"Ano hintayin na lang kita ha?" tanong ni Eve.
Napaupo si Stacey. Para siyang nanghina.
Can Nick really do that to Blake? She asked herself again.
"Girflfriend?"
Napukaw ang pag-iisip niya ng marinig ulit ang tawag sa kanya ng kaibigan. "H-Ha?" tila wala sa sarili na tanong niya.
"Sabi ko wait na lang kita dito sa condo ha? Di ko maiiwan si Blake .Pagluluto ko muna. Malamang pag nakabawi-bawi to, babalikan niya ang mga yun. Knowing my cousin....hay!"
"E-Eve..ano..kasi.. kakabati lang namin ni Nick. Baka pag-awayan na naman namin pag nagpunta ako diyan. Alam mo naman na nagseselos siya kay Blake di ba? Pass na muna ako ha? Pasensiya ka na." she apologized.
She heard her friend sighed.
"Okay. Naiinitindihan ko. Basta labas na lang tayo minsan ha? Sabihin mo sa yummy mong dyowa na tayong dalawa lang." Eve said.
"Sige."
(Nick)
He frowned ng pumasok siya sa opisina niya. Nakatulala ang girlfriend niya na parang ang lalim ng iniisip. Bigla siyang naguilty. He has been harsh on her since last night.
Napatunayan naman nito sa kanya na she will never cheat on him. Dapat siguro he should loosen up a bit.
"Honey?"he called her.
She looked at him and blinked twice.
He saw something in her eyes.
Fear? Uncertainty? Disappointment?Hope?
Biglang nagbaba ito ng mata and pretended to be busy looking for something on the table.
"How was the meeting?" she asked tonelessly.
Nick combed his hair with his hand.
He can't bear this kind of treatment from his woman. She sounds cold and uncaring.
Nilapitan niya ito. He took her left hand and itinayo niya ito. He pulled her to him..drinking in her lovely face. He traced the side of her face with his index finger.
"I'm sorry honey. I have been a brute. Alam mo naman kung bakit di ba?" he asked gently.
Stacey closed her eyes for a moment then binasa ang mga labi.
"I get really all tensed up pag nagagalit ka honey." she said in a small voice.
Hindi pa din niya matanggap na kayang gawin ni Nick na ipabugbog si Blake. She is really hoping na wala itong kinalaman sa nangyari.
Nick hugged her tightly.
"I really am so sorry honey. The last thing that I want is matakot ka sa akin. I just can't bear the thought of other men near you." he said in a cold tone.
Iniyakap na din ni Stacey ang mga braso sa likod ni Nick and sinandal niya ang kaliwang pisngi sa dibdib nito.
She really loves him. All of him.
"I love you honey. Hindi ka dapat naiinsecure kahit kanino." she said.
Inilayo siya ni Nick from him a little. Ang tagal siya nitong tinitigan bago ito nagsalita ulit. He cupped her face then kissed her lightly on the lips.
"I love you honey." he said.
Nanlaki ang mata ni Stacey.
"H-Ha? W-What?" she stuttered.
Gosh! Nick loves me? He loves me? Hindi makapaniwalang tanong niya sa sarili.
Hayun na ang makawarak panty na ngiti nito.
"I said I..LOVE..YOU..honey." ulit nito.
A wide smile lightened Stacey's face. Her inner Aphrodite is extremely pleased.
"You do?" hindi pa din makapaniwalang tanong niya.
He nodded while grinning from ear to ear.
"I do honey. Very much.." he whispered as his lips slowly went down on hers.
A fountain of invisible sparks filled the room as their lips met. She touched his hands na nasa magkabilang pisngi niya.Mas nilaliman ni Nick ang halikan nila. Naputol ang halikan nila nang may tumikhim. Napatingin sila sa may pintuan.
"Sorry mate! Kumatok ako, I swear!" nakangising sabi ni Billy.
Naisuklay ni Nick ang kamay sa buhok. Wrong timing talaga si Billy!
"What is it now Billy?' medyo inis na tanong ni Nick.
He pulled Stacey closer to him. Nasa bewang ng nobya ang kanang kamay nito.
"Mate! Balita ko kay tita Rose na may dinner sa bahay niyo mamaya. Pwede ba akong pumunta? Miss ko na ang luto ng mama mo." nakangiting sabi nito.
Umiling si Nick. "I think ipapa-cater dahil tamad magluto si mama." he said but with a trace of humor in his voice.
Napasimangot si Billy bago umupo sa couch. Nick chuckled when Stacey playfully pinched his arm.
He kissed her cheek."He can come next time."
She nodded. "Iwan ko muna kayo." paalam niya.
Nick frowned slightly. "Saan ka pupunta?"
She pouted. "May ipiprint lang ako." she said.
"Cherry can do that for you."
"Dang mate! Hayaan mo muna ang girlfriend mo. Diyan lang naman sa kabila ang printer. May sasabihin din ako sayo." sabat ni Billy.
Ngumiti si Stacey kay Billy. "Thanks Billy."
Nick cursed. He promised himself na babawasan nito ang pagiging possessive..but he can't change overnight.
Nailing na lang si Stacey. "Sige na honey. Usap muna kayo."
He kissed her on the cheek. "Later we'll celebrate." he said.
She just nodded then got her folder bago lumabas..
Buti na lang wala si Cherry paglabas niya. She wants to blow off steam and baka hindi na niya ma-contain ang feelings niya pag naharang pa siya ng sekretarya.
She went straight to the restroom. She doesn't want to use the one in Nick's office baka marinig pa nito ang pagtili niya.
Once inside the cubicle, she covered her mouth then screamed in delight.
GOSH!! It's really true! He loves me! She said through her palm.
