"Ano?!" gulat na tanong ni Stacey sa sinabi nito.
Nick sighed heavily. "Let's go honey. We can talk later." he said as Billy waved at them.
"No!" palag ni Stacey. Binawi niya ang mga kamay from him. "Hindi ako titira sa condo mo Nick!" she said sounding panicky.
"We are not going to discuss this here honey." he said with finality. He pulled her by holding her hand.
Billy insisted na magtabi na sila sa likod kahit magmukha itong driver. Ayaw din naman ni Stacey na marinig nito ang pag-uusapan nila ni Nick so tahimik lang siya buong biyahe. Ilang beses kinukuha ni Nick ang kamay niya but binabawi niya ulit. In the end, hinayaan na muna siya nito.
The two men talked about trivial things .Sinubukan din ni Billy na makipag-kwentuhan kay Stacey but sinabihan ito ni Nick that he should concentrate on the road and stop looking at Stacey through the rear view mirror. Naiiling na tumawa na lang ang kaibigan nito while tinapunan ito ng masamang tingin ni Stacey. Mukha namang hindi apektado ito dahil sinalubong din nito ang tingin niya. Kinuha ulit nito ang kamay niya and this time hindi na ito mabawi ni Stacey cause he is holding it very tightly. She just shook her head and sighed bago tumingin sa labas ng bintana.
She is thinking about what might happen after tonight. As in magsasama sila sa condo nito? Parang susumpungin siya ng migraine niya. Paano yun? Para silang mag-asawa? Hindi niya yata kaya yun. Ang hirap magpigil ng damdamin pag kasama niya ito .Imagine makakasama pa niya sa iisang bubong. Parang mas madali pa yatang magtiis sa bahay nila kesa sa paglababan ang sarili to give in to Nick once they're together 24/7. Bahala na nga! Tutal ang dami ng nagbago sa buhay niya these past few weeks. Ano pa ba ang hindi niya kayang harapin?
Good luck on your new life! She told herself.
She felt jittery when they dropped Billy off his unit. Ngayon sila na lang dalawa ni Nick. The song Rush,Rush by Paula Abdul is playing on the radio. Hindi ma-explain ni Stacey ang pakiramdam. She feels happy, nervous, excited and warm inside. Yun bang pakiramdam na parang ito yung moment na gustong-gusto niyang maranasan sa panaginip at pangarap niya. Being with someone na kahit pilit mong paglabanan, mahal na mahal mo na. Yung ramdam mo na hinding-hindi ka papabayaan. Sa mga sinabi nito sa kapatid at mama niya kanina,she is 100% sure that Nick can really take care of a woman. Boyfriend material minus his PNMK image. Pero hindi naman nito kasalanan na maging saksakan ng yummy at yaman kaya habulin ng babae. Wish niya lang na if magiging sila talaga, she will be able to satisfy him in everything para hindi na ito maghanap ng iba at hindi rin matukso sa mga nagpaparamdam dito.
"You want to dine out honey?" he asked.
Stacey checked the time, past 9 PM na pala.
"Hindi naman ako masyadong gutom. Ikaw ba?" she asked.
He seemed to be thinking carefully while his eyes are on the road.
"I'd rather eat something at home. Can you cook honey?" nakangiting tanong nito while he threw her a glance.
She chewed her bottom lip. "I can whip up something if you want. Hindi ka ba fussy eater?" tanong niya.
Minsan natanong na niya ang sarili kung maselan ba ito sa pagkain. Dahil sa yaman naman kasi nito he can afford to eat anywhere he fancies.
He shook his head bago ibinalik ang tingin sa kalsada. "Nope honey. Lalo na if ikaw ang magluluto." he said.
She tore her eyes from him to look at the windshield to hide her smile. They sound like a couple and she likes that thought. Maybe just for tonight, she will savour the feeling and moment.
She noticed that the condo they went to is not the same one she saw before. She doesn't want to ask him how many condos he owns. Baka malula pa siya.
Mas malaki ito but it also has a very beautiful view outside the window. Mas mataas ito kumapara sa dati where sila nag-stay .This one is on the 15th floor. It has a moderate size kitchen.
"Let's get your things in the bedroom honey." he said as he carried her bags.
She followed him.
Kumunot ang noo niya when she saw that the room they entered seems to be the master's bedroom. Dark blue and white ang kulay nito. May bilog na kama sa gitna and there's a small door na malamang banyo. May mga built in cabinets and a small coffee table. Meron din itong couch na kasya ang tatlong tao. There is a plasma tv on the wall. Mukhang may balcony din ito dahil may sliding door behind white and dark blue colored blinds.
"Honey, you can use this drawer right here and this closet." itinuro ni Nick ang mga sinasabi nito pagkababa ng mga maleta niya.
"And this is the bathroom," sabay bukas ng pintuan at ilaw ng banyo. "In case you want to freshen up first."
She frowned. "Nick.."
"This one is the balcony." sabi nito as he opened the blinds para ituro sa kanya. He didn't open the sliding door. "Later we can have coffee here. Go freshen up honey. I am starving." he said bago parang bale-walang naghubad ng pang-itaas. Lumantad na naman kay Stacey ang pamatay na katawan nito.
He opened the closet next to the one na sinabi nitong pwede niyang gamitin. He took a white shirt and boxer shorts inside.
