C3 Two

KAMUSTAHAN at kwentuhan. Hindi nga nagkakamali si Reese sa isiping miss na miss siya ng mga employee sa company nila sa katunayan ay may dala siya sa mga nagiging kaibigan niya sa loob ng company at inilibre pa ang lahat ng employees. Ganon siya kabait. Kahit isa siyang anak ng bilyonaryo ay tila wala 'yon sa binata. He chose to be humble dahil 'yon ang tama. Pero talagang malas ang binata pagdating sa pag-ibig.

Minsan din pinapangarap ni Reese ang makatagpo ng matinong babae hindi tulad ni Arexia noon. Sayang nga lang at wala na sa kaniya ang Diamond proposal ring. Iyon sana ang gagamitin niyang magpropose kay Nicky.

Nang mag-isa na siya sa loob ng kaniyang private office ay inabala niya ang sarili sa pagsusulat. The writing was Reese's first love. He's bleeding in writing and his stories were written with pain, pains. Because it always bears his bitter ideas to love, a feeling of bitterness, it's where his hearts belong.

Nang dumating ang alas-sais ay lumabas na siya at kailangan niyang pumunta sa Mccollen Bookstore upang bumili ng Uncle Tom's Cabin na ipinabili ng lola niya.

Nasa kamay na niya ang hinahanap at kailangan niyang humanap ng best selling novel's.

La Ultimo Memorias thought Reese. Well that's a good novel and worth reading. It will help him to sharpen his imagination as a novelist. A Novel that grips the readers. Hindi nga bigo si Reese at nakita niya ang hinahanap niya. But there was only one book left. And he was too lucky. Reese was about to pick up the book pero biglang may mga kamay na nakaunang humawak sa katawan ng libro. Napahawak din siya sa kamay na 'yon. So firmly at parang wala siyang balak pakawalan 'yon. No way ako ang nauna! aniya sa sarili niya.

"It's mine," kaswal na sabi niya.

"Yours? How can you say so? Well, I touched it first. Now let go of my hand. My hand you're clutchin' estupido! (stupid)" a gentle voice.

Pamilyar sa kanya ang boses ng babae ngunit hindi gumana ang isang bahagi ng memorya niya para makapag anamnesis.

Nag-angat siya ng tingin sa babae ang cute at matamis nitong ngiti ang sumalubong sa kanya.

Decent ang ayos nito at base sa panlabas nitong kaanyuan ay mukhang matalino at honorable ang babae Ms-honorable and hell I care putty-head! Reese whispered.

"Edi sayo na," He said letting go of her hand saka dumistansiya. Pero ang totoo ay hindi siya komportable sa posisyon ng mga kamay nila.

"Let me guess," anitong inoobserba siya "You're novelist right? I saw your picture in one of the novels here entitled 'Chasing Mr. Right' and I bought it." She smiled. Ngiting tila pamilyar sa binata. He wants something to be drift or flash on his memories. But it won't work. Talagang hindi gumana ang alaala ng binata. Woe!

"Pa autograph." Nakangiting sambit nito sabay abot sa kanya ng notebook at ballpen. Mabilis niyang ginawa ang gusto nito.

"Gracias,"

Not wanting to have any further conversation. Reese went on searching bestselling Novels.

"Nice to meet you, Mr. Medel"

"H-how did you know my last name?" tanong niyang muling humarap dito.

The beautiful woman chuckled then she raised the novel. The novel that belongs to Reese.

"Ah, Oo nga pala," parang tangang nasambit niya. Pero feel niya ay parang kilala siya ng babae, at pakiramdam niya rin ay kilala niya ito. Parang may nabubuhay kasi sa kaniya nang makita ang hitsura ng babae.

"And you're CEO too. Young Billionaire." She said interestingly.

Reese guessed that the girl read a lot about the Author, about him. Well it's a natural thing. But reading about Author's information wasn't his thing. Reese smiled slightly then went straight to the counter.

Reese sighed with relief. Mabuti na lang at naisipan niyang magdala ng kotse kaninang Umaga dahil napakalakas ng ulan sa oras na 'yon.

He was passing Aijaxlife Bar Kung saan nagbartender ang kaibigan niya. When, through the rearview mirror ay nakita niya ang babaeng nakatayo sa labas ng bar ni wala man lang payong o raincoat. She! That jerk again! Reese whispered. Nasa kamay nito ang mga binibili nitong mga libro. She's a storybook princess, a wide reader maybe, or a fan of some great romance novel. Reese guessed that girl was probably waiting for a taxi. He stopped the car in front of her.

Lumabas si Reese at tiningnan niya ito. At eksakto namang nakatingin ito sa kaniya. What a coincidence and their eyes were met invented the heart eyes. Reese blinked when he noticed the sparkle in her eyes. Her blue teasing eyes fondle Reese's core. He's a man but he found no nerve at all to stand his heartbeat. But the moment after he was wondering when she smiles and it spells gentle and romantic, therefore his eyebrows meet and form two colliding rainbows. Thanks! He whispered after his heart finds its way home because he feel his heart lost in Cupid's garden.

"I-ikaw Pala." nauutal na sambit nito.

"Bakit? Nakakita ka ba ng Engkanto?" pasupladong sagot ni Reese.

"Oo engkanto, nasa harap ko na nga," she said, smirking.

"One"

"Two," she said.

"I'll throw you out of here. Wait and see," aniya.

"Oo at aabangin ko," she said sarcastically.

"Mi Dios. I can't believe that I found some meshuga people like her in this place," He said audibly.

