Secretive Desires [R18]

4. Friendly Date

Dominique's POV

Never in my entire life I've been this stress. Nakatitig ako sa mga test papers na nasa ibabaw ng aking mesa dito sa loob ng aking opisina sa Wilksven University. I've been staring for these papers for about--God knows how long, minutes.

Napabuga ako ng hangin atsaka inumpisahan na lang irecord ang mga ito isa-isa sa excel ng laptop ko.

I should've considered Miss Armantin's suggestion about asking for some working scholar's help here in the university, pero masyado na rin kasing late para don.

Wala akong kakilalang working scholar dito, tsaka pasado alas siete na ang gabi ngayon. Konting-konti na lang din ang mga estduyanteng narito.

I have nothing to do in my condo so I might as well finish my task for tonight.

"Lucca Hiro De Allegre?" Usal ko sa aking sarili nang mapatingin sa isang test paper na halos iilan lang ang mali. He got the highest score in my class.

"De Allegre?" Usal ko ulit atsaka kunot noong tinignan ng mabuti ang kanyang pangalan. Napaderetso ako ng upo nang maalala ko na kung saan ko narinig ang apelyido niya.

Of course! How could I ever forget the engineering firm where I had my internship? Kaagad kong hinalungkat ang ilang files ng mga estudyante ko, more specifically in this class where a De Allegre is currently in.

Napahinto ako nang makita ang files ni Lucca Hiro De Allegre. He's 21 years old, an advanced student, and a student-athlete. He got a good background and good records in Wilksven since 1st year college. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na ama niya ang mentor ko na si Engr. Luke De Allegre.

And I'm 4 years older than Lucca.

Nang makita ko ang litrato niya sa files, naningkit ang aking mga mata atsaka tinitigan ito ng mabuti.

Napasandal ako sa aking swivel chair nang maalala ko na siya. I play with my pen using my fingers as I stare at his file for a few seconds.

Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, ito ang lalakeng palaging katabi ni Selena sa klase ko. I also noticed him together with her most of the times. Are they friends? Or perhaps just an acquaintance? Nah, I don't think a mere acquaintance will stick to you most of the times.

They're probably friends...

Tinapos ko na lang ang pag-eencode ng mga marka nila sa excel ko atsaka niligpit ang mga test paper sa gilid. I stretched my back as I stood up from my chair and took my car keys and phone before storming out my office.

Tahimik ang hallway nang lakarin ko ito pero napahinto rin ako sa bungad ng library nang mapadaan ako rito. It was close and I no longer see any lights inside the room.

Bigla kong naalala si Selena at hindi maiwasang mapatingin sa cellphone ko.

That man-hater, how dare her give my personal number to somebody else without my consent?

Salubong ang kilay kong binulsa ang aking cellphone atsaka naglakad ulit sa mahabang pasilyo ng Wilksven.

It's probably my fault for not asking her purpose in wanting my personal number so bad in the first place. I thought giving her my number will be the key in knowing her reasons why the hell does she hate me this much.

Wala naman akong ginagawang mali pero heto siya at umaaktong parang kinuha ko ang lahat mula sa kanya para kamuhian ako ng ganito. Whatever, she can do whatever she wants as long as I keep my composure cool.

"DOM!" Napalingon ako sa aking likuran nang may tumawag sa akin.

"Coach." Isang mahigpit na yakap ang ibinigay niya sa akin nang tuluyan na itong makalapit sa kaing pwesto.

Nasa kabilang university ako ngayon dahil inimbita niya ako na manood ng laro ng bagong batch ng basketball varsities. Today's Saturday and I have no appointments so I'm free throughout this day.

"I'm glad you accepted my invitation, Dom." Nakangiting saad ni coach sa akin atsaka kami sabay na naglakad patungo sa covered court ng unibersidad na 'to.

Nagkukwentuhan lang kami hanggang sa tuluyan na kaming makapasok sa loob. As expected, maraming mga estudyante ang narito, may iilan na galing din sa Wilksven.

"Do you want to sit with the team?" Napangiti ako sa sinabi niya atsaka tumango.

"I would love to," sagot ko sa kanya. I prefer watching the game in a near distance.

"Kuya Dominique!" Deretso akong napatingin sa isang matangkad at morenong lalake sa di kalayuan. He's wearing the team's jersey. Mas lalong lumawak ang aking ngiti atsaka ito kinawayan.

"Sandro." We embraced each other and chat for a minute. Hindi pa naman nagsisimula ang laro kaya hinayaan lang muna kaming dalawa na mag-usap dito sa gilid.

