La Heredera IV Delta Dalmases

Chapter 4

ANG sabihin na nagulat ako ay understatement. How could I let a stranger kiss me me in the middle of the driveway -- at sa harap pa ng lobby. Ang mainit na panahon ba na may preskong hangin ang dapat kong sisihin kung bakit ako nadadala  sa halik n'ya? O mas angkop sabihin na malakas ang attraction namin sa isa't isa? 

It must be the sound of the waves in the ocean or the Cabo San Lucas itself. After all, it's such a charming place. It's so laidback that sometimes, I don't feel like moving and just be content to be in a hammock while sipping on a cocktail. I swear after this, I need a drink. 

Ganito talaga siguro ang epekto ng Mexico sa akin. Nakakawala ng katinuan.

But being enveloped in his arms is new to me. Wala pa akong pinayagan na lumapit sa akin ng ganito, much less allow them to kiss me so blatantly in public. Bukod sa nasa driveway kami, nasa harap rin kami ng maraming taol. It is obvious that we will attract an attention.

He nibbled on my lower lip and I was afraid to open my eyes. Bakit? Tanong ko rin 'yan sa sarili ko. Is it because I am embarrassed or is it the fact that I didn't want the kiss to end. Gabriel is my first kiss. Siguro nga ay totoo ang sinasabi ng marami na hindi mo makakalimutan ang tamis ng unang halik. But what if it came from a stranger? Does that still count?

Naramdaman ko ang paghaplos ng likod ng kanyang kamay sa pisngi ko. Even his thumb caressed my lower lip. 

"Anong iniisip mo?" bulong n'ya sa akin. He still didn't let me go. One arm was still circled on my waist, like he doesn't want to let go. 

Obviously, nawawala pa ako sa sarili ko. His kiss was like opium. Addictive to a fault. "W-Why would you --" 

I wanted to ask him why he did it knowing that we are not dating each other. Bukod doon ay kakikilala pa lang namin. Kung bakit ganito ang pakikitungo n'ya sa akin ay hindi ko maintindihan.

I looked into his face and he looked amused. "If you want to ask me something, I can't answer it if your question is incomplete." 

Now both his arms are encircled to my waist, caging me in front of him. What is wrong with this man? More over, what the hell is wrong with me? Parang hindi ko na kilala ang sarili ko. Could it be that he drugged me? Oh don't be ridiculous, Delta!

I gathered all my courage and ask him as I slowly tried to free myself from his embrace. "Why did you kiss me?" 

He smiled. "I wanted to kiss you." 

Napatanga ako sa kanya. "You can't kiss women just because you wanted to!" 

His smile grew wider. "I didn't say I wanted to kiss women, I only said I wanted to kiss you. And stop wiggling, you're making my friend hard." 

Napanganga ako sa sinabi n'ya. Wala pa akong nagiging nobyo pero hindi ibig sabihin na hindi ako pamilyar sa human anatomy. I know what he is talking about. And it doesn't take a scientist to figure out that he is aroused. His member is hard. Realizing that, pinamulahan ako ng mukha.

"Mr. Laguera," binigyan ko s'ya ng warning. I didn't know what else to say to him. 

"Gabriel," pagtatama n'ya sa akin. "I want you to call me by my name." 

I am not in the mood to listen to him. "Let me go." Calling him by his first name seems intimate to me. 

"And if I don't?" tudyo n'ya sa akin. 

If I didn't have the feeling that he is a good man, I would have kneed him on his jewels. But I can't bear my self to do it since I owe him. If he didn't get my purse, I would be detained here until I get proper documents to fly back home. 

A man in his caliber based on how he talk, how he moves -- he is far from ordinary. So why on Earth would he be interested in someone like me? Sure my parents are rich, but I just graduated and I haven't really made anything for myself yet. There must be something. But I don't think it's love. You can't just love someone as quick as that. It takes time. Realizing he just won't let me go that quickly, I dared to ask him.

"What do you want from me?" Halos hindi ako huminga habang hinihintay ang sasabihin n'ya sa akin.

Sumilay ang isang ngiti sa labi n'ya. "Time."

"Time?" Anong time ang pinagsasabi n'ya? 

"Time to get to know you. Time to be with you. Time." I was going to laugh, pero nang makita ko na seryoso s'ya sa hinihingi n'ya ay napawi ang ngiti ko. 

"I can't spend time with you. Uuwi na kami sa Pilipinas," tugon ko sa kanya. I'm not going to lie about that. Totoo naman na uuwi na kami ni Mel. But you know what's weird? Ang mapagtanto ko na uuwi na kami at hindi ko alam kung makikita ko pa ang lalakeng ito ay nagbibigay sa akin ng kakaibang lungkot. 

"Then let her leave, and stay with me here." His voice was inviting. Para bang kaya n'ya akong pasunurin sa mga nais n'ya. And my head and heart are not cooperating with each other. 

Wala naman akong sinabi kung babae o lalake ang friend ko. Paano n'ya nalaman na babae? "Her?" 

"I am assuming your friend is a woman since I am your first kiss," nagpipigil s'ya ng ngiti at ikinairita ko 'yon. Even though I was irritated, my face flushed. Magkasingkulay na kami ng makopa ngayon.

So I toyed with him to get even. "What makes you think you're my first kiss? Did it ever cross your mind that I was not enjoying your kiss so I didn't respond to it like how you wanted?" Hindi pa naman talaga ako nahahalikan ng kahit sino. At heto na nga, s'ya pa talaga ang una. Ni hindi kami magkarelasyon, and yet, naibigay ko na ang tamis ng unang halik. That sounded like porn. Ew.

A flash of anger crossed his eyes very quickly. Ganoon rin kabilis na napalitan ng lamlam. I don't understand him at all. Para bang matagal na n'ya akong kilala pero hindi ko naman s'ya matandaan. A man with a face like him is unforgettable. His face is the kind where you want to meet with in your dreams. A dreamy kind of guy.

When he spoke again, Gabriel was full of confidence. "You didn't enjoy my kiss and yet you responded like your life depended on it? It wasn't just your lips that reacted, your body did too. And don't deny it," sabi n'ya na nagpanganga sa akin. Saan ba n'ya nakukuha ang lakas ng loob n'yang bumanat ng mga ganito? Daig pa ang may balon ng self confidence. I can't deny the attraction between us at iyon ang nakakatakot. It's so strong I don't know if I should run away as fast as I can, or stay and get to know him. What a dilemma!

"Still, hindi na mauulit. Thank you for saving me today and for the food. I have to go so take your arms off me," madiin kong sabi sa kanya. When he is close to me I just -- I can't think straight.

Narinig ko ang pagbuntong hininga n'ya. He didn't let me go but he looked into my eyes while he spoke, I almost forgot my name. 

"A week. You're safe with me. I promised not to touch you unless you want me to." There he goes again. Iyon na namang boses na bawal tanggihan. Masuyo. Kaakit-akit. 

Maraming pwedeng mangyari sa isang linggo. I don't even think I can trust myself around him. Ganoon kalakas ang epekto n'ya sa akin at natatakot ako sa pwedeng mangyari. 

Think Delta, think. Do I stay or do I go?