They will definitely celebrate later. She's sure about that. She happily went out of the toilet.
***
"So you see mate..ingat ka sa Stacey mo! Huwag mong gagalitin! Ang tapang pala! And pinaka-importante is ipaglalaban ka! You lucky man!" naiiling pero nakatawang sabi ni Billy.
Nick sat on his chair looking very pleased. Satisfaction is evident on his handsome face. Billy just told him na nagsumbong pala si Tanya. His Stacey threatened his former bed-warmer with a steak knife if hindi pa ito tumigil sa paghahabol sa kanya. She is really his kind of woman. Parang siya..very territorial.
"Sa sobrang pagkagusto sayo ni Tanya sisirain ka niya sa girlfriend mo. Do you know that she paid men para butasan ang gulong daw nung suitor dati ng Stacey mo? I think you called her to be your date that time. She was so desperate na magkagulo kayo ni Stacey mo. If ever nga naman ikaw ang pagbintangan na may gawa!" Billy said.
Nick frowned and shook his head.
"Well my woman did the right thing. I have been telling Tanya that I'm not interested to have a relationship with her anymore but we know her...she's very persistent."
Babawi talaga siya sa nobya mamayang gabi. Tonight will be a very special night.
"You look great honey. Don't be nervous. My family will love you." Nick said before they entered the house.
He kissed her hand and flashed his panty-wrecking smile. Nasa mansion na sila ng mga Alcantara. The place looks magnificent. Parang lalo yatang siyang nahiyang makilala ang pamilya ni Nick.
But he is right, his family adore her.
Mrs. Rosita Alcantara is very beautiful. She looks like Nick. Dito nakuha ng nobyo ang mestizo features niya.
Si Mr.Conrado Alcantara naman moreno at matangkad. Mas hawig ito ng kuya ni Nick na si Alfredo Alcantara. Kasama ng kuya Alfred ni Nick ang asawa nito na si Vivien .
Ang magulang ni Vivien kasosyo ng papa nila Nick. Para ngang lalo siyang naalangan dahil hindi naman kasing-yaman ng pamilya ni Nick ang pamilya niya. Buti pa ang magulang ng hipag nito, galing din sa buena familia.
She felt relieved na nagka-chance siya na mas makilala ang pamilya ng nobyo. Mababait silang lahat. Mga pinong kumilos lalo at galing sa mayaman na pamilya. They treated her very nicely and welcomed her sincerely. Kaya after a while, she felt more comfortable.
"You and Nick look really good together." Vivien said. She has a wide smile on her sweet face.
Simple ang ganda nito. Chinita ang mata dahil may lahing Chinese.
"I have to agree with that. "sang-ayon ng mama nila Nick.
They are having dessert sa engrandeng dining table.
Hindi malubos maisip ni Stacey kung anong gagawin nila sa mga natirang pagkain. Para silang nasa buffet restaurant. Para naman nabasa ni Nick ang iniisip niya.
He leaned towards her and whispered, " My mother lets the household staff do whatever they want with the food. Yung iba inuuwi sa pamilya nila. Pina-padrive sila ng mama kay Norman."
Lalo siyang humanga sa pamilya nito. She looked at him lovingly. Paano niya naisip na gagawa ng masama ito sa kapwa kung ganito na lumaki sa maayos na pamilya? His parents are good role models. He touched her hand then kissed it. Nick's brother cleared his throat.
"I hope this time tumino ka na younger brother." he joked.
Nick chuckled. " Matino naman ako." he said.
Natutuwa daw sila na sa wakas may ipinakilala ng nobya sa kanila ang bunso nila .
"It just shows na ang mga anak ko mana sa akin. Magaling pumili ng seseryosohin." his father commented.
"Well at least your father knows how lucky he is that he has me for his wife." nakangiting sabi ng mama nila.
Tumawa ang lahat when she said that.
The conversation was very relaxed while they had their desserts.nNick was very sweetn.Lahat ng dessert na nasa plato niya,nhe wanted to taste.He even asked na subuan niya ito .Nagbiro pa nga ang hipag nito na sana daw ganun din sila ka-sweet ng kuya Alfred ni Nick.
"I will show you around the house Stacey. Good luck yata yun eh."sabi ni Mrs. Alcantara.
Kakatapos nilang kumain. Ang mga lalake nagpunta sa study ng papa nila. May bago daw business ito na gustong idetalye sa dalawang anak. He wants the two of them to manage it .
"Po?" litong tanong ni Stacey.
"Mom toured me around the house too nung unang beses akong dinala dito ni Alfred. So she's hoping na maging part ka din ng family kaya she wants to show you the house." Vivien smiled.
"I like you for my son Stacey. Please take care of him."Nick's mother said.
Na-touched siya sa sinabi ng dalawang babae. To think kanina takot na takot siyang makilala ang mga ito.
She was really amazed sa laki at ganda ng bahay nila Nick.
Sabi nga ni Mrs.Alcantara dapat daw madami silang maging apo dahil sayang naman ang mga silid na hindi nagagamit.
"And this is Nick's room." she said before opening a door.
"Nick is an achiever. You will see all the proofs of his success." bulong ni Vivien.
Tumambad kay Stacey ang napakalaking silid na kulay gray at puti ang ding-ding. May malaking kama ito sa gitna. May mga upuan din na gawa sa leather.
"Come here Stacey, look at all these." proud na itunuro ng mama ni Nick ang mga tropeo at medalya na nasa isang cabinet.
Her cheeks lost color with what she saw on the wall near the cabinet.
May mga diploma at certificates..
Certificate of Appreciation
This is awarded to Mr. Nicholas Derick M. Alcantara.......