The Bad Girl's Gentleman

= Code 4 =

The Bad Girl's Gentleman

= Code 4 =

PRESENT TIME

AROUND FIVE WEEKS AGO I MET BAZ. Nakakatawang isipin na ilang araw pa lang namin kilala ang isa't isa pero kami na. We can do the get-to-know part later. Importante, akin na siya. I don't know why but I like the thought that he is mine now. Alam ko namang hindi kami forever at nagpapalipas lang kami ng oras. But I don't know... it feels good.

I look at Baz who is driving on his seat right now. One hand on the wheel and the other I am holding. I was only given a number or chances and opportunities to get to like him enough to decide I want him to be mine. So far, this is the words I'd use to describe him: humble, sweet, gentleman, successful, (smoking) hot, and rich.

Hindi ko talaga alam kung bakit siya pumayag. Haha! I was bluffing earlier noong naisip ko na gusto niya din ako. I've seen a few signs when we were together for the second time. Here's what happened:

As Baz said four weeks ago, that was the first time he saw me sober. The second time we met was a week after my NSTP seminar.

As usual, it was a Friday and I was drunk. Yet again.

"Olivia!" pagkanta ko pagpasok ko. It was almost one in the morning. Nagtanggal ako ng sapatos at mabilis na pumlakda sa sofa. I didn't think I'd make it to the bedroom. Via came out of her room with her arms crossed on her chest. She hated it when I come home drunk. Anyway, sanay naman na siya.

"Where were you?"

Sasagot pa lamang ako nang taasan niya ko ng kamay.

"No, don't answer that. You have a big problem," sabi niya at binuksan ang laptop na nasa babasaging lamesa sa harap ko. "Since you were absent from Baz's interview, you are the one who needs to make the proposal. Bukas mo na ito ip-present. You have a meeting with Baz tomorrow, Gwen! Why are you drunk?!"

"I have a what-what tomorrow?" tanong ko sa kaniya. I couldn't even speak straight much less open my eyes.

"A meeting with Baz! We talked about this the day before!" inis na inis siyang nagpapapadiyak. Alam ko dahil naririnig ko ang bawat pagtama ng paa niya sa sahig. "Why are you so careless?"

"I'll take care of it," I laughed. I would just call him. Psh, why do I need to make a f*****g proposal? Buti na lang talaga at kinuha ko number niya noong nilibre niya ko ng coffee. "Go away, Via. Get some sleep. I'll fix this. Don't worry."

Nagmamaktol at binalibag niyang sinarado ang pintuan ng kaniyang kwarto. Baka may PSM—PMS pala. I fumbled in my bag for my phone. Punyetang fingerprint scanner ayaw gumana. Bago ko pa maibato ang phone ko, miraculously, gumana na ang lintik na phone.

"Basil" ang nakalagay sa contact niya sa'kin at pikit-pikit ko pang pinindot ang pangalan niya. When I heard it was ringing I putted it on my ear. Kahit marinig ko palang ang pag-ring dumadagdag na ang hilo ko.

Baz answered on the fifth ring, "Gwen?"

I grinned even though I knew he couldn't see me. I could see him perfectly behind my closed eyes. "Hey, Baz."

"Why are you calling? It's one in the morning. Are you okay?"

"Oh, shush. I'm fine," I laughed. f**k, do I sound drunk? What if because I'm drunk he won't accept the proposal? "What proposal am I supposed to present tomorrow?"

"W-what?" nagtataka niyang tanong.

"Proposal!! I am supposed to meet you tomorrow for it!"

"You mean for the sponsorship?"

"s**t," I whispered. f*****g hell! My freaking school's NSTP future is on my shoulders.

"Are you okay?"

Shit. s**t. s**t. s**t. s**t. Times infinity. Kapag hindi ko mapapapayag si Baz na mag-sponsor ang De Los Nobles Foundation para sa outreach program deads ako sa professor ko. f**k. f**k. f**k. And I have to make a f*****g proposal while I'm drunk. How?!!!!!

"Gwen?"

"Yeah?" I asked, clutching my head. I needed to be sober. I needed a shower and to p**e all the alcohol out. I have about seven hours to make a proposal. I could do it. Yes, I have to do it.

"Gwen," tawag ni Baz. He sounded a bit irritated.

"What?!" pagbalik ko nang galit sa kaniya.

"Alright, that's enough. Where are you?"

"I'm busy, Baz. I have to go," sabi ko sa kaniya at binaba na ang tawag. Kakabangon ko palang ay bumaliktad na ang sikmura ko. I really needed a toilet.

My phone rang again and Baz's name appeared on the screen. I felt a little scared when I answered. "Hello?"

"I'm coming to your apartment. Meet you in the coffee shop in the ground floor in twenty minutes. Bring your laptop."

"What?—Baz?"

Toot. toot. toot.

What did he say? s**t he's coming. Halos manakbo ako sa banyo para maghilamos. Hindi ko na sinubukang sumuka kahit parang binibiyak na ang ulo ko. I couldn't show up looking like a d**g addict. Uminom na lang ako ng malamig na tubig at ng gamot, nagdadasal na sana gumana.

I was in the coffee shop in less than twenty minutes. Yet, when I get there, Baz was already sitting in one of the u-shaped booths. Did I compute the time wrong? Was I really that drunk? "Am I late?"

"No, I just got here fast. Sit down," he said.

During my short rush of adrenaline, I sobered up a little. Ngayon naman para na kong pinapasukan ng karayom sa ulo. I was back on the situation on how I met Baz. How ironic.

"Your coffee, ma'am, sir," sabi ng isang waiter at umalis din matapos ilapag ang dalawang tasa ng umuusok na kape.