After a few minutes of chatting, I took my seat on the bench and watch the game starts. Kabilang sa first five player si Sandro at ang estudyante kong si Lucca. He greets me when he saw me sitting along with his teammates.

First half of the game was smooth, but the remaining half was too intense. The other university have a set of tough players as well making it more challenging for the Wilksven.

Sandro and Lucca was talking using their eyes when Sandro passed the ball to him. Napatayo kaming lahat nang ishoot ni Lucca ang bola sa ring atsaka ito pumasok.

Napuno ng sigawan ang buong court dahil limang segundo na lang at matatapos na ang laro. When the buzzer suddenly echoed around the covered court. That's the time Wilksven won the game. Limang puntos ang lamang ng Wilksven.

I congratulate the team for giving us a good game. That was indeed intense. Akala ko nga ay makakahabol pa ang kalaban, buti na lang at naipasok ni Lucca ang bola kaya may tatlong puntos kaagad ang nadagdag.

"Sese!"

"Lucca!" Napalingon kaagad ako sa pinanggalingan ng boses. I looked up to the elevated chair and I saw De Allegre sprinting towards the 3rd row of the chairs.

Bumaba ang ilang mga estudyanteng taga Wilksven para ma-icongratulate ang ibang players pero si Lucca lang ang mismong tumakbo sa itaas para salubungin si Selena.

"Ano ba! Ang lagkit mo!" Rinig kong reklamo ne'to sa lalake nang yakapin siya ne'to ngunit tinawanan lang siya ni De Allegre.

They talked and they laughed. I presume Selena congratulate him.

Bigla kong naalala ang isa sa mga naging laro ko noong kolehiyo pa lang ako. I saw myself and Celestine while looking at Lucca and Selena.

Kaagad akong umiwas ng tingin sa dalawa atsaka nilapitan si coach nang marinig kong tinawag niya ang aking pangalan. I smiled ang congratulate all the players again for a job well done.

Biglang nagvibrate ang cellphone ko sa loob na king bulsa kaya kaagad ko yung kinuha. Someone texted me. I read Ashley's name in the notification before opening her messages.

Libre ka ba ngayon? Gusto mong magkape tayo? Libre ko.

I replied her messages asking where's the location. Ashley is Selena's cousin. Una kong nakilala si Ashley kesa kay Selena nong nagpunta kami ni Tine ng Cebu kasama si Sasha.

Everything happened so fast during that time and Ashley is a good woman. Mabait siya, palangiti, at medyo mahinhin. Minsan ko na rin siyang nakikita at nakakasalamuha simula nong nagpunta siya rito sa Maynila para rito magtrabaho.

But this is the first time we're exchanging text messages because of Selena. I really don't know what that woman is up to, but I'm not dumb not to notice that she's trying to link me with Ashley.

Ashley is... well, I kinda noticed her strange behavior towards me but I'm not here to assume anything. So, I am trying my very best to act normal in order for her not to assume anything as well. I'm afraid she'll misunderstood my actions.

Kaagad akong umalis sa unibersidad at nagpaalam kay coach dahil may pupuntahan pa ako. A woman asked me for a coffee, it would hurt my ego if I came late.

"DOMINIQUE!" Napatingin ako sa isang babaeng nakaupo sa may gilid pagkapasok ko kaagad sa loob ng coffee shop. I smiled and waved my hand at her before walking towards her direction.

"I'm sorry, masyado ba akong matagal?" Kaagad itong umiling atsaka iwinagayway ang dalawa niyang kamay sa kanyang harapan.

"Hindi, hindi naman, kakaupo ko lang din dito. Mag-order na tayo?" Tumango ako atsaka kami sabay na tumayo bago ko siya pinaunang maglakad papuntang cashier.

She ordered iced latte and I got myself a cappuccino. I automatically give a bill to the cashier before Ashley took some cash inside her wallet.

"Uy hala, diba sabi ko ako manglilibre?" Kunot-noo niyang tanong sa akin. "Miss, pakibalik po sa kanya yung pera--"

"No, please take it." I caught her off and gestured the cashier to take my money. Hinarap ko si Ashley bago magsalita.

"I won't let a woman pay for me unless she's my wife," I said before giving her a smile. Natigilan si Ashley sa sinabi ko atsaka kaagad na umiwas ng tingin.

I lied. I won't ever let a woman pay for me even if she's my wife. As long as I make my own money, she will pay nothing for me.

"A-Ano, b-bumalik nalang tayo sa mesa." Mahinang sambit niya atsaka kaagad na naglakad papalayo sa akin.

Did I say something wrong? I hope I didn't.

