Agape's Karma

VII - Dinner

Buong akala ko, ibababa niya ako sa condo para makababa na ako. Mabilisan kong nilingon ang condo tower namin na nalampasan ng kaniyang Camaro. Laglag ang panga ko siyang nilingon.

"Lampas na ako," iyon lang ang sinabi ko.

Tamad niya akong tiningnan at parang walang nangyaring nagpatuloy sa kaniyang pag-da-drive.

"Hello? Naririnig mo ba ako?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

He sighed and finally, nagawaran din ako ng atensiyon niya.

"Alam ko. We'll just go to dinner." sagot niya.

Kumunot ang noo ko. Anong dinner ang sinasabi niya?

"Would you not ask me to dinner? Talagang dinala mo ako without asking if payag ba ako? Wow! You are really amusing me." saad ko sa kaniya.

He just shrugged, not affected with what I said. Kung puwede lang na sabunutan siya para magkaroon siya ng kaunting reaksyon, I would gladly do it. How dare he?

"I just thought you are also hungry as I am. I have not eaten a single food the whole day." pagpapaliwanag niya.

Natahimik naman ako. Come to think of it, hindi rin ako masiyadong nabusog sa lunch ko sa hospital dahil sa usapan namin ni Nera. And as a doctor, hindi maganda na makarinig na may isang taong hindi pa kumakain. That’s like going against my work so, I just sat there and listened.

Tumingin siya sa akin. Naramdaman ko ang pagbagal ng kaniyang takbo at ang unti-unting niya pag-signal na titigil siya sa gilid ng kalsada. Mas lalo akong naguluhan. What now?

“Why are we stopping?” tanong ko.

Hindi naman liblib iyon dahil parte lamang din naman iyon ng Maynila at buhay na buhay na ang kalsada. Ang nakakapagkataka lamang, ay ang pagtigil niya sa lay-by.

“I am letting you out. I realized that I may acted rude without asking you. So, I’m giving you a chance. May dumadaan na bus rito. Or I could book you a cab.” aniya.

Tumaas ang kilay ko. Hindi ko maintindihan si Agape. It’s like I am dealing with two different person sa tuwing magkasama kaming dalawa. May mga instance na napakabait niya o ‘di naman may mga pagkakataon na gusto ko siyang ibaon sa lupa.

“Ngayon mo pa ako ibababa? Kung kalian malayo na at iniisip ko na kung ano ang kakainin ko?” I said without thinking twice.

Tumingin siya sa mukha ko at nakita ko ang kaunting tawa na nagpakita sa mukha niya. Nag-iwas naman ako ng tingin at inayos ang buhok ko na tumatakas mula sa ponytail ko.

He did not even try to hide his smile. Kinabig niya ang manibela para makapagmanehong muli.

“Alright.” He said with a glimpse of humor.

Hindi na ako nagsalita. Hinayaan ko siyang pumili ng restaurant na gusto niya. He stopped at an expensive hotel. Lumunok ako.

Alam kong pumayag ako na kumain kasama niya, pero hindi ang magpunta sa isang hotel! Ano ang ginagawa naming dalawa rito? Walang pagdadalawang isip niyang inalis ang kaniyang seatbelt. Hindi ako mapakali. Nakababa na siya at nilingon ako.

I swallowed. Am I ready to be seen with him inside a freaking hotel?

Mukhang napagtanto niyang wala pa ako sa tabihan niya. Nilingon niya ako na nakaupo pa rin sa passenger seat. Nagtaas siya ng kilay at binalikan ako. Binuksan niya ang pintuan at tumingin sa akin.

“What are you waiting for?” tanong niya.

I looked straight to his eyes and swallowed. I am true to my word na hindi ko hahayaan na may mangyari sa amin ulit.

“Why are we here at this hotel?” diretsang tanong ko.

He looked at me with disbelief. Parang kaunti na lamang at tatawa na siya. But he just chose to smirk at me.

“We’ll eat.” sagot niya.

Uminit ang pisngi ko. Madumi na ata ang utak ko at ibang depinisyon ng ‘eat’ ang nasa isip ko. Sa isip ko, ang mga alaala nung nangyari kagabi sa condo unit ko.

Mukhang natutuwa si Agape sa reaksyon ko. He's a green minded so I supposed that he gets me and my reaction. He licked his lower lip and crossed his arms. Nakatingala naman ako sa guwapo niyang mukha.

“Iniisip mo bang may gagawin tayong iba rito, Doc?” mapanuyang tanong niya.

Diniin ko ang dila sa taas ng aking bibig para pigilan ang masasamang mura na gusting lumabas.

I smirked back at him.

