La Heredera III Clarissa Castrillón

Chapter 1

CLAIRE | BRAZEN HEAD, New York City

The night is young and the business conference is finally over. I am tired and yet bored. I decided to take a shower and put on a sexy dress for a change. It’s Valentine’s Day at kahit wala akong ka-date ay gusto kong magmaganda kahit isang araw lang.

Ewan ko ba sa sarili ko pero kahit saan ako magpunta, laging nasa bagahe ko ang Versace dress na ito. It’s black with a plunging neckline, criss-cross at the back at hapit. Hindi bastusin ang hitsura nito and yet, sexy at the same time.

When I first tried on this dress in Italy five years ago, I felt absolutely beautiful. Buhat-bangko pero hindi talaga ako mabiste. It’s just that I was thinking when the time finally comes for Samuel to propose, I would be wearing something like this. Iyon nga lang, hindi ko inasahan na lolokohin n’ya lang ako. Ang dalawang taon naming relasyon ay nauwi sa wala. As a result, I swore off men and marriage at the same time.

So yeah, at thirty — I am very much single and no plans to settle down. My parents are getting worried at hindi iisang beses nilang ipinaalala sa akin na malapit na akong mawala sa kalendaryo. But you see, it’s not everyday that you find your soulmate at eighteen. Ang mga magulang ko ay nagpakasal dahil sa kasunduan ng mga abuelo at abuela ko. It’s just that they fell in love at first sight. Ako ang bunga ng pagmamahalan na iyon at hanggang ngayon in their fifties, masaya pa rin at puno ng pagmamahal ang pagsasama nila.

“One dirty martini, please,” sabi ko sa bartender. I know it’s not ideal for me to come here on my own but it’s too late to find a date — and I am not looking for one anyway.

Naramdaman ko na may nakatitig sa akin kaya lumingon ako sa gawi n’ya. Well what do you know? Noong nagsabog siguro mg kagwapuhan ay ito lang ang gising. He looks tall, maybe about six feet, Hispanic features are evident but also mixed with something else. May lahi rin s’yang kano. It’s hard to say what the color of his hair since it’s a little dark in here. This man also has a prominent jaw, deep set eyes, full lips, high cheekbones and even his hair is sleek. Jeez! Ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng ganito kasidhing pagnanasa sa isang lalake at ni hindi ko alam ang pangalan n’ya.

It must be the alcohol! Yes, I will blame it on the martini. Pang-apat ko na itong order at nakapagdesisyon akong huli na ito. Medyo nahihilo na rin ako pero nagtira ako ng kaunting huwisyo para makabalik sa hotel sa tapat. Bukas pa ng hapon ang flight ko kaya makakatulog pa ako just in case I have a hangover.

“Are you done checking me out?” My gosh! Pati naman ang boses n’ya, maganda rin! Wala bang kapintasan ang lalakeng ito? Aba ay kung pagtabihin kami, hindi ko na alam kung sino ang mas maganda sa aming dalawa. I chuckled at the thought.

Hindi ko namalayan na nakalapit na s’ya sa akin.

“What’s your name?” tanong n'ya sa akin.

“Clarissa.” I normally don't say my name to a stranger pero kung ganito kagwapo ay kusang bumubuka ang labi ko.

Tumaas ang isang kilay n’ya. “Do you have a last name?”

“Algora.” But then again, he is still a stranger kahit gaano s’ya kagwapo. Malay ko kung rapist s’ya o serial killer. Ang lagay eh napagtaksilan na ako at naloko, mamamatay pa ako ng hindi natitikman ang luto ng Diyos?! Saklap naman yata ng kapalaran ko kapag ganoon.

“I’m JP Smith,” Inabot n’ya ang kanyang palad para makipagkamay sa akin. 

I was hesitant at first but I took it anyway since ayaw kong maging bastos sa kanya. Cold hands, warm heart they say. For a man, his hand is soft. Wala siguro s'yang mabait na gawain sa bahay and probably works in the office. 

“So, are you here alone?”

Tumango ako. “Yes. I just wanted to get a drink then I’m leaving.” He snorted. What the hell? “What was that for?” I was referring to him snorting.

“You said you came here for a drink. I have been watching you since you came and that’s your fourth glass,” nakangiting sabi n’ya sa akin.

I don’t know what it is in his smile but I had the need to taste those lips of his. He must have seen me gawking at him and he JP smiled even wider. Oh hell, here’s to kissing some random stranger. Happy Valentine’s day to me. Cheers!

I planned to kiss him quickly but as I was about to stop, he cupped my face to deepen the kiss. I’ve never been kissed like this before. Kahit noon kay Samuel, our kiss was short and — okay. I didn’t have anyone to compare him with. Pero ngayong oras na ito? Samuel’s kiss is not even at par with this hot guy.

Swabe ang halik n’ya, not to mention he tastes like scotch and mint at the same time. Overall, he is perfect. Nang lumapit s’ya kanina, pasimple kong tiningnan kung may suot s’yang singsing. The last thing I want is to wreck someone’s marriage. But he wasn’t wearing any, and I don’t think he is the type to settle down anytime soon. People in North America usually settles down at age forty. And it is either they get married or live under common law.

He was kissing the back of my ear. That is a very sensitive spot for me and I felt like melting in his arms.

“Do you want to get out of here?” masuyong tanong n’ya sa akin.

Kung bakit ako kaagad na tumango at pumayag sa gusto n’ya ay hindi ko alam. It’s the dirty martini’s fault!