Bulong ng Puso

Chapter Twenty One

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" Tanong niya sa binata sa kanyang harapan, her voice as cold as ice.

He smiled and Louise couldn't help sucking in a deep breath. The bastard is still as devilishly handsome as ever. Aging only added to his appeal.

"C'mon Louise, aren't you even a little glad to see me? We haven't seen each other in a long time," sinenyasan nito ang waiter na mabilis lumapit sa kanila, "we'll have 2 glasses of Pinot Noir for starters, please."

"Kung alam ko lang na ikaw pala ang makikita ko rito, hindi na sana ako nag abala," dinampot niya ang bag at akmang tatayo.

"I have a proposal for you, one that would save your dad," kaswal na wika nito. Nabitin sa ere ang akmang pagtayo ni Louise sa sinabi nito. Muli siyang umupo.

"You must be enjoying this. I mean, having all the cards in your hands. Hindi ko lang maintindihan, kung paanong nangyari na napunta sayo, I mean sa AG Group, ang halos lahat ng mga ari-arian namin. Something smells fishy you know," nakataas ang isang kilay niyang wika.

"That's life sweetheart, tables turn," isang makahulugang ngiti ang sumilay sa mga labi nito.

Dumating ang waiter at maingat na inilapag ang dalawang kopita ng red wine. Si Gael ay umorder ng pagkain para sa kanilang dalawa, ni hindi ito nag abalang tanungin kung ano ang gusto niya.

"I hope you still like fillet mignon," he said, dinala nito ang kopita sa mga labi at sumimsim ng wine, ang mga mata nito ay nanatiling nakatitig sa kanya.

Louise's heart skipped a beat. Those eyes. She's never met any other man whose stare could pierce through someone's soul. Kahit pa malakas ang kabog ng dibdib ay pinilit niyang tapatan ang titig nito, she won't cower away. She'll make him see na hindi na siya ang dise-sais anyos na mabilis maapektuhan ng presensya nito.

"Actually, I would have preferred salmon, if you had bothered asking me. Hindi na ako ang dating Louise na kilala mo, Mr. Aragon. Everything you thought you knew about me, have changed," she actually lied. Steak pa rin ang paborito niya, she just doesn't want to give him the pleasure of knowing na tama ito. That a part of the old Louise he knew still exists.

Tumaas ang kilay nito at pilyong ngumiti, "really?"

"Kung ano man ang business proposal na sinasabi mo, please sabihin mo na at nang makaalis na ako." Nauubusan na siya ng pasensya, kailangan na niyang makalayo sa lalaking ito, kung hindi baka makahalata ito sa kabang tunay niyang nararamdaman.

"Why the rush? You came here willing to spend at least a few hours with Kurt, didn't you?"  Bahagyang nagtagis ang mga bagang nito sa sinabi.

"Yes. If it was actually Kurt who came here tonight, instead of the devil!"

"Devil huh?" He leaned on the table towards her, titig na titig ito sa kanyang mga mata, "didn't you miss the devil's kiss, sweetheart?"

Her heart pounded in her chest. Hindi niya inaasahan ang tanong na iyon mula rito. She controlled her breathing at pinilit umaktong normal. "Hindi," she answered flatly. "Alam mo kasi, mas marami pa palang magaling humalik kesa sa'yo." She seriously don't know kung bakit niya iyon sinabi. It was a complete lie dahil wala naman ibang nakahalik sa kanya all those years. But she was glad she blurted out that lie dahil nakita niya ang agad na pagdilim ng mukha nito.

"You better be lying, Louise. I told you before, akin ka lang," muli itong umayos ng pagkakaupo at sumandal sa upuan.

"You have some nerve to say that after what you've done!" Nanggigigil niyang wika rito, mababa ang kanyang boses ngunit madiin ang bawat katagang binitawan niya. The nerve of this man!