The Bad Girl's Gentleman

= Code 7 =

The Bad Girl's Gentleman

= Code 7 =

GANDA SANA NG GISING KO PERO ANG TANONG, NAKATULOG BA KO?

After that phone call with Baz kaninang madaling araw, hindi na ko nakatulog. Kahit anong gawin kong ikot sa kama hindi na ako makatulog. Yet, I tried hanggang mag-alas siyete na ng umaga at kailangan ko nang bumangon para sa nine a.m. class ko.

"Eye bags mo, girl!" sabi ni Via sa'kin.

"Gano'n ba kalala?" tanong ko sa kaniya at hinugot ang concealer sa bag ko. Hindi naman ako pala-makeup na tao. Ginagamit ko lang ang mga gamit na iyon kapag nga ganito. I gently dab it below my eyes.

"Nag-marathon ka na naman ng series 'no?"

"Hindi."

"Eh bakit?"

I try to keep my face straight. "Baz called."

Tumaas naman ang isa niyang kilay sa gulat. "Really? Magkausap kayo buong gabi?"

"No."

"Eh bakit puyat ka?"

"Tumawag siya two-thirty in the morning. Hindi na ko nakatulog."

Natawa naman si Via habang sinasalinan ng mainit na tubig ang kaniyang tasa. "Anong sabi niya?"

I miss you. Baby. Baby. Baby. Goodnight, baby.

"Wala," sagot ko sa kaniya. "Miss lang daw niya ko gano'n." "Kinilig ka naman."

"Di din, parang hindi naman kasi eh. Kung miss niya talaga ako bakit ngayon lang siya tumawag?"

"Kung sabagay, pero at least tinawagan ka niya."

"Ng alas-dos ng madaling araw."

"And that, too."

Kumain na siya at inabot ko ang cellphone ko at napagpasiyahang i-text si Baz.

To: Basil

I hate you. Hindi na ko nakatulog.

Pumasok na din kami. Pero buong maghapong nakaupo ako sa klase nag- iisip ako kung tatawag ba si Baz sa'kin. Naka-ilang check din ako ng phone para tignan kung nag-reply na ba siya o ano. Sana sa text may seen din para malaman ko kung ini-ignore niya lang ba ko.

But about three in the afternoon I receive a message from him.

From: Basil

I'm sorry, baby.

Sadly, hindi ko siya na-reply-an dahil natutulog na ko sa apartment. Six p.m. ko na siya nabasa.

To: Basil

Kakagising ko lang. Tatawag ka ba tonight?

So back to waiting game na naman ako. Wednesday passed without a word from him. Thursday evening, wala pa din.

Whuut?!

Ni ayaw ko na ngang hawakan ang phone ko dahil baka maibato ko lang. Ano ba nangyayari ka Baz? Girlfriend niya ba talaga ko? O baka naman hindi pa kami?

Pero hindi eh. Would he kiss me back kung hindi naman kami?

Edi bakit gano'n? Bakit parang ang labo ng nangyayari sa'min? Hindi ba dapat lagi siyang nagt-text? Tumatawag gabi-gabi? Tanungin manlang niya kung kumain na ko or what? Kung nakauwi na ba ko, ganern? Di baaa?!

"Alam mo, girl, tatawag naman 'yan sa'yo kung gusto ka niyang makausap," sabi ni Via habang nagm-merienda kami kasama ang isa naming gay friend na si Stefan.

"Oo nga naman, girl. Dalawang araw ka nang hindi kinakausap!" sabi ni Stefan. "Ang dami-dami mong boylet diyan hayaan mo na 'yan. Iba na lang."

Natawa naman si Via mula sa tabi ni Stefan. "Hindi mo pa kasi nakikilala si Baz eh. 'Pag nakilala mo 'yun malalaman mo kung bakit hintay na hintay si Gwen."

Sumubo si Stefan ng kaniyang frozen yoghurt bago sumagot. "Gano'n ba kasarap?"

Hindi ko napigilang matawa. No way in hell I'm going to answer that question. Umayos na lang ako ng upo.

"Jusko, girl, baka naman chakarat 'yan ha? Ekis na, girl!!" "Ito na!" sabi ni Via. "i********:!"

