Kabanata 1
Kabanata 1
˚₊‧꒰ა ☆ ໒꒱ ‧₊˚
Twila
Nagkatitigan kami. I swear the angels started singing when my eyes clashed with his hazel ones.
Sparks exploded. Sumabay pa ang romantic song na nasa radio at nasa romcom na talaga kung hindi lang ako natauhan na ako ang sumasalo sa baywang niya instead na siya dapat kagaya sa imagination ko!
That's when his weight took a toll on me and my knees buckled, dahilan para mabitawan ko ang baywang niya't tuluyan na siyang mahulog.
He cursed, and I gasped too when my body fell on top of him on the floor until we were gawking at each other like idiots.
"U-uh..." I babbled when I realized our position. Nakahawak ako sa dibdib niya't halos kalahati ng katawan ko ay nakasampa sa ibabaw niya.
We heard a few mumbles from the crowd. Kumunot ang noo niya at dagli akong napaahon sa dibdib niya bago naupo sa lapag.
Umayos siya ng upo at tumayo. My shoulders fell in disappointment.
Wala na ang meet cute ko... Palpak!
But a large palm came into view as he offered it to me. I gasped, my heart jumping as I accepted it. His rough and large palm gripped my small ones as he pulled me up.
Wala akong heels kaya sa pagtayo ko'y nasa may bandang leeg niya lang ako.
I gathered enough courage, still flushing as I grinned.
"Salamat—"
"Clumsy. Be careful next time," he rumbled, let go of my hand, and turned his back to retrieve his tablet on the floor.
Nawala ang ngisi ko.
What? Clumsy? Ako pa ang clumsy?!
I got pissed. When he began walking away, sumunod ako.
"Excuse me, Sir, pero ako ang sumalo sa 'yo, ah?" I couldn't help but say that.
Tumaas ang kilay niya, mukhang nagulat na alam kong nagta-Tagalog siya. I was sure if other people tried talking to him, iisipin na 'di maalam at banyaga ang mukha!
Ang mata niya'y nasa tablet pa rin. He looked annoyed and couldn't be bothered.
"Sir?" I repeated. "Ako pa ang clumsy—" Natamaan ang paa ko ng maletang biglang dumaan.
I grunted when I almost slipped. Loko 'yon, ah? Kitang may tao!
"Alright, sabi mo, eh," ani n'ong lalaki na nakatingin na pala sa nangyaring kahihiyan. When I made a face, he shrugged and looked at his tablet again.
"Nagkataon lang 'yon," I defended. "Hindi ko nakita 'yong maleta."
"Okay," malamig niyang sagot.
"Okay?" I huffed a breath. "It's true, at saka totoo namang sinalo kita—"
"Whatever you say, Miss," he cut me off and retrieved his earpods to put it in his ear. "You can go on your way now."
Umawang ang labi ko nang 'di na niya ako muling pinaraanan ng tingin at may kinausap na sa tawag.
I sighed in irritation. This was not what I planned today! This wasn't going according to plan! Para saan pang na-award-an akong best sa Girl's Scout? Para saan pang nasabihan akong may potential maging tactician ni Archer kung papalpak ako sa simpleng ganito?!
I sighed, watching him go to the baggage counter to take one small suitcase, still talking to someone.
Paano ba?
But then I remembered that some men liked to be heroes. Some of them wanted someone they could rescue, and knowing him na gentleman...
When I realized he's on his way to the VIP lounge, sinadya kong ipatama ang tuhod ko sa malaking cart ng bagahe n'ong foreigner at natumba kunwari.
The people who'd seen it gasped.
"Aray!" I exclaimed loudly and dramatically.
"Miss, I'm sorry! Are you okay?" Everyone panicked. The foreigner even attempted to help me up pero 'di naman kasi siya ang target ko kaya umiling-iling ako.
Saan na ba 'yong lalaking 'yon?
"Aww..." I grunted even louder that when he stopped briefly and shifted his attention to ours, and our gazes met, hope sparked.
Ayan na, lalapit na siya! Tutulungan na niya ako—
"Clumsy..." I saw him mouthing as he shook his head with a smirk, then walked towards the lounge, not even helping me.
Nahulog ang panga ko. That brute!
I was fuming! Mabuti na lang at mabait ang foreigner! He helped me and even offered to take me to the clinic pero sa VIP lounge na lang ako nagpadala.
The staff immediately attended to me.
"Ma'am—"
"Shh...kunwari 'di n'yo ako kilala," mahinang sabi ko kaya tumango-tango siya at nag-zip ng bibig.
