Ms. Writer and the Billionaire Playboy

Chapter 21

THE NEXT MORNING

Even though the previous night has been weird, she woke up trying to act normal. Matapos ng usapan nila ni Matt sa kitchen area ay napa-exit na siya. Hindi na niya inusisa kung totoong pina-alis ni Matt ang babae.

Sure naman siya na kung hindi nabuking ang dalawa ay hindi naman nito paaalisin ang babae eh. Hay ewan na lang talaga ba’t ganun ang acting nito. Buti na lang, maayos pa rin siyang nakatulog.

Breakfast time, ay nag-aya si Matt sa kanila na mag day island hopping. Regalo nito sa anak ni Manang Heidi dahil katatapos lang ng summer break ng bata. Excited naman ang mag-asawa, at i-hahanda na nga yung boat. Apaprently, it’s her first time to get to know, that there’s an island away from this beach house.

Kuwento pa ni Heidi, sobrang ganda daw ng island, pwede ding mag night stay doon dahil may kubo naman daw at kweba. Puting puti din daw yung buhangin at masarap maligo doon. Immediately, the memory of last night was being erased fast for sure.

Buti na lang at may panligo siyang shorts. Tinulungan rin niya si Heidi sa mga aayusin at dadalhin. Nagluto ito ng snacks na dadalhin sa dagat at ulam. After a few hours ay ni-ready na ng asawa ni Heidi ang family modern boat na mukhang pagmamay-ari rin ni Matt.

It was nice, and they jumped in and began to sail.

Habang nasa unahan ang magka-pamilya ay naiwan naman sila ni Matt sa may bench area na magkatabi. Hindi niya alam pero talagang bumabalik sa memorya niya ang imahe ni Matt na naka half-nude.

Gusto tuloy niyang kurutin ang sarili niya. Nakapakakulit talaga nitong utak niya.

“I’m really sorry last night,” ani Matt. Naku, naku…eto na naman po siya. Matt looked serious again by the way, like intent on looking at her.

“I guess, I cant just erase that easily, that’s part of me you know. I don’t know if I can ever erase that, I coped through with that, just numbing my feelings, it helped me. And everything is concensual.” Pagpapatuloy na esplikar ni Matt.

“I mean, we can clarify that in your book. You know?” she just said upang matigil na ito. But maybe, it was a heavy weight to carry, to be so misunderstood. “Tao ka lang din naman, you don’t have to explain to me about it.”

“That’s good,” something twinkled in those eyes. “Tama ka Chelsie, there’s no need to deny that, okay? I just have to accept it and maybe through the book, I can just really tell it what it is. I don’t have to glorify myself, hindi naman ako santo.”

Napantango-tango siya. Hindi niya masabi dito na nag-re-replay pa sa utak niya yung eksena ng pa abs nito kagabi.

Napatahimik na sila, kasamang pinagmasdan ang alon.

She can’t really understand. She had no idea what love really is, maybe. Yes. She must be writing about it, but it’s just all about fiction.

Likha lang ng imahinasyon niya.

She hasn’t really fallen in love so deep, and she wonders how it feels. Just like in the novels she have written.

But for people like Matt, who has gotten into it, has experienced the raw and delectable, painful and real parts of it, only they can justify their actions and what has love brought into their lives.

“Have you thought, Matt, to fall in love again?”

“Oh,” napamaang si Matt, looking at her. “Even if I wanted to, I think I don’t have the luxury to do that.”

Luxury? Napaisip siya. What does he mean? But those question in her mind remained to be unanswered. Dahil dumaong na sila sa isla na binanggit ni Heidi.

Masayang lumukso ang batang lalaki, excited ito sa nakita. Mukang nasiyahan rin si Matt, napababa ang dalawang lalaki at mismong si Matt ang umalalay kay Biboy pababa ng boat. Chelsie’s heart warmed at the picture of that.

Hindi lumaon ay naglatag na sila ng tent at picnic mat sa dalampasigan, there were coconut trees around, and a huge tree that provided them shade. May maliit rin na bahay kubo sa dulo.

Masayang nagtampisaw si Biboy sa dalampasigan, kasama ng mga magulang nito.

“You know how to swim?” ani Matt.

“Not really,” iling niya.

Hindi na niya need na tanungin si Matt dahil mukhang marami itong talents at isa na roon ang paglangoy.

“I’ll teach you,” smile lang ni Matt.

“Oh. No, mahirap akong turuan. Okay lang naman na magtampisaw ako mamaya. Mukhang masarap na maligo.”

Napatango-tango si Matt. “But I’m still here, incase you want someone to teach you.” They started to eat some snacks, boiled banana and with bagoong.

Hindi nya alam na kumakain rin pala ng mga ganoong pagkain si Matt. Mukhang takam na takam ito. May sweet potatoes din. Sa lunch nila, may kinilaw at inihaw na isda. May fried chicken din at soft drinks.

“How about you, Chelsie. Have you fallen in love?” out of the blue na tanong ni Matt. Seeing her reaction, Matt winked his eyes and explained, “I’m sorry I shouldn’t have asked. But sometimes, I feel that you’re not an employee you know. If you know what I mean, parang kaibigan na rin kita. I mean, you know more a lot about me than the usual people.”

A friend. She felt calmed by that. Maybe it’s a privileged. Only few has a privilege to be in her position right now, na pagkatiwalaan siya ng isang Matt Vallejo.

“So I hope you don’t mind, wala akong ibang ibig sabihin.”

“Honestly,” napahilig ang ulo niya, the fresh wind from the sea has made some strands of her air dancing mid-air. “Matt, sa tingin ko, wala pa. I mean, there were attempts. Pero hindi ko alam, may hinahanap siguro ako. Yung genuine, yung pang one time true love, ganun. O masiyado lang akong hopeless romantic. Hopefully, one day, mahanap ko rin siya.”

“You will,” pahayag ni Matt. “You’re a really sweet girl, mabait, at maganda pa, so I don’t think it’s impossible for you to have that love you deserve. Hopefully, approve ng kuya mo.”

Medyo napahagikhik siya saglit. Oh, Limuel. Her brother.

“Salamat,” she heartily said.

“No worries, come on,” napatayo si Matt. Inabot ng palad nito ang kamay niya. “Let’s swim, before it gets too hot.”

She was actually surprised, ng maramdaman niya ang palad nito sa balikat niya. She cant explain it, but a warm current flowed through her system, her veins, her body. What was it? It was all new to her. She kinda blushed a little.

But she was being dragged gently to the shores already. She just cant say no.

And in one almost half-shrief, half surprised smile and laughter, she felt his arms scoop her up. It was unbelievable, she was scooped and now in her arms.

She almost covered her face in embarrassment. “What are you doing, Matt?” gosh. This was surreal. But he has a teasing smile.

“I told you, I will teach you to swim.”

She felt her tummy suddenly felt squeamish, like there were butterflies inside, around it, she realized there faces were close, almost too close.

Matt was, as any woman could describe him maybe, a godly greek handsome, his features more clear, she can scoop it with her palms. There eyes danced around each other, and they smiled. She felt so happy inside, so kilig? Maybe that’s what is it. Baka naman na-re-realize na niya ngayon, may crush siya kay Matt!

And then he gently lay her in the waters, guiding her. In order to do that, she has to slip through her arms, and her chest, facing frontwards towards him. Halos nalimutan nilang may kasama sila, they were so immersed with each other.

“Now, here you go.” With a smile, tumalikod si Matt sa kaniya, urging her to piggyback him with her arms. She was hesitant at first, but then, she just surrendered to his charm.

And her front was no pressed at his back…