“I’m here to ask you for a lunch date.” Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at hindi makapaniwala sa narinig.
He’s asking me for a lunch date. A date!
“A date . . .?” marahan kong tanong sa kaniya, hindi pa rin makapaniwala.
“Yes,” he smiled and pulled my arm closer to him as if we’re not that close to each other now.
“W-Wala ka bang . . . meeting ngayon?” tanong ko sa kaniya habang marahan ang ekspresyong ipinapakita. Hindi talaga ako makapaniwala na . . . inaaya niya akong mag-date ngayon.
“I should be the one to ask you that. Because I’m free the whole afternoon so . . .” he looked at me with the same expression I have.
Napayuko ako nang bahagya bago nag-angat ng tingin ulit sa kaniya, “I’m free until 1pm, but after that I have to be here to work and I have an upcoming meeting at 3pm.” Tumango siya bago pinadausdos ang palad sa aking kamay.
Napatingin ako ro’n at agad na kumalabog ang aking dibdib nang makita ang malapad niyang palad na sinakop ang aking maliit at malambot na palad. It seems too fit with each other. Seems like it was carved really for each other. I bit my lower lip before looking up at him. He’s looking at me intently, as if reading my mind.
“Alright, we’ll be here before 1pm.” Marahan niya akong hinila palabas ng building.
Agad na sumunod ang kaniyang mga bodyguards sa amin. Nailang ako dahil hindi ako sanay na may nakasunod na bodyguard. But I know he really should have bodyguards with him, he’s after all a well known business tycoon. He’s too successful and some competitors are after him. That’s why he needs to be careful every time he go out to work or somewhere else. Just to be safe.
Pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto sa backseat. I slide inside before him. He sat comfortably beside me and he even held my hand while we’re inside as if it was his usual doings whenever we’re together.
I felt uncomfortable and at ease at the same time when I felt his thumb slowly caressing the back of my hand and my fingers. His gentleness makes my heart throbbed so hard and fast. But I didn’t say a word nor protest with what he’s doing, it’s fine for me. Even if it makes my heart go crazy.
Until we reached at the luxurious restaurant we’re just silent. Lumabas siya ng sasakyan kasunod ako. Napakagat ako sa pang-ibabang labi nang agad niyang ipinulupot ang kaniyang braso sa aking beywang. May napapatingin sa aming mga tao but Callum seems not to care about their stares. Or he’s just too oblivious with those stares? I don’t know.
Iginiya niya ako papasok sa loob nang matapos niyang kausapin ang bodyguard niya. Akala ko ay sa first floor kami pup’westo pero nagpatuloy siya hanggang sa grand staircase ng mamahaling restaurant. Nailang naman ako dahil may napapatingin talaga sa amin habang paakyat kami. May nakasalubong pa kaming nagulat sa presensya ni Callum. I don’t know why they’re shock.
Is it because he’s not really going here often? Or is it because he’s with a woman? With me? I wonder if he’s taking his women to some luxury restaurants before? The thought made my stomach churn in jealousy.
“This way, sir, ma’am.” anang waiter at iginiya kami papunta sa reserve table ni Callum.
He really did planned about this date, huh?
“Thank you,” sambit ko nang ipaghugot ako ni Callum ng silya. Umupo ako roon at siya naman ay nasa harap ko.
“I’m planning to take you here last night but you drunk yourself in that resto bar, so I failed to have a date with you last night.” Agad na kumalabog ang dibdib ko sa sinabi niya.
So . . . kagabi pa siya nagpaplanong . . . mag-date kami? Kung hindi ako naglasing kagabi sa resto bar na ‘yon, he would’ve take me here and have a dinner date with me. Bigla akong nahiya sa ginawa ko. Hindi ko rin naman talaga alam kung bakit ko ba naisipang pumunta ro’n. Basta ay naboring ako sa bahay dahil maghapon akong walang trabaho. At hindi ko pa naisipang magpaturo kung paano magpaluto kay Nanay Juliet ng paboritong pagkain ni Callum.
“Uh . . . sorry. Hindi ko rin naman naplano na pumunta ro’n.” napayuko ako nang bahagya.
Binigyan kami ng menu ng waiter kaya naman doon napunta ang atensyon ko.
“It’s fine. Next time, if you’ll go somewhere just tell me so. I was worried last night that you didn’t brought your phone with you and when I came home you’re not there and Nanay Juliet said you were out.” I bit my lower lip and couldn’t look at him now.