"Alam po ba nina Sir Zion na nandito ka?"
I shook my head. "Napadaan lang ako kasi hinatid ko si Sunny. Ah, ano, paupo muna ako sa lounge, ah? Medyo masakit kasi 'yong tumama sa tuhod ko."
"Sure, Ma'am!" She assisted me. Mabilis kong inikot ang tingin hanggang sa makita ko siya sa may gilid ng lounge malapit sa may bintana.
He was in front of a round table with a cup of coffee beside his tablet, which he was using now as a screen. May portable keyboard siyang inilabas para i-connect dito.
He's very handsome, and honestly? That was an understatement of his looks. He was well-trimmed and neat-looking with his white v-neck ribbed knit shirt and black trousers.
His lustrous dark brown hair was slicked back. Bagong gupit siya, mas maiksi kasi iyon at mas malinis kaysa sa huling tagged photos niya sa Instagram bago niya ako blinock. His arms flexed when he looked at his black wristwatch. He set a timer before taking his reading glasses and began typing on the keyboard.
I swallowed hard.
He looked even more handsome now that he matured a lot. His body developed—not the bodybuilder type, of course. He was athletic with just the right amount of muscles. His jaw became more visible, not to mention those cold and sharp hazel eyes.
He's damn sexy...
"Kilala mo, Ma'am?" ani ng receptionist habang naglalakad kami papunta sa pwesto na tinuro ko palapit sa lalaki.
"Huh?"
"Ang gwapo, Ma'am, 'no?" Humagikhik siya. "Kaso Englisher! Amerikano kaya? Iba ang kulay ng mata, eh?"
"German," I corrected. "Hazel 'yong kulay ng mata niya. Ang ganda, 'no?"
"Opo..." She grinned. "Ikaw, Ma'am, ah? Kilala mo pala—"
"Hindi, 'no?" I denied and sat on the couch. "Sa tingin ko lang. Alam mo namang observant ako kapag may pogi, nagiging imbestigador ang vision. 20-20!"
We both giggled.
"Nga pala, Ma'am, nag-contacts ka?" aniya.
"Huh?" I asked and remembered I did. Ngumuso ako bago napatango. "Ah, yes, para maiba naman. Bagay ba sa 'kin ang blue? Kunwari nakuha ko ang eyes ni Daddy!"
"Naman!" bola pa niya. "Kahit ano'ng kulay naman ng mata mo, Ma'am, bagay na bagay! Nga pala, sure ka bang ayaw mong magpadala sa clinic? Mukhang may pasa ang tuhod mo?"
"Ayos lang! May pagkain ba r'yan?" Umangat ang ulo ko sa buffet table sa lounge.
"Of course, Ma'am! Kaso nga lang, walang lumpia pero teka, Ma'am, papaluto ako kay Chef. Twenty minutes!"
"Thank you, dear!" I waved at her. "Dito lang ako..." At magpapanggap na kaawa-awang nilalang at manhid ang lalaking 'to!
I glared at him from the distance. However, he's very unbothered. Walang pakialam sa paligid!
Tuloy-tuloy ang tipa niya, sumisimsim lang ng kape at dedicated do'n sa timer niya! Palibhasa nakasanayan ang thirty minutes work tapos five minutes pahinga tapos trabaho ulit!
Sana all organized. Ako kasi maiksi ang attention span, of course, unless I was very interested in the tasks I was doing such as target shooting, racing, karate o kaya mga saksakan ng bad guys, gano'n.
Naalala ko dati sumama 'ko sa mission nina Mommy at Daddy tapos binayagan ko 'yong kontrabida. I giggled and covered my mouth, remembering how cool I was as a spy kid. Mas lalo na ngayon at ito ang first official assignment ko! Madalas kasi I was just a backup or my parents were looking after me.
Pero I'm a big girl na. I'm mature and independent—well, not so much.
I still needed to cook or what if mag-asawa na lang ako ng magaling magluto para lalamon lang ako? Mga gano'n lang naman kasi ang pangarap ko sa buhay. Simple. Sumaksak ng bad guys at kumain after.
Ayaw pa nga akong paalisin ni Dad sa bahay. Umiyak pa siya no'ng hinatid ako sa condo ko at ayaw umalis. Kahit daw do'n na lang siya matulog sa pintuan ng condo at ayaw akong iwan.
However, I'm twenty-five. My Ninong Deion said that if I wanted to manage my separation anxiety, I had to do this, so I'm working on it.
Pero anyway... I'm very hungry, and I'm not in the mood when hungry.