"Thanks," sabi ko kay Baz. I knew I couldn't drink it yet and that Baz was staring at me as if he was waiting for me to melt. I bit my lips and looked elsewhere. I was trying to hide my blush.

"You're drunk," he observed. "Again."

"A little."

He leaned towards the table and pressed his gaze harder against the side of my face. "Tell me, will you be able to make the proposal?"

I sighed. "I don't think I'm in the right state of mind to create a single coherent paragraph."

He nodded his head and brought his cup to his lips. "What should we do?" tanong niya na parang nangaasar.

Napakunot ang noo ko sa sagot niya. I finally look at him. He was waiting for me to say something, to offer him a solution he already knew. I leaned towards the table too, my forearm a couple of inches away from his.

"You can just say you accepted."

"How is that supposed to work? I need papers, Gwen, proof that I reviewed what you want the foundation to do for your program."

"You will make them for me."

He chuckled and his dimple hinted its appearance. "The paperwork? The Powerpoint? I'll make them for you?"

"Uh-hmm," I agreed to him. "That's why you're here."

"Is that so?"

"Yes."

He exhaled and leaned backwards his seat. "Since I held my position I've always thought of being in a partnership with a school. It'll be good for both parties."

"Really?" I asked him with a grin. "Are you sure you're not doing this because of me?"

He laughed and finally his dimple showed. I badly wanted to poke it. "No, Gwen. I'm pretty sure I'm doing this for the good of the people your program will help."

Ouch. That rejection though. But he sounded so sincere about the people thing I barely noticed the pain. Gusto ko sanang sabihin na para siyang prinsipe na galing sa isang fairtytale mala-Prince Charming ng Cinderella pero may mga biglaang pumasok sa loob ng coffee shop.

Two guys dressed in expensive long sleeves. Hindi ko na sana sila titignan dahil may Baz naman ako sa tabi ko pero isa sa kanila ay kilala ko. What the f**k is he doing here? Is he following me? No, that can't be possible. So this is just pure coincidence?

Napakapit ako sa braso ni Baz para magtago. I hid my face behind his shoulder. Kakakilala ko lang sa kaniya sa The Vibe kanina. He was buying me drinks all night, thinking he could take me to his condo unit when I'm drunk enough to spread my legs to anyone. He'd kill me if he saw me.

"Friends of yours?" he asked.

"Uhhh, not really, no."

I could hear him sipping on his coffee. "He must have recognized you, he's looking this way."

Lalo lamang akong napatungo sa likod ni Baz. What am I going to do? Kyaahh! Magmamakaawa na sana ako kay Baz na tulungan ako pero mukhang naunahan niya ko.

His arm went around my shoulders and he tilted his face to mine, so close that his breath roasted my cold cheeks. "We should go," he whispered.

"Is he still looking?"

"I hope not," he chuckled. "Come."

We stood up and he pushed me out of the door whilst blocking the guy's view of me. I don't even know his freaking name! Para akong nabuhusan ng malamig na tubig paglabas ko ng coffee shop. I couldn't help but grin. "Thanks!"

He handed me my laptop. "You should go," he said and gestured to the apartments ever opening glass doors. "I'll have the contract sent to your professor tomorrow morning. You should just rest."

"Okay."

"I'll go now," he said and stepped towards a Rover parked in front of the shop.

"Wait," I called to him. "Aren't gentlemen supposed to kiss good bye?"

He raised an eyebrow at me, confusingly. I pointed to my cheek and he grinned. "I think it should be on the hand though," he said while walking back to me.

"You're in a modern society now. Cheeks are the thang."

He chuckled. "Just who are you?" he joked.

"The girl who makes you smile?" I guessed as he bent down and pressed a short chaste kiss on my cheek. Sobrang bilis ng labi niya sa pisngi ko na na-tempt akong humirit pa ng isa. Pero next time na lang.

He stopped short in front of me. "Are you?"

"Aren't I?"

He grinned back at me.

"See?" I asked and flicked my hair over my shoulder. "Ha! Joke lang."

I didn't want to let him go. I didn't want him to leave. But it was past two in the morning already. Ngayon ko lang napansin na nakasuot pa ng pangtrabaho si Baz. Gusto ko pa siyang tanungin pero baka humaba na naman ang usapan at hindi na talaga siya makauwi hanggang sa magkaanak na kami. Chos.

"You drive safely."

"Hmm," he answered and pocketed his hands. "And you sleep tight."

I nodded at him and began walking backwards to the doors. "I'll see you in my dreams?"

"It'll be a nightmare then."

"No," I smiled at him and waved at him good bye. "It'll be the best dream I'll ever have. Good night, Baz."

"You are quiet," he says now, bringing me back here with him in his car. "What are you thinking about?"

"The second time I met you? When you first kissed me—my cheek, I mean."

"Right," he smiles. "You can have as many kisses as you want now."

I smile at back at him. Medyo kinakabahan ako. Gaano man ako kaharot NKSB pa rin ako. Remember NKSB. No Kiss Since Birth. Paano na lang kung ang epic ko pala? Tapos bigla akong iwanan ni Baz ano? Haha! Parang 'yung w*****d story lang na narinig kong pinagc-chikahan ng dalawang high school student sa KFC noong nakaraan.

"I don't think there's anywhere we can eat here," sabi ko kay Baz dahil sarado na ang mga kainan sa Glassmount Residences.

"I know," he says and pulls his car into an open parking space in ease. "That's why I'm cooking."

"What?"

His teeth were visible under the dim lights. It makes him look scary when he grinned. "I live here. We're going to my place."

"What?!"

"Now, now," he says and turns off the ignition. His hand lands on my thigh and pats it twice before squeezing. "You're not scared of being alone with me now, are you?"

He grins at me once more then he steps out of the car. While I wait for him to round to my door, I can feel my knees trembling.

Alright, I'm definitely scared.