ECHOES OF THE WILD

2 - L’histoire (The History)

Pagmulat ng mata niya ay hindi niya inaasahan ang isang madilim na silid. Wala man lang siwang ng liwanag. Kinapa niya ang bandang kanan niya. If she was in her hotel room ay dapat na may lampshade rito. Mayroon nga. She turned it on but still wala pa rin siyang makitang liwanag.

“Gising ka na pala. Bukas naman talaga ang ilaw. May eye masks ka lang. I can’t sleep with the lights off and I didn’t want to wake you up.”  She heard that voice and she froze. Kinapa muna niya ang sarili. Nakadamit pa ba siya? “Don’t worry. Hindi ako r****t. You’re still wearing your dress.” She was relieved. Napabuga siya ng hangin sa pagkawala ng isa niyang kaba.“If you’re already awake, I ordered breakfast for us.”

“Doc?” She heard his sigh at naramdaman nitong lumundo ang kanang parte ng malambot na kama. A hand touched her forehead tapos ay dahan-dahang inalis ang mask na suot niya. Kahit nakapikit ang mata ay alam niyang lumiwanag na.

“There. It’s better. Good morning, Myrtel.” She slowly opened her eyes. Fearing what she will see. Surely enough, napalunok siya sa nakita. Nakumpirma ang hinala niya dahil sa preskong amoy nang lumapit si Dante sa kanya. He was fresh out of shower and with drops of water on his chest. Tama rin ang naisip niya, he have the body of a Greek God. Parang nililok ang detalye ng muscular chest nito at braso. Her eyes travelled lower sa nakataling tuwalya sa beywang niya. May happy trail of hair papunta doon. Then she realized that he was staring at her face as her eyes feasted on his body. Pinamulahan si Myrtel. She massaged her temples then closed her eyes.

“Nakakasakit ba ng ulo ang ganda ng katawan ko?”

“Yabang.” He laughed while she froze. Nasabi pala niya ng malakas ang dapat ay sa isip lang.

“Kung may ipagyayabang naman ‘di ba, why not?” She felt herself blush more when he laid down next to her. A half naked man, wrapped only in towel is lying on a bed bside her.  She half opened her eyes and she saw his amused expression. His elbows were propped at the bed and he was there lying at his side and looking at her.

“Ganito ka ba kahangin sa umaga? Nakakairita ka, ang aga-aga.” Ginaya niya ang posisyon ni Dante. They were at a staring match for a few minutes, walang kumukurap bago ito sumagot. Parang nakakalulong titigan ang blue grey eyes ng lalaki.

“Ikaw? Ganito ka kasungit at ka-disoriented sa umaga?”

“Hindi ako disoriented!” Pinandilatan niya ang doctor na lalo lang lumapad ang ngiti.

“Ah, masungit ka lang?” Napaawang ang bibig ni Myrtel. Pinapagtripan siya ng kausap.

“Anong oras na?” She tried looking for her phone  under the pillow then she remembered, hindi nga pala niya kwarto ‘yon. Napabalikwas siya ng bangon.

“6:15 am.” He replied as he stood up and went to one of the closet. Kinuha nito ang isang suit case at ipinatong sa kama. He opened it and took out a rectangular bag na parang envelope. He opened it and removed it’s contents. Damit niya simula sa sa khakhi pants, black fitted v neck shirt and CK boxers ay nasa loob. Ang organized ng gamit. Malayong-malayo sa makalat niyang luggage.

“Naka bag kada isang set? Parang sandwich ah, selyadong selyado.”

“Para mas mabilis. Sanay ako sa mabilisan and I have to save time.” Tumalikod  at nagbihis si Dante sa harapan niya. Kung nagandahan si Myrtel sa dibdib nito ay namangha rin siya sa likuran. The man is very fit. Parang walang lugar ng taba sa katawan nito.

“Once you’re done staring and admiring my back, join me for breakfast.” He turned and winked at her. Ang presko!

 “Hindi na. Pupunta na ‘ko sa kwarto ko. Nasa hotel pa rin tayo?”

“Oo. Sayang naman ang pagkain. The least you could do to repay me for letting you use my services and my bed is to eat breakfast with me.”

“Kung makapagsalita ka parang kung anong services ang binigay mo!”

“I would have offered you my best service but you were indisposed.” He smirked and she gaped at him. Is he flirting with her? Masama mag-assume kaya’t hindi niya na sinagot ang sinabi nito. Umirap na lamang siya at nameywang. Lumapit si Dante sa kanya nang makatapos na itong magzipper at magbutones ng pantalon. He offered his left hand at ibinaling ang ulo sa kanan. He’s offering a truce, kung totoo ngang nakikipag-war ito sa kanya gaya ng naiisip niya.