Every stake out or training, palagi akong may dalang snacks. Ngayon lang wala kasi nagmamadali ako at late na nga nagising. 'Di ko nadala ang bag pack ko.
I sighed audibly and tapped my stomach. Flat na siya ngayon because of training and ballet pero bundat pa rin ang tawag ni Daddy kong pangit.
I'm hungry... I'm hungry... I'm starving!
Sumandal ako padausdos sa couch at tumitig sa lalaki na walang pakialam, naka-earpods at bahagyang kumunot ang noo sa maling code na tinipa. Sa totoo lang, iisipin mong girlfriend na niya iyong mga laptop niya.
Mas interesado kasi 'yan d'yan kaysa sa mga babae.
His thirty minutes were up. Doon niya lang inangat ang tingin at nasalubong ang akin. His stiffened. I smiled and waved cutely.
"Elow po..." I mouthed.
His lustrous brow shot up, and without a word, he sipped on his coffee and rested his back on the couch, closing his eyes.
Tumayo na ako. Paika-ika ako kunwaring nagtungo ro'n sa pwesto niya at tumayo sa gilid. Ibubuka ko pa lang sana ang bibig para magtanong ay naunahan na niya ako.
"No," he announced.
My jaw dropped, but I kept my composure.
"I'm injured..." I said instead.
"Then go to the clinic," nakapikit pa rin niyang sagot. "I'm sure there are directions there somewhere."
"Tapos 'di mo 'ko tinulungan? Gano'n ba dapat?" I asked.
Doon na siya nagmulat. He bore his cold hazel eyes on me, and when he looked at me, piercing me with an observant look from head to toe, na-conscious ako. However, I didn't flinch. Alam ko naman kasing puro ka-perfect-an lang ang makikita niya.
"You don't look injured to me."
Umawang ang labi ko. "Anong hindi? Look!" Tinaas ko ang palda ng dress kasabay ng pagmumura niya't paghaltak n'on pababa.
"Jesus! I know! You don't have to show me!" he scolded, flushing. Nahulog ang salamin sa ilong niya kaya umayos din ako ng tayo at ngumiti nang maliit.
"Ah, good, alam mo pala naman, eh," I chirped and before he could say a thing, naupo na ako sa harapan niya.
"Pa-share ako, ah? Thanks!"
He looked at me, pissed. I just smiled again.
"I hope you don't mind? Quiet lang ako." I placed my finger on my lip to prove it to him. "Go on, work."
Tumitig siya, nagsusuplado. Nang bumaba ang tingin sa relo'y napailing.
"Five minutes gone to waste," malamig niyang sinabi sabay iling.
I smiled. He's so adorable! And hot! I suddenly wanted to straighten that crease on his forehead whenever he's grumpy! Ang gwapo talaga kapag suplado.
I didn't know why, but I noticed our family had a fascination with grumpy and snob people. I just think they're adorable. And fun to banter with.
Mas sumandal ako sa couch at ngumiti lang habang pinagmamasdan siyang nagse-set na naman ng timer at nagsuot ng earpods. I waited patiently. Pasulyap-sulyap siya sa 'kin, iritado pero 'di nagsasalita.
Honestly, I didn't want to pester him, but I had a mission to do. I had to be good at this.
Nahuli ng tingin ko ang receptionist. Ngumisi siya pagkakakitang kaharap ko na iyong pogi na pinag-uusapan lang namin kanina. I winked at her and showed her a thumbs up pero naibaba ko iyon nang mabilis nang nag-angat ng tingin ang lalaki at malamig ang titig na itinapon sa 'kin.
Ngumuso ako.
"Sorry..." I mouthed and showed him a peace sign before looking back at the receptionist as she pointed to her watch and shared the devastating news.
Delayed daw ng twenty minutes ang lumpia ko.
Nanlumo akong lalo, nanghina ang kalamnan at parang pinagbagsakan ng langit at lupa. I was not in the mood and I knew it showed dahil hindi pa nangangalahati sa thirty minutes ang lalaki ay may kinuha siya sa bag at ipinatong sa lamesa.
It was an energy bar. Iniusog niya iyon sa 'kin.
Naguguluhang hinanap ko ang tingin niya.
"A-akin?" I asked.
He just looked at me briefly, didn't even utter a word, and continued typing. My heart swayed, and I tried so hard not to tear up with the concern despite that cold facade.
"T-thank you," I mumbled and took it, bringing it to my chest.
