Lumayo Ka Man Sa Akin

Chapter II

It was 8:55 pm and Lillian was very surprised to find Hugo waiting for her outside Popote, leaning against his black Porsche Carerra. He was right on time because her shift is done in about five minutes. Seeing him outside, Lillian felt her heart started thumping really fast. She couldn't stop thinking about Hugo since the day before when they had that conversation while waiting for Armando in his mansion yet she didn't expect he'd show up.

Okay, yes, she hoped he would show up but she didn't expect.

When she left the restaurant, Hugo smiled as he waited for to walk closer towards him.

Lillian looked so beautiful and elegant despite her 10-hour shift, Hugo thought. She was wearing a white, silk wrap dress, a pair of beige pumps, and her black YSL tote. He could tell from a distance that she's exhausted but because she's Lillian, she was doing her best to cover her exhaustion.

"Hello beautiful," he winked. Lillian couldn't help but smile. Men have pursued her before yet

she was very busy with her career that she didn't have time to entertain them so what she's feeling at this moment with Hugo was very new and scary to her.

As Hugo opened the passenger seat for her, she asked, "So, saan tayo pupunta?"

Hugo held the door and said, "Ikaw, saan mo gusto pumunta?"

Waiting for him to get in the car, she smirked, "Are you sure about that?"

Closing the door, Hugo smirked back and inched closer towards her, "Kahit saan, Lillian. I just want to spend time with you,"

Feeling hungry, she smiled and avoided his gaze, "Okay then. Have you ever been to Mang Leny's?"

...

Lillian Valdez has got to be the most unpredictable woman Hugo has ever met.

Mang Leny's is actually a late-night street food night stand in Brgy. Bangkal in Makati. He saw mostly people in the mid-20s and students waiting for their order of barbecue, "isaw", and "paa ng manok". There was also an amateur band playing on the concrete stage next to the stand, making it almost impossible to hear what everyone's trying to say. He was very surprised; he didn't think Lillian would go at places like these but she saw the sparkle and excitement in her eyes as she watched the chunky woman behind the stand grilling the barbecue and all those other stuff.

"Gutom na gutom na ko, anong gusto mo?" Lillian asked, scooting towards him so he can hear her.

"I've never been her before, what should I try?" he responded, making Lillian turn to him and laugh. She just realized that the 38-year-old womanizer she's with has never tried street food before!

She leaned closer and said, "Sige, ako ang bahala sayo."

Lillian ordered eight sticks of Isaw while Hugo had no idea exactly what she was ordering. While waiting for their order, they sat on a small table away from the band so they could hear each other.

"You continue to surprise me Lillian," he said, his gaze glued to hers,

"And you surprised me too Hugo. I can't believe hindi ka pa nakaka-tikim ng isaw noon!" she giggled,

"Well, I'm glad you're with me my first time,"

A lanky young man brought their order of isaw and 2 bottles of Coke. "I do this every month. Ito yung aking sinasabi nila na 'guilty pleasure', street food. My friends from high school and I used to come here a lot after school. Come on, try it!"

Handing a stick of isaw to Hugo, he asked, "Paano kina-kain to?"

Lillian laughed even harder. Hugo loved seeing her laugh. "Kagatin mo lang yung isaw, parang barbecue!"

And he did. It tasted very strange in the beginning but he actually ended up loving it. Without realizing, Lillian already ate five and he ate three. Now it was his turn to laugh.

"So I guess I know how to win you over, Ms. Valdez,"

She smiled, 'You already did', she thought.

They watched the band for a couple of minutes and when they realized it was already 10:30, they've decided to call it a night.

He drove her back to her house at The Fort. Her house was built Mediterranean style and just the perfect size for her. He loved this woman's independence. He loved the strong facade that she puts on but deep inside, he loved her inner sensuality and sensibility. Deep inside, she's all feminine and no matter how hard she pretends she doesn't need a man, the right man is all it takes to unleash that woman in her.

When they reached her door, they didn't say a word. They didn't have to. Instead, he kissed her. At first, she was reluctant to take the kiss but she knows well it's too impossible so she gave in to the kiss and kissed him back for all it was worth.

When he broke the kiss. he whispered against her lips, "I want to keep seeing you Lillian, please let me,"

Lillian was too weak to respond so she just nodded.

Hugo turned around and started walking to his car. When he drove away, Lillian could only put her hand on her heart.

She thought about the what Armando said to her after the conversation she and Hugo had while waiting for him, after that kiss:

"Mag-iingat ka kay Hugo, Stella. I know you are old enough to decide what you want and he's not the type of man you want to settle down with. That son of a bitch will break your heart."

She thought about it over and over again as she walked inside her house yet she also couldn't forget about the kiss they shared. After 36 years of existence, she knew what emotions did to a person. God, she's no longer in high school.

However, she couldn't deny the fact that this man won't be getting out of her head anytime soon.