Napakunot ang noo ko. May i********: si Baz? Hindi ko manlang alam. Teka, may f*******: din ba 'yun? Hindi ko manlang siyang sinubukang hanapin.

"Ay, day! Famous pala ang jowa mo oh. 44.8k followers ang lolo mo," sabi ni Stefan na nakikisilip sa ibabaw ng balikat ni Via. "Ay, girl, ang sarap oh!"

"What?!" napatayo ako at binaba ang phone ni Via para lahat kami ay makakita.

It is definitely Baz's profile. Pa-scroll-scroll lang sila sa feed nito. Karamihan sa pictures tila hindi kinuha dito sa Pilipinas. May mga pictures nga na may snow. It never occurred to me kung saan na nakarating si Baz.

"Foreigner naman pala jowa mo, girl. Sige na wait-laloo mo na lang siya na mag-call sa'yo. Sayang kung pakakawalan mo," sabi ni Stefan. "Pero, girl, hindi ka niya fino-follow sa Insta? Hindi ka kasama sa Chosen 37 Following niya oh."

"Ni hindi ko nga alam na may Insta siya eh," sabi ko at naupo na. Ako na lang mag-stalk kay Basil mamaya. What the f**k. So wala pala talaga akong kaalam-alam tungkol sa kaniya. Pero di manlang niya ko hinanap sa Insta? 'Yun ang mas lalong what the f**k.

Babalik na sana kami ng apartment ni Via kaya lang biglaan kaming pinatawag ng team leader namin sa isang course. Pag-usapan daw namin kung anong gagawin sa project namin. Tumagal kami ng ilang oras dahil iyon lang ang bukod tanging panahon na makakapag-usap kami ng masinsinan. Natapos naman namin.

Plakda na ko sa kama ko pag-uwi. Hindi na nga kami sumama sa dinner sa kagustuhang makapagpahinga na. Mukhang iiyak na naman ang langit mamaya kaya dumiretso na kami dahil ayaw namin mabaha at naglalakad kami.

But nagising na naman ako ng pag-ring ng phone ko.

"Baz?"

"Hey."

Napatingin ako sa oras sa phone ko. Awa ng Diyos, ala-una na ng madaling araw. Pasalamat na ba ko at hindi siya alas-dos tumawag?

"What's up?" tanong ko sa kaniya at yumakap ng unan. Kung magyaya lang siyang matulog hindi na ko babangon.

"Were you sleeping already?" "Of course, it's a school night." "Are you home?"

"No, sa apartment."

"Can I come over?" Napadilat ako. "What?" "Can I come over?"

"It's one in the morning." "I know."

Hindi ko alam pero natawa ako. Madaling araw pupunta siya dito? What? Is he that eager to see me? Chos. "Magulo 'yung bahay. Via's stuff is everywhere. I don't feel like cleaning it all for her."

"Can I just pick you up, then?"

"San tayo pupunta?"

"My house?"

"Anong gagawin natin do'n?"

"Eat? Sleep? I don't know. I wanna see you." "I have school tomorrow."

"Classes were just suspended." "Really?"

"Are you coming?"

"I guess so."

"Great, get down now. I'm in front of your apartment."

"What?" natatawa kong sagot sa kaniya at bumangon. He can't be serious, right?

"I'm here already. Come on, just bring yourself."

Nag-mouthwash muna ako sa banyo bago lumabas ng apartment. Naka- complete uniform pa ko. Pero mukhang nagmamadali si Baz at alam kong kahit madaling araw na, hindi pwede ang matagal naka-park sa harap ng apartment.

Sobrang liwanag sa lobby ng apartment kaya naman papikit-pikit akong nakalabas ng elevator. I see Baz's car outside. He is leaning against the door, phone in hand.

Hindi na ko magtataka kung biglaan na lang may lalapit sa kaniya para itanong kung binebenta niya ba ang kotse. It's not that he looks like a salesman but he looks like an endorser if not for the small frown on his forehead that distorts his beautiful pictures.

I smile at him when he sees me. His body relaxes and there is immediately an easy smile on his lips; frown gone. "Hey," he reaches for my hand first and he kisses the side of my head. "You're still in your uniform."

I put my head on his shoulder and smell him. Ha! Heaven nga. "Hindi na lang ba dapat ako pumunta?" tanong niya.

"No, you doofus. I just had a busy day at school, that's