The Mafia Boss' Heart

CHAPTER 6

HAZE took a deep breath as she looked around inside the café. Malawak ang café na kinaroroonan nila ni Janine. There was enough space for every customer in the café. She stared at the coffee in front of her before picking it up and having a sip. Pumunta si Janine sa restroom kaya naman hinintay niya ito bago sila lumabas.

Malapit ng matapos ang bakasyon nila at nag-enjoy naman siya. Today, she wanted to buy some souvenirs for herself. Wala namang naghihintay sa kaniya sa pag-uwi niya kundi ang apartment niya.

“Hi.”

Haze was startled when someone suddenly talked behind her. Mabilis siyang umikot para tignan kung sino ang nagsalita at pamilyar sa kaniya ang boses nito. Hindi siya nagkamali ng iniisip nang makita niya si Nicolo.

Nicolo smiled at her. “It’s you. We meet again.”

Haze nodded and politely bowed her head.

Nicolo was holding a coffee with his right hand. He pointed to the empty seat in front of Haze. “Can I sit with you?”

“S-sure.” Alanganing tugon ni Haze.

Nicolo smiled and sat in front of Haze. Then he was stunned when Haze looked at him directly in the eye. He couldn't look the girl in the eye, so he quickly looked away. Unbeknownst to Nicolo, Haze only wanted to find out something.

Tipid na ngumiti si Haze. “I was waiting for my friend. Oh, by the way, I haven’t thanked you properly for saving me last time. Thank you.”

“No need to thank me. You needed help, so I helped you. I couldn’t stand aside and watch you being harmed, right?” Nicolo said casually.

Though Nicolo said it casually, Haze felt that his words meant something. She couldn’t pinpoint what it was. Now that Nicolo was in front of her, she could see how handsome he was. He was like a Greek god that came down to Earth.

“Why are you looking at me like that? Is there something in my face?” Nicolo asked.

Umiling si Haze. “I didn’t look at you when you saved me last time, but I can clearly remember your face. Now, looking at you,” she thumbs up, “you’re handsome.”

Though Haze was a reserved person, she was straightforward. She always told me what was on her mind. She doesn’t like explaining, that’s why she chooses to tell what is on her mind.

Nicolo was already used to hearing other people praising him because of his looks, but this was the first time that he felt shy. Even if he didn’t look at himself in the mirror, he knew that his face was red.

“Are you sick? Why are you so red?” Haze asked, confused.

Nicolo was just dumbfounded. You did this to me! He wanted to say something to Haze but opted not to. He was afraid that he might offend her and didn’t want it to happen. He could only finish his coffee and leaned on his seat. “I’m not sick,” sabi niya.

Tumango si Haze. “Let me thank you properly. I’ll buy you coffee.”

Natawa naman ng mahina si Nicolo. “I had already said it. No need to thank me.” He lifted the empty paper cup in his hand. “This was already my second cup. If you really want to thank me, just be careful.”

Haze stared at Nicolo for a moment. He does look like a gentleman. When I looked at his eyes earlier, he immediately looked away. And he never stared straight into my eyes, which made me feel safe.

“Haze!”

Agad na tumingin si Haze kay Janine. Nginitian niya ang kaibigan. “You’re here.”

Janine was stunned to see the handsome man sitting in front of Haze. She looked at her friend questioningly.

Nakuha naman ni Haze ang tingin ni Janine sa kaniya. “Oh, he’s Nicolo. He’s the one who saved me when I met some thugs the night that we got separated.”

Janine's lips formed an ‘o’. She looked at Nicolo. “Janine.”

Nicolo nodded his head. “Hi.”

Janine smiled and looked teasingly at Haze. “I have something to do. Let’s meet later.”

“Uh, I thought we would go to…” Before Haze could finish her words, Janine had already taken her bag and left. She couldn’t believe that her friend just left her like that with a stranger. Is she really my friend? Tanong niya sa sarili saka napailing habang nakatinhin kay Janine na naglalakad palayo. Mamaya ka lang sa akin. Naningkit ang mata niya habang nakatingin kay Janine na ngayon ay nasa labas na ng café.

“Your friend…”

Haze looked at Nicolo. “My friend has left me,” she sighed. “Looks like I will be the only one who would go to buy some souvenirs.”

Nicolo looked at Haze when he heard her. “I know a place. Do you want to come?” he asked, but he saw the hesitation in Haze’s eyes. He smiled gently. “I won’t harm you, alright? The place I am talking about is bustling with people.”

