Miss Danger Finder

39: And Geeq Gives In

"AH, I remember now," mayamaya ay sabi ni Eun habang naglalakad sila sa basement. Saglit nitong nilingon si Geeq bago siya nito muling hinarap. "He's the new Head of Security of our university, isn't he? Kung nandito siya, tama ba ang iniisip ko na siya ang "partner" mo?"

"You're a quite sharp," komento ni Rara sa teasing na boses. "Pero hindi ko pa puwedeng sabihin sa'yo kung ano ang connection namin sa kaso na 'to. Sorry."

"No, it's okay, Rara. I respect that. Hihintayin ko na lang ang time na magkukuwento ka na."

Naputol ang usapan nila nang sinalubong na ito ng isang security team na binubuo ng apat na bodyguards na nanggaling mula sa isang black van. Binigay nito ang susi ng Jaguar nito sa isa sa mga bodyguard bago sinabihan ang mga ito na maghintay na lang sa kotse nito.

Then, Eun walked her to Geeq's Montero Sport.

"I owe you a meal, Eun," sabi ni Rara, saka niya pinatong ang kamay niya sa ibabaw ng ulo nito na ikinangiti agad nito. "I'll treat you to something good next time."

Mas lalong lumuwang ang ngiti nito, saka nito kinuha ang kamay niyang nasa ibabaw ng ulo nito at hinawakan iyon. "Then, let's have a lunch date tomorrow."

"Bukas agad?"

Napansin niyang naging seryoso ang mukha nito kahit nakangiti pa rin ito. "I decided to share something important to you, Rara. I want you to listen to my story but for tonight, we both need to rest first."

Tumango siya dahil naramdaman niyang hindi ito nakikipag-flirt sa kanya. He has really something important to tell her. "Okay. See you tomorrow then. Tawagan mo ko kapag nasa hospital ka na, ha? Saka sabihin mo rin sa'kin ang magiging result ng check-up mo."

"I will," sagot ni Eun, saka ito ngumiti na parang may kalokohang naisip. Inangat nito ang kamay niya na hawak pa rin nito at inilapit iyon sa bibig nito nang hindi inaalis ang tingin sa kanya. When he realized that she wouldn't stop him, he kissed her knuckles. "Good night, Rara."

Tumango si Rara at binawi na ang kamay niya mula rito. "Good night, Eun."

Ngumiti lang si Eun sa kanya, saka ito lumingon kay Geeq na nakatayo lang sa gilid nila. "Good night, Geeq Quindoza. Please feed Rara for me. Hindi pa siya nagdi-dinner, eh."

Tumango si Geeq. "I will. Take care, Eun."

"Thank you," nakangiting sagot ni Eun, saka ito muling nagpaalam sa kanila ni Geeq bago ito bumalik sa Jaguar nito at sa mga naghihintay nitong bodyguards.

"We should get going, too, Rara," pag-aya sa kanya ni Geeq, saka nito binuksan ang pinto ng passenger side para sa kanya. "Tinawagan ko si Riri kanina. She's upset by what happened to you and Eun. She asked me to bring you home ASAP. Pia is worried, too."

"Ah, I made everyone worry, huh?" komento ni Rara, saka siya sumakay sa passenger seat. Hinintay niyang makasakay si Geeq sa driver's seat bago siya muling nagsalita. "I'm sorry for making you worry, Geeq."

"You don't have to apologize, Rara," umiiling-iling na sabi naman ni Geeq, saka nito in-on ang engine ng sasakyan nito pero hindi naman agad ito nag-drive. Instead, he turned to hear with a serious look on his handsome face. "I was really worried. I thought my heart dropped when I heard what happened to you on the phone."

"Sorry, but I'm happy that you're worried. It means you care for me, don't you?"

"I do."

"I know. But why are you looking at me like that? Saka bakit ang tahimik mo kanina?" curious na tanong niya, saka niya ito naisipang i-tease. "Were you jealous of Eun?"

"Eun is a good guy," sabi ni Geeq at halata sa boses nito ang respeto para sa lalaki. "Nakita ko na genuine ang concern niya for you. And I can tell that he seriously likes you." Saglit itong natigilan na parang nag-isip pa. "He seems to be a good fit for you, Rara."

"I don't like where this is going, Geeq."

"Hey, I'm not yet done," magaang na reklamo nito. "You and Eun look good together. I know I don't have the right to get jealous because you're not my girl but I can't help it. After all, jealousy works best with the absence of reason."

"It's not like I don't see where you're coming from," sabi naman niya. "I felt irrational, too, when I got jealous during the time Sica was asking you to be her personal bodyguard 24/7."

Bigla itong napangiti na parang natuwa sa confession niya. "You were jealous then?"

"Maybe, maybe not."

Natawa ito sa pagiging evasive niya. "Even though I know that Eun seems to be the better choice for you, I still can't let him charm his way to your heart. Rara, I lied when I said I prefer women my age. But well, to be honest, I didn't know that I could be attracted to a girl ten years my junior until I met you."

Tumaas ang kilay niya dahil hindi niya nagustuhan ang timing ng confession nito. "Sinasabi mo lang ba 'yan ngayon kasi na-threaten ka kay Eun?"

"I can't deny that," pag-amin naman nito. "But that's not entirely the reason why I'm confessing now. Remember when I said I was at my limit? That's it, that was when I realized that I can't hold back anymore. Seeing how well you treat Eun was the last straw."

Nag-init ang mga pisngi niya nang maalala niya ang sinasabi nito. Nasa kotse sila no'n habang nasa tapat ng flower shop nang sabihin nitong naabot na nito ang limitasyon nito. And later that day, Geeq kissed her on the forehead.

"You stole a kiss from me that day," paalala ni Rara kay Geeq. "I was too stunned to react."

"I was so nervous then," nakangiti pero iiling-iling na sabi ni Geeq. "I know how much you value consent so I was prepared to be slapped."

"How can I slap you when you turned around so fast and walked back to the flower shop like nothing happened?"

Natawa ito pero halata sa tawa na 'yon ang kaba. "This may sound like a lame excuse but you looked so cute when you blushed. If I didn't walk away from you, I may have kissed you on the lips." Bago pa siya makapag-react sa huli nitong sinabi, lumiyad na ito sa direksyon niya at pumikit. "You may slap me now."

"Huh?"

"Stealing a kiss from you was wrong," paliwanag nito. "I'm sorry for doing it without your consent. You may even punch me if you want."

"Okay," pagpayag naman niya, saka niya kinulong ang mukha nito sa mga kamay niya. Then, she kissed him on the forehead. Halatang nabigla si Geeq sa ginawa niya kasi nagmulat ito at nanlaki pa ang mga mata. Natawa tuloy siya bago niya ito binitawan. "Now we're even."

Bumalik si Geeq sa upuan nito at dumeretso ng upo habang nakahawak sa noo nito. "Wow, I've been blessed."

She blushed at that. No, my lips were.

"Rara, ngayon pa lang, magsasabi na ko sa'yo, ha?" nakangiting sabi nito mayamaya– ngiting nakakaloko. "I won't hold back anymore. So please feel free to flirt with me all you want. From now on, I'll return your teasing with as much fervor."

"Is that a threat?" pabirong tanong naman ni Rara. "Then, I'm looking forward to it, Geeq Quindoza."

Ngumiti si Geeq habang iiling-iling. "Careful, Rara Sandoval, careful."