Desiring Mr. Carter (ONGOING)

Chapter Twelve: Dinner

[Ivana's]

“You look absolutely stunning. Didn't I tell you to wear something that will make you ugly?" he said as he quickly scanned me from head to toe. My brow raised because of his statement.

Nandito siya sa labas ng bahay para sunduin ako. I told him not to come but he insisted kaya hinayaan ko na lang, I don't want to argue with him again.

"I can wear anything and still look gorgeous, Mr. Carter," I boasted. A few seconds later, he burst into laughter making me raise my brow for the second time. "You good?" I asked, pissed and unhappy.

"I didn't know you're quiet proud, Van," he uttered while grinning from ear-to-ear. Alright, he's trying to mock me and it's pissing me off.

"Yeah, whatever. So, are we going or not?" Ayokong mag-aksaya pa ng oras dahil gusto kong umuwi ng maaga. I have to come back home early because we have plans for tomorrow.

"Sorry about that. Get in," he muttered after he got the door opened for me. So, he learned how to be gentleman or is it just for show? What a bizarre and unrealistic character development. Hindi pa rin ako maniniwala sa mga pinapakita niya sa akin ngayon dahil sa nga naranasan ko sa kaniyang kamay noon.

"I already booked a table for us," he added.

"Dapat lang. Given na `yan kapag nagyaya ka ng dinner, Mr. Carter," tugon ko. Wala ba talaga siyang alam sa mga dapat gagawin ng lalaki kapag nagyaya ng date? Dyusko, pinapasakit niya ang anit ko.

"So I did the right thing?" he asked, innocently.

My brows met and formed a line. "What do you mean? Why are you asking that?" I asked, unbelievably. I'm starting to think I'm going on a date with a clueless man. So ano ang susunod na mangyayari? Ako na ang magsasabi ng mga dapat at hindi niya dapat gawin?

Oh my gosh, Gene! You're so perfectly unbelievable!

"I never invited someone for a dinner. This is my first time after four years," he stated. I nearly chocked myself when he said that.

”Really? Honestly, everything about you is telling me the otherwise," I frankly implored. Totoo naman ang sinabi ko dahil hindi ako naniniwala sa mga katagang lumalabas sa bibig niya. He's a scum, a bastard but he's the father of my son.

“What? Do I look like I'm dating tons of women?"

”Yeah?" I made it looks like I was unsure but deep inside my disgusted self, I'm so sure of what I just said. My blood is starting to heat up.

“Ouch. You just sliced my delicate little heart," he later replied, acting hurt as he placed one hand on his chest. ”You're quite a heartbreaker, Ms. Perez," he added.

I rolled my eyes heavenwards. “Oh, did I place a crack in your oh-so-fragile heart?" I told him, sarcastically.

”You just did, luv." Tumayo ang mga balahibo ko dahil doon sa huling katagang sinabi niya. He called me luv again and it sparked all the hatred inside me all over again. Gustuhin ko man siyang sumbatan ng pabalang ngunit kailangan kong magtimpi. I have to act like it didn't have an effect on me.

“Luv? I would appreciate it if t'was "babe." My late fiancé used to call me babe so, yeah!" I shot back with confidence, erasing any trace of discomfort.

”Oh, wow! Then I won't call you babe, ever again. Thank you for the information by the way," aniya tsaka siya kumindat. Hindi ko inaasahan ang sagot niyang 'yon kaya natameme ako.

“Seriously? Kailan ka ba magseseryoso sa usapan?" hindi ko mapigilang itanong sa kaniya. Napipikon na kasi ako sa asta niya ngayon samantalang hindi naman siya ganito noon. Ilang beses ko na siyang kinumpara noon pero talagang hindi ko iyon mapigilan dahil kakaiba siya ngayon. He look like a different person from the beast who once tormented me.

”Pissed already? Come on, play with me until we arrive at our destination," hamon pa niya.

Sumeryoso ang aking mukha dahil hindi ko nagustuhan ang sinabi niya. “Kapag hindi ka pa tumigil ay baka magbago ang isip ko at umuwi na lang. Kahapon lang tayo nagkakilala kaya dapat may boundary pa rin sa atin dahil hindi kita kilala at gano'n ka rin sa akin," ani ko.

