The Bad Girl's Gentleman

= Prologue =

The Bad Girl's Gentleman

= Prologue =

PRESENT TIME

THERE'S NO TURNING BACK.

That's what I realize when I heard the ding! sound. Napatingin ako sa ibabaw ng elevator at nakitang nasa twenty-seventh floor na ko. This is it, Gwen. I huff outwards as the doors slide open.

Madilim na sa hallway dahil wala ng katao-tao dito. Maliban na lang sa taong pupuntahan ko. Ano na lang kayang reaksyon niya kapag nakita niya ko? Napangisi na lang ako. Edi magkakaalaman na kami, iyon lang naman 'yun.

A chill runs down my spine as I get closer. Napakalamig naman kasi sa opisina na 'to. O baka naman kasi... super igsi ng suot ko? Take note, backless pa ito at plunging neckline. Syempre kailangan lantaran na kung yayain ko siyang maging boyfriend ko hindi ba? I have to show him what I can offer.

Walang tunog ang suot kong heels dahil naa-absorb ng carpet ang bawat tapak. Kaya naman kumatok ako sa pinto para hindi na siya magulat pa kung sakali man. Hindi ko na din siya hinintay na sumagot at binuksan na lang ito. Papasukin niya lang din naman ako.

I smile when I see him on his huge swivel chair. The only lights are coming from his desktop screen and from the distant lamp that is emitting a halo of orange glow. Muntikan na kong mapairap na hindi manlang niya ko pinansin.

Psh, di bali na. Sanay naman na ko.

Sinarado ko sa likod ang pinto at naglakad papunta sa lamesa niya. "Hey, babe," pagtukod ko sa makintab at makinis niyang lamesa at hinayaang manguna ang dibdib ko.

He spares me a glance and a small smile forms on his face. Then, his deep voice rumbles from him lips. "What are you doing out this late, Gwen? It's already way past your bedtime."

There is something in his voice that just simply melts me. Para akong butter na nilulusaw ng boses niya. Naglabas na ko ng isang tawa sa bibig ko kahit naiinis talaga ako tuwing pinaparamdam niya sa'kin na ang bata-bata ko pa. Syempre, kapag nag-joke si crush, dapat tumawa ka. "Aren't you happy to see me?"

"You should be doing your homework."

"Hindi na uso sa college 'yun."

Again, napatingin siya sa'kin ni wala pa ngang isang segundo. Pero every millisecond counts. I smile extra sweetly at him. s**t. Nangangalay na ako sa posisyon ko. Hindi ko ma-gets kung paano nagagawa ng ibang babae na ibalandra ng ganito ang sarili nila ng matagal na panahon. First time ko to. First time!

Never in my life kong gagawin ulit 'to. Aba't ayaw niya talaga akong pansinin? Nobody ignores me! Sinilip ko muna bago inabot ang OFF button ng desktop niya at nawalan kami ng isang source ng ilaw. He sighs and finally let goes of his mouse. My, bakit kahit ang pagsinghap napaka-sexy?

It is way out of my comfort zone but I pull myself up to his desk and spin so I'm facing him. I keep my legs together of course pero nakapatong ang high heels ko sa binti niya.

He closes his eyes for a moment before opening them. There is little energy left; he seems tired but he smiles at me and gently pushes my feet off him. "What are you doing here, Gwen? Does your mom even know that you're out?"

I ignore his joke. "I'm bored."

His eyebrows furrows. "May nagbago ba?"

I shoot him a pointed look. "Humor me, Baz."

He complete reclines on his seat and looks at me with half-hooded eyes. "What do you want?"

"You," I say while looking at him underneath my lashes. "That's too much of an easy question."

He lazily grins at me. "Ilang beses ko na bang sinabi sa'yo—"

"You can't run away from me forever, Baz. We both know that." I stretch out my right leg and slowly slide my foot upwards against his shin, trying to be more seductive.

He pushes himself to a standing position and I have to crane my neck just to look at him. Minsan nakakalimutan kong six-footer nga pala 'tong kasama ko. "Get down. I'm taking you home."

Talaga nga naman. Tumalikod na siya sa'kin pero hinigit ko siya paharap sa'kin ulit. I squeeze hard on his elbow so he knows I'm serious. "It's not like I'm asking you to love me. I just want to have fun. And I know you want it, too."

He cups both of my cheeks and tilts my head upward so I can see his face. Para mapatingin ako sa malalalim niyang mata na parang nangungusap.

"Trust me. You wouldn't want to be my girl."

Pero alam ko na kasi 'to eh. Nangaasar lang siya. Deep inside I know he wants me. Nagpapabebe lang. I circle my fingers on his wrists and squeeze harder. "And who are you to tell me what I want?"

He is frozen for a second and the next time he blinks, his eyes shift. Nagbago. Binitawan niya ko at may lumabas na makatunaw-butong ngiti sa mga labi niya. "Alright."

Tumalikod siya sa'kin at inabot ang coat niyang nakasampay sa likod ng swivel chair niya.

"Is that a yes?" tanong ko.

He looks at me and his smile got wider. "Yes."

Ha! Nararamdaman ko na ang evil laugh na palabas sa bibig ko pero nilunok ko muna iyon. Hindi ko mapigilang hindi mapangiti. Akala ko nawala na talaga ang charm ko. Phew! Bibigay din naman pala talaga siya.

"Should we start right now?" I ask him with the sweetest smile I can muster.

"Sure, baby."

Mabilis na umakyat ang dugo sa pisngi ko gawa ng hindi mapigilang kilig. There is something in his voice that always hit a string that my inside goes in a pleasurable vibration.

Butterflies are soaring in my stomach but then I feel my smile falter as he smirks at me like I just made the worst decision of my life.