I was shocked seeing him riding a horse and at the same time, ashamed because after he comforted me, I left him in that garden.
My dad was looking for me because the party already ended. He wanted us to go home so I hurriedly went back to the venue without even saying goodbye.
"Hala! Magkakilala kayo, senyorito?" narinig kong tanong ni Julia.
I can't get my eyes off him. Yes I know his face but I don't know his name. I haven't introduced myself to him that night and so was he. He doesn't know me too.
"You can say that, Julia." sabi nito at nagkibit-balikat.
He swiftly went down on his horse like a knight while still looking at me. Kumalas lang nung ibinigay niya kay Julius ang renda. Mabilis naman na lumapit si Julius sa kanya at kinuha ang kabayo.
Naglakad siya papunta sa akin at huminto isang dangkal ang layo sa akin.
I frowned when he spread his arms. He was grinning at me.
"Wanna hug?" nakangising sabi nito.
I rolled my eyes at him. Narinig kong napasinghap si Julia dahil sa ginawa ko. Tumawa naman si 'senyorito'.
"Like seriuosly?" tanong ko kay 'senyorito'. I can't believe that after that night, we will see each other again. At dito pa talaga sa hacienda.
He walked towards me and envelop me in his arms. I heard some gasps around us. I can't see anyone because my face was buried on his chest. All I did was to smell his natural scent mixed with his expensive perfume. It smells so manly.
"You're still as soft as I can remember." I heard him whispered.
"And you smell as good as I can remember." I fired back.
I heard him chuckled. When he let me go, I looked around. I saw a lot of teenagers and some elderly watching us. I was suddenly shy and I can feel my face turned red.
"You're blushing." he teased.
"Shut up! We need to go home now."
Nakita kong naging malungkot siya pero ilang segundo lang iyon bago napalitan ng pagtataka. Or baka guni-guni ko lang iyong part na naging malungkot siya?
"Going home? To Manila?" naghesitate pa siya na magtanong sakin.
"Sira! Doon sa kanila Julia. I'll be staying there for the meantime."
Tumango-tango ito saka binalingan sina Julius at Julia na namangha dahil magkakilala pala kami ng 'senyorito' nila. Well, not totally na magkakilala kasi hindi ko naman alam yung pangalan niya.
"I'll bring you home then." he said when he looked back at me.
Nauna nang maglakad sina Julius at Julia. Akay-akay parin ni Julius ang kabayo. Nakasunod lang kami sa dalawa. Yung mga tao naman ay bigla na lang nawala.
"What's your name?" mahinang bulong ko dito.
Bigla na naman itong tumawa nang pagkalakas-lakas. Napapalingon naman sina Julius at Julia na namamangha. Nagtataka na ako kung bakit sila namamangha kapag tumatawa ang 'senyorito' nila. Normal naman siguro yung tumawa?
"I'm Sebastian Miguel. I am sorry if I forgot to tell you my name the first time we met. Ang bilis mo kasing umalis." inilahad nito ang kamay sa kanya.
"I'm Maria Liliana. I am so sorry too if umalis na lang ako bigla. You know what happened to me." tinanggap ko ang nakalahad niyang kamay.
"I do understand. No worries." pinisil niya ang baba ko gamit ang isa pa niyang kamay.
Hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay ay hindi na nito binitawan ang kamay ko. Hindi naman ako nagreklamo kasi I feel so secured while holding his calloused hand.
Itinali ni Julius ang kabayo sa puno ng mangga sa bakuran nila at nagpaalam sila ni Julia na papasok na. Umupo naman kami sa kawayang upuan na nakadikit sa isa pang puno ng mangga.
"How are you?" tanong agad nito.
"I'm actually okay. Tanggap ko na ang nangyari. I'm actually moving on now."
"That's good to hear. Is that the reason why you're here?"
I hesitated to answer that question. I fiddled my fingers because that's my habit when I'm in doubt.
"Yeah. This place is quite refreshing to me actually. Hindi polluted, walang masyadong tao, hindi magulo. Far from the toxic environment of Manila." I sighed.
"How about your father? Is he okay with you staying here?"
"I don't know." nagkibit-balikat ako.
He sighed. It feels like na siya rin, parang na frustrate sa ama ko walang pakialam sa akin.
"Are you related to Manang Maya?"
"Alam mo ikaw, ang dami mong tanong. Imbestigador ka ba?" natatawa kong sabi sa kanya. Parang nagiimbestiga kasi eh.
"What? Do you want me to flirt with you instead?" he looked at me and winked. Mahinang hinampas ko siya sa braso.
"Huwag ka nga. Marupok ako." at sabay din kaming tumawa sa sinabi ko.
Maloko kasi eh. Akala ko pa naman seryosong lalaki siya. May funny side naman pala siya.
"But seriously, are you related to them?" he seriously asked. Tinignan rin niya yung bahay nila Tatay Ben liked he was referring to them.
"Honestly, Tatay Ben is our family driver since I was a kid up until now."
Naputol yung usapan namin nang sumabad si Julia.
"Senyorito, excuse me. Hinahanap ka na daw sa mansion."
Napabuntong-hininga ito na parang ang laki ng problema.
"Pwedeng mamaya na?"
Napakagat ako sa labi sa kakapigil ngumiti. Ang hot kasi ng accent nito kapag nagtatagalog.
Napakamot-ulo naman si Julia sa sagot nito.
"Eh, senyorito, kailangan ka daw dun ngayon. May bisita po kasi kayo." nag-aalangan na sagot ng bata. Nakayuko pa ito. Hindi niya alam kung nahihiya lang ito o naiintimidate kay Seb.
"Nag-eenjoy pa nga ako dito. For sure hindi naman importante yung bisita." naiinis na turan nito.
Parang natakot tuloy si Julia kaya hinampas ko ito sa braso. Hindi naman kalakasan kaya tumawa si Seb sabay hawak sa kamay ko. Si Julia naman ay parang nabigla sa ginawa kong paghampas at paghawak ni Seb sa kamay ko.
"Tumigil ka nga senyorito! Unahin mo muna yung bisita niyo." natatawang sabi ko dito. Inaagaw yung kamay ko pero ayaw nitong bitawan.
"Anong senyorito? Call me Seb." pinisil nito ang kamay ko bago pinaglaruan. He was caressing my fingers like it was so delicate.
"I was actually calling you that in my head."
He smirked at what I said. And dang! He looked so gorgeous!