Tumikhim si Haze. “Am I too obvious?”

Tumango si Nicolo. “I can see the hesitation in your eyes. But you don’t have to worry, I won’t do anything that will cross the line. Actually, I want to make friends with you.”

Haze was surprised. “Friends?”

“Yeah. Can I be friends with you?” Nicolo asked. Well, that was the first step to getting close to the woman he liked.

Nagbaba ng tingin si Haze. “Honestly, I don’t trust people easily, especially men,” she said. “I hope you understand.”

“Yes, I understood. But I sincerely wanted to make friends with you.”

“Why?” Tanong ni Haze. She stared at the empty cup in front of her. Her mind was already jaded because of what happened to her before. When men approached her, her mind was already overthinking. What if the man who approached had an ill intention? What if the man harms her? That kind of thinking. So, as possible, she wanted to distance herself from men.

Tumingin si Haze kay Nicolo. She could see that Nicolo didn’t seem to have any ill intentions, but she wanted to assure herself. What if her gut feeling was wrong? Then she might be harmed. Mostly because you can't see a person's true character if you haven't been with them for a long time. You can see someone’s real character as the days pass when you are with him or her.

But since Nicolo saved her, she won’t be an ingrate. “Alright, we can be friends, but let’s just be friends.”

Nicolo smiled softly and nodded his head. “Alright. Friends only,” he said, but was disappointed. But the disappointment he felt, tinakpan na lamang niya ito ng ngiti. “Then can I get your number? I know that you’re a tourist here since I saw you at the conference.”

Tumango si Haze. “I’m a Filipina. And I can only stay here for two weeks. Actually, I have only three days left to enjoy myself.”

“I can accompany you,” Nicolo offered. Alessio and Alonzo might kill me if I don’t go to work, but this is a rare opportunity for me.

Ngumiti si Haze. “No need. I have my friend and my boss with me.”

“I want to tag along,” Nicolo said. “Please.”

Haze couldn’t do anything but nod her head and stood up. “Then let’s go to the place you’re talking about earlier. I want to buy some souvenirs.”

“For your family?” tanong ni Nicolo.

Haze was slightly taken aback, then smiled a little. “My parents had already passed away. I have relatives, but they don’t treat me as part of their family. So, I can only buy souvenirs for myself.” Kibit ng balikat niyang saad.

Nicolo nodded. “Let’s go. It’s just a walking distance. I wanted you to feel safe, so we won’t take the car.”

“Thank you.”

Nicolo gestured his hand to the way. “After you.”

Haze stepped out of the café first and Nicolo followed. Together, they went to buy souvenirs. It was indeed a walking distance and Haze enjoyed seeing the surrounding scenery. She even took pictures. Then she looked at Nicolo. She didn’t know what had gotten into her mind. She took a stolen shot from Nicolo and quickly put her phone in her bag.

“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Tanong ni Nicolo.

They were walking on the sidewalk, and the street was bustling with people.

Haze smiled and nodded her head. “It was indeed beautiful,” she said. She felt relaxed and comfortable.

“That’s what I am talking about,” Nicolo pointed to the street full of stores and selling souvenirs.

Haze gaped and was amazed. She suddenly felt so excited that she didn’t notice that she pulled Nicolo inside the store. Still unaware, she let go of Nicolo, and she started to look for souvenirs she would buy. Many souvenirs are beautiful but they were expensive. Moreover, she didn't intend to buy much. Just two to three pieces of souvenirs will do.

Habang namimili si Haze, palihim siyang kinunan ni Nicolo ng larawan. Napangiti na lamang ang binata sa sariling kalokohan.

Haze picked up a keychain, mug, and a handkerchief. She paid for it, and then she looked at Nicolo. “It’s okay. I know you’re a businessman and you’re busy. You can go back to your business.”

Nicolo put his hands in his pockets. “I have trusted people to take care of my business. I just want to relax, even just for today.”

“Oh.”

Then Haze went back to look for another store even though she didn’t want to buy anymore. She just wanted to look for the other souvenirs.

Nicolo smiled warmly while looking at Haze. He didn’t know what had gotten into him. He, already met a lot of women but none of them had caught his attention, just like how Haze caught his attention. There is something in Haze that he didn’t see in another woman. Haze was reserved and straightforward. She spoke what was in her mind.

Maybe I was just really hit by the cupid’s arrow.