“I’m sorry. Hindi na mauulit. Na-boring lang talaga ako sa bahay.”
Nagsimulanna kaming um-order ng pagkain namin and he started to talk about light topics so it calmed me down.
“I have an out of town meeting,” napatigil ako sa pagkain at napaangat ang tingin sa kaniya.
He’s looking at me intently, weighing my expression as he languidly sit in front of me. I looked down again feeling something heavy in my chest. Bigla akong nawalan ng gana tapusin ang kinakain nang buksan niya ang topic na ‘yan. Would that mean . . . he’ll not be home for how many days? And where?
“Isasama kita ro’n. The meeting will take for three days.” Napaangat akong muli ng tingin sa kaniya at napakurap-kurap nang makita ang ekspresyon niya. It’s too soft and . . . something I couldn’t name.
“S-Saan?” tanong ko habang nakatingin pa rin sa kaniyang mga mata.
“In Isabela,” napatango-tango ako at bahagyang napanguso.
“Kailan ba ‘yan?” tanong ko.
“Next week,” tumango ako at nagpatuloy na sa pagkain, gano’n din ang ginawa niya.
Naalala ko noon nang pumunta rin siya sa ibang bansa, noong unang linggo ng kasal namin, hindi niya ako sinama dahil hindi pa naman kami komportable sa isa’t isa. Ngayon . . . gusto na niya akong isama sa out of town meeting niya. Is it because of what happened between us? Why the sudden change? Ayos lang naman kung maiwan ako rito sa Manila. I’m not a help in his business field, kaya hindi ko alam kung bakit kailangan niya pa akong isama.
Natapos kami sa pagkain na walang imikan. Tahimik lang ako dahil tinatantiya ko ang ekspresyon niya, kinakalma ko rin ang sarili ko dahil sa tuwing nararamdaman ko ang titig niya ay kunakalabog nang matindi ang puso ko. Halos hindi na ako makatingin nang diretso sa kaniya dahil sa pagkailang.
“Let’s go?” tumango ako bago tumayo nang mag-aya na siyang umalis do’n.
Nakapagbayad na siya kaya wala na ring problema. We were about to get inside the car when an old man suddenly appeared near us. I was shocked to see how miserable he looked now.
“What the fuck?! What are you fucking doing here?!” Callum’s thunderous voice boomed the whole basement parking. I gulp and look at him.
He’s glaring at the old man whose almost begging and kneeling while looking so miserable.
“Please, Mr. Villanueva. Don’t do this to my company. I didn’t do anything to make you upset like this. I need my company. My family needs my company. Please, I beg of you, don’t ruin my company.” The old man said while begging to Callum.
Napakagat ako sa pang-ibabang labi at tiningnan si Callum na walang emosyon ang mga mata habang nakatingin sa matanda. He then, smirked evilly.
“Sana naisip mo ‘yan bago mo ‘ko gaguhin nang gano’n, Mr. Domingo. You do know how evil I am when it comes to this kind of betrayal. I hope you remember.”
Napatingin muli ako sa matanda. Nanghihina siyang napadausdos ng luhod sa sahig. He’s now crying while kneeling in front of Callum. But the latter looks ruthless and heartless while looking down at him.
“Hindi ako ang may pakana no’n . . . t-tinakot nila ako. H-Hindi ko alam na magiging gano’n ang kalalabasan . . .” anang matanda sa nanghihinang boses habang nakaluhod.
“Well, guess what, you’re all fucked up with what you did. Wala akong ititira. You will crawl in mud, looking so pathetic. You don’t know what I can do. Just watch and cry, Mr. Domingo. I will ruin all of you.”
Halos manlamig ako sa sobrang baba at lamig ng boses ni Callum. Parang ibang Callum ang nasa tabi ko ngayon habang masama ang tingin sa matandang nakaluhod sa harapan niya. Hindi man lang siya natitinag sa pag-iyak nito o sa pagmamakaawa.
“Let’s go,” nagulat ako nang bigla niya akong hawakan sa beywang at igiya papasok sa loob ng sasakyan.
I’m still shocked. He . . . look so merciless . . . so ruthless . . . and authoritative. Habang naririnig ko ang malalim at malamig niyang boses, bigla akong natakot sa kung ano’ng kaya niyang gawin. I know he will not be on top he couldn’t even handle being savage in business world, pero hindi ko lang talaga maiwasang matakot. That’s why he has his bodyguards beside him. He’s not just a business tycoon, he also has plenty of enemy in business.
