Sought To Love You

Chapter 8 Challenge

"I'll be home next day and will be free for the rest of the week. I'll come by at your house para pag-usapan natin ang plano mo. Are you sure about this Dia?" Message sa akin ni Miles isang gabi when I'm almost going to sleep.

It's been more than a week na nawala siya dahil may importante siyang nilakad about sa kanyang negosyo, though he keeps messaging me especially kapag gabi and we enjoyed our conversation. Masasabi ko na we develop trust and friendship over the time na magkausap kami.

"Yes Miles I am sure. I'll be here waiting." With those time na magkalayo kami, di ko siya kinulit about kay Andrew and his promise. I just wait kung kailan niya ako tutulungan at kailan namin pag-uusapan yun.

Thursday lunch time may narinig akong nag-doorbell. As I open the door it's Miles.

"Hi, good to see you." Bati niya sa akin as he leans towards me to give me a hug and kiss sa pisngi. I noticed na dito sa syudad mahilig ang mga tao sa hug and kiss kapag nagkikita. Di pa ako sanay sa ganun kaya naiilang pa ako.

"Nice to see you too Miles. Opo ka muna." Try kong maging normal sa harapan niya. Di ko ipinahahalata na I feel awkward.

When he was this close medyo di ako komportable dahil di naman ako sanay may lalaking kasama, lalo na sa porma niya.

"How things with you lately?" He says it animatedly na parang wala lang talaga. Sobrang relax like how we are nong pinagluto ko siya dito sa bahay.

"Ito same parin, doing same old stuff like I always do in the house. Boring na nga eh." Sagot ko pero paiwas kung tumingin. Di ko kayang salubungin ang kanyang titig."

"You can go out with your friends para malibang ka."

"Wala naman akong kaibigan dito kundi ikaw lang. Di ako sanay sa Manila at saka wala din akong alam gawin at pupuntahan dito."

"I can understand that. How about we go on a road trip para ipasyal ka dito this Sunday perhaps, are you interested?" Di ko mapigilan ma-excite sa kanyang sinabi. Gusto kong mamasyal pero ayaw ko sa mga building, mas gusto kong makakita ng tanawin. Namimis ko na ang probinsya.

"Really? I like that. I wanna see the other side of Manila na di lang puro building."

"It's settled then." Nakangiti niyang sabi.

Then his expression change, the playful mode he showed became serious. He look at me like binabasa ang aking pagkatao.

"Dia, I'm a man of my words. As what I promise before na tutulungan kita sa iyong paghahanap ng katutuhanan." This is the different Miles na aking nakikita ngayon, a serious man. I continued listening to him.

"You are at a crossroads doubting yourself where to go. You ought to avenge your sister's death to the person you don't know. You are not even sure if he is the one you truly looking for. How will you win a battle when you don't even know the story behind and who is your real enemy?"

Bigla akong kinakabahan sa mga sinasabi ni Miles, dahil tama siya.

"Kaya nga nagpapatulong ako sayo Miles para malaman ang buong katutuhanan. Dahil nangangapa ako sa dilim at ikaw lang ang aking sandigan sa mga panahon na ito." Pakumbaba kong saad.

Is this the real Miles when he is at work? Like the Miles nong una kong nakita sa grocery store with intimading aura.

"And I promise I'll help you out and together we will learn the truth even if at the end one of us will be hurt." Di ko maintindihan ang ibig niyang sabihin at di ko nalang inalam.

"Andrew mostly spent his time in the US. He will be in the country next month. Are you sure ready ka nang makilala siya?" Bigla akong kinabahan na masaya kasi ito na yung katuparan ng aking minimithi, ang makilala si Andrew.

"As I said Miles, I am sure. I oaths for this mission. I want this to be done." Sabi ko din na may determinasyon. I want him to know I'm really serious.

"Andrew goes here to check his businesses. He usually works away from the crowd and underground. Di alam ng kanyang mga tauhan na their boss is mingling with them ordinarily. And he has limited time in everything. If you want to catch his attention you should stand out among all, for him to reach out for you."

Ganun pala siya ka misteryoso.

"Saang business ba siya palaging naruruon?"

"He usually attends runway competition to check if his models are up to his standard and can compete in international market. Siya ang pumipili sa mga model na ipapadala abroad."

"Ibig sabihin kailangan kong maging model if I want to meet him?"