Tumahimik naman siya ng ilang segundo ngunit mayamaya pa ay narinig ko siyang nagsalita. ”Yeah, we just met yesterday and yet I'm acting like you're someone I know.“

”You mean Kate?" banggit ko sa dati kong pangalan na siyang pumukol sa kaniyang atensyon. “I mean, I heard you calling me Kate when we first met," I added before he could even speak. I have to make my self clear before he will suspect anything.

Narinig ko siyang nagpakawala ng isang malalim na buntong-hininga. ”Oh, right. I'm sorry about that. It's just that I'm still f****d up until now," sabi niya na tila may inaalala dahil diretso lamang ang kaniyang tingin sa harap.

Humalukipkip na lang ako at tumingin sa labas ng bintana. Ito na yata ang pinakamahabang byahe sa buong buhay ko. Ngayong kasama ko siya sa iisang sasakyan ay hindi ako panatag dahil sa kawalan ko ng tiwala sa kaniya.

“Malapit na ba tayo?" pag-iiba ko sa usapan. Saglit niya akong tinapunan ng tingin bago binilisan ang takbo ng sasakyan. ”Malapit na," sagot naman niya.

Muli ay namuno na naman ang katahimikan, walang sino man sa amin ang nagtangkang magsalita. Pabor na sa akin ang sitwasyon ngayon dahil na rin sa kagustuhan kong maka-iwas sa kaniya noong una pa lang. Kanina ko pa iniisip bakit nga ba ako pumayag sa date na 'to? Kung hindi lang dahil sa gusto kong patunayan sa kaniya ay hinding-hindi ako papayag sa alok niya. I need him to erase all his doubts and fully believe I'm completely different and that I'm not Ivana Kate Mason. I have to work hard to gain his trust not just for my revenge but for the sake of Tyler too, both of us deserve a peaceful life away from Gene.

“We're here," he announced before pulling over.

”La Pergola," hindi mapigilang sambit ko noong huminto kami sa harap ng renowned luxury hotel restaurant dito sa Italy.

Pumasok kami sa loob ng restaurant at agad kaming binati ng isang receptionist bago sinamahan patungo sa private lounge. As expected from a rich freak like Gene, syempre magarbo ang pinili niyang restaurant, La Pergola pa nga eh. Inasahan ko nang sa ganitong lugar kami pupunta dahil hindi simpleng tao lang si Gene, he's extremely rich.

”Please enjoy your dinner here, Mr. and Mrs. Carter!” nakangiting sambit ng receptionist na siyang ikinagulat to. I was literally taken aback by her statement, I didn't see it coming.

“Yeah, definitely!" sagot naman ni Gene na may ngiti sa labi. Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at siniko ng patago pero hindi pa rin siya natinag at dinagdagan pa ang sinabi niya. ”My wife will surely love to taste the dishes here."

“What a lovely couple! I shall take my leave so you can have your time alone. Bon apetit!" giit pa ng receptionist bago niya kami iniwan.

Noong umupo na kami ay agad din kaming nilapitan ng isang waiter at kinuha ang mga order namin. Tahimik ko lang na itunuro ang orders ko dahil sa inis kay Gene.

”What was that, Gene?" inis na tanong ko sa kaniya noong umalis na `yung waiter. Imbes na sumagot siya ay tinignan niya lamang ako na para bang may nasabi akong nakakagulat. “What? May mali ba sa sinabi ko?" dagdag ko pa.

Umiling siya at sinabing, ”I... You just called me Gene. Only one person used to call me by my first name and now you did it too."

Ohh shoot! Nadulas ako at tinawag siya sa una niyang pangalan! s**t talaga!

I cleared my throat to hide my nervousness. “I'm sorry? If you find it very uncomfortable then I should address you formally," I asserted, trying hard to sound normal.

Darn. Sana maniwala siya.

”You sure that it's just a coincidence?" mapanuring tanong niya.

I'm screwed! Really really screwed! Sinasabi ko na nga bang walang magandang maidudulot itong date na 'to eh! Pero pumayag pa rin ako, nakakainis.

“What do you mean? Of course it is! Malay ko bang hindi pala Gene ang tawag ng ibang tao sa'yo. We just met, right? Kaya hindi pa kita kilala," palusot ko. Sobra talaga ang kaba ko ngayon at magsisimula nang mamawis ang mga kamay ko.

