Seducing My Cold Secretary (SSPG)

04 – Blind Date

04 – Blind Date

Alexander’s Point of View

Ayoko pa sanang umuwi, pero wala akong choice dahil pinapatawag ako ng ama ko. I also want to meet him and settle things with him dahil sawang-sawa na ako sa ginagawa niyang paghahanap ng mapapangasawa ko.

Pagkapasok ko pa lang sa bahay ay sumalubong na agad sa akin ang nakangiting ama ko na nakaupo sa couch. He looks like he was already expecting my arrival. Agad siyang tumayo at nakangiting lumapit sa akin. “Welcome home, son.”

“You know why I am here, dad,” walang gana kong sabi sa kanya bago ako umupo sa couch. “So, who’s this girl?” diretsong tanong ko.

“Excited, huh...”

“Not really. I just want things to be over as soon as possible,” mabilis kong sagot at ngumisi sa kanya. “I want my freedom, dad. And I hope you can give it to me this time.”

He looked at me with a hint of sadness and dismay in his eyes. “Troy, you’re old enough to settle down. Tama na ang kalokohan. It’s time for you to get married,” sambit niya. “Look at your friends. Thadeus and Alonzo have wife and kids, and I’m sure Damian and Daxon will soon follow.”

Naikuyom ko ang kamay ko bago siya diretsong tiningnan sa kanyang mga mata. “I am not like them, dad. I don’t have any plans to settling down with anyone. Never,” matigas kong sabi. “And you can’t change my mind.”

Napabuga na lang siya ng hangin bago marahang tumango. “Son, tumatanda na ako. And I want to at least see my grandchildren before I die,” malungkot niyang sabi. “That’s my only wish.”

“Too bad, dad. That won’t happen,” prangkang sabi ko. “But I’ll meet this woman you told me about. But after this, please stop setting me on blind dates. Nagsasayang ka lang ng oras at panahon.”

It took him a few seconds to nod his head. “Okay. But please, just this once, be proper. Kahit ito na lang ang gawin mo para sa akin.”

“Fine. I’ll grant your request. So, who’s this girl?”

“She’s Latrisse Yapchengco. Unica hija ng mag-asawang Yapchengco,” panimula niya.

“You mean those Yapchengco who owns this famous fast-food chains?” paglilinaw ko.

“Yes. Do you know her?”

Mabilis na sumilay ang ngiti sa labi ko. “Yeah. I know her. She’s hot,” sagot ko. “And I heard she hates blind dates. So how come you were able to set me up with her?”

“Well, her parents share the same sentiments as I do. They also want their unica hija to get married,” pagtatapat niya sa akin. “So, with the same goals in mind, we’re all hoping you and her would click,” dagdag niya. “Having them as family would also benefit our company.”

“Ang layo na ng naiisip mo, dad. I’m just going to meet her,” sabi ko bago ako tumayo. “Just send me the time and venue. Uuwi na ako,” walang gana kong sabi at nag-unat ng katawan.

“Ayaw mo bang matulog dito? I had your room cleaned.”

“No thanks, dad. I hate this house,” walang pagdadalawang-isip kong tugon at nagpaalam na sa kanya.

He tried to convince me to stay, pero hindi ko na siya pinansin pa. There’s no way in hell I’m gonna sleep in that house.

Pagkapasok ko sa kotse ay agad kong tinawagan ang mga kaibigan ko dahil gusto kong uminom. But Thadeus and Alas politely declined because they’re busy with their respective families. Hindi na rin ako namilit pa dahil baka makalaban ko pa ang mga asawa nila. Nakakatakot pa naman si Ligaya dahil nanununtok. Si Lorraine naman ay iba rin kung magalit. Ang sakit magsalita. Kaya pass na ako kina Thadeus at Alas.

Si Damian naman ay siyempre nasa malayo, hindi pwede. Kaya ang pwede na lang talaga ay si Daxon. And thank God pumayag siya. Alam siguro niyang wala akong kasamang uminom kaya pumayag siya. He’s really a good friend.

