Jonathan

Chapter Three

Sinipat niyang muli ang sarili sa salamin. Isang haltered light blue na dress aboved the knee ang suot niya at halos kita na ang kanyang buong likod showing her soft and silky flesh. Hindi niya alam kung paano mag-ayos ng buhok kaya hinayaan niya na lang na nakalugay ang hanggang balikat niyang buhok. Light na make up lang ang inilagay niya sa kanyang mukha at nagspray ng pabango. Hmm...bakit pa kasi pumayag siya sa date na ito?

Napukaw siya mula sa pag-iisip ng marinig ang pagkatok. Kinuha niya ang kanyang handbag at lumabas ng kwarto.

She almost caught her breath upon seeing him. Ethan was clad in his simple jeans with a hug-fitting gray shirt. First time din niyang makita na naka-rubber shoes ito. His hair in a messy look kumpara sa palagi niyang nakikita. She couldn't deny that the man was good-looking, in a rugged sense.

"Good evening, Jade." Nginitian siya nito habang titig na titig sa kanya. Sa pagkamangha ni Jade ay nakadama siya ng paggapang ng init sa mukha niya. Wala sa loob na napayakap siya sa sarili niya. Hindi niya mapigilang mailang sa paraan ng patitig nito sa kanya.

Ethan couldn't help but admire the woman in front of him. She was so pretty no matter how she dress, as she carried herself with elegance and simplicity. There's always that inner glow and innocence inside her.

"Gorgeous, shall we go?" Ethan said in a husky and seductive voice.

Umingos siya at bahagya itong inirapan, "Bolero..."

His arms automatically went around her, his arms possessively went accross the side of her stomach.

She turned her face toward him.

"What are you doing?" pabulong na sambit na dalaga as they walked out of her place.

Pakiramdam ni Ethan ay kinuryente siya. Heat runs down on his body like a bloodstream. Humigpit ang hawak niya sa may baywang ng dalaga. Itinaas niya ang mukha at tinitigan ang mukha nito. "We really have to go. Baka kung ano pa gawin ko sayo kung hindi pa tayo alis kaagad."

Jade's face was filled with fear and amusement. This guy can make her whole body shiver with excitement. She smiled. Ikinawit niya ang braso sa binata on the way to his car.

Dinala siya ni Ethan sa isang seafood restaurant. Alam nito ang pagkahumaling niya sa pagkaing lamang dagat. Inakay sila ng waiter papunta sa isang bakanteng mesa. Umorder ang binata para sa kanilang dalawa ng hindi man lang siya tinatanong.

"You didn't ask what I prefer," banayad niyang akusa ng makaalis ang waiter.

"Lahat ng inorder ko ay mga paborito mo," nakangiting sagot nito habang ginagap ang kanyang kamay sa ibabaw ng lamesa.

The dinner went well. Ethan keeps on staring at her making her conscious and uncomfortable. Gusto niyang mag-iwas ng paningin subalit hindi niya magawa.

He broke into a smile, his eyes still on her.

"What?" she smiled back at him.

"May gusto ka bang puntahan? Is there a place in your mind?" tukso ni Ethan sa kanya.

"Baliw..." sikmat niya dito. "May alam ka bang lugar kung saan pwede tayong kumanta? Magsayaw?jamming lang."

"You sing ?dance?" Amusement was visible on his face.

"Naku boss, pang banyo lang boses ko no! Malakas lang loob ko," sagot niya sabay tawa.

"I knew a place...my brother owns that place.

" Labas na tayo," yakag niya sa binata.

"Sure," agad na sang-ayon ng binata. "It's just a ten minute drive from here.

She took a deep breath ng pagbuksan siya ng pinto ng sasakyan ni Ethan. He's using his hammer now. Everyone look at the car with envious. Hindi rin naman siya masanay sanay sa yaman ng binata.

The bar was cozy and has a light atmosphere. Pinagmasdan niya ang palibot. The bar vibrated with music and energy. Iginiya siya ng binata sa may counter. There stood a man as handsome as Ethan. But this man looks different in a very rugged sense.

"Hey, brother!" untag nito kay Ethan.

"Bro....I want you to meet Jade. Jade, this is Kent. One of my brothers. Siya 'yong sumunod sa akin."

Tumango siya sabay lahad ng palad dito, " Nice to meet you, Kent,"

"Same here. Just enjoy with Ethan. I'll just excuse myself. I have something to attend to at the back." Kent nods sa he leaves the two of them.

Jade feels at ease when Ethan hugs her from behind, resting his face on her shoulder. She stared at the bodies on the dance floor moving to the rhythm of a Rihanna song. It makes her want to just sing and dance, feel free and forget all her fears and just to live her dreams. Nagulat pa si Ethan ng hilahin niya ito papunta sa gitna ng dance floor.

"Hindi ako marunong sumayaw," tanggi nito. He stilled.

Nagpatiuna siya sa dance floor. She started to dance, not leaving her eyes on Ethan. The dress she wore was made of sin. It hugs her curves from her creamy breast, to her slim waist and down to her flaring hips.

Ethan stared at Jade's eyes as he reach for her. Hindi siya papayag makipagsayaw ang dalaga sa iba. Kita ang pananaghili ng mga kalalakihan habang nakatingin sa dalaga. Her hips swayed to the beat of the music.

