(Alex)
It was Zoey who saw him first.
Oh my! She thought. I really missed this hot male! "ALEX!" she called him huskily then stood up.
Alex just ignored her. He knows that she is bad news. Mas maganda ng iwasan niya ito lalo na ngayon. Ayaw niyang magka-problema sila ni Pat.
Cindy and the other woman looked behind them.
"Hi cousin!" bati ni Cindy bago tumayo para salubungin siya. She gave him a peck on the cheek.
Nakasimangot na tinignan ni Alex ang pinsan." What is this again Cindy? I thought we already talked?" pabulong na tanong niya.
His cousin just pouted then slid her right arm into his left one bago ito bumulong sa kanya.
"Zoey said she was sorry. She promised it won't happen again."
Alex looked at Zoey who is staring at him and is slightly smiling.
Hinila siya ni Cindy palapit sa mga kaibigan habang naka-abrasiyete sa kanya. "You met Zoey before," Cindy said then itinuro ang isa pang kasama nila," this is Leah." pakilala nito sa matangkad at morenang babae.
Iniabot ng babae ang kamay nito. " Hi, Alex. I heard so much about you from Cindy and most specially from Zoey." maarteng sabi nito.
Lalong kumunot ang noo ni Alex but he extended his hand for the handshake. " I hope they are good things." he said.
Biglang lumapad lalo ang ngiti nito then kumindat sa direksiyon ni Zoey, " Ohhh..definitely good things Alex."
Cindy cleared her throat when she saw his expression became grim after he heard what Leah said.
He nodded to Leah then said, "Excuse us for a sec." as he dragged his cousin to the kitchen.
"Alex!" Cindy complained.
When they got into the kitchen, "And what was that all about?! Can you explain why the hell you guys talk about me?" galit na tanong niya.
Cindy just pretended to be interested with her manicure then nonchalantly said, "Nothing. It was just that Zoey was so eager to talk about you half of the time."
He cursed ."And did she mention to your other friend about what happened here?"
She bit her lower lip. " Not that I know of. But she could have mentioned it to her when I wasn't around."
Alex shook his head from side to side, "That's it Cindy! You are gonna stay in a hotel tomorrow. I will pay for your entire stay there! Now give me back my spare key!"
His cousin's face turned pale. "NO! You can't do that Alex!"
He narrowed his eyes and crossed his arms across his chest. "Why the hell not? This is my place in case you have forgotten." he said menacingly.
She looked teary-eyed. "A-Alex,will you really let me stay in a hotel room alone?"
He rolled his eyes ,"For Pete's sake Cindy! You are an adult and there's nothing wrong if you stay alone in a hotel. Anyway your friends always visit you and you guys are out most of the day. And I want my spare key back."
"I will give your key back but please let me stay here..please." pakiusap nito." I promise this is the last time you'll see my friends here. They just dropped me off and they were about to leave when you came."
He looked doubtfully at her.
"I swear, please Alex. I will clean up my mess and I won't bother you at all. Just let me stay please.." she pouted her lips. Alam ni Alex na paawa effect ang ginagawa ng pinsan.
He finally sighed."Okay! But keep your word or else.."
Yumakap ito sa kanya, "Oh thank you Alex!" sabi nito then lumayo sa kanya ulit to say, "I promise.Scout's honor!"
"I still want my spare key back." he said.
"But that would be very inconvenient! How will I get in if you're out?" she asked sulkily.
"Then you just have to call me so you'll know if I am already here." he said.
"Why do you have to get it back?" inis na tanong nito.
"I will give it to Patricia." malumanay na sabi niya.
Surprised registered on her face. "You're pulling my leg! " she said with her eyes wide.
"I am serious Cindy. She's now officially my girlfriend. " he said while grinning then he showed her his necklace.
She smiled widely too ."WOW! So she couldn't resist your charm after all! But I am happy for you cousin! Patricia is really hoottt ! You better keep an eye on her though. We've seen how she attracts men like bees to honey."biro nito.