“I am not. I just do not want to be associated with you. Malay ko ba kung may mga press diyan?” tanong ko.

Umirap si Agape.

“At saan mo ako papakainin? Sa karinderya?” tanong niya.

Umasim ang kalooban ko sa kaniya. Ano ang gusto niyang iparating? Masiyado siyang matapobre. I crossed my arms.

“At ano naman kung ganoon nga? Mas masarap at mura sa karinderya.” sagot ko.

Pumikit siya na parang kaunti na lamang ay sasabog na siya. I watched him scratched the tip of his nose bago iritableng bumaling sa akin.

“Come on, Doc. I just want a peaceful dinner. It is not too much to ask for, right?” he said with a sigh.

Huminga rin ako. I know, I am being petty. Masama rin iyon dahil ako naman ang may choice na sumama sa kaniya. Naalala ko iyon kaya naman hindi ko na pinaglaban pa. I swiftly removed my seatbelt and went outside.

Mukha namang nakahinga siya ng maayos sa aksyon ko. He immediately handed the valet his keys. Tumango siya sa akin para hudyatan ako na sumunod. I did what he wants. Naglakad ako sa likuran niya at hindi nangahas na maglakad sa tabihan niya. We are not a couple and I don’t see any problem with that.

Binati siya ng receptionist na para bang suki na siya rito. I watched him flashed his serious face as we were guided with a chaperone. Maganda ang hotel at ang interior nito. Sa mga furniture pa lang, halata na mamahalin ito.

“Sa usual spot po ba, Mr. Luna?” tanong ng chaperone pagkabukas niya ng pintuan ng hotel.

Umiling si Agape at tumingin sa akin. Ganoon rin ang ginawa ng chaperone na parang curious sa akin. I stood there quietly.

“No. I want a private room for us.” sagot niya.

Tumango ang chaperone at tinawag ang isang waiter.

“VIP room for Mr. Agape Luna and his companion. Right away.” utos nito at hinayaan kaming sumama sa waiter.

Tahimik kaming dalawa. Halos mamangha ako sa ganda ng mga VIP room nila. Malaki ang space at kaming dalawa lang naman ang kakain. Sa tingin ko, kasya ang sampung katao rito. Inihanda nila ang menu para sa amin.

“Just press the button whenever you are ready to order, Madame, Monsieur.” sabi ng waiter.

Umalis ito at naiwan kaming dalawa. I don’t usually eat at this kind of restaurant kaya banyaga pa sa akin ang mga putahe. I put it down and looked at Agape who was reading the menu.

“Ano ang o-order-in mo?” I asked.

“I don’t know yet. Why?” tanong niya, hindi man lang nag-aangat ng tingin sa akin.

Bumaba ang tingin ko sa mahahabang daliri niya na nililipat ang pahina ng menu. Even his movement is flawless and high class. Nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

“I don’t know any food. I would just order the same.” I answered him.

Mukhang nakuha noon ang atensiyon niya. He watched me for a bit bago muling tumingin sa menu. I sighed. Mukhang wala siyang pakialam sa problema ko. Ilang minuto pa bago siya nagsalitang muli.

“Are you allergic to something?” biglaang tanong niya.

Tumaas ang kilay ko.

“Ha?” that’s what I could only say.

Tumingin siya sa mga mata ko. He’s serious pa rin.

“Sabi ko, are you allergic to something?” tanong niya.

I swallowed and nodded.

“Sa hipon saka sa tahong. Any seafood with shell.” sagot ko.

Tumango siya at binasa muli ang menu. He flipped the pages.

“If that’s the case, I suggest you order les raviolis de foie grass for starter and just steak for main course. You can choose anything for dessert and what wine do you prefer?” aniya.

Napanganga ako. The whole time, he’s checking the menu for me? Kaya ba tahimik siya? Something in my chest beats, kaya nag-iwas ako ng tingin.

“Sa steak, what do you want? Well done or a medium rare?” he asked again.

This time, he looked at me. He waited for my answer.

“K-Kahit ano. I don’t mind.” sagot ko at uminom ng tubig.

Tumango siya at pinindot na ang button. Dumating din naman agad ang waiter.

“Two les raviolis de foie grass for starter, a medium-rare steak and a beef entrecote for our main course. A bowl of Caesar salad and two servings of crème brulee. For wine we would like a bottle of Chateau d’Yquem 2005. That’s all.” he ordered.

Pinanood ko lang siya na hindi man lang nautal sa mga sinabi niya. This man really knew how to do it. Hindi siya forced o anuman. It’s like he was really born for this.

Noong maiwan kami, I tried to ease the deafening silence.

“So, you like places like this, huh?” tanong ko.