“I’m Dante Fuentebella. You are?”

“Ano namang pautot ‘to?” He smiled then pouted, clearly waiting for her answer.

“Fine. I’m Myrtel Shayne Delos Santos. Nice to meet you.” She shook hands with him. He did not let go of her hand as he led her to the table on the same room. Hindi kalakihan ang Victorian era themed na kwarto ngunit may sarili itong lamesa, banyo at munting sala. Ipinaghila pa siya nito ng upuan.

“Saan ka may allergies? Sa nuts ba?” Tumango si Myrtel. She was surprised when she saw the assortment of food on the table. May coffee, tea, bagel, croissant, scrambled egg, sausage and at least three flavors of jam.

“Gutom? Ang dami mong pagkain.”

“I didn’t know what you like kaya napadami ang order ko.  I just wanted to compensate for causing your allergies.” She looked at him and he appeared to be sincere.

“It was not your fault.”

“I know it wasn’t. Kain na.”

“Bi-polar ka ba? Ang gulo mo.” Napatitig si Myr nang tumawa ito. Naningkit ang mata at umalon ang dibdib sa pagtawa.

“No, but I could treat you if you are.”

“Wala nga akong sakit! Sige na, kumain na tayo.” Hahaba lang ang usapan kung makikipagtalo pa siya. She focused on spreading strawberry and orange jam on her bagel. Ipinaglagay rin siya ng kape ni Dante.

“Myr, are you seeing someone?” Hawak niya noon ang tasa ng kape at kahihigop lang. Sa pagkabigla ay nasamid siya. Nabitiwan niya rin ang kape na tumapon sa lamesa. “s**t. Are you okay? Napaso ka ba?” She’s still having a coughing fit when he pulled her chair out to be safe from the hot liquid that was her coffee.

“Okay na. Ano ba naman kasi ang mga tanong mo!”

“Ano naman masama sa tanong ko?” Pinalipat ni Dante si Myrtel ng upuan. He took some tissue and wiped the table and the floor. When he’s done, he sat down beside her.

“Answer please.”

“No. Yes. No. None.” His forehead creased by her response but then, he smiled and they resumed eating. Matalino nga talaga dahil na-gets nito na ang sagot niya ay ang sagot sa lahat ng tanong niya, in order. Real gentleman rin ito dahil ipinaglagay siya muli ng kape sa tasa. After a few minutes of silence, he resumed his barrage of questions.

“If you’re not seeing someone, who is Elvis?”

“Are you a Doctor by profession or a reporter? Ang dami mong tanong.”

“It’s okay if you don’t want to answer. Nasagot naman ang importanteng tanong ko.”

Napairap na lamang si Myrtel.  Ang yabang talaga.

“Thank you for all your help. Babalik na ‘ko sa kwarto ko.”

“Tara.” He pulled the chair for her and led her to the door. Akala ni Myrtel ay papalabasin lang siya nito ngunit sinabayan siya nitong maglakad. When they reached her room that was on the same floor but at the far end of the corridor, he gave her the purse that she used last night. Hindi man lang napansin ni Myrtel na dala pala ni Dante.

“I’ll be touring the town later. Mamaya pa naman ang wedding. It’s my first time here and your cousin told me you’re familiar with the place. She said I could ask you to accompany me...”

“Nope. Busy ako.”

“Doing what exactly?” He moved closer and stared at her eyes. Anong panama ng brown eyes ni Myrtel sa blue grey orbs ni Dante? She could also smell his cologne or after shave. Nakaka-disorient ang freshness nito. How could his breath smell fresh when they both had coffee?

“Myr? Anong gagawin mo?”

“Marami.”

“If you can name one in five seconds, I’ll let you go.” Sinadya yata nitong dumikit pa lalo sa kanya. Napaatras si Myrtel at napasandal sa pinto. He placed both his hands on the door, caging her. Gahibla na lang ang pagitan ng mga ilong nila at nagdodoble vista na ang paningin niya sa sobrang lapit ng mukha ni Dante sa kanya. Her mind went blank.

“Times up. I’ll pick you up after two hours.” He was gone in sixty seconds. O napatulala lang talaga siya at hindi na nakita kung saan napunta ang kausap? She groaned and took her key card from her purse. She will deal with him later. For now, she needed to take a bath. Two hours is very short for her to prepare for their date. Wait, what? Date? She closed her eyes and leaned on the closed door when she got inside. She convinced herself that she was just imagining things. Hindi date. Mamasyal lang sila dahil bago ang tao sa lugar. Oo. Tama. That’s just it.