Is He the One?

chapter 14

Kalahating oras na yata akong nakatingin sa calling card na binigay sakin ni Chrezzia, arguing with my mind if a dialed the number or not.

After a minute I decided to dialed the number but in my dismay a recorded message answer the call.

"Hello, Miss Honey Denn. I'm out of town right now but we'll talk once I get back."

The heck! Hindi ako makapaniwala bakit naka direct sa akin ang recorded message? Like the receiver was so certain that I will call up!

Afternoon came at pinapakain ko ang alaga kong Pomeranian na si Ansong ng biglang tumunog ang doorbell.

"Flowers po, miss Honey Denn"
The delivery boy greeted me as I opened the gate.

I rolled my eyes upon getting the flowers. Kilala na ako ng delivery boy dahil sa pesteng Nhed na iyon na walang magawa sa buhay kundi pestihin ako sa araw araw na pagpapadala nya ng bulaklak sa akin.

"Salamat" I said blantly and signed the receipt. Halos isang linggo na rin na hindi ko sya nakita pero walang palya ang pagpapadala nya ng bulaklak sa akin.

What does this mean for? Is he courting me? Or nagpapalakas pang lalo ito Kay Lolo?

Could he be after the old man's money and just using me for it?

No. It couldn't be.

Pacquing are also known for their good wealth. Their fortune coming from sea vessels and cruise liners.

So the issue is couldn't be money.

Bakit nya ako binibigyan ng bulaklak? Hindi naman nya siguro ako liniligawan , Hindi rin naman tungkol sa pera , ah baka gusto nyang gawing flower farm ang bahay ko? The heck self! Flower farm? seriously? Kaloka nababaliw na yata ako I need distraction!

"MABUTI naman at napasyal ka"
Don Alejandro greeted me as I enter the mansyon. He was seating on a hammock while seeping a tea.

"Salamat at napasyal ka. Kagagaling lng dito ng magagaling mong kuya . A surprise visit, first time in twenty years. Surprising, indeed. I can't help but wonder if it's got anything to do with inheritance."  Pagkasabi nun ay tumawa ito ng pilit.

I didn't give a comment. Marami akong naririnig na negative thing about Thomas and Perry. I don't give a damn to meet them in person it's just a waste of time.

" Stay and have dinner with me hija. May mga fresh na seafood na galing sa Santiago. Padala ng mga tauhan sa resort natin doon."

'resort natin'  I mentally repeat . Kasama na ba ako sa proprietorship ng mga negosyo ni Lolo? Hmm it feels good that my grandfather accepted me .

"Do you eat crabs? Tanong nito

"Yes Lolo. It's my favorite actually. It tastes good sa ginataan. 'Yong naglalangis pa sa gata!"

Omo! Naglalaway na ako sa ginataan kahit hindi pa naluto.

"Apo nga kita.  Mahilig din ako sa ginataang alimango. Mabuti pala kung ganoon, may makakasalo na ako sa hapunan. Nhed's back from Frasua, but I didn't bother to invite him over dinner. Allergic iyon sa alimango or any seafood. Poor boy, he's missing the best things in life"

Si Nhed, allergic sa seafood? At least may allergy naman pala yung luko lukong iyon!

Somehow I felt glad knowing something about  Nhed. And that feeling disturb me.

Aha! I should use that knowledge to my advantage! Napangiti na lng ako dahil sa naisip . I would get even with the gremlin, such a dashing gremlin, he didn't deserve to walk the ground.

I smirked smugly with that thought.

Two days pass when I receive a call from Nhed . Sinagot ko agad ang tawag at hindi ko sya hinayaang makapagsalita para maisakatuparan ang plano ko.

"Finally, you're back in town, I've been waiting for you". I said cheerfully

"Really?" He sounded amused but hardly convince.

Jusko naman nagsisimula pa nga lng ako sa plano ko mukhang palpak na. Minsan talaga hirap kausap ng mga matatalino alam nila agad kahit hindi mo pa nasasabi ng buo. Kaloka!

"Did you miss me?" Napabalik ako sa huwisyo ng marinig ang seryoso nyang boses.

"Can you come over tonight? I'm cooking dinner".  I answered dismissing his question.

Biglang natahimik sa kabilang linya na ipinagtaka ko

"Nhed? Still there?"

Matagal bago muli syang nagsalita na parang pinag isipan pa talaga  ng maigi ang sagot sa tanong ko na akala mo naman  ay babagsak kapag mali ang sagot nya. Ano Yan bored exam? Kailangan pag isipan ng maiigi? Hah!

"You're not cooking ginataan, aren't you?" Parang nag aalangan pa syang magtanong.

" Of course not!"  I defended. Ano namang kinalaman ng ginataan?

"What about crab?".  Tanong nya ulit

Sandali akong napipilan. " N-no, of course not!"  Tanggi ko naman

"Shrimp? Lobster?"  Paninigurado nya

"No, just ... Just forget it!"
Sa inis ay binabaan ko na lng sya ng tawag at gaya ng  dati ay nanatiling nasa tabi ko ang phone ko lihim na umaasa na tatawag sya ulit. And just like before, it never did.

Dami niyang tanong sya na nga iniimbitahan mag dinner. Arte nya ha!

Forget him! Just forget him! My mind whisper. Napahilamos na lng ako sa mukha ko feeling limp and stupid at the same time dahil sa  emosyong aking nararamdaman na hindi ko mapangalanan.

Ever since that April Fool's night at Nicole's, never in a day he passed through my mind.

(Insert the song someday by Nina )

Bago ako maglasing sa birthday party ni Nicole noon ipinangako ko na sa sarili ko na hinding hindi na ako magmamahal muli.  Ayoko ng masaktan kasi sobrang sakit. The last person I let myself to loved is a coward

He let me know what love is...
 
  So I did!

He show me how love works...
   
    So I work for it!

He let me appreciate the feeling of being loved...
  
  So I gladly accept it!

He said he loves me...
   
   So I love him too! Very much
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But it turns out that ever since, he's just fooling me around with my fucking feeling for him!

At ngayon hindi ko alam kung ano itong nararamdaman ko para kay Nhed. He had manage to get into my nerves and the rest of my body , especially my heart. Nakakatakot nang magmahal muli. Is this love?

And I was a damned fool for letting him so.

***
Hi Clarete!