Unexpected Desires

CHAPTER 5: Unexpected Encounters

Chapter 5: Unexpected Encounters

Mayari Calleope's Point of View

"Hey!" Agad akong napaangat ng tingin sa lalaking umagaw ng sigarilyo ko, and a pair of steely gray eyes locked onto mine.

Time seemed to freeze as we stood there, locked in an unspoken standoff. Those eyes held an intensity that sent a shiver down my spine. His lips were set in a firm line, his brows slightly furrowed. Sa expression palang na nakikita ko sa mukha niya ay alam ko ng hindi niya nagustuhan ang gagawin kong paninigarilyo.

"Hey, too." Supladong bati nati sa akin pagkatapos ng ilang segundo naming pagtitigan. Agad na kumunot ang noo ko.

"What's your problem?" I snapped, irritation coursing through me. "Give me back my cigarette," I demanded, extending my hand towards him.

"And what if I don't?" he retorted, his tone sharp. Mas lalong lumalim ang pagkakakunot ng aking noo. Ano bang trip ng isang 'to?

"And if you don't, I'm gonna call the cops and tell them there's a creep stalking me," I shot back, my tone laced with annoyance. He chuckled at my threat, causing my irritation to escalate.

"Am I stalking you?" he chuckled, his eyes dancing with mischief. I rolled my eyes at his philosophical approach to the situation. Really? This guy was pushing my buttons. "And besides, I'm such a handsome creep," he added with a teasing grin, his thumb brushing over his jawline. I couldn't help but roll my eyes again. This guy had quite the ego.

"Sino ka ba? Ibalik mo na nga 'yan sa'kin." Asik ko rito at tinangka kong hablutin pabalik sa kaniya ang aking sigarilyo. Ngunit nanglaki na lang ang mga mata ko sa gulat ng mabilis niya itong itinapon sa kalapit na basurahan.

"What the heck?!" I exclaimed, unable to hide my frustration as I glared at him.

"Ano bang problema mo?! Kung wala kang mapag-trip'an, please lang, huwag ako. Maghanap ka na lang ng ibang mapagt-trip'an." Naiinis na sambit ko rito.

Tinignan ko ito at ang kaninang mapaglarong ngiti sa mga labi nito ay ngayo'y nawala at napalitan ng siryosong expression.

"I'm not messing with you. It's just that..." he trailed off, his brows furrowing as if contemplating his next words.

"What?" I pressed, growing increasingly curious. Tinaasan ko siya ng kilay dahil talagang naiinis ako sa ginawa niya.

He sighed and straightened up, his hands slipping into the pockets of his pants. He acted as if nothing had happened.

"It's just that I don't like seeing women smoke," he confessed, almost in a whisper. Lalong tumaas ang pagkakaarko ng kilay ko. Sinuri ko siyang mabuti habang naka-cross ang mga braso ko sa aking dibdib.

"So, you go around confiscating cigarettes from every woman you see smoking?" I asked, my tone dripping with sarcasm.

He met my gaze with a raised eyebrow. "What? Of course not," he replied firmly

"Eh sabi mo---" Handa na sana akong talakan siya dahil naiinis talaga ako ngunit agad akong natigilan sa sinabi niya.

"No. I only do that to the women I care about," Aniya sa mahinang boses pagkatapos ay mabilis itong umiwas ng tingin na tila ba nahihiya sa kaniyang sinabi.

Agad naman akong napamaang. Ano raw? To the women he cares about? So, isa ako sa mga babaeng pinahahalagan niya? Bakit? Sino ba siya? Magkakilala ba kami?

"Uh ---"

"Anyway, I'll get going. Just remember, never smoke again," he said, turning away and walking off into the night.

I stood there, baffled and utterly perplexed. Iniisip ko kung anong ibig niyang sabihin sa sinabi niya sa akin. Iniisip ko rin kung magkakilala ba kami. Baka dati kaming magkaibigan no'ng college ako, pero kahit anong pilit kong alalahanin ay hindi ko maalalang nagkita na kami noon. He's really a stranger to me kaya paanong isa ako sa mga babaeng pinahahalagahan niya?

Baka naman ginagago lang talaga ako no'ng lalaking iyon? Oh, whatever! Marami na akong iniisip, dumagdag pa ang wirdong lalaking iyon. Sayang gwapo pa naman pero mukhang malakas ang saltik sa ulo.

Napailing na lamang ako at napagdesisyunan ko na lamang na bumili na ng makakain namin. After kong makabili ay bumalik agad ako sa aking condo unit.

Pagpasok ko sa loob ay nadatnan ko ang aking mga kaibigan na mga tulog na. Halatang pagod na pagod sila sa naging byahe namin dahil kung saan-saan na lang sila nakahiga. Ni hindi na rin nila nagawang makapagpalit pa ng damit dahil sa pagod.

Napailing na lamang ako at inilapag ko na lamang sa dining table ang mga pagkaing binili ko. Para kapag nagising sila at nakaramdam ng gutom ay agad nilang makikita ang mga pagkaing binili ko para sa kanila.

After kong maiayos ang mga pagkaing binili ko ay ang mga kaibigan ko naman ang inayos ko. I quietly tiptoed to their room, making sure not to wake them up.

Gently, I covered each of my friends with a warm blanket, tucking them in like a mother would with her children. It was moments like these that made me grateful for the close-knit group we had formed. These four incredible ladies had been my steadfast companions through thick and thin.

"I love you, girls," I whispered softly as I turned off the lights and left the room.

...

Tatlong araw ang nakalipas and so far so good. Our first few days in Manila had been eventful yet successful. We had settled into the condo comfortably and even set up our individual workspaces. We might have left our previous lives behind, but we couldn't neglect our businesses and jobs.