Gusto kong inumin yung tubig na nasa harap ko pero baka isipin niyang kinakabahan ako dahil nanginginig na rin ang mga kamay ko. Hindi naman sobra ang panginginig pero halatado pa rin. Kailangan kong kumalma at itago ang kabang kanina ko pa nararamdaman.

”But you can call me Gene if you're comfortable with it. My friends usually call me Marcus," he stated.

Mabuti na lang at dumating na ang pagkain namin para maputol `yung aming pag-uusap. Nawawalan na kasi ako ng sasabihin sa kaniya at gusto ko na ring umuwi. Nakakahiya naman kay Jerica na mag-overtime sa pagbabantay kay Tyler.

“The food here is exquisite. Been coming here every time I have some business meetings to attend," he told me before fixing his napkin.

”What do you expect from the famous La Pargola? Syempre high class talaga ang Italian cuisines nila dito," ani ko tsaka sinimulang kumain.

“When was the last time you came here?" he asked. Kailan nga ba? Medyo matagal na rin dahil busy ako sa trabaho. ”I think it was three months ago? January 12 to be exact," sagot ko.

He raised one brow. “With whom? I bet it was a man."

”Yeah. I came here with my son."

“Oh, your son. I thought it was someone else," aniya tsaka siya humalakhak. Ano ba ang gusto niyang sabihin? ”Sorry to disappoint you but I don't have time to date men aside from my son. Masyado akong busy sa trabaho at sa anak ko kaya wala sa isip ko ang makipag-date," pag-aamin ko.

He chuckled and shook his head. “But you said yes when I asked you out."

”Let me remind you that I just said yes to prove my identity, Mr. Carter. In other words, you did blackmail me," prankang pahiwatig ko.

He stopped eating, looked at me and bit his lower lip to hide his victorious smile. “I don't really care how I made you accept my invitation. What's important is that we're on the same table, enjoying these tasty Italian cuisines."

Umikot ang mga mata ko at ngumiti sa kaniya ng peke. ”Kung kumain ka na kaya at nang matapos na itong “pa-dinner mo,” Mr. Carter," ani ko ng may diin sa salitang pa-dinner. I want to talk sarcastically but it would make me feel bad, kumakain pa kami eh.

“Then I should eat slow, I don't want to go home yet." What? He can't be serious, right? He's playing with me again, he's not taking my words seriously at nakakagigil `yon!

Malalim akong napabuntong-hininga. ”I still have a son waiting for me to go home and tuck him to sleep, I hope you know that, Mr. Carter."

“I want to meet your son," he stated. I can't see any hint of playfulness in him anymore, he's dead serious this time. ”W-what? Why do you want to meet him?" kinakabahang tanong ko.

Ayan na naman ang kaba ko, muling nanumbalik dahil sa sinabi niya. Alam ko na balang araw ay magkikita rin sila dahil hindi iyon maiiwasan pero h'wag naman ngayong masyado pang maaga. Hindi pa ako ready na ipakita sa kaniya si Tyler.

“What do you mean why? Is it not normal if your son meets other people? Or are you hiding him?” he shot me with questions and I was taken aback with the last one.

Yes, I'm hiding Tyler from you because you're no good for him.

“What kind of parent would that make me if I'm hiding my son? Ang iniisip ko lang ay hindi pa kita masyadong kilala kaya ko iyon natanong," pagsisinungaling ko.

”Well then let me see him tomorrow. I'll come at your house."

“Ano?! Bakit ka pupunta sa bahay?!" gulat na gulat kong sambit. He's crazy! Sino ba ang taong maglalakas ng loob na bibisita sa bahay ng hindi niya masyadong kilala? Si Gene lang ang may ganyan na klaseng lakas ng loob.

”Bakit? Masama ba? Wala ka namang asawa 'di ba?" pabalang niyang giit habang nilalaro ang fork sa kaniyang kamay.

Oh my gosh! Please let this man out of my sight! I can't stand him.

“Oo, masamang-masama! Kahit wala akong asawa pero hindi ka pwedeng pumunta sa bahay at tsaka may pupuntahan kami bukas kaya wala ka rin lang maaabutan doon."

”Then I'll come with you."

Please Lord, ilayo niyo po si Gene Marcus Carter sa akin bago ko siya sabunutan!

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NOTE!!!!

Desiring Mr. Carter is on w*****d and g*******l hence, kindly read it on there too. Thank you very much! Stay safe❤️