He rose his eyebrows.

“Of course. Who would not?” he asked back.

Umiling ako.

“You’re a regular here? Dito mo ba dinadala ang mga babae mo?” I curiously asked.

Mayroon siyang usual spot na sinasabi ng waiter. It means he’s really a patron here.

Kumunot ang noo niya.

“Are you really talking about my s*x life here?” tanong niya.

Nagkibit-balikat ako.

“Come on, wala namang tao. Besides, that’s the only topic that I could think that you’ll be interested in.” pag-amin ko, "Saka kailangan kong malaman ang tungkol sa routine mo. Remember for psych evaluation?" I added.

Umirap si Agape. He leaned onto his seat and tapped his long fingers on the wooden table.

“You think so lowly of me, then.” he said and drank his water.

Just as I thought na na-offend ko siya, bigla niyang sinagot ang mga tanong ko. He breathed so deep and watched me.

“No. I don’t bring girls in this hotel. I usually go here alone to think and eat.” sagot niya.

Ngumuso ako. That’s so impossible for me to believe.

“Ah, you don’t want to spend so much money on your girls.” I pointed out.

He laughed sarcastically. Now, he looked really offended. Ngumisi siya sa akin. His stares are deadly and dangerous.

“There's no issue with money. I am not a cheapskate. But no, I do not bring them here. I’d rather bring them somewhere else since this hotel is owned by my sister-in-law’s family. I cannot bring them to our hotel since my family would immediately know. We either did it in their places or another hotel. Satisfied, Doc?” he asked me.

I bit my lower lip.

“Not your penthouse?” I asked.

Natahimik siya. He was staring for too long. Parang hindi niya alam kung sasagutin niya ba ang tanong ko or hindi. But he must have been known that I would not stop talking kaya naman sinagot niya iyon.

“No. Not there. I do not bring girls to where I live.” He answered.

I bit my tongue. But we did it there! Ibig sabihin…

“What do you mean? Was I the first…” hindi ko maituloy ang anumang itatanong ko.

He closed his eyes and scratched the tip of his nose.

“Yes, ikaw lang ang babaeng nakaabot sa penthouse ko. I was too horny to find a hotel that night and you won’t even answering me kung saan ang bahay mo.” He said.

I smiled with so much satisfaction and leaned back to my chair. I even crossed my leg. Para akong nanalo ng special award sa sinabi niya. It was even better sa award at recognition na binigay ng hospital sa akin. It was weird to be proud of that but I did, anyway.

“And I was the first girl you did twice? Kasi hindi ba, hindi ka umuulit ng babae?” I asked.

Siya naman ngayon ang nagulat sa aking tanong. I smiled wider. Hindi siya makapaniwala sa sinasabi ko. Kahit ako rin naman but it was too happy to hear that I was not like his girls.

“What are you—” natigil ang sasabihin niya dahil bumukas ang pintuan para pagsilbihan kami.

Nilapag ang mga pagkain sa harapan namin. Umalis din naman sila agad pero hindi naman maalis ang mga titig naming dalawa sa isa’t-isa. It’s like he was studying me the whole time. He smirked when he realized.

“Are you proud that I almost did you twice?” tanong ni Agape habang nilalagay ang napkin sa kaniyang mga hita.

I did the same with a smile.

"Almost?" I asked back.

Tumawa siya at sumimsim sa kaniyang wine.

"Yes, almost. Because I did not have a good time. Ikaw lang." he said.

Ako naman ang tumawa.

“Whatever. I am not damn proud but it is comforting to know that I am not like your girls. f**k and leave, right?” I asked.

Tumawa si Agape sa sinabi ko. It was so amusing na walang hiya sa pagitan namin. I lifted my fork and knife. I cut my steak to little pieces.

“You amaze me so much, Doc.” he said with a low dark voice. “It’s starting me to think that you did not break my thing accidentally. I would want to think it was planned.” he continued with a smirk.

I bit my lip and looked at him seductively before I said, “Asa ka, Mr. Luna.”

He chuckled.

“You might give me a boner, even though I had this condition. Be thankful. If I am not stuck in this situation, we might have our third time in any minute now.” He warned.

Nakaramdam ako ng init sa sinabi niyang iyon. Nanginginig kong hinati ang steak at sinubo iyon. But just like I said, I won’t bow to him. Siya ang nararapat na gumawa noon sa akin. I managed to eat my steak while looking seductively at him.

Pinapanood niya akong sinubo iyon. I don't want anything between us anymore but a tease won't hurt.

“That’s too bad, Mr. Luna. This doctor wants some pleasure, right now.” I finally said without breaking eye contact.