Hindi na siya umimik pa't nasa ginagawa ang tingin kaya ngumisi ako at tahimik na kumain. I silently watched him. I was tempted to reach and touch him, but I knew I couldn't. He really changed a lot since...
The bar gave me energy. Nagkalaman ang sikmura ko kaya ilang minuto pagkatapos kumain ay may energy na akong muli.
"Thanks sa food!" I chirped. Hindi siya umimik.
Tsk! 'Di ako iniimik. 'Di 'to p'wede!
Tumikhim ako at umayos ng upo.
"Ikaw, ah? Pasimple ka pang snobber pero concerned ka pala," komento ko. "Anyway, galing kang Germany?" I asked glancing at the plane ticket he had on the table. "First time mo sa Pinas?"
Of course not, he's been here before. For a long time. Kaso no'ng umalis, 'di na bumalik.
"Well, I guess you've been here before since you can speak and understand Tagalog," kwento ko. "Ako rin taga-rito. If ever you need someone to tour you around, I'm free."
Hindi siya umimik at mas nangunot lang ang noo.
"Oh, it was rude of me I forgot to introduce myself. S'yempre, 'di ka sasama sa stranger." I cleared my throat. "I'm Twila Buenavides..."
He paused, and I waited for him to look at me, but didn't. I moistened my lip.
"Ikaw? What's your name? Share mo naman..."
He sighed, lowered his eyeglasses, and looked at me. I stared back with a sweet smile, waiting.
"You don't need to know who I am, Miss," he said. "I am no one."
"What? Why?" Lumiit ang boses ko. "Bawal ba? I'm Twila—"
"And I don't care," malamig niyang putol. "Now, please shut up and leave. You are disturbing me."
Nahulog ang puso ko. My guts twisted. I suddenly felt little.
Alam ko namang masyado akong feeling close and I understand. I invaded his personal space, and he didn't... he didn't even know me.
Damn, wrong approach, Twinkle! Bad shot ka tuloy!
"A-ah, okay." I fidgeted. "Sorry... I..." Sumulyap ako sa may buffet, sa receptionist na kumakaway sabay proud na pakita sa 'kin n'ong bagong fried na lumpia.
Bumaling ako sa lalaki at ngumiti. May 'di ako mabasang emosyon sa mukha niya.
"Sorry, pasensya na sa abala. Sige, work ka na. Salamat nga pala ulit dito." Pinakita ko ang balat ng energy bar bago tumayo.
"I..." he muttered but I was already walking quickly to the buffet table, kinalimutan nang dapat ay ika-ika ang lakad ko.
It's what I hated about me talaga. For someone like me, I was a very soft-hearted person. Kaunting bagay mabilis masaktan, kaunting bagay ay naiiyak na.
Umiyak nga ako no'n kasi nalaman kong 'di pala totoo kaya 'di na ako makakapag-aral sa Princess Charm School. Umiyak ako kasi nasira ang lipstick taser kong pink with glitters. Umiyak ako kasi hindi pantay ang hati ni Daddy sa jolly hotdog na binili ni Mommy.
"Oh, naiiyak ka, Ma'am?" aniya.
I chuckled. "Oo, naiiyak ako kasi ang bango-bango ng lumpia! Hmm! Tara, kain! Try mo ihalo ang sauce nito dito para yummy delicious!"
Nagtawag siya ng mga kasamahan niya. I could feel a gaze burning on my back but I didn't look.
Try na lang ako again next time, ah? Kakalma muna ako. Ayaw kong masyadong maging emosyonal at ganito ako palagi.
Nang mapuno ko ng ulam ang isang plato ay kumuha pa ako ng isa. Puro ulam lang kasi pinalaki kaming alam paano sulitin ang buffet. Puro ulam lang or 'yong mga usually na 'di mo makakain everyday.
Medyo nabuhayan ako sa itsura ng mga pagkain. Ngayon lang din kasi ako nakabisita ulit dito sa airport lounge. Parang last month pa yata ang huli. Lalo na no'ng paparating na ako sa most awaited lumpia ko.
S'yempre, huli para exciting!
However, I got worried when I realized my hands were both full with plates. I tried to lower it down but couldn't find the right position without spilling the contents.
I bit my lip. Lumingon ako para makahingi sana ng tulong pero may kumuha na n'on sa kamay ko.
I grinned. "Thanks—" My voice faded when I looked back and saw who it was.
He loomed over me like a massive beast, catching my eyes.
"Atticus," he uttered.
Napanganga ako. "H-huh?"
"My name. Atticus Levon Ziegler," he mumbled so quickly and averted my gaze, his face red as he looked down at the buffet.
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