A CATena of Kisses

4 Antonio

4 ANTONIO

"Good God, you don't give up."
"Nope."
I laughed, couldn't help it, and his smile spread in response to the sound.
"I'm sure there are plenty of girls who
want to go out on a date with you."
"There are."
"Wow. Modest aren't you?"
"Why should I be?" he shot back.
"And I want to go out on a date with you. Not them."
--J. Lynn

Ang manager ng Antonio's mismo ang nag-assist kila Sebastian at Cat. Habang naglalakad sila papunta sa table ay kinakausap nya si Sebastian. Sakto naman kasi naramdaman ni Cat na nag-vvibrate ang phone nya sa pocket ng blazer nya. Sinilip ni Cat yun at nakita nyang tumatawag si Nathan. Sasagutin nya na sana nang maputol ang tawag. Pagkakita ni Cat ng notifications nya, merong 30 messages at 15 missed calls -- lahat galing kay Nathan. Bago pa nya ma-check ang messages, tumawag ulit ito. Akmang sasagutin na ni Cat yung phone ng hinawakan sya ni Sebastian, "Cat, please have a seat."

Napatingin si Sebastian sa phone ni Cat, {Nathan de Leon. I wonder who that is.} "Emergency?" cool lang na tanong ni Sebastian pero sa loob loob nya, {Bad trip, whoever that Nathan is.}

"Nope. Let's eat. I'm famished." Nilagay na ni Cat yung phone nya sa bag.

Nginitian sya ni Sebastian. {I need to have him checked.} Umupo si Sebastian sa tapat ni Cat. Inabot naman ng waiter ang menu sa kanilang dalawa. Pagkakita ni Cat ng presyo ng pagkain, napalunok sya at napabulong na hindi sinasadyang marinig ni Sebastian, "Ang mahal naman..." Sinagot sya ni Sebastian, "Just order anything you want. I'll take care of the bill." Tapos nginitian sya nito.

Nakita ni Cat ang breakfast menu, {A eto mas mura at mukhang ok} "Meatloaf and rice na lang," sabi nya kay Sebastian.

"Ok. How about your drink?"

"Just water."

"No wine?"

Tinignan sya ni Cat na parang confused, "No."

Tumango si Sebastian at tinawag ang waiter, "We'll have 2 orders of meatloaf and water."

"Ok, sir. Do you want anything else? Appetizer? Soup?"

"No. We'll call you later if we need something. Thank you."

Patuloy pa rin ang pag-vibrate ng phone ni Cat. Nag-excuse sya kay Sebastian tapos inilabas nya ang phone. In-end ni Cat ang call at nag-message sya kay Nathan.

CAT
#Hey, Nathan. Busy ako. Call you later.

In-off nya yung phone, at humarap sya kay Sebastian, "So where were we?"

Ngumiti si Sebastian. "Well, nowhere yet. Am I allowed to ask questions?" He was obviously trying to be charming.

"Sige. Fire. I'll try to answer as honestly as possible."

Natawa si Sebastian. "Haha. So, it's Catherine?" Nagsimula na syang magtanong.

"Catalina." simpleng sagot ni Cat.

"Was that your boyfriend calling you before?"

Nagulat at napangiti si Cat, "Wow. Straight to the point ha. And no. That's my best bud. He's just worried about me."

Medyo nakahinga ng maluwag si Sebastian. "So, you don't have a boyfriend?" Deep inside, Sebastian was scolding himself, {Shit. I sound like a teenager}

"No. I don't want to get distracted." Nag-smile si Cat.

Sebastian smiled back, "Sounds like someone I know."

Cat tilted her head. "I'm sorry?"

"You sound like my cousin and best bud. In his case, he does not want to have a girlfriend and get distracted from his work." explain ni Sebastian.

Napangiti si Cat, "Kanya-kanyang priority lang yan. Ikaw?"

Umiling si Sebastian, "No. I don't have a girlfriend. I'm dating someone as of the moment but she does not want to get distracted. I'll try my best to change her mind though." He winked at Cat.

Kumunot ang noo ni Cat. "Are you referring to me?" tanong nya kay Sebastian. Ngumiti lang si Sebastian.

She rolled her eyes. "Seriously? You look like a demigod, and probably could be dating anyone right now and you are trying to flirt with me?"

Sebastian leaned. "Well, since we're in the honesty game, I don't want any of them. I'm interested in YOU. And wait, did you just say I am good-looking?"

"Come on. Don't tell me you weren't aware of your looks. Even my friend said you are handsome. So don't pretend it's the first time someone complimented your appearance."

"But it's different when it comes from your pretty mouth." Unconsciously, Sebastian licked his lips.

Naramdaman naman ni Cat na medyo uminit yung cheeks nya at natahimik sya.

Napangiti si Sebastian, {I guess it's time to change the subject} "So, what's your business at the hotel?"

Naka-recover na si Cat, "The university sponsored a conference regarding technology and the environment. My friends and I were tasked to assist the delegates and speakers."

"You're still studying?" There was a surprise in Sebastian's tone.

"Yup. Scholar kaya we volunteer for things like this." casual na sabi ni Cat.

"How old are you, if you don't mind me asking?" medyo napapalunok na si Sebastian.

"Seventeen. And you?"

Si Sebastian naman ang natahimik, "Twenty-six and I think I'm in BIG trouble."