"I didn't know your a tease," akusa binata sa kanya.

"Of course not! Ginawa ko lang yon kasi alam kung mapipilitan kang magsayaw kapag nauna na ako. I know you wouldn't allow any guy to dance with me." Matamis na ngumiti siya sa binata.

"Never!" Ethan said in an instant. "You are mine and mine alone. Sorry to tell you, but I don't share.

She laughed. "Hindi pa nga kita sinasagot, possessive na agad?

He grinned and shook his head at her. "I had to be. Ngayon lang ako nakaramdam ng ganito and it pains me already thinking of you with another man."

Ikinawit ng dalaga ang mga braso sa kanyang balikat. Ethan tense for what she did. Pumalibot ang mga braso niya sa baywang ng dalaga. Her scent was subtle and intoxicatingly sweet heated his body.

"What are you doing?" bulong niya sa dalaga.

"Hmmn?" she murmured, hugging him more. "Shut up, please! I just wanna hug you now.."

It feels awkwad that the two of them hugging on the dance floor to the fast rhythm of a Rihanna song. Pero walang siyang pakialam basta kasama niya ang dalaga.

"Kung 'yan ang gusto mo!" he murmured, his hands rubbing on her back.

They just stood there, at the middle of the dance floor, hugging each other. After a couple of minute ay niyaya na din siya nito na maupo.

"You have a nice place here," anas ng dalaga sabay baling at ngiti sa kanya. "Your brother did well on this one."

"Oh yes! Talagang pinaghirapan niyang maipatayo ito ng walang tulong galing kina mommy at daddy." Ibinaba ni Ethan ang scotch na iniinom sa countertop tsaka sumenyas sa bartender. "Another glass please!"

He then ordered a Bloody Mary for her. Habang umiinom sila, someone spoke from the stage where a live band was assembled.

"Good evening everyone!" A handsome guy spoke, who said to be the host of the night. "We're inviting everybody who wants to have fun by singing with us. Pwede po kayong umakyat dito sa stage."

Everyone was screaming and clapping their hands. Napaka-vibrant ng atmospere sa loob ng bar.

"Akala ko ba kakanta ka?" tanong ni Ethan sa kanya.

"Naniwala ka naman. Kapag ako kumanta, wala ng costumer itong bar ng kapatid mo bukas," sagot niya sa binata na tatawa-tawa.

"Huwag kang mag-alala dahil mamahalin pa rin kita gaano man kapangit 'yang boses mo!

Lumabi ang dalaga, " Kung makapangit naman siya....kapag ako nakakanta diyan. Makikita mo talaga.."

Ethan glared back at her. Naghahamon ang mga mata nito. Abot tainga ang ngiti. "Sige nga, I dare you to sing..Make me love you more, babe."

"Talagang kakanta ako dun. Mamaya ka lang, hinahamon mo talaga ako eh."

Ethan's laughter was a moment to be captured. She was mesmerize seeing him laugh like that. Ngayon niya lang ito nakitang tumawa ng buong puso at abot sa mata ang kasiyahan.

" I'm counting on you babe.."

"Dito ka lang. Watch me," bulong niya sa binata as she kissed him on the cheek.

Nanigas ang katawan ng binata habang titig na titig sa papalayong dalaga. He couldn't move because of what she did. He watch her as she speak with the band.

Nakatayo ang dalaga sa gitna ng entablado habang hawak ang mikropono. She stood there with a smile plastered on her lips.

"Magandang gabi po! I'm dedicating this song to that man over there and I hope that he'll like it," she was pointing to him as she smiled adorably. "This is for you, babe."

Napailing na lang si Ethan. Naroon ang paghanga sa mga mata nito habang titig na titig sa dalaga. He really was shock upon hearing her sing. She sings very well. Lalo lang siyang nahuhulog rito. Everybody in the room became quite as she starts singing. He don't know the song, but it sound so good...

Ethan was mesmerized by the way she sing. Sa kanya nakatingin ang dalaga hanggang sa matapos nito ang kanta. The crowd applauded as she steps out of the stage walking towards me. Niyakap ko siya ng sobrang higpit sa sobrang sayang nararamdaman ko.

"What was that hug for?" tanong ni Jade sa kanya.

"Wala 'to...masaya lang ako na kasama kita. Tsaka bakit hindi mo sinabi na ang galing mo palang kumanta," nakangiti ang binata sa kanya.

Ngingiti-ngiti siya sa binata habang hinihila ito pabalik sa kanilang upuan. Nakikita niya sa mga mata nito ang paghanga sa kanya.

" Anong oras pala ang alis natin bukas?" kapagdaka ay tanong ng dalaga.

"Sa hapon na siguro. Mga dalawang oras lang naman ang biyahe papunta ng Batangas. Para makapagpahinga ka din."

"Okey.Tatanghaliin din siguro ako ng gising bukas.."

They stayed there for a couple of minutes before going home. Ethan couldn't be happier than this. Kahit paano ay nararamdaman niyang may pag-asa siya at may katugon ang pagmamahal niya sa dalaga. He just have to wait for her when she's ready.