Napasimangot si Alex.
"Hey! I was just kidding! Will you stop being too possessive? It so unlike you!" naiiling na sabi nito.
Gigil na gigil si Zoey sa narinig. She and Lea have been listening to their conversation. She angrily marched back to the living room. Sumunod naman sa kanya si Leah.
"Girl! Mukhang wala ka ng pag-asa .May girlfriend na pala eh!" bulong ni Leah.
Zoey turned to her. "You know me Leah, I don't care if a man has a girlfriend or even a wife. Pag gusto ko, no one and nothing can stop me."she smirked.
***
Kakahiga pa lang ni Pat ng makarinig siya ng mahihinang katok. Bumangon siya and sinilip kung sino. "Ate?" takang tanong niya.
"Pwedeng pumasok?"
Pat opened the door wider, "Oo naman ."
Pagpasok ni Lena diretso ito sa kama niya to sit on the edge.
"May problema ba ate?" alalang tanong niya bago umupo sa tabi nito.
"Pat, bakit nakapatay ang phone mo kanina? Magkasama ba kayo ni Alex?" She asked.
Biglang naalala ni Pat na naka-off pa nga pala ito. She stood up to get her phone. "Baka na-lowbat."she lied.
Bago niya ini-on ulit sinaksak muna niya ang charger. Ayaw niyang mabuking ng ate niya na nagsisinungaling siya.
"Nagpunta ulit si Jude kanina. Hindi ka na naman niya nadatnan." tila inis na sabi ng ate niya.
Bumalik si Pat sa kama after plugging her phone's charger. "Ate hindi kasi siya nagsasabi if pupunta siya eh.Sinundo ako ni Alex sa gym kanina. Nag-celebrate kami as a couple." nakangiting sabi niya.
"Paano kayo nag-celebrate?" birong tanong ng kapatid.
Yumuko si Pat,"Nagluto siya ate."
"Tapos?" nangingiting tanong ng ate niya.
She looked up and shyly smiled. "Wala ate."
Lena patted her hand lightly. "Nasa tamang age na naman kayo in case mabuntis ka."
"Ate nag-iingat naman kami. Ayaw ko pang mabuntis. Ano nga pala ang sinabi mo kay Jude?"
"Wala sabi ko baka kasama mo ang mga kaibigan mo. Hindi ako ang dapat magsabi sa kanya nung tungkol sa inyo ni Alex."
"Kelan daw siya babalik?" Pat asked.
"Walang sinabi. Pero nang-iimbita sa farm nila. Nagka-problema daw pala dun kaya ilang araw siyang nag-stay sa Tarlac .Kakabalik niya lang kanina and ikaw ang unang pinuntahan. Ang dami ngang dalang prutas."
Pat felt guilty. "Ate alam mo naman na hindi na ako pwedeng sumama sa farm nila di ba?"
Tumango si Lena,"Alam ko. Pag sumama ka malamang magwala ang nobyo mo." natawang sabi nito.
Tumawa din ng mahina si Pat.
"O sige pahinga ka na. Sinabi ko lang yung pagpunta ni Jude kanina."tumayo na ito.
"Sige ate salamat."
***
"Bestie?" sagot ni Pat sa telepono niya.
"Hi! Busy ka ba?" masiglang tanong ni Shelly.
"Hindi na bestie." sabi niya bago ibinalik sa folder ang mga papeles na pinirmahan niya. She looked at her watch. 11:00AM. Tumayo siya from her office chair.
"Tumawag ako about the barbecue party dito sa bahay. Ewan ko if natawagan na ni Jake si Alex. Nagkausap na ba kayo?"
"Oo kaninang bago ako pumasok pero wala naman siyang nabanggit pa."
"Baka hindi pa nakakausap ni Jake. O basta ha?Antayin namin kayo bukas, mga 7 PM siguro."she said.