"Meshuga? As in foolish? Crazy?"

He shrugged his shoulders.

"Want this book?" She' refers to the book she hugged. The Chasing Mr. Right.

He shook his head "I refuse to say Yes. Basahin mo na lang para may matutunan ka. Total malapit mo nang mapunit ang cover niyan kanina. Sayang naman ang effort mong agawin 'yan kanina 'eh." But inside him ay gustong gusto niya ang librong 'yon. Paano kasi sa tuwing bibili siya ay palaging sold out even online. It irritates him.

She smiled "Then give me your number."

"What For?" Reese stunned.

"Para kapag matapos ko itong basahin. I can inform you, you can borrow it." She smiled again.

"Uh, I think that was a good idea from a birdbrained stranger." He Chuckled.

"Mome, My name is Zev"

"Beautiful name." komento niya.

"Gracias. (Thank you)" pangiting sambit nito.

"Sounds like rolling in the deep."

"I don't give a fuck," sabi nito sabay tingin sa suot na wristwatch.

"Oh, need a lift?"

"No gracias. Hinihintay ko ang friend ko to pick me up here."

"Ihahatid kita kung saan ka pupunta halika na."

"Salamat na lang."

"Tayo na."

"Huwag mo akong pilitin baka papayag ako." papilosopang sambit nito.

"Tara," seryosong sabi niya.

"No thanks."

Walang magawa si Reese kahit anong pilit niya. At maya maya ay dumating na nga ang hinintay ni Zev. Ibinigay niya ang cellphone number niya.

"I'll message you later so you can save my number too." sambit nito habang humakbang sa kung saan naka-park ang kaibigan nito.

"Sure, pero ang book hah. I'll see you," He said and gazed at his car saka pumasok sa loob ng Bar. Kinindatan siya ng mga babaeng walang magawa sa buhay habang naglalakad patungong counter.

That night instead of attending the party para sa pag-anunsuyo ng pagiging official CEO niya sa Main branch ng MMC ay mas pinili niya ang tumuloy sa isang hotel para magpahinga. Ayaw niyang madisturbo at ayaw na ayaw niya ang inihandang party para sa kaniya.

That freaking party can pressure him. He undressed in his room, stood naked inside the bathroom. He looked in the mirror at the smooth pubic hair on his chest towards his navel. He looked so hot. A magazine boy. Before his manhood alive he on the shower stall, he closed his eyes nang maramdaman niya ang pagbuhos ng tubig sa katawan niya. He sitting on tiles na hubo't hubad.

Early in the morning he drove back, when he got out in his car he saw his abuela standing at the front door her hands were on her waist.

"Oh, you looked like a mannequin, Grandma." agad niyang napuna ang kilay nitong nagkasalubong. She's outspoken grandma, old fashioned, but everybody's grandma is old fashion.

She said sternly "You were on the bar last night. Drunk."

"Who told you?" He wondered, his grandma might send a spy.

"Bakit hindi ka umuwi ng maaga Hijo? The party was freak success sana kung dito ka"

"The important thing is na-ansuyo n'yu na ang dapat ninyong i-publiko. I assure you na wala akong paki-alam kung halos mamatay kayo sa kasiyahan ninyo kagabi." wala sa loob na sambit ng binata.

"That's a mean thing to say, Reese."

"Well, nagsasabi lang ako ng totoo. Perdon. Here's your Uncle Tom Cabin"

"Muchas Gracias. (Thank you very much)"

"De nada (You're welcome) Hope you'll learn something from that book. But super indifferent La," pagkasabi nito niyon ay tinalikuran niya ito and he walked away.

"You're going to see your Dad" she called.

"I'm not going to see anybody. Let me alone" he wasn't interested. Not at all. Pag-abot niya ng kaniyang silid ay ibinagsak niya ang sarili sa kaniyang kama.

Naisipan niyang tawagin si Nicky upang ipa-alam dito na okay na ang lahat. Mula wedding invitation at ang traje de Boda nito na handang i-ship from France. Pero nadismaya ang binata ng can't be reached ang cellphone ng fiance niya.

Nagtataka man ngunit iwinaksi niya sa isipan niya ang mga negative thoughts. Pinilit niyang maging positibo at maniwala sa mahika ng tadhana. Alam niyang sa oras na 'yon ay abot kamay na talaga niya ang pangarap ng daddy niya sa kaniya. Kahit sabihing may pagtutol siya ay kailangan niyang pumabor sa gusto ng Daddy niya, naiintindihan niya ang daddy niya lalo na't nag-iisang anak lang siya. Excited na magka-apo ito.

Bigla niyang naisip si Zev. Maganda, desente, at mabait, wala siyang ideya at bakit biglang pumasok ang imahe ng babae sa kanyang isipan at naglalaro ang kagandahan nito sa kanyang sistema. Her skin was flawless. Pero parang Tibo ang porma, or maybe ay estilo na nito 'yon. Sana noon na niya ito kilala para may pag-asa pang magiging sa kaniya ang babae.

Her lips red as the petal of a rose remind him of a lady na nagligtas sa kaniya. 'Yon ang iniisp niya nang nagkita sila kahapon. Kaya he came up with the thought na parang familiar. Impossible. Kailangan na niyang kalimutan ang babaeng nagligtas sa kaniya. Dahil kung hindi niya 'yon gawin ay parang binubuhay lamang niya ang isang madilim na nakaraan niya. It's time to fix the broken parts caused by the cruelness of this world.

Napabuntong hininga siya at subukang tawaging muli si Nicky but it was still can't be reached at nag-alala na siya.