JULIE ANN
LOVE SHOULD be treasured together with the man you really deserves. At dahil sa damn business na ito, my dream of having a romantic life is now gone. Gone was my idea of love. Thanks to my parents.
"Flowers for you..."
I looked at the man in front of me. Nandito kami ngayon sa isang exclusive restaurant for our so-called date.
Drake Sandoval. Hindi naman siya pangit. He has the charm which most of the girls will admire the most. Ang ngiti niya na ay 'yong tipong nakakatunaw kuno.
Pero sabi ko nga, hindi ko siya feel. 'Yong tipong hanggang sabi lang ako. Alam ninyo 'yon? 'Yong hanggang 'gwapo siya' lang ako pero hindi ko feel.
I smiled and accepted the flowers he gave.
Pero sabi nga nila, walang masama kung susubukan ko. Wala na naman akong ibang magawa. Our parent's decision is irrevocable at ayaw kong makikipag-away sa parents ko. I understand them. Even though labag ito sa kalooban ko ay gagawin ko na rin.
Malay natin, matutunan ko siyang mahalin. Hindi natin alam.
"Alam mo, Julie... I never been ito serious relationships. May naging jowa na ako noon, syempre, but I never felt intimate love towards them. Seems like it was all just for fun." sabi niya. Wow ah?
"Tsah!" napasinghal ako. He's too honest to tell it to a girl like me. Like, hello? Hindi niya ba iniisip na baka lalo akong hindi ma-in love sa kaniya?
"But this time... it was different." nakangiting sabi niya. But I feel his seriousness. "You're very beautiful, Julie. I really like your personality. Most girls fall into my face right away pero ikaw, hindi. And that's what I like about you. You really are a girl." he sincerely said.
He's too vocal to say that. I stared at him for a while. "Ganyan rin siguro ang pinagsasabi mo sa mga babae mo, 'no?" sabi ko sa kanya.
He let out a chuckle. "No. Ikaw lang ang sinasabihan ko niyan and I'm serious." then he reached for my hand. "I like you, Julie."
After he said that, I immediately swatted his hands from mine.
"Paano ka nagkagusto agad sa akin where in fact we have just met?" I asked him. It's true right? You cannot say you like that person if you just met.
"Julie, I already saw you in our family's company. Nakita na kita noong dinala ka ni Tita Venice sa kompanya." sabi niya which makes me think for a while.
Oh, right. I remember when mama brought me to the company for me to see what our business really is. But never saw his face that time. Maybe siya lang ang nakakita sa akin dahil wala akong natandaan na nakita ko na siya noon doon.
"I am at my mom's office noong nakita kita sa labas. The first time I saw you, parang nakaramdam na ako ng kakaiba." dagdag na sabi niya. I think he has the most sincere voice I've ever heard. But nah, it's a trap. "Julie, I am happy to know na ipapakasal ka sa akin..." he said, smiling.
The last statement he said made me cringed. Right from the beginning I hate the idea of fixed marriage yet he likes it otherwise.
"Didn't you consider my feelings? I deserved to experience such romantic love. Not this fixed love." I crossed my arms at sumandal sa aking inuupuan.
I saw his face saddened. "So there is no possibility that you can feel romantic love towards me?" he asked in a sad and serious manner.
I intently look at him. "Maybe yes, maybe no. I don't want to force myself to experience it to someone---or particularly, to you." I said in full honesty.
Ang kanina'y malungkot na mukha ay napalitan ng ngiti. Here goes again with his smile. "Then, I'll make sure you'll experience that one to me. Without a force. Kahit na hindi pa tayo ipinilit ng ating mga magulang na magpakasal tayo sa isa't isa, ikaw pa rin ang gusto ko." he said then winked at me.
He looks good in winking but no, I don't like it anyway.
"Whatever. Good luck to you, then." I sarcastically said. "And, oh? Galingan mo, ha? Don't disappoint me." I added in a challenging tone.
"Of course, Honey." he responded.
I glared at him. "'Di ba sabi ko na huwag mo akong tawagin sa H-word na iyan? You are torturing it." I said in annoyance.
"Ah-uh~" he said in a singsong voice. "Whatever, Honey. I'd like to call you that way, always..." then for the second time, he winked at me. I rolled my eyes and he just laughed. Urgh! Nakakainis itong lalaking to.
Mayamaya ay nagsidatingan na ang inorder namin kanina.
"Enjoy, ma'am, sir." sabi ng waiter.
"Thank you..." nakangiting sabi ni Drake.
He really likes to show his smile. Sabagay, maganda naman kasi ang ngiti nya. Perpekto pa ang ngipin niya na mukhang pinaayos.
Panay kwento niya sa akin. About his life, and anything---as if I care. Pero in fairness, may times na napatawa niya ako.
Not bad.
Then suddenly, I glanced to the people inside the Restaurant. May mga nakikita akong mga matatanda na mukhang nag-celebrate ng pag-iibigan nila. I bitterly smiled from what I saw. Ganyan sana ang gusto ko: grow old to someone I really love---pero mukhang maliit na lamang ang posibility na mangyari iyon.
May nakita rin ako sa isang table na dalawang taong naghaharutan. Tsk. Mga walang modo!
Respect the singles please! Duh...
I immediately shifted my gaze and looked at my back. And there, I saw a man who is alone in the table. Mag-isa lang siyang nakaupo doon na parang may inaantay.
Napakunot ang noo ko nang napagtanto kong pamilyar ang pormahan niya. He was wearing a hoodie jacket na halos matatakpan na ang mukha niya.
I remember him. Siya 'yong lalaking natamaan ko ng bato sa parke. Kahapon itim ang suot niya. Ngayon ay asul naman. He must love hoodie jacket that much.
Nabigla ako noong bigla siyang tumingin sa gawi ko. Seryoso ang mukha niya as what he always do. And there goes again his eyes. It sent me chills down my spine kaya iniwaglit ko ang paningin ko sa kanya.
Who the hell is he? Why he has that kind of stare?
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