*** ALL RIGHTS RESERVED ***
*** ALSO, PLEASE FEEL FREE TO LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS ***
Nag settle sila sa coffee shop malapit sa condo na tinitirhan ni Victoria. Along the way ay pinag uusapan nila ang mga kasong nahawakan na nila, ngunit umiiwas na pag-usapan ang mga personal nilang buhay.
"Hey, alas sais na pala," sambit ni Matt habang nakatingin sa relo. "How about early dinner instead of coffee."
Nagkibit balikat lamang si Victoria, nilingon ang coffee shop. She’s dying to have a shot of her favorite caffeine, and yet, mas mahaba silang magkakasama ni Matt kung magdidinner sila, "ikaw ang bahala."
She never got over her infatuation over him.
Dumiretso sila sa isang Italian restaurant na nandoon din sa building nina Victoria.
"It's funny how I've always dreamed of eating in places like this noong college. Budget has always been tight. Ngayon..." she had this dreamy gaze at napansin din ni Matt ang sakit sa kanyang mga mata.
"I’m sure you’d been to dozens of places like this before.”
‘But never with you’ naisip ni Victoria.
“Kung alam ko lang, e di sana nag-date tayo dito noon," seryosong pagpapatuloy pa ni Matt na nakakuha ang isang malakas na tawa mula kay Victoria.
"Okay ka lang? I was way out of your league. Kundi nga lang pareho na tayong lawyers, I doubt if you'll even ask me out for coffee."
"I took you to the graduation ball," depensa ni Matt sa sarili.
"Yeah right, and it only took me minutes before I was able to figure out your real intentions."
"My intentions were honorable, your dress was just… well…. a little too sexy."
Binigyan niya ng nakaka-insultong tawa si Matthew.
Idedepensa pa sana ni Matt ang sarili ngunit dumating na ang waiter at kinuha ang kanilang order.
They had a long dinner and drank wine. Pinag-usapan nila ang mga dating kamag-aral. Di nila namalayan ang takbo ng oras. Halos alas-nueve na ng lumabas sila ng restaurant.
"Ihahatid na kita," offer ni Matt.
"Trying to invite yourself in, Matt?”
"Why, afraid I'd ravish you the moment we're alone, Victoria?" may hinanakit sa tinig nito.
"No Matt, I just don't trust myself. I have little control when it comes to you as it is."
"As I can remember, your self-control was iron-clad."
Alam ni Victoria na ang tinutukoy ni Matthew ay ang nangyari --- o mas tama yatang sabihin na: ang hindi nangyari sa kanila noong graduation ball.
They've always had sexual banters the entire time they were in college and that day would have been the culmination of their entire relationship.
Matthew even made her touch him to illustrate just how bad she affects him.
It was like an unspoken agreement that they’d have sex that night, at ng ibinigay sa kanya ni Matt ang susi ng inuupahan niyang kuwarto sa hotel kung saan ginanap ang graduation ball ay ibinigay na rin niya sa dalaga ang karapatang magdesisyon.
For months she imagined him making love to her. Pero noong dumating ang oras na ibinigay sa kanya ang susi ay di na niya kinailangan pang magdalawang isip. Nanaig ang self-preservation kay Victoria.
Nang ibalik niya ang susi kay Matt, she saw murder in his eyes. At that time, she was both scared and thrilled, para bang gustong magbago ng isip niya...
But then, Matthew took the key from her hand.
He didn't say a word.
He just walked away and never looked back.
Never talked to her the entire time na nasa law school sila. He managed to avoid subjects na kung saan ay magiging kaklase niya si Victoria. And it did rip her heart everytime she’s sees Matt in the campus. Every time na may ida-drop siyang subject para lang makaiwas sya sa dalaga.
That was her only regret in life. At kahit hanggang ngayon ay naiisip pa rin niya na kung ano sana ang maaring nangyari noong gabing iyon. Mahal niya si Matt at sana ay tinanggap na lamang niya ang isang gabing iyon upang mayroon siyang nadalang alaala.
"Well, I see you've remembered," he said quietly, pinutol ang pag-iisip ng dalaga.
"Were you able to forgive me for being such a tease?"
"Naiintindihan ko kung bakit walang nangyari noong gabing iyon. That’s why I never forced you. Let's not live in the past. The least I could ask from you now is to be my friend. Afterall, we never had that chance in college and I hope it's not yet too late."
"In that case, I'd even offer you coffee para naman huwag mo akong tadtarin ng motions on our next case."
BINABASA MO ANG
Taking Chances
ChickLitRich Boy. Poor Girl. Two worlds apart. Yan ang drama nina Victoria at Matthew. Si Victoria, poor but extremely intelligent. She is also beautiful in that unconventional way. She could have been perfect if only she didn't have a child at 15...