"Use the bathroom here. Dun na ako sa kabila magsha-shower." sabi nito. Kumuha din ito ng white towel sa banyo.
"Wait! Nick! Kwarto mo ba to? I can't sleep here with you!" angal niya.
He looked at her. Hindi mabasa ni Stacey ang iniisip nito dahil poker-faced na naman ito.
"There are only two rooms here. Yung isa, I use as an office.I will be agitated if you will live alone in one of my condos so I want you to live here with me .Don't worry. I will sleep on the couch outside if that will make you feel better." he said in a neutral tone bago lumabas.
Mukhang as usual, hindi na siya makaka-reklamo. She should be thankful na may concern ito sa kanya.
Naisip niya if magpapasalamat ba siya o mag-aalala? Lalong titindi ang tsismis sa opisina once may nakaalam about their living arrangement.
Then shrugging her shoulders she decided to take a quick shower too bago siya magluto.
You are in fact an adult Stacey. Why not start being like Nick who doesn't give a damn about what other people think? Buhay mo naman yan. And wala kayong ginagawang masama. You are both single. Just chill.New life remember? Kausap niya sa sarili.
Ngayon siya nagsisisi kung bakit ang mga sinusuot niyang pambahay at pantulog kung hindi body-hugging,maiiksi naman. Malay ba niyang darating siya sa punto na she will literally live with a man? A man who desires her.
Alangan namang hindi na siya lumabas. And sigurado naman siya na hindi naman siya mamanyakin ni Nick kung ayaw niya. So with one look at herself in the bathroom mirror, she went back inside the bedroom. Buti na lang wala si Nick sa kwarto. Sinulyapan niya ulit ang reflection niya sa salamin ng sliding door tapos niyang itaas ang buhok in a messy ponytail.
She has a red sleeveless body fit top and white cotton shorts which show her creamy and smooth thighs. She doesn't need any house slippers dahil naka wall-to-wall carpet ang condo ni Nick. She also noticed that he walks barefoot inside his unit. At least may habits din ito na normal na ginagawa ng mga simple at ordinaryong tao.
He is in the kitchen drinking water when she came out. He grinned when he saw her.
"Ready to cook something honey?" tanong nito.
The color that dominates his kitchen is blue. May 8 cubic feet black fridge. Meron din itong hub stove with a small oven .Minimal ang laman ng kitchen counter. May mga cabinet na may mangilan-ngilang imported canned goods and instant noodles.
"You can check the contents of the freezer and fridge. Ikaw na ang bahala. I will just sit here while I watch you." He said with a grin. Humila ito ng upuan and sat down on the 4 seater dining table na katabi ng kusina.
She tried very hard na hindi ma-conscious. He seems to be as usual running his eyes over her.
"Can you get me a can of beer honey?" tanong nito.
She nodded. She took some eggs and milk. Nakakita din siya ng package of mushroom.
"Okay lang ba if mag-omelet na lang tayo? Anyway late na. Baka hindi tayo matunawan." she said.
Iniligay niya ang mga ito sa counter bago bumalik sa fridge to get his beer.
"That's fine honey." he flashed his panty-wrecking smile habang kinuha ang beer sa kanya .He took hold of her hand. Stacey tried to take it back pero he doesn't want to let go.
She rolled her eyes then said. "Akala ko ba gutom ka na? Magluluto na ako." she said.
He chuckled then hinalikan ang palad niya bago nito pinakawalan ang kamay niya. She pouted at him and he chuckled.
She has to admit na sobrang kilig ang nararamdaman niya dahil mukha talaga silang mag-asawa.
While she cooks, hindi naman inaalis ni Nick ang mga mata sa kanya. Ang left side ng profile niya at katawan ang nakikita nito as she prepares the ingredients.
"That's the best omelet I ever had honey." he complimented habang nakaupo pa din.
Natawa si Stacey bago nilingon ito.
"Stop flattering me Nick." sabi niya as she finished washing the dishes and pan. Nag-offer si Nick to help but she refused.
She wiped her hands with a paper towel.
"Do you want coffee now?" she asked bago humarap ulit dito.
Tumayo ito and said, "I will do that honey." sabi nito as he got coffee beans from the cabinet.
"Are you sure?" tanong niya.
He beamed at her, " Marunong naman akong mag- on ng coffee maker."
Instead of having coffee in the balcony they decided to stay in the living room. They are seated on the long sofa.
Nick asked her to come closer to him.
"I want us to feel comfortable .Let's snuggle." he suggested.
Deep inside, she also wants to be near him. After what happened at her house a few hours ago, she feels that he is really her knight and shining armor.
"Okay pero uupo lang na magkatabi ha?" paninigurado niya.
He chuckled but nodded.
Kahit wala siyang tiwala sa ngiti nito at sa sarili niya mismo, nagdecide siya na gawin na lang ang gusto nito.
He patted the space beside him. She moved near him .
"Lean your head on my shoulder." he ordered. She did.
Inakbayan siya nito as he inhales her hair then he rested his right cheek on the top of her head.
"This is how I imagined my nights since I met you. Sitting here with you and cuddling up." tila wala sa sariling sabi nito.
She closed her eyes. It feels so good being like this with him. They just sat there without talking .Tila ninanamnam nilang pareho ang sitwasyon nila.
"I think we should call it a night. Maaga pa tayo bukas." she suggested after several minutes. She's starting to feel sleepy.
"Let's get married honey." Nick said all of a sudden.