Beautiful Stranger

Chapter Eleven

Iginala ni Alynna ang tingin sa coffee shop na pinagdalhan sa kanya ni Alejandro pagkatapos nila umorder. Nakarating sila ng Tagaytay, halos dalawang oras rin ang naging biyahe nila dahil sa traffic. It wasn't fancy, It was rather a very cozy and homely coffee shop. They were seated in a balcony where they can see the breathtaking view of taal lake.

Above and around the taal, clouds started forming and by the color of it, there was a promise of heavy rain. The lake begins to look forbidding, mysterious and dangerous. It was very fascinating to look at.

"Beautiful, isn't it?" Alejandro asked softly.

"Yeah. It is very beautiful," she agreed.

"No. It's she, mi dulzura. She is very beautiful."

Alynna frowned because she can't decipher what's he's trying to say but when she turned around-- to ask him --and met his eyes, suddenly she knew what he meant.

Because Alejandro wasn't looking at Taal lake. He was staring at her with those grey eyes and she was like seeing the clouds again. The difference was his grey eyes are expressive, his eyes were full of mischief.

She glared at him. Why does he have to have those beautiful eyes?

"What do you want?" She looked away and tried to calm herself. She was the epitome of coolness and calm but with Alejandro, he can draw different emotions she doesn't know she possessed.

Silence.

It was a long silence between them.

It should be awkward and uncomfortable but it wasn't. Alynna felt like it was a natural thing going at the moment. Alejandro and her in a quiet coffee shop, enjoying each other's presence even without talking. It was comforting and nice.

She didn't want to break the silence but she can feel Alejandro's penetrating stare burning off in her skin. It's making her feel things she shouldn't. She glared at him. "Matutunaw na ako niyan." she said mockingly.

He smiled. He leaned back and clasped his hand behind his head. "Nagtataka lang ako kung bakit mo ako iniiwasan."

"Bakit mo ako dinala dito?" Balik tanong niya.

Ilang segundo ang lumipas bago sumagot si Alejandro na para bang pinag-iisipan nito kung ano ba ang susunod na sasabihin. "What do you think of this place?"

Inilibot niya ang tingin sa paligid. Ang kisame sa kanilang puwesto ay gawa sa glass at sa gilid ay may nakasabit na halaman at fairy lights. It was cute and kinda romantic. "Did you bring all your girls here?" She asked with her one eyebrow raised.

But the thought that Alejandro had brought girls before her in that beautiful place makes her stomach churn. It only meant that one thing, she was just another girl in his list to conquest, another challenge. She frowned and pursed lips in annoyance.

The round table between them was small. Their knees are almost touching under the table but when Alejandro leaned in it become more smaller. Their faces is several inches away to each other. She blinked because their kiss that night flashed back before her eyes. She met his eyes instead.

He touched her glabella to smoothen the frown on her face. "What are you thinking?" He asked like he was talking to a child.

Ibinuka niya ang kanyang bibig upang sumagot sana nang dumating ang order nila. Tsaa ang kanya na may kasamang scones at jam samantalang si Alejandro ay cappuccino lamang. 

"Thank you," wika niya sa waitress pero tila si Alejandro lang ang nakikita nito dahil ang binata lang ang nginitian nito.

Humigop siya ng tsaa pagkatapos timplahin iyon para mag-isip.