A Night To A Lifetime

Kabanata 12

Before, to be noticed by someone I dreamed to be was just a plain hope. I only hoped that the moment Carrick touched me, it might be his best moment. But who would've thought it would create an impact for even my necklace was indeed a memorabilia to him?

Back then, I thought I left it at our house before leaving nor lost it when I was on my way here facing my new journey and the fate I created. Yet the thing was, he considered my my necklace special for him; even wore it.

How come I haven't noticed that before? During our first meeting, or in our alone time together, and those times when we were intimate back in the office? Maybe I wasn't that attentive that time.

Even my mind was like a whirlpool, confused. Does that mean a thing to me? Should I hold on to what I came to know? Must I hope still?

But Carrick is a known playboy! He's never fond of any commitments. Maybe I was wrong at all, maybe my heart was just trapping me. Maybe he only kept it because he was curious about me for I was the first pure woman he owned.

Tumingin ako sa labas ng bintana tanaw ang isang mini store kung saan pumasok si Carrick para bumili ng makakain at tubig. Sapo ang dibdip kong ayaw pa rin matigil sa mabilis nitong pagdagundong.

Suddenly, our conversations before he went out of his car came flashing...

"This is memorable and special and... so is the owner."

No one knew how I felt alive in his stares that was soulful. I felt alive for my heart rejoiced inside my being. I didn't recognize the glint of emotions in his pair of eyes, unfathomable, so full of secrets. Which in order to read it, you must swim deeper to search for the chest of truth.

I cleared my throat and his eyes made its way back to the pendant he was holding. His stares... it was drowning, embracing, and welcoming. I don't know anymore.

"Cheap mo naman," sa huli ay saad ko.

"What's cheap in there? Keeping things that are special to you's ain't cheap. Why, don't you keep memories?"

He got me there. Of course I do. I only said it because he was never that type of person. And seeing this other side of him melted my whole being.

My whole existence' reaction was unexplainable. Magulo at malalim gaya ng isang karagatan. Kailangan ko pang sisirin upang makita kung ano ang ando'n sa kailaliman nito.

Naitikom ko ang aking bibig.

"You keep things because it's a part of your past, Sandra. More like a piece of a puzzle that completes your existence. Each memory passes draw your life wider and creating a bigger picture. Some fade, but will always remain as a huge part of you," he said.

He let the pendant slide off his hand and leaned on the backrest—smiling genuinely.

"Okay. Dami mo namang sinabi. I got it. But... where did you get that thing? A gift from your ex? Flings? Fuck body?"

Kahit alam ko naman. Gusto ko lang sa kaniya mismo manggaling. Nanginig pa ang labi ko. He was acting different.

"Why? Was it written on your contract to be nosy? I don't let any employee meddle with my life," panggagaya niya sa sinabi ko sa kaniya noon.

Napakurapkurap ako at laglag ang panga. Sa huli napakagat na lamang ako ng labi dala ng pagka-irita dahil gusto kong lumabas sa kaniyang bibig mismo.