“Meet me at the usual place,” sabi ko sabay baba ng cellphone at mabilis na nag-drive papunta sa bar.

Pagkarating ko roon ay um-order na ako ng inumin habang hinihintay ang pagdating ni Daxon. Mga ten minutes lang siguro ang pagitan bago siya dumating. He’s still wearing a suit. Mukhang nag-overtime na naman ito sa trabaho.

“Overtime again?” bungad ko sa kanya at ngumisi.

“Yeah,” aniya at kinuha ang inumin na inihanda ko para sa kanya. “I had to work a little extra dahil may problema sa kompanya.”

“Well, it’s a good thing I called you here then,” nakangising sabi ko. “Cheers.”

“So, what’s the matter?” diretsong tanong niya. “I know you didn’t call me to drink for nothing.”

“Gusto lang kitang makasama, Daxon,” sagot ko sa kanya at ngumisi sabay inom. “Do I need a reason to ask you to drink with me?”

Hindi siya agad sumagot. “You can’t lie to me, Al. I know something’s troubling you.”

Napabuga na lang ako ng hangin bago inihiga ang ulo ko sa mesa. I really can’t lie to him. Next to Thadeus, Daxon is the one who knows me more than anyone else. I mean don’t get me wrong, Alas and Damian know me well, too. But it’s just Daxon can easily discern and see through me.

“It’s dad. Kinukulit na naman niya ako sa pagpapakasal,” pagtatapat ko at napabugang muli ng hangin. “He set me up on a blind date again. And you know how I hate that,” dagdag ko bago uminom.

“Well, naiintindihan ko kung saan nanggagaling si Tito. He’s getting older, and he just wants you to settle down. I think he wanted to make sure na may masayang pamilya ka na before he departs this realm,” paliwanag niya sa akin. “He just wants to make sure na okay ka na kapag dumating ang panahon na mawawala na siya.”

“I’m fine without any woman by my side, Daxon. I got you, Thadeus, Alas, and Damian with me,” sagot ko sa kanya. “You know how I hate the idea of marriage, right?”

“Well, I hope you’re not forgetting the bet we had,” aniya at ngumisi. “We signed a contract. If you fail, then you’ll have to do what we want and you know exactly what’s that.”

Naningkit ang mga mata ko habang nakatingin sa kanya. “Pakiramdam ko binayaran kayo ni Dad to corner me into that bet,” pabirong pagbibintang ko sa kanya at tumawa lang siya.

“Well, you just gave me an idea. How about I tell Tito about it so we can make sure you’ll fail?” nakangising sabi niya.

“Tumigil ka nga, Daxon. Hindi bagay sa ‘yo ang ganyan. Masyado kang mabait to threat me,” saway ko sa kanya at ngumisi na rin. “And no need to tell my dad about it dahil ako ang mananalo sa pustahan natin,” kumpiyansang dagdag ko. “I can bed that cold secretary.”

“Well, malalaman natin,” aniya na para bang nagdududa. “Because based on what I know, mukhang hindi ka gusto ni Summer. That girl doesn’t have, even the tiniest, interest to you.”

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. “And how did you come up with that conclusion?”

Ngumisi siya sa akin. “Come to think of it. Matagal na siya sa ‘yo. She’s been working for more than a year, I think, and she hasn’t displayed any signs of affection at all.”

Dámn this man.

“A-Akala mo lang ‘yon. Siyempre ayaw niyang ipahalata dahil alam niyang sesesantihin ko siya sa trabaho kapag nalaman ko na may gusto siya sa akin,” depensa ko. “But I am not that bad to do that. Once I fúcked her, I’ll still let her work under me.”

“Okay, sabi mo ‘yan, eh,” aniya at uminom na lang.

“Ikaw, when do you plan to get married?” pag-iiba ko ng tanong.

“I don’t know. Halos wala na akong time sa personal kong buhay dahil sa kompanya. But once I fix everything, maybe I’ll start looking for a wife,” sagot niya sa akin at ngumiti. “I’m at a perfect age to have a wife and kids.”