"Sige bestie.Sabihin ko na lang kay Alex."
"Kumusta naman kayo?" Shelly seems to be smiling.
Nangiti si Pat ." Pag nagkita na lang tayo."
"Sinagot mo na ba?" excited na tanong nito.
"Basta bestie! .Usap na lang tayo sa barbecue." pambibitin niya.
Shelly sighed. "Sige na nga.See you!" paalam nito.
Nailing na lang siya pagbaba ng telepono.
Sigurado siya na matutuwa ang kaibigan pag nalaman nito na sinagot na niya si Alex.
She was staring outside the window ng may kumatok.
"Ma'm." tawag ni Arianne. "Si architect Ocampo po gusto daw kayong makausap."
Medyo nagulat si Pat but she said, "Sige papasukin mo. Thanks Arianne."
Muntik ng mapaawang ang bibig ni Pat ng makita si Jude. Parang lalo itong gumwapo. Mas nagmukhang lalaking-lalake dahil medyo nag-tan ang balat nito. Naka light blue na shorts sleeve polo shirt, brown khaki pants at naka brown na leather shoes ang binata.
Jude also was taken aback. He had almost forgotten how attractive and sexy Pat is. She is in a light purple tight-fitting sleeveless top and black pencil cut skirt na above the knee. She has black high-heeled pumps on. She also smells so good. May konting make-up lang ito pero napaka-ganda ng mukha.
"Hi Patrice." bati nito
"Jude. Good morning. Upo tayo?" she offered.
Tumango ang binata. Hinintay muna siya nitong maupo before he sat down. They are opposite each other. Pinagsawa ni Jude ang mata sa mukha ni Pat.
She cleared her throat. Medyo na-conscious naman siyang bigla.
"Sorry nga pala about last night. Sabi ng ate ko nagpunta ka daw sa bahay?"
Tumango ito. "Namiss kita Patrice. Sorry din nagka-problema kasi sa farm kaya hindi man lang kita natatawagan o napupuntahan."sabi nito "Can I invite you to lunch?Tutal past 11 na?" tanong bigla nito.
Nag-isip si Pat. Mas maganda nga siguro na dun na din nila pag-usapan ang tungkol sa lagay ng panliligaw nito sa kanya. Kailangan na niyang sabihin na boyfriend na niya si Alex.
"Sige." sang-ayon niya.
Jude grinned."Tara?" aya nito.
Kakagaling ni Alex sa coffee shop ng kaibigan nito. It's thirty minutes away from Pat's office. Since magtatanghalian na, he decided to pick her up para kumain sila sa labas. And para sabihin yung barbecue sa bahay nila Jake. He called him a while ago to confirm the day and time. Ibibigay na din ng binata ang spare key ng condo nito sa dalaga. Papaso ito sa entance door ng gusali ng makita ito ni Arianne na papunta naman sa canteen.
"Sir Alex!" tawag nito.
Lumingon si Alex sa kaliwa and nakita nitp ang sekretarya ni Pat.He smiled, "Arianne, si mam Patricia mo?"
"Naku sir kani-kanina pa po umalis."sabi nito."
Kumunot ang noo niya ,"Umalis? Saan nagpunta?"
"Kasama po ni architect Ocampo. Kakain po yata sa labas."
He cursed then quickly got his phone to call her.
"Ano ba ang gusto mong kainin?" tanong ni Jude kay Pat habang nakatutok ang mata sa kalsada.
"Kahit ano, okay lang." sagot naman niya. She bit her lower lip.
"Is something wrong?" alalang tanong ng binata when he saw her looking kind of worried.
"Nakalimutan ko ang phone ko. Nasa lamesa ko yata .Kanina kasi tumawag ang kaibigan ko." she said.
Jude glanced at her ,"Gusto mong balikan?"
"Hindi na. Malayo-layo na din tayo. It's okay." nakangiting sagot niya.