Rafael's POV
"I can't help but keep thinking of that young woman who is sitting on that couch. She looked so seductive with her crop top blouse and skinny jeans. Her wavy hair complement with her porcelain skin. I loved her burgundy colored hair. Her lips seems so sexy" he smiled upon remembering that young woman at the bar somewhere in Sydney.
His having a meeting with one of his clients that time. When that woman caught his attention.
She's a Filipina for sure, he can sense it though he wasn't able to have a chance to talk to her.
But he made up his mind. Next time, he will definitely approach her.
It's been two years since he decided to live a simple life. He left Mexico for good and try to do his best to clear his name which was unfortunately included in a case that makes his life miserable.
Good thing he had Alejandro his half brother. Though at first, all evidence pointed at him as the master mind of the bombing in Mexico Central hotel. He may be a mad gang leader but he's not going to do that. He still value life and his business. Though he almost kill someone, Conrad Bartolome. Because he wanted to take revenge for the death of his father.
He's busy doing something on his laptop when he noticed a very familiar face entering the restaurant where he's waiting for his client that fine morning.
She's really beautiful. What is she doing here?
It seems that, she's looking for someone else. Oh, does she have a date?
Nakaramdam siya ng kirot sa dibdib sa isiping may kadate ang dalaga.
Sa kabilang mesa lang ito pumwesto at kitang-kita niya ang kagandahan nito. Naloko na, mukhang mapapasubo si Rafael. Never in his life that he gives interest lalo na sa mga Pinay. Most of his past relationship were foreigners.
Nakailang nobya na nga ba siya? Isa, dalawa, tatlo...ah hindi niya alam dahil lahat naman iyon ay pawang panandalian lamang.
Most of them is after his position and money. Kaya nga niya iniwan ang mundo ng gang. Pumapangit kasi ang image niya.
"Hello?" narinig niyang sagot nito sa tumawag sa kanyang cellphone.
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"Yeah I'm already here, nasaan na ba kayo?"
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"What? I thought eight in the morning?"
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Iritableng binalik ng dalaga ang kanyang cellphone sa bag.
Napansin niyang kanina pa nakatingin sa kanya ang lalaki sa kabilang table.
Is he okay? Bakit parang natulala ito? O baka na steep neck? Anyway, hindi naman niya concern ang isang ito.
But to her surprise bigla itong ngumiti sa kanya.
Huh? Ano ba iyan ang aga-aga namang kalandian meron ang isang ito. Kainis! Daragdag pa yata sa isipin niya.
"Hello, have we meet before?" tanong nito nang makalapit sa kanya.
"Excuse me?" may katarayan niyang sagot.
"I'm asking you if we've met before"
"I'm sorry but I guess, no"
"Anyway, I'm Rafael"
Naman para-paraan din ang loko. At inilahad pa ang kamay sa kanya.
Napatingin lang ang dalaga sa kamay nito.
Parang nahulaan naman ni Rafael na hindi uubra sa dalaga ang gesture niya.
"Oops sorry, actually I remember now where I met you"
Napaarko naman ng kilay si Sia. Ano bang drama ng isang ito? Wala siyang panahong makipagflirt ngayon.
"Excuse me I guess, I have to go" aniyang tumayo.
"In a bar, I saw you in a bar, somewhere here in Sydney"
"Okay" iyon lang at walang lingon-likod na tinalikuran na niya ang binata at umalis na roon.
Napakamot naman ng ulo si Rafael. Wrong move, kailan ka pa natutong mag-approach ng ganyan sa isang babae? Usually, they come after you.
Sia's POV
He's cute. Iyon nga lang, stranger. Ang ayaw pa niya sa lahat ay makipag-usap nang matagal sa mga estranghero. Haist!
Wait nasaan na ba ang pouch niya? OMG! Naiwan pa yata niya sa restaurant na iyon. Kagigil naman kasi ang lalaking iyon. Mangulit ba naman sa kanya.
She was about to contact the owner of the restaurant nang may mag door bell.
Sino naman kaya ito? It's almost 10 am at wala siyang inaasahang parcel or sinoman sa oras na ito.
Nanlaki ang mata niya nang mabungaran ang nakangiting estranghero sa may pintuan ng bahay niya.
It's him. Rafael, kung tama ang pagkakatanda niya ng pangalan nito.
"Hello, I know you're not fun of talking with strangers but I guess this belongs to you" anito at inabot sa kanya ang pouch na naiwan niya sa restaurant kanina.
"Thanks"
Nang akmang tatalikod na ito ay bigla niya itong tinawag.
"Uhmm Rafael" lumingon ito. "Would you like to have some tea?" Hindi niya rin maintindihan kung bakit iyon ang sinabi niya.
Ngumiti ito.
"Sure, why not" sagot naman ng binata.
Pinatuloy niya ito sa kanyang sala.
"Excuse me for a while, I'll make you tea"
Tango lang ang naging sagot niya rito.
Nilibot naman ng binata ang kanyang paningin sa kabuoan ng sala.
Nagfocus ang mga mata niya sa isang malaking family picture sa wall. Ito siguro ang family niya.
"My parents and my twin brother" sabi ni Sia na ikinalingon ng binata.
"Oh sorry, I just felt a little envious seeing a family portrait" sagot naman ng binata.
"Oh I see, care to tell me why?"
"Long story, thanks for the tea"
"I'm Ricksia but you can call me Sia"
"Unique name"
"That's the combination of my father and mother's name, "
"Oh"
"Are you a Filipino?"
"Yeah, I'm having a business here and Melbourne"
"Wow, so what's your business?"
Natuwa naman ang binata. Biglang nawala ang barrier sa pagitan nila ng dalaga.
"I'm working in Woolworths Limited"
"I'm the owner of that bar that you're talking about, a while ago"
"So you mean your business is bar and restaurant?"
"Yes"
"Anyway, thanks for the cup of tea. I have to go Sia" at tumayo na ang binata.
Hinatid naman niya ang binata sa labas.
"Hope to see you again" anito.
"Yeah see you again" sagot naman niya.
Nang makaalis ang binata ay saka lang naisip ni Sia ang sinabi niya rito.
So parang sinasabi niyang magkikita pa nga silang dalawa? Nangiti naman siya, kunsabagay matagal na rin mula ng huling beses na nakipagkaibigan sa isang lalaki. Mukhang hindi naman ito ang tipo ng tao na magte-take advantage sa kanya. Haist, bakit ba kasi naisip niyang alukin ito kanina? Natawa siyang bigla. Weird, ngayon lang siya ulit nag-entertain ng bisitang opposite sex.
Is she willing to take the risk to trust someone with her heart again? Ricksia Montenegro, tumigil ka nga! Trust your heart? Bago mo palang nakilala ang tao, paano kung pamilyado na pala ito? Ano ba naman itong mga pumapasok sa utak niya?