Lost in Love

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

I stayed. Wala akong magagawa dahil hindi pumayag si Charly na umalis ako. At alam kong hindi rin ako makakaalis dahil maaari na sa mismong pagpasok ko sa airport ay pagkaguluhan ako. We did not bring my bodyguards.

But I really slept well. The villa I'm in is comfortable.

After eating my breakfast I decided to take a dip. This mini pool here in my villa feels good. Idagdag pa ang magandang tanawin. Sobrang nakaka presko.

"Blaire? Where are you?!"

"Here!"

Ilang saglit pa nakita ko si Charly na bihis na bihis. Halos magwala siya nang makita ang ayos ko. Kalmado na lang ako na umalis ng pool para hindi siya lalo mainis.

Nasabi niya sa akin kahapon na makikilala namin ang may-ari ngayon. Pero hindi ko alam na ganito kaaga.

"What are you doing? Bakit hindi ka pa nakaayos? Are you planning to meet the Ceo while wearing two-piece while soaking wet?!"

Napangiwi ako saka inirapan siya.

"I'll change—"

"Bilisan mo!"

Ano bang minamadali niya? To meet the Ceo? Baka matanda na iyon? Hot old man?

I mean, this place is huge and amazing. Experience and money are needed to build this one.

"Wai—"

"Wear something nice!"

Because of Charly, I quickly took a bath and changed into a short summer dress. A sleeveless summer dress above my knee level. It's a yellow color that made my skin fairer than usual.

Nang matapos ako kaagad akong sinalubong ni Charly na parang natataranta.

"What's with you?"

He sighed, "We will meet the Ceo! Tayo lang ang nabibigyan ng prebilihiyong ganito kasi palagi raw iyong wala sa bansa. Ayusin mo. Malay mo kunin kang model para mas lalong sumikat ito."

"Baka matanda?" Sinamaan niya ako kaagad ng tingin.

"Don't ruin my imagination."

And then again, Charly drived for us. Hindi ko maiwasan na tingnan ang bawat sulok ng dinadaanan namin. Sa sobrang laki ng lugar aakalain mong para itong bayan. The villas are far from each other and the road is wide too. Kitang-kita ang mga bangin at mga puno.

Luxurious and high-end.

"Celebrities and vloggers usually come here because they can keep their privacy. Why don't you vlog too?"

I shook my head.

"We're having a vacation. Ang vlogging is not my thing," marahan na sagot ko kaya tumahimik na lang siya.

Lumampas kami sa restaurant kung nasaan kami kahapon. I even saw their man made falls, and it made me excited. Baka may fish pond rin dito?

"See? This is indeed the place we all dream to live in!" masayang sabi ni Charly habang nag da-drive.

Indeed, this place is perfect. The owner made a good decision to develop this into a good investment.

Ilang sandali pa nakarating kami sa malaking villa. I can see that this is the largest villa in this place. Maybe the owner stays here.

Marahan na nilipad ng hangin ang buhok ko nang bumaba ako. I stared at the villa. The design is familiar, but I couldn't remember where and when I ever saw it.

Ilang sandali pa may lumabas na babae at lalaki. Napaayos ako ng upo sa pag-aakala na sila ang may-ari.

"Good morning, Sir Charly and Ma'am Blaire. Our boss is in headquarters, but I advise you to get inside first while we are all waiting for him. By the way, I am Glenda, and this is Jun, we are the managers of The Paradise."

They are not the owners.

"Sure," sabi naman ni Charly bago ako hinigit kaya sumunod na rin ako.

When we entered the villa, I was amazed. The walls are all glass, and I could see a huge pool beside it. May parang maliit pa na fountain sa gilid.

Akala ko talagang papasok kami sa villa kasi gusto kong makita ang loob pero sa likuran nila kami dinala. There's a huge breakfast place just like mine in my villa, but this one is larger. And more relaxing.

"Let's wait for him po because he just checked something."

Palakaibigan naman akong ngumiti at tumango kahit gustong-gusto ko na sana na umupo saka tumahimik na lang. The girls' smiles gave me strange feelings. At naalala ko na siya pala ang nag-welcome sa amin kahapon.

"Don't worry, we love this place so much."

