Entangled

5

Ah, hell.

Why did he have to be so damned gorgeous.

Tumigil sa paglalakad si Arielle at tiningnan ang binatang nasa harap niya. A vulgar curse rose to her lips but she forced it back down. Habang lumalaki sila ang tawag niya dito ay golden boy dahil sa kaniyang golden hair. Those youthful curls had been tamed into a short, conservative cut, but some unruly strands fell across his brow in stubborn rebellion. The colors had deepened with time, but reminded her of Chex mix cereal, ranging from honey blond to wheat. His features had hardened—his jaw now slightly chiseled. Perfect white teeth flashed at her during that brief smile. His eyes were the same deep chestnut, and veiled secrets kept firmly locked behind a wall. But his body…

He’d always been active, but when he crossed the room the elegant fabric of his oatmeal colored pants moved and bent to his will, outlining long muscular legs and taut buttocks. The V-necked tan sweater was both casual and appropriate for the office on a Saturday.

Some parts were totally inappropriate. The corded length of his arms. The broad shoulders and chest that stretched and molded the fabric. The deep bronze of his skin as if he had been lying in the sun for hours. The animal litheness of his movements. He had grown up, and he was no pretty boy. Dark Arkel was all hot-blooded man—and still looked at her as Alana’s little playmate. When their eyes locked, there was no recognition, no appreciation. Just a distant friendliness afforded to someone from his past.

Well, she’d be damned if she let her tongue loll out of her mouth just because he was attractive. His personality still sucked. The big B for Boring. The big D for Dull. The big…

No. No. Huwag kang pumunta don, bad brain. Bad.

Naiinis si Arielle sa katotohanang nagagawa padin ng lalaking apektuhan ang kaniyang emosyon. Isang linggo na ang nakalipas nung nag cast siya ng love spell, at nakinig nga ang Mother Earth. Meron siyang makukuhang pera at maisasalba na niya ang Daza. Pero anong nangyari sa listahan niya?

The man before her struck out on everything she believed in. This was no love match. No, this was business, pure and simple, and so very cold. While her memory of their first kiss dragged from the recess of her mind, she bet he’d forgotten the moment completely. Humiliation wriggled through her. No more. Would Earth Mother really not allow her the number one requirement on her list? She took a deep breath and spoke. “Siya nga pala, isa pang tanong.”

"Ano?" Tanong nito.

"Nanunuod ka ba ng baseball?"

"Syempre naman, mas maganda pa sa basketball."

"Talaga! So, hindi ka fans ng basketball kagaya ng ibang lalaki?" Parang magwawala ang mga bituka niya sa tiyan sa narinig. "May favorite team ka ba?"

He smirked. Literally smirked. "There's only one New York team."

Deniah fought past the nausea and asked the question. "Which one?"

“The Yankees, of course. It’s the only team that wins. It’s the only team that matters.”

No! Hindi maari!

Humugot siya ng hininga kagaya nang natutunan niya sa yoga class. Kaya ba niyang pakasalan ang isang Yankees fan? Would she be giving up all her morals and ethics? Could she stand being married to a man who made logic his God and thought monogamy was a female thing?

"Deniah? Okay ka lang ba?"

Sinenyasan niya itong tumahimik gamit ang kanyang kamay and started pacing again while thinking of an answer. Kung lalayasan niya ang lalaki ngayon wala silang choice kundi ibenta ang Daza. Kaya ba niyang mabuhay knowing na may nahanap na siyang solusyon ngunit tinalikuran niya dahil Yankees fans ang lalaki? May choice ba siya?

"Deniah?"

Tumigil siya sa paglalakad at hinarap ito. Kita sa mukha ng lalaki ang inis. This man had no tolerance for any emotional outbursts. Kung gaano ito kagwapo, ganon din kasama ang ugali, kagaya parin siya ng dati na akala mo kung sino. He probably scheduled his days by the minute.

Sigurado siyang wala sa bokabularyo nito ang salitang pabigla-bigla. Kaya ba nilang dalawa ang manirahan sa iisang bubong? O baka naman napatay na nila ang isa't isa na hindi pa natatapos ang isang taon? At pano kung makakapasok ang Yankees sa World Series ngayong taon? She’d have to deal with his lousy arrogance and patronizing smiles. Oh God…

He crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Huwag mong sabihing...Mets fan ka." Nang-uuyam ang boses nito.

"No. Ayokong makipag-usap sayo tungkol sa baseball. At hindi ka pwedeng magsuot ng any Yankees gear kung kasama mo ako. Hindi pwede, as in no! But I don't care what you put on when I'm not around. Understand?"

Silence settled over the room. She risked a glance in his direction. He stared at her as if her hair had sprouted Medusa snakes. “Are you kidding me?”

Umiling siya ng mabilis. "No."

"I'm not even allowed to wear my Yankees cap?"

"Tumpak! Nadale mo."

"Baliw ka ba?"

"Sticks and stones. Tell me now before we waste any more time."

Then he did something she hadn’t seen since the neighborhood bully fell off his bike and burst into silly feminine tears.

Dark Arkel laughed. Not a glimmer of amusement, or a smirk around the lips. This was a no-holds belly laugh, deep and masculine. The sound filled the room and pumped it with life. Deniah fought back her own smile, especially since his humor was directed at her. Damn, he looked good when he got off his high horse.

Nakatingin lang siya dito hanggang matapos itong tumawa at parang kinokonsidera ang mga sinabi niya.

"O sige, hindi ako magsusuot ng anumang Yankees gear, pero dapat ikaw din hindi magsusuot ng mga Mets- uh junk. Ayaw kong makakita ng kahit anong bagay related to Mets like coffee mug, keychain or kahit ano. Got it?"

Nanggigigil siya sa inis. Somehow, the deal had been turned around on her. “I disagree. We haven’t won a Series since 1986, so I get to wear mine. You get enough glory—you don’t need any more.”

The corner of his lip twitched. “Nice try, but I’m not one of the Twinkies you're used to dating. No Yankees, no Mets. Take it or leave it.”

“I don’t date Twinkies!”

He shrugged. “I don’t care.”

She hopped from one foot to the other and barely managed to keep her hands from curling into fists. He was so damn detached. How could he look so tasty, yet remind her of the poison apple Snow White was offered?

“Well? Do you want to sleep on it or whatever women do when they can’t make a decision?”

She bit her lip, hard, and forced out the words. “Fine. You have a deal."

Titiisin niya ng isang taon ang lalaki para sa pamilya. Kahit na Yankees fan pa ito. Kahit siguro nakatira sila sa iisang bubong hindi sila laging magkikita kasi may kanya kanya silang trabaho. At kung hindi naman ganon ang kaso, iigihan na lang niya ang pag-iwas dito. 'This is for Daza- my family home.'