"Girls! Wala ba kayong naalala today?" Saad ni Alex sa amin habang kumakain kami ng almusal. Ako, si Amara, at si Alex palang ang gising. Sophia and Ashley were still sound asleep, worn out from their late-night work.

"Hmmm. Anong araw ba ngayon?" Tanong ni Amara rito.I glanced at my phone, checking the date.

"September 6," sagot ko pagkatapos ay kumagat ako sa aking tinapay.

"Hmm, I don't remember anything impor— Oh wait!" Amara's eyes widened suddenly, a spark of recognition in them.

"What?" I asked. Ako na lang talaga 'yung clueless kung anong mayroon ngayon.

"Gaga! Birthday ni Ashley ngayon!" Saad ni Alex sa akin. Suddenly, everything clicked in my mind.

"Oh my God! Oo nga!" Bulaslas ko. Sa dami ng inasikaso ko nitong mga nakaraang araw ay talagang nawala sa isip ko na nalalapit na pala ang kaarawan ni Ashley at ngayon nga ay sumapit na ito.

"So, what's the plan?" I asked Amara and Alex, my mind racing as I tried to come up with a last-minute celebration.

"What if we cook something here in the condo to celebrate Ashley's birthday?" Amara suggested, her idea taking shape as she spoke.

"Pero ang hassle kasi mag-grocery pa tayo." Sagot naman ni Alex na tinanguan naman ni Amara. It was indeed a hassle, considering our already busy schedules.

"How about we go to a bar instead?" Sophia suddenly suggested, entering the conversation. She was now awake and had joined us, still in her pajamas and clearly unbothered by her lack of sleep. Ni wala pa nga atang hilamos ang isang 'to.

"Good idea," I agreed. "Knowing Ashley, a party enthusiast, she'll love that."

"Couldn't agree more," Alex chimed in. "Plus, it's our first opportunity to experience a bar in Manila, so why not make the most of it, right?"

We exchanged glances and shared smiles. Sophia was right; she always had a way of simplifying things.

"Napakatalino mo talaga, Sophia! Kaya sa'yo kami eh." Nakangiting pahayag ni Alex. Natawa naman kaming lahat.

"Whatever, Alex. So, it's settled," Sophia declared, and we all nodded in agreement.

"Yeah."

...

By ten o'clock that night, we had arrived at the bar we'd chosen for Ashley's birthday celebration. The place exuded an air of opulence, and its subdued lighting created a sense of mystery. I couldn't help but be awestruck.

Tuwang-tuwa si Ashley dahil noong nakaraan pa raw niya gustong mag-bar pero hindi niya magawa dahil alam niyang abala pa kami sa ginawa naming paglipat dito sa Manila.

"Happy birthday, Ashley!" we cheered in unison as we raised our glasses for a toast.

"Thank you, girls! I super duper love you all!" Ashley exclaimed, her voice filled with gratitude. At nag-flying kiss pa nga ito isa-isa sa amin. Andito kami sa table namin at nagkakasiyahan.

Maganda ang bar na kinaroroonan namin ngayon. Maraming makukulay na ilaw na hindi gaanong masakit sa mata. Maluwag at malaki din ang paligid, maging ang dance floor, maganda rin ang mga tugtugin na pinatutugtog ng dj. We'd heard this was a popular spot in Manila, often frequented by elite personalities and celebrities. Also, rumor had it that a young billionaire owned this place.

"This place is absolutely heavenly!" Ashley gushed, her eyes twinkling with excitement.

"I have to agree," Alex chimed in, looking around at our surroundings.

The bar was named Paradiso, and it truly felt like paradise with its soft, colorful lights, ample space, a fantastic dance floor, and a DJ spinning infectious beats. Wala rin kasi masyadong usok sa paligid dahil may designated smoking area ang bar na ito. Halatang puro mayayaman rin ang mga andito.

"Let's dance!" Agad na hila ni Ashley sa aming tatlo. Wala kaming nagawa kung hindi pagbigyan ang birthday girl. Tumayo kami mula sa aming mga kinauupuan at nagpatianod sa paghila ni Ashley sa amin patungong dance floor.

"Sway your hips, girls! Whooo!" Ashley cheered as we moved to the rhythm. We danced like lifelong friends, caught up in the music and the vibrant atmosphere of the bar.

Talagang handa namin sulitin ang gabing ito dahil ngayon na lang talaga kami nakapag-party. And ito rin naman ang purpose ng pagpunta namin dito, 'di ba? To celebrate, to have fun! Why not seize it?!

Sumayaw lang kami ng sumayaw na magkakaibigan habang may hawak kaming inumin sa aming mga kamay. This was the life I had missed – the thrill of partying, the exhilaration of the dance floor. Ilang linggo rin kaya akong hindi nakapag-party dahil sa mga biglaang pangyayari sa buhay ko. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ngayong gabi ay unti-unti ng bumabalik ang buhay na nakasanayan ko.

"We just ran out of drinks. I'll go order some more," paalam ko sa mga kaibigan ko nang mapansin kong ubos na ang kani-kaniyang inumin namin.

"Sure, Mayari! Thanks!" My friends nodded appreciatively, their faces flushed from the excitement and the drinks. Tumango lang ako at ngumiti pagkatapos ay tumungo na ako sa bar counter upang um-order ng maiinom.

As I made my way to the bar counter, weaving through the dancing crowd, my heart skipped a beat. The last thing I expected was to encounter the same mysterious man who had stolen my cigarette days ago.

"You?" I gasped, shock and disbelief washing over me as I pointed accusingly at him.