They offered us to sit, so I did because my feet hurt. Pinandilatan naman ako ni Charly pero hindi ko na pinansin. Naupo rin sila kagaya ko at ilang sandali lang may mga nag-serve ng pagkain. Its delicious smell made me hungry again even though I already ate my breakfast.

"Can we take a picture first, Ma'am Blaire?" the woman asked, so I nodded.

"Sure," sabi ko at kaagad na ngumiti sa phone niya.

After a lot of selfies, they decided to talk about this whole place, so I just stayed silent. The carbonara right in front of me is making me hungry even more.

"Nandito na po siya," biglang sabi ng babae kaya tumayo si Charly ng mabilis. Dahan-dahan na rin akong tumayo kagaya nilang lahat.

Parang nag-slow motion ang paningin ko ng dahan na dahan kong makita ang isang pamilyar na lalaki. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at kasabay nito ay ang pagkawala ng lakas ko.

Zach is the owner!

"Hi," he greeted, using his deep and cold voice that made me shiver.

Saglit na napako ang tingin niya sa akin pero mabilis rin na lumapit kay Charly na naglahad ng kamay na parang wala lang. Sobrang lakas ng pintig ng puso ko na parang pwede akong mahimatay anong oras man mula ngayon.

"And this is Blaire, Sir," sabi ni Charly kaya mas lalo akong kinabahan.

Marahan ako na kinurot ni Charly sa tagiliran kaya kahit ayaw na ayaw ko sana ay naglahad ako ng kamay sa harap niya. He shaked my hand like it's nothing to him. Electricity suddenly ran through my system.

"Nice to meet you two," the brute guy said like a boss to his employees.

Awkward na tumawa si Charly kaya napakurap ako. My weak knees are saying that they want to sit, so I did. Tiningnan ako ng masama ni Charly dahil sa pag-upo ko.

"Let's have a seat," the woman manager said, so they did.

Sa plato ko lang ako nakatingin. Nawala ang gutom na nararamdaman ko kanina. I feel like peeing right now. I wanna run as fast as I can just to get out of here.

"We are so thankful that you allowed us to meet you, Mr. Montañez. I was really amazed by this place, so when my schedule cleared, I immediately planned to experience this paradise."

My hands are shaking. I am not comfortable as they started talking.

"Blaire also likes this place, Mr. Montañez."

Gulat ako na napatingin kay Charly dahil sa sinabi niya. I did not say that!

"I did—"

"Right, Blaire?" madiin na tanong ni Charly kaya isang tikhim na lang ang ginawa ko bago pilit na tumingin sa harap.

His dark eyes and mine suddenly met. Mabilis kong inalis ang tingin ko sa kanya para balingan ang babaeng manager na nagsasalita.

"Mr. Montañez made this place when he was so young. Everyone was proud of him, including us, his employees," I don't know if I really heard the girl giggled like a fan girl.

"That's really good! Having this amazing and high-end place is wonderful!"

Young? He's twenty-four, so yeah, he's young.

"Thanks," his cold voice again invaded my ears.

Wala sa sarili na napatingin ulit ako sa kanya. I found his eyes again. He's sipping on his wine glass, so I blinked. Seeing him this close made me forget that he's now far from me.

Kita ko ang dahan-dahan na pagbaba ng mga mata niya sa leeg ko. I panicked, so I immediately put my hair on my chest just enough to cover the pendant of the necklace I was wearing.

"Let's eat!"

Napatingin ako sa carbonara habang dinadaga ang dibdib. I don't want to eat. I want to leave.

"Ma'am?" the waiter said while holding a bottle of wine, so I nodded quickly.

Nang masalinan niya ng wine ang wine glass na para sa akin ay kaagad ko naman iyong ininom ng mabilisan para kahit paano ay magawa kong kumalma. The sudden heat on my throat made me tremble even more, so I requested again for another.

"What are you doing? Nakakahiya," bulong ni Charly kaya natigil ako sa akmang pag-inom muli ng wine.

Wala sa sarili akong napatingin sa mga kasama at bahagya nga akong nakaramdam ng hiya nang makita na nakamasid sila sa akin. But despite that, I still drink the wine straight.

