Children of Bridgetines V Hailey

Chapter 3

Hailey | Baguio

Ano daw? Dinner? Mamaya? Napahilamos ako sa mukha ko. Hindi pa ako nakakabawi sa nangyari kahapon ay nasundan na agad kanina ng isa pang halik at mamaya ay dinner naman. Sinabi ko na ngang ayaw kong magdinner ay mapilit pa rin. Pwes magdinner syang mag-isa!

I went inside and forget the yoga routine I was doing earlier. I went to my room to grab my bag and car keys. I went back to my flat and when I got there, I packed a few clothes and all the necessities. Syempre makakalimutan ko ba ang laptop ko. Sinilid ko pati ang charger. Nang masiguro kong kumpleto na ang mga dadalhin ko kasama ang mga toiletries ay lumabas na ako at nagtungo sa kotse ko. Kakapacheck ko lang nito at pwede ng i-long drive. Unlike Ate Nikki who likes driving sports car, I like driving a Jaguar.

Dumaan ako sa gasolinahan para mag full tank bago ako nagdrive papuntang Baguio. Tamang tama ang malamig na klima sa init na pilit pinupukaw ni Dominic sa akin. Kung kailan ako tumanda ay saka pa yata ako magkakalat. Tang*na!

I like listening to T Swift's songs when I am driving. Some people find her lyrics suitable for teens but I am just 22 -- I guess I am not too old to listen to her songs. Plus she makes me giddy and helps me with my writing.

It took me five hours to get to Baguio. Sumalubong sa akin ang malamig na klima at preskong amoy ng pine trees. Alas nuwebe y media ako umalis ng Batangas, alas tres na ng hapon ako dumating dahil tumigil pa ako sa restaurant para kumain ng lunch.

Nagcheck in ngayon ako sa hotel bitbit ang bag ko. Humiga ako sa kama at itinaas ang mga paa ko sa unan. Nagcharge ako ng cellphone ko kanina habang nagdadrive ako. At dahil malamig sa Baguio at pagod sa pag drive ay mabilis akong hinila ng antok. Balak ko ay mag nap lang pero napasarap ang tulog ko at kung hindi nag ring ang cellphone ko ay hindi ako magigising agad. Antok na antok pa ako. Hindi ko na tiningnan kung sino ang tumatawag at sa pagas kong boses ay sinagot ko.

"Hello?" nanatili akong nakahiga sa kama at nakapikit.

"Hailey, I hope you're ready. It's almost five." It's Dom on the other line. Napangiti ako.

"Dominic. I am afraid I am not available to have dinner with you tonight or any other night."

"Are you sick? Your voice sounds hoarse." He sounded worried.

"I am not sick. I just woke up that's why."

"Okay, well get ready then because we are eating together tonight whether your like it or not."

Makulit din itong kapatid ni Ate Nikki. Ang sarap batukan -- sinabi ko ng ayaw ko ng kumain kasama nya mapilit pa din.

"Bahala ka pero mamumuti lang ang mata mo sa paghihintay. Mabuti pa, tawagan mo ang isa sa mga babae mo at ayain mong kumain. Hindi ka naman nababakante eh."

"Are you back at your flat?" Hindi nya pinansin ang patutsada ko sa kanya.

"Not telling you anything. I have to go Dom. I am hungry and should get something to eat. Have a good dinner with your woman." I ended the call and ordered Chinese food instead. Natatakam ako sa egg rolls. Dito na lang ako sa kwarto kakain at tinatamad pa akong lumabas. Nagshower ako ng mabilis at inayos ang sarili ko.

Dom | Batangas

Nasapo ko ang ulo ko sa inis kay Hailey. Talagang napakatigas ng ulo ng babaeng iyon. Sinabi ko ng magkasama kaming maghahapunan ay kung saan saan magsususuot. Saan kaya nagpunta?

Minsan ay naiinis ako kay Ate Nikki dahil namana pa yata ni Hailey ang pagiging layas nya. Una kong pinuntahan ang flat nya, wala daw sabi ng guard at kanina pang umaga umalis. Nang bumalik ako sa bahay ng parents nya, wala din sabi ng mga kasambahay.

Pwes kung akala nya ay hindi ko sya mahahanap, nagkakamali sya. Hindi ko self made billionaire for nothing. I invented the tracking device that the military and SEALS are using right now. It is easy for me to track her down.

It only took me less than a minute to find her. What the f*ck is she doing in Baguio? That's a five hour drive from here. Looking at the clock, baka hatinggabi na ako makarating doon kung magdadrive ako ngayon at pagod na rin ako sa trabaho.

I called the company pilot and asked him to take me to Baguio. I was there in no time and took a taxi to the hotel she's staying at.

The receptionist at the hotel was accommodating when I asked for Hailey and said I am his boyfriend. She told me her suite number. I took the elevator to the 6th floor and looked for Suite 601.

I knocked a couple times and when the door opened, I saw Hailey's face turn pale.

"Hailey Harper, I believe you owe me dinner." I smiled widely as I walk inside her room. She was frozen from where she was standing that I took the knob away from her and pushed the door to close it.

Nang makabawi sya ay kumunot ang noo at hinarap ako ng nakapamaywang. "What are you doing here? How did you find me?" She closed her eyes and when she opened them she said "Never mind, you have the tracking device and I left my phone on. F*ck!" Napangisi naman ako at nag eenjoy ako sa pagkainis nya. Sya rin ang sumagot ng sarili nyang tanong.

"I told you, we are having dinner and I don't take no for an answer." Umupo ako sa kama nya at sumandal sa headboard. I folded my arms on my chest too and give her a smile.

Napahilamos sya sa mukha nya. That has been her habit since she was a kid lalo kapag inaasar ko sya. Lumaki kaming laging nag iinisan kabaligtaran namin ng kakambal nyang si Heather. Maukit kasi si Hailey kaysa kay Heather kaya tuwang tuwa ako kapag naiinis sya.

Sa unang tingin ay magkamukha sila pero kapag tinitigan mo saka mo makikita ang pagkakaiba nila. As they get older, Hailey changed her hair color to brunette at si Heather naman ay nagpapusyaw ng buhok nya. It suited their fair complexion.

"I don't understand why you are insisting for us to have dinner. The last time the two of us ate together was back in high school!" Nanggigigil sya sa akin ngayon. Kita ko ang pag ngalit ng ngipin nya.

Natatandaaan ko ang sinasabi nya. Iyon ang araw na hindi sya sinipot ni Jerome at ako ang sumulpot sa meeting place nila.

"Kaya nga it's about time we dine together." But she didn't listen to me. She started ranting about the past, me ruining her date, me dating different women, me dating her classmate at MIT and a lot more.

I just listened to her and waited for her to finish. If I was my younger self, I would be talking the same time as her and we will end up arguing. But I am a lot older now and patience is a virtue they said.

Mukhang tapos na syang mag litanya. Tumayo ako at lumakad palapit sa kanya at bago pa sya makahuma ay nahalikan ko na sya ng mariin at matagal. Narinig ko pa ang pag ungol nya at paglapat ng mga kamay nya sa dibdib ko.

Nang putulin ko ang halik ko ay nanatili sya sa bisig ko at sinigurado kong hindi sya makakawala. "Kung ayaw mong magdinner ay doon tayo sa next option ko. We are getting married and whether you like it or not ay magiging asawa mo ako. Take your pick."

Hailey's body went stiff and her face turned white as a sheet.