Dominguez Series 1st Gen Book 4 | A Lot Like Love

Chapter Four

“IÑIGO…”

Nakuyom niya ang kanyang magkabilang kamao nang madinig ang pamilyar na boses na iyon. Nakita na niya ito kanina ngunit ang buong akala niya’y kamukha lang. He’s wrong because Scarlett was really there and he couldn’t just ignore it. Its been two years since he last saw her and nothing has changed. She’s still the one and only girl whom he loved with all of his heart.

Binalingan niya si Shien saka kinuha dito ang grocery basket na hawak nito. He held Shien’s hand and both of them exited that aisle. Diretso silang tumungo sa cashier at nagbayad. Pagkatapos mabalot ng mga pinamili nila, dali dali silang umalis doon at umuwi na. Inikot niya ang buong bahay ni Shien habang ang dalaga ay abala sa pagluluto sa kanilang hapunan. Malaki ang bahay nito at madaming kwarto pero parang ito lang ang nakatira doon. Mas malungkot pa iyon sa bahay nila na sumasaya lang sa tuwing pupunta ang mga makukulit at maiingay niyang pamangkin.

A smile formed on lips upon seeing Shien’s baby picture. Kalong ito ng isang lalaki na naka-doctor gown at may nakasampay na stethoscope sa leeg. Napaka-charming at nakakahawa talaga ang ngiti ni Shien kaya naman madali niyang naiwaksi ang mga nangyari kanina sa supermarket.

“Dinner’s ready,” wika ni Shien na siyang nagpalingon sa kanya. Nakita nitong hawak niya ang picture frame nito kasama ang lalaking doctor. Lumapit ito saka kinuha iyon sa kanya. “This is my dad and yes he’s also a doctor.” Ngumiti ito saka binalik ang larawan sa pwesto nito. Muli siya nitong inaya papunta sa dining area na hindi na naman niya tinutulan.

“You live here alone?” he asked.

“Nope. I’m living with mom but she’s busy going out on a date with different guy day by day,”

“Hindi ka close sa mama mo?” Pilit itong ngumiti.

She heaved a deep sighed first before answering. “Yes. Mas close kami ni dad because mom is always busy,”

“I presumed that just like kuya Nikko, hospital din ang pasyalan mo kaya ka nag-doctor,” aniya sa dalaga. He saw her eyes widened and by that he confirmed that he was right. Gano’n ang kuya na panay ang sama sa uncle nilang doctor.

“Bakit hindi ka magpalit ng propesyon? Try mo maging manghuhula,” he chuckles upon hearing those witty answers of Shien.

“Are you ready to be in a relationship, like, again, Shien?”

“My heart says yes but my brain hissed the word no.” He laughed that made her frown. “I’m serious, you know? Anyway, tell me now your story. Akala mo siguro nalimutan ko na, well you’re wrong so spill it,”

Malalim siyang napahinga bago nagsalita. First time na mag-o-open up siya sa taong kakakilala pa lang niya. Its like anything was really possible to Shien. Ayos lang naman na i-kwento na niya iyon dahil dalawang taon na din naman ang lumipas pero may galit pa din sa puso niya.

“It’s a complicated relationship that involves power and status in life. Alam mo nang hindi basta basta ang pamilyang kinabibilangan ko. I’m a son of a former politician and broadway actress so when I fell in love with common girl, I really go against all odds. Nilabanan ko ang lola ko pero sa huli ako lang ang lumalaban mag-isa.” He didn’t get a response from Shieralyn. He cleared his throat to get her attention and he succeeded. “Are you still with me?”

“Uhm, yeah, I guess we should not talked about that,” wika nito sa kanya.

“Okay. Ano nang gusto mo pag-usapan?”

“Anything except our exes.” Pareho silang natawa dahil doon. They continued eating while talking of random topics that crossed their minds. Answering questions of each other with so much honesty. Opening up to someone he just met wasn’t that bad at all. He received no judgement. “Alam ko na ang mali mo kaya hindi ka pa maka-move on hanggang ngayon,” Shieralyn said to him.

“So, you’re Dr. Love now,”

She groaned that made him chuckled. “Hear me out, please?”

“Okay, spill it,”

“Ginawa mong mundo yung dapat na tao lang kaya nung binitiwan at iwanan ka niya, you completely lost yourself too.” He continue eating the ice cream that he was holding. “Masarap?” Tumango siya bilang sagot. “Its mine, ayun kaya yung sa ‘yo.” Muntik na niyang mabitiwan iyon at tinawanan lang siya ni Shieralyn. In the end, nagpalit na lang sila ng kinakain na ice cream habang nanonood ng TV.

MONDAY CAME and Shieralyn went straight to Inkwell Creatives after going to the hospital. She wants to relay the good news she received just this morning to Iñigo. Nakakuha ng mataas na score ang thesis niya at sigurado na pagkakaroon niya bagong title bago ang kanyang pangalan. Pagkababa niya sa sasakyan niya, agad siya dumirecho sa reception at nag-iwan ng identification card tapos tumungo na sa elevator. She pressed the button where Iñigo’s office located. Hindi siya nagsabi na pupunta doon pero hindi naman iyon ang unang beses niya doon. After nila mag-hang out sa bahay niya nung weekend, naisipan niya sabayan ito sa lunch at tinext lang sa kanya ni Iñigo ang floor number ng opisina nito. Kilala na din siya ng secretary nito kaya naman pinapasok siya agad pagkadating niya.