"I'm sorry, I'm just thirsty," labas sa ilong na sabi ko saka muling yumuko.

"Ayaw mo pong kumain, Ma'am Blaire?"

I forced a smile at the girl manager.

"I'm done having breakfast, thank you," sabi ko gamit ang maliit na boses.

My fast beating heart is still making me uncomfortable. Ramdam ko na ang malamig na pawis sa noo ko. My whole body is shaking in nervous.

Marahan ako na sinagi ni Charly at dahil sa kawalan ko ng lakas ay muntik na akong mahulog sa silya na kinauupuan ko.

"Ahh!" mahinang tili ko. Nang makaupong muli ay kaagad ko na sinamaan ng tingin si Charly na mukhang guilty rin sa ginawa.

At dahil doon mas lalo lang akong kinabahan.

"Sorry," he mouthed, so I cleared my throat.

"Sorry," sabi ko rin saka pilit na ngumiti.

I found Zach staring intently at Charly.

"Sir," mahinang sabi ng babaeng manager saka marahan na nilagyan si Mr. Montañez ng kung anong pagkain sa plato nito.

I watched how the girl gracefully did it. Nagkakabangga pa ang mga braso nila na parang sanay na sanay na sila doon. I then looked away.

"I thought the owner is an Engineer?" Charly suddenly asked while eating.

Akala ko rin.

"I am an engineer," that cold, enchanting voice again. Too deep, really different.

Nagulat ako pati na rin si Charly. He is, I should have known this.

"Oh, what a successful engineer and businessman man in a very young age," masayang sabi ni Charly na para bang manghang-mangha siya sa mga naririnig ngayon.

Engineer Zachary Montañez, the title really suits his name. Just like what I thought back then.

"Balik na tayo sa villa? My head is spinning," wala sa sarili na sabi ko kalaunan. Kahit si Charly lang sana ang sinasabihan ko pero dahil sa lakas ng boses ko ay narinig ng lahat ng nandito.

"Are you okay, Ma'am Blaire? I can call for medic—"

"I'm fine, I just want to rest, thank you," mabilis na pagputol ko sa babae at kaagad na tumayo.

Natataranta naman si Charly na tumayo na parang hindi alam ang gagawin. Kung pipigilan ba ako o kung susundin.

"Well then, you are free to leave, Blaire."

Saglit na tumigil ang mundo ko dahil doon. Engineer Montañez slowly stood up, so my eyes went to him. I wanted to smile, but I couldn't, so in the end, I just nodded like a villain.

"Thanks— tara na Charly," walang galang na sabi ko at mabilis na hinigit ang kaibigan paalis doon.

"Blaire, ano ba? Why are you so bastos?" pigil sigaw na sabi niya pero tuloy-tuloy lang ako sa paglalakad.

Hindi ko alam kung paano ko nakakayang maglakad gayong sobrang nanghihina at nanginginig ang mga binti ko.

"I just want to leave, please," I almost begged, so he stopped from questioning me.

Nang makarating kami sa golf cart ay kaagad ako na sumakay. He then went to the driver's seat and immediately started driving.

"Fine, ayaw kong magsalita sa ngayon dahil parang hindi nga maganda ang pakiramdam mo. But that's rude, Blaire."

Napa kurap ako. I could feel tears forming in my eyes.

"It's not true that I don't know him," I said while looking at the road.

"Huh? Who?"

I sighed.

"Zach, I mean Engineer Montañez or who it is."

Napasinghap siya pero tuloy pa rin sa pagmamaneho.

"Oh really? He's from here, and you're from here also, so I think you're classmates? Or school mates? Siya yata ang sikat na varsity player tapos ikaw ang miss perfect na bida-bida?" He then laughed after saying that, but I couldn't.

Sana ganoon nga.

"He's my ex," I said as clearly as I could.

Biglang napa-preno si Charly kaya kaagad ako na kumapit para hindi tuluyang mahulog.

"Ano?!"

I looked at him using my serious face.

"Zach and I were once a couple—"

"Are you telling the truth?! Oh my God! Kaya pala!"

I smiled sadly while trying to remember how it happened.

Bakit nga ba kami umabot sa ganito?