Nang makabalik na kami sa mesa, I automatically asked about her day. Nagkwentuhan lang kaming dalawa tungkol sa trabaho namin. Tinanong niya rin ang buhay ko sa States dahil nong nakaraang buwan lang ako bumalik dito sa Pilipinas.

I've been in the States for more than 2 years with my older sister, Ate Danica. Minsan naman ay binibisita ko rin ang pinsan kong si Mckenzie doon at ang kapatid niyang si Maximillian.

It was kinda weird because Mckenzie's name sound like a girl's name, yet his parents named him that. While Maximillian, obviously a guy's name, was his younger sister's name.

Mckenzie and Maximillian Gutierrez. Geez, my Uncle Michael surely had a weird taste in giving names.

"Mag-sstay ka na ba dito for good?"

"Uhm, I don't know. Ang totoong rason kasi kung bakit ako bumalik dito ay dahil sa isang project." Tumango-tango si Ashley sa sagot ko.

"So... may posibilidad parin na aalis ka ulit ng bansa?" I sipped my cappuccino before nodding at her.

"Ano, may tanong ulit ako." I wiped the foam on my mouth before looking at her straight in the eyes.

"Sure, what is it?"

"A-Ano kasi... m-may girlfriend ka ba?" And just like that, I froze. Ilang beses akong napakurap at ganon din siya. I'm not expecting that question, so I was a bit taken aback. I cleared my throat before answering her question.

"No, I don't have any girlfriend."

"Pero nagkagirlfriend ka naman siguro, tama?" I smiled and slowly shake my head which made her eyes widened. Mahina akong napatawa sa reaksyon niya lalo na't ilagay niya ang kanyang kamay sa kanyang bibig.

Halatang hindi ito makapaniwala.

"S-Seryoso?!"

"Yup, I've never been in a serious relationship before. If you know what I mean." Tumango-tango kaagad ito sa aking sinabi. I pressed my lips firmly.

Celestine would be the first one but sadly, she's in love with someone else before I even take the risk.

Nag-usap pa kami ng ilang minuto hanggang sa napagdesisyonan namin na maglakad-lakad na rito sa loob ng mall. I let Ashley decide where she wanted to go first. Gusto niyang pumunta ng arcade kaya doon kami una na nagtungo.

She suddenly grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to her when we took the line to buy some tokens. Medyo nagulat ako sa ginawa niya pero nang makita ko siyang nakangiti at mukhang bata na excited habang nakatingin sa harapan ay pinagsawalang bahala ko na lang 'yon.

Relax Dom, this is nothing. This is just a simple let's-grab-some-coffee-together-and-go-to-arcade FRIENDLY DATE.

I heard Ashley gasped which made me look at her in an instant.

"Are you okay?" Bigla itong may tinuro sa isang parte kaya sinundan ko kaagad ito ng tingin.

"Selena! Selena, dito!" I stiffened when I heard her say that man-hater's name--correction, Dominque-hater woman.

Nang mapatingin si Selena sa direksyon naming dalawa, kaagad siyang napangiti ng malapad nang makita si Ashley ngunit nang makita niya ako, unti-unting nawawala ang ngiti niya sa labi.

She really looked like Celestine, except for having a straight and short hair and a snobby personality.

"Selena, dito bilis!" Pag-aaya ni Ashley sa kanya habang nakahawak sa braso ko. Don ko lang napansin ang matangkad din na lalakeng nasa likuran ni Selena. It was Lucca.

Ashley happily embraced Selena while Lucca greeted me. Halatang naguguluhan ito nang makita akong kasama ang pinsan ni Selena. He's obviously suspecting me dating Selena's cousin which is not really true.

"Tara, mag-arcade tayong apat!" Nakangiting aya ni Ashley sa kanila atsaka humawak ulit sa braso ko. I looked at Selena's face and in just an instant, her expression became more indescribable.

Hindi ko alam kung naiinis ba siya, gusto akong patayin, o balatan ng buo dahil sa nakikita niya ngayon.

Nang tignan niya ako, biglang naningkit ang kanyang mga mata atsaka ako palihim na inirapan bago pumunta sa likuran namin ni Ashley upang pumila na rin.

Lucca automatically followed Selena's lead and went to her side as well.

"Ang galing! Magiging masaya 'to!" Ashley said cheerfully at kulang na lang ay pumalakpak ito. I secretly swallowed my saliva went I suddenly felt discomfort. Parang may pares ng matatalim na mata ang pilit na binubutas ang likuran ko.

I inhaled deeply before looking at Ashley and flashed her my worried smile.

I don't think this will be fun.