi nila kasabay ng paglabas ng driver nito.

Clyde opened the door and lead her towards the passenger side. Gusto niyang tumanggi pero ewan niya kung bakit hindi niya nagawa. No person ever had the guts to drag her around like this... At hindi niya maintindihan kung bakit siya nagpatianod rito.

He took her to an Italian restaurant. She doesn't like Italian cuisine that much. Saka lang naman siya kumakain noon kapag pumupunta sila ng Italy. The last time she entered an Italian restaurant was with Klein. They were disguised as couple in Venice.

She would never forget that dinner. Klein held her hand and kissed her softly on the lips without permission. Hindi naman siya makatanggi noon dahil kaharap nila ang mga negosyanteng kunwari ay ka-deal nilang mag-asawa.

When they went back in the hotel, she gave him a hard blow on the stomach, mahigit tatlong oras nitong ininda ang sakit. She really has bad memories with kisses.

"You're blushing. Why?" Clyde asked. Bigla siyang natauhan mula sa malalim na pag-iisip. Hindi pa agad siya nakasagot. Mabuti na lang at nag-ring ang phone niya, she had an excuse not to answer.

She look at her phone and thinking of the devil, Cloud is calling. Hindi niya iyon inangat at hinayaan lang na mag-ring.

Then she heard his voice on the earpiece.

"Where are you? Kanina pa kita hinihintay dito sa opisina," sambit nito.

She looked at Clyde. Nakangiti naman ito sa kanya. She couldn't answer back. Hindi kasi puwedeng malaman ng kaharap na naka-earpiece niya. Naka-automatic kasi ang connection ng tawag mula sa agency sa earpiece niya at ang phone ay warning device lang para malamang papasok ang tawag.

"Star, are you listening? You must be here within 3 minutes," naiinis na saad ni Cloud sa linya nang hindi siya nagsalita. The call was disconnected a second after she did not answer.

Pinatay niya ang telepono dahil alam niyang mag-iingay na naman ito kapag hindi siya nakarating sa opisina sa loob ng tatlong minuto. She also discreetly turned off her tracking device inside her bag.

"Bakit?" naasiwa niyang tanong kay Clyde nang makitang titig na titig ito sa kanya. It is funny because she never felt awkward towards any man before. Well, except for Klein when that kiss happened.

Huminga ito ng malalim at hindi nilubayan ang mga mata niya. She raised her eyebrows and waited for him to speak.

"I like you," diretso nitong tugon. Napalunok pa siya sa narinig. He doesn't look like kidding nor teasing.

She cleared her throat before speaking.

"You are not supposed to like someone you barely knew, that's stupidity," she muttered.

Where did that came from?

"Habang mas lalo kitang nakikilala, mas lalo kitang nagugustuhan," sambit nito.

Hindi agad siya nakasagot. Nakikilala? Tungkol ba ito sa ikinuwento niya tungkol sa pagiging ulila niya? Her eyes became wary.

"You know we have something in common, after high school, I also lived alone. I only went home recently when my twin brother died," saad nito.

That made her looked at him.

"Iyon 'yung ama nina Cherine at Devine, he was killed recently. Tapos yung ina naman nila, namatay din two years ago sa car accident," dagdag kuwento nito.