“Ayaw mong maging playboy?” suhestiyon ko sa kanya. “You can have all the fun. Kapag nagsawa ka sa isa, lipat ka sa iba,” nakangising dagdag ko at kinindatan pa siya.

“I’ll pass. I can’t see myself doing that,” mabilis niyang tugon at uminom muli.

“Good boy ka talaga,” naiiling kong sabi.

Magsasalita pa sana ako nang mag-vibrate ang cellphone ko. Pagtingin ko ay text galing kay dad.

Martini’s. 6:30 PM.

“Who’s that?”

Ipinakita ko sa kanya ang cellphone ko. “Just some details for my blind date tomorrow.”

“Oh. How about you consider her this time?” aniya. “I mean, try to genuinely know her. Baka pala magustuhan mo.”

“You know me, Daxon. Hindi ako naa-aatach sa mga babae. I’m just after the pleasure I get from them,” sabi ko, shaking off his idea. “I’ll just meet her and then who knows, maybe fúck her and ghost her after. Then I’ll have my freedom and I can have fun with all the women in the world.”

“If I were you, I’d stop being a playboy before karma hits me.”

“I’ll even fúck karma if ever it hits me,” nakangising tugon ko sa kanya saka siya kinindatan.

---

I stood in front of my full-length mirror to make sure my look is perfect. I dressed up a little extra since I want to look my best for this special night. Dahil sa wakas, pagkatapos ng gabing ito, malaya na ako sa dad ko. He’ll finally stop bugging me about marriage.

“Handsome as always,” nakangising sabi ko at itinuro ang repleksyon sa salamin. Pagkatapos ay nag-spray na ako ng perfume para mas madagdagan pa ang appeal ko; para matakam sa akin si Latrisse sa oras na magkita kami. I’ll seduce her with my looks and manly scent.

Tiningnan ko ang relo ko to check the time and it’s almost time for me to go. Sinigurado ko talaga na siya ang mauuna roon. I want her to wait. I want her to be a little mad, tapos kapag nakita niya ang gwapong mukha ko ay mawawala ang inis niya at mapapalitan ng kilig at tuwa.

Perfect plan!

After checking myself on the mirror one more time ay umalis na ako.

Dumating ako sa restaurant nang ten minutes late.

“Reservation for Troy Alexander Cojuanco,” sabi ko pagkapasok na pagkapasok ko. Agad naman akong ginabayan ng staff papunta sa second floor. And it seems like my dad reserved the whole floor just for this blind date. And maybe kasama na rin ang parents ni Latrisse.

And there, in the middle, sitting with her back against me, is Latrisse. She’s wearing a casual red dress and her midnight hair was smoothly flowing on her back. Kahit sa malayo ay kitang-kita ko ang kurba ng katawan niya. And that got me wondering how good would her body be without anything on.

Shít.

Huminga ako nang malalim. I have to calm down. I’ll save the dessert for later.

I confidently walked towards her. “Sorry, I’m late,” sambit ko sa baritonong boses. Sinigurado ko talaga na gwapo pakinggan ang boses ko. “Did you wait l—” Hindi ko natappos ang sinasabi ko nang humarap sa akin si Latrisse.

She’s no Latrisse!

“Sino ka?” naibulalas ko na lang habang nakatingin sa nanlalaki niyang mga mata. She’s gorgeous, but she’s not Latrisse, I’m sure of it. “You’re not Latrisse.”

“S-Sir Alexander?”

Kumunot ang noo ko nang mapansing pamilyar ang boses niya. I stared at her even more and her face started to become really familiar. At halos lumuwa na lang ang mga mata ko nang makilala ko kung sino ito. “Heart?!” naibulalas ko na lang. Sa labis na gulat ko ay umalingawngaw ang boses ko sa buong restaurant.

Bakit siya nandito instead of Latrisse?

And why does she look so hot and gorgeous with her red dress?

Am I dreaming?!