"It's one of the ways." I am interested malaman lahat para alam ko ang aking dapat gawin.

"He also own a famous hotels and restaurants chain in the country and he operates many clubs and high end bars here and abroad."

"He oftenly goes to Allure Fantasy Club where some rich guys hang out to have some discrete fun, illicit affair and have side chicks to entertain them. It's an exclusive club for elite members only." I guess I already knew what does it means.

"But he usually seen at Illusion Bar to meet with friends, have a good time at the same time checking the business. Illusion Bar is a top-end bar that caters socialites, famous and rich people who wants to drink and meet people. In other words it's a destination para magyabang at makabingwit ng mayaman."

So ito yung sinasabi ni Miles na di basta basta si Andrew dahil he screams of wealth and power. At napapalibutan siya ng mga de-kalidad na tao.

"What do you suggest me to do Miles para madali ko siyang makilala? It seems na di basta basta ang pagdaanan ko just to see him." Parang frustrated kong sabi. Is there an easy way?

"Can I be a waiter or a bartender sa kanyang bar?"

"You could be but it requires a great skills and an ample time to be in the business frontline." Ang dami ko palang dapat matutunan at dapat alamin.

"Or I could be just a simple bar goer and I'm going to be there to seduce him para mapansin niya ako."

"Yeah that's an easy plan. But you have to look very exquisite for him to notice you. Remember napapalibutan siya ng mga magagandang babae in the industry he is with. You have to be very alluring coz Andrew has special taste in a woman. Di siya basta basta nagkakagusto sa isang babae. He carefully choose his own woman to be with."

It's a complicated job but I'm up for the challenge.

"Okay I am up to that tasks Miles. Sabihan mo lang ako kung saan at kailan siya pupunta sa mga bar and club na yan and I will be there." Pursigido kong sabi.

He looks at me intently na nagpapakaba sa akin.

"It doesn't work that way Dia. It's not just simply going there and meet him, it's requires hard work, planning, patience and strategy."

"Tell me how to do it in a right way Miles?" May pagmamakaawa kong sabi kasi di ko alam ang aking gagawin.

"Look at me Dia and answer me honestly. Have you been with a man before?" Umiling ako. Ni di pa ako nagkakaboyfriend or close with any guy before.

"Andrew is well experienced man. Paano mo siya mapapasuko sayo kung wala kang naranasan how man's mind works and how they behave?" Tama siya ang lakas ng loob kong hanapin at paghigantihan si Andrew pero wala akong alam kung paano yun gawin.

"Parang ipapain mo lang ang iyong sarili at naghihintay na kainin. You will lost the battle Dia as easy as that." Kilalang kilala talaga ako ng lalaking ito.

"I can help you in your quest, I'll be your shield and your way to him but you have to follow my instructions. Plan everything and make me as your training ground on how to seduce him if that's your plan. Kung di mo ako kayang akitin then you will fail in this mission."

Kinakabahan ako sa gusto niyang ipagawa.

"You look tense Dia, ako pa lang to pero di ka na mapakali. Are you sure you can do this?" He challenge me.

"Remember Dia, it's one time opportunity to get close to him. Di ka pwedeng magkamali. Andrew can easily sense a motives and he doesn't like na niluluko. Once you are out there, that should be it wala ng atrasan and your plan should work."

"I get what you meant me to do Miles." Pagkakatatag kong sabi.

"Does you really understand, Dia?" Di ako nakapagsalita dahil I'm doubting myself as well. I'm aware but I'm not sure if I can do it the way he intend me to do.

"Look at me in the eye. Prove to me that you can do it. Captivate me in your actions. Show me what you got dahil kapag di mo ako napahanga then you can't have him. That's the reality."

Bigla akong nainis sa kanya.

"Is that a challenge Miles?" I felt that he doesn't trust me. I may amateur in the dating world pero iba ang puso na may gustong makuha. I'm very determined and I'll find a way.

"Yes, I challenge you. Think of me as Andrew. Show me how you will seduce him. I am part of this plan as well Dia. If you failed with me, you will failed it with him. That's the truth."

Miles is right, kung gusto kung magsucceed then sa kanya ako magsisimula. He is in the same level with Andrew, only him understands how the Andrew's world works.

"I accepted your challenge Miles." Firm kong saad.

"Good, then we will start your training. Tomorrow I will bring you to where Andrew usually goes and the challenge starts from there."