“Don’t . . .” napatingin ako kay Callum nang bigla siyang magsalita sa tagal ng pagkakatahimik naming dalawa. Napabaling ako sa kaniya sa nagtatakang ekspresyon.
“Huh?” tanong ko habang.
“Don’t be afraid of me.” he said in a soft yet low voice. I bit my lower lip. Siguro ay iniisip niyang takot ako ngayon sa nasaksihan ko. Sa pagiging marahas niya sa pakikipag-usap sa matanda.
He really has a power to rule everything. And that old man is an evidence of what he can do. He can do evil things if someone betray him . . . if someone will go against him. He can whatever he wants to do if you did something that will piss him off. And I understand where he’s coming from. He just don’t want someone to backstab him. It’s his company’s sake. I do understand him.
“I . . . I’m not. I was just shocked. Don’t worry, I understand your wrath.” I smiled and reach for his hand to hold and squeeze it a little.
I saw his eyes moved down from my eyes to our holding hands. He gulp and looked amaze while looking at our hands. He then, intertwined our hands and squeeze it a little, too. My smile widened while looking at his soft expression. Even if his feature were all rough and hard, he really has a soft side and kindness. But he’s just not letting his guard down when it comes to business. He can’t be gentle and softhearted in business world, he will just go home, loser.
“I just hope I did not made you shocked or made you uncomfortable and afraid too much. It bothered me. I’m sorry you have to witnessed that.” He crouched to kissed my forehead. I closed my eyes and smile. “Just trust me . . . I will not hurt you.” he said sincerely.
Hanggang sa makarating kami sa building ng trabaho ko ay hindi maalis sa isip ko ang nangyari at ang mga sinabi ni Callum.
“Callum, hindi mo na ako kailangang ihatid sa opisina ko. Nandito na ako, oh. Aakyat na ‘ko, sige na.” Kanina pa siya nagpupumilit na ihahatid niya ako sa opisina ko. At kanina pa rin ako umaangal na h’wag na dahil hindi naman na kailangan. Kaya ko naman nang umakyat sa opisina ko mag-isa.
“I insist, wife.” he said with finality in his voice.
Napasapo ako sa noo ko at umiling. Sa tingin ko ay hindi ko na siya mapipigilan pa. Wala na akong magagawa kung ‘di ang pumayag. Nasa tapat na rin kami ng elevator at pinipilit ko lang siyang lumabas na ng building dahil nahihiya na ako at pinagtitinginan na rin siya ng mga empleyado rito.
“Why do you feel so embarrassed being with me?” he asked, confused.
I sighed, “it’s just that . . . you’re attracting some attention. Nakakahiya na pinagtitinginan tayo rito.” diretsong sambit ko habang nakaiwas ng tingin.
Nagulat ako nang bigla niyang hawakan ang kamay ko at pinagsalikop ‘yon. Napatingin ako sa kaniya sa nanlalaking mga mata. I saw him stifling a smile while looking straight at the elevator. Bumaling naman ako sa paligid at nakita ang ibang napapatingin sa amin. Bumukas na ang pinto ng elevator kaya naman pumasok na kami. Papasara na sana ang pinto ng elevator nang may ma-detect na tao kaya bumukas ulit.
Napakurap-kurap ako nang makita si Dustin na bahagyang napatigil nang makita kami sa loob. Humigpit naman ang hawak ni Callum sa kamay ko kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya. I saw him clenched his jaw while looking piercingly at Dustin. Agad naman na natauhan si Dustin at nagpatuloy na sa pagpasok sa loob ng elevator.
“Good afternoon, Dustin.” bati ko sa kaniya nang makapasok na siya. Nasa malayong gilid ko siya pum’westo.
“Good afternoon, Hailey, Callum. Saan kayo galing?” tanong niya kalaunan.
“Uh . . . ku—” sasabihin ko na sana nang bigla akong putulin ni Callum.
“We had a date,” sagot ni Callum sa seryosong boses.
Tumikhim si Dustin habang nakaigting ang bagang.
“Can you please distance yourself to my wife?” Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at binalingan si Callum na seryosong nakatingin kay Dustin. “Stay away from my wife.”