The Taste Of You

Chapter 1

AGATHA'S POV

"NO!!!!" Malakas na sigaw ni Agatha ng marinig ang sinabi ng amang si Don Emir sa kanilang family dinner. Akala niya ay kung anong dahilan bakit gusto ng ama na makausap ang buong pamilya. She can't believe that she left her work just to hear her Dad's nonsense words.

"This is the only solution I can think of Agatha. Just think how will it affect the company, our family and our employees" giit ng kaniyang ama.

"No. I am still saying NO. Period" sabi niya sabay baba ng tinidor na hawak niya. Hindi na niya kaya pang pakinggan ang sasabihin ng ama kaya tumayo na siya.

"Agatha...." rinig niyang sabi ng kaniyang ina na parang nagmamakaawang unawain ang desisyon ng ama.

"So.. you agreed to this ridiculous idea Ma?" Bira niya sa ina. Gusto niyang maging mahinahon pero isipin palang niyang pinagkakaisahan siya ay kumukulo ang dugo niya.

"Kuya Anthony? Kuya Albert? Don't tell me alam niyo din 'to?" Hindi umimik ang mga kuya niya. Her two older brothers are both married and it is also because of "business", her dad and mom are married because of business too but they both love each other before they were even asked by their parents to enter married life kahit na bagong graduate lang sila noon. Her parents are asking her to marry someone she doesn't want to be with in the first place.

She rolled her eyes as she turns her back to her family. It's not what you think. Hindi niya gustong pakasal dahil sa hindi niya kilala ang ipapakasal sakaniya. Ayaw niyang pakasal dahil kilalang kilala niya ang lalakeng ipapakasal sakaniya. It is no other than Ronrey Salcedo. Her childhood sweetheart. Her first love. First hug. First kiss. First heartbreak. But fuck! He is all her first. All the first she could think of.

"Gaaaaahhhhd!!!" Inis na sigaw niya sabay hampas ng manubela niya pagkapasok niya sa kaniyang sasakyan.

Ayaw na niyang isipin pa ang lalakeng yun. Nakapirme na sa isip niya na hindi ang lalakeng yun ang papakasalan niya.

"OH MY FUCKING GAAAWD!" tili ng kaibigan niyang si Ara ng malaman ang balita. Nasa bar siya ngayon kasama ang kaibigan dahil pakiramdam niya pag mag-isa siya sa tahimik niyang condo ay iisipin na naman niya yung nangyari sa bahay nila.

"Bibig mo nga. Can we just not talk about it?" Sabi niya sa kaibigan.

"Well, alam mo? Baka you are really destined for each other. Imagine ah, no one in your both families knew that you once dated and like you secretly go to dates when you get a chance. Haha. I remember pa nga one time your Dad called me asking if you're asleep na daw kasi you don't answer his calls eh wala ka naman sa house ko. Andun ka sa kama ni Ronrey, umuungo-----mmmmhhh" tinakpan niya ang bibig ng kaibigan.

"Gaga! Ba't di mo i-try gumamit ng mic para rinig ka ng lahat?" Nanlalaki ang matang sabi niya sa kaibigan.

Tinanggal naman ni Ara ang kamay nito sa bibig niya.

"Hahaha! Sorry, sorry. Inom tayo. Hahaha." Sabi niya sabay taas ng glass niya at ininom ang laman.

"Tsk!" Irap naman ni Agatha sabay tungga ng lahat ng laman ng glass niya.

"Let's dance!" Sigaw ni Ara but she just shove her away.

Yes, Ronrey and her dated for 5 fucking years without her and his family knowing. The Salcedos and Manuels are very good friends. Kaya sila nagkakilala ni Ronrey or what she calls him, RR, ay dahil na rin sa dami na ng family gatherings na inattendan nila. She remembered the first time they met. It was on her 7th birthday. RR is also seven that time. He attended her birthday party. It was like the prince met her princess because the theme of her birthday was disney princess and she's wearing the costume of Cinderella. Their family made them dance and he was her first dance when they did 7dances part. Haaaay.. the thought of the past give her a strange feeling in her chest. Like something is stabbing her with a super pointed thing. It hurts. Really.

"Give me one more glass, please." Sabi niya sa bartender.

"Can you make that two?" Rinig niyang sabi ng tao sa tabi niya. As she's turning her head to see who it was, she felt something leaned closer to her.

"I knew it!" The man said as their eyes met.

"Jerk." Mahinang sabi ni Agatha as she rolled her eyes, but enough for the man to hear it.

"Wow. Hello, too" sabi nito ng nakangiti.

"Bingi" she again said in low voice.

"That's too many greetings. Hi again too. Hahaha." Tawa nito.

"Pucha!" Sabi nya at tumayo. Hinablot niya sa dance floor ang kaibigan na parang baliw na gumigiling sa lalakeng kasayaw nito.

"Hey! Wait! I'm still-------" di na natapos pa si Ara sa sasabihin ng makita ang itsura ng mukha ng kaibigan.

"What happened?" Tanong niya kay Agatha at lumingon sa table nila.

"Oh Shit!" Nalang ang lumabas sa bibig nito.

"Now, let's go." Sabi ni Agatha. Umalis na nga sila sa bar na iyon dahil ramdam niya ang galit ni Agatha sa higpit ng hawak nito sa braso niya.

RONREY'S POV

Habol tingin nalang ang nagawa niya sa papaalis na si Agatha. It's not that ayaw niya itong habulin. It's because alam niyang magpupumilit lang itong lumayo sakaniya if he insists in entering into her life again. Siguro by this time alam na rin ni Agatha ang tungkol sa merger ng companies nila and that the only way to do that is for them to get married. He is not totally against the idea, he honestly wanted it. Actually, he was the one who suggested it to his father. Don Ronel wanted Ronrey to inherit the company but he refused every time his father bring out the topic. But when he saw Agatha laughing with some dude one night in a bar, something ignited inside him. He wants her all alone before and until now. He wanted her more than anyone. Everything about her excites him. Her antics, her snobbing, her laughs, her smiles, the way she roll her eyes and the way she looks at him. Everything. He told his father he will inherit the company with only one condition. He wants Agatha Manuel to marry him, to be his wife, to be his only.

It was 2 years ago when he knew something wasn't right. He never see her smiles again, he never see her laugh anymore. It's as if she wasn't happy with him anymore. And it was their 5th Anniversary when she asked him to let her go. They went to their favorite European Restaurant, it was a candle light date. He prepared flowers and a surprise for her. But as soon as she got seated, she said something he was partly expecting but trusted her enough that she will never say it until she gives her his surprise. She said, "Let's not fool ourselves anymore. Just let me go." He stared at her for a moment, he doesn't know what to say or what to do. His palms suddenly full of his sweat. As if something is pricking his chest. He didn't ask why, he just let her go as she wanted. She stood up. Turns her back at him but before she go, he said to her something. "Happy anniversary" he said but she never looked at him and continued walking away from him.

If only she looked at her back then, he was on his knees with a ring on his hands.