She was about to knocked when someone opened it and a familiar face came out there. It was the girl in the supermarket - Iñigo’s ex-girlfriend. Mapula ang mga mata nito at halatang umiiyak pa din. Nagtama ang kanilang mga mata ngunit una itong umiwas at tuloy tuloy na lumakad paalis doon. Sinundan na lang niya ito ng tingin hanggang sa mawala na ito. Marahan siyang sumilip sa nakabukas na pintuan at mula doon kitang kita niya si Iñigo na nakakunot ang noo habang nakatingin sa laptop nito.

“Bad timing?” tanong niya dito. Nakita niyang nag-angat ito nang tingin mula sa laptop at nawala din ang kunot sa noo nito. “I just came to share some good news but I guess sa susunod na lang –“

“No, come in and have a seat,” sanlasa nito sa kanya. Agad naman siyang pumasok at naupo sa couch. “What good news is that?”

“My thesis got the highest score and sure na yung prof title ko,” aniya dito.

“That’s good news, Shien.” He said but she couldn’t feel his happiness about the good news she shared.

“Let’s go home, I’ll cooked for you again,”

“I’ll pass. Bukas na lang siguro.” She pouted her lips and made her eyes puffy. A smile formed on Iñigo’s lips. She knew it, he can’t resist her charms. “Fine, let’s go,”

“Yes!” she exclaimed.

Naglipit lang si Iñigo ng mga gamit niya saka sabay sila lumabas ng opisina nito. Tuloy tuloy sila tumungo sa parking kung nasaan ang sasakyan niya. She insists to use her car and asked Iñigo to stay in their house for the night. Dahil sa pagiging mapilit niya, napapayag niya din ito agad. They went to the grocery store to shop fresh vegetables and meat that she’ll be using for the meal she will be cooking. Abala siya sa pagpili ng gulay ng maradaman niya paghapit ni Iñigo sa baywang niya.

“Why do you want me to stay with you for tonight?” tanong nito sa kanya.

“Wala lang, I just want to celebrate with you,” tugon niya. But it didn’t convinced him. “Fine, I saw Scarlett went out of your office crying and you’re not in good mood so, incase you want to vent out I’m willing to listen,” Hindi ito sumagot kaya nakagat niya ang ibabang labi niya. She knew that she went overboard. Wala pang isang linggo mula ng magkakilala silang dalawa and being nosy on someone’s business was a real turn off. “But you’re not obligated, okay?”

“Thank you, Shien.”

Tanging nasabi nito sa kanya. Pinagpatuloy nila ang pamimili at nang masigurong nakuha na nila lahat, nagtungo na sila sa cashier. She was about to give her card but Iñigo gave his first to cashier. Pangalawang beses na iyon na ito ang nagbayad sa mga pinamili niya. Nag-inisists siya bayaran iyon ng cash pero hindi nito tinanggap ang inabot niya. Sinabi lang nito na hayaan na lang siyang gawin iyon sa tuwing aayain niya itong kumain sa bahay nila.

“How are you by the way?” tanong ni Iñigo sa kanya habang naliligpit siya ng pinagkainan nila. Nagluto siya ng dalawang klase ng ulam at lahat naman iyon nagustuhan nito.

“I’m fine I guess.” Maikli niyang tugon.

“Your heart, how is it?” tanong pa nito ulit.

“Okay naman siya actually I went to his place yesterday and returned all of his things,”

“You two talked?” Umiling lang siya bilang sagot. Wala naman sila dapat na pag-usapan ni Timmy. He cheated his way out of their relationship and she already accepted the fact that she’s not enough at all. Ngayon nag-iisip na niya kung sakaling papasok siya ulit sa bagong relasyon, ano pwede niyang gawin para maging sapat na siya sa taong mamahalin niya. “I’m not a mind reader, Shien,”

Natawa siya bigla. Sobrang tagal niya yatang nag-iisip at na-hang niya si Iñigo na kausap pala niya in person. “Sorry, I’m thinking kasi,”

“About?”

“Why God let us meet? Two people with hang-ups on the past suddenly met. Weird no?”

“Yeah but I think I know the answer,” he said as he continuously walked towards her.

“Anong ginagawa mo?”

“Walking, isn’t obvious?”

She chuckles, “yeah I know but why?”

Hindi siya nakakuha ng sagot mula dito dahil natagpuan na lang niya sarili niya nakaupo sa ibabaw ng lamesa. Iñigo was in between her legs and his face were inches away from hers. Her started to beat fast than its normal beating. Why was she feeling that suddenly? Hindi naman iyon ang unang beses na naging gano’n sila kalapit sa isa’t isa. Remembering their first meeting that ended up on making out and followed by another and another.

“Maybe God wants us to try.”

Alam niya kung ano ibig sabihin nito. Hindi na bago sa kanya iyon na may isang tao talaga na darating sa buhay ninuman para maging shock absorber at iyon sila sa isa’t isa.

“Let’s just stick to what we have now and never go there until we both have hang ups, what do you think?”

She wrapped around her two arms on his nape and met his gaze. Hindi niya alam kung saan nanggaling ang mga salita iyon. Why she suddenly came up to an idea where in the end she’ll be the loser? Kahit yata gaano katalino siya at kagaling sa pagiging doktor hindi na noon mababago na nagiging tanga talaga siya sa pag-ibig.

“Fine with me,” he said bridging the remaining space and kissed her on the lips. Iba iyon sa lahat ng halik na pinagsaluhan nila ni Iñigo. She felt intense feeling arousing from their bodies. The heat covered her entire body and her mind went black when Iñigo’s hand starts to travel all over her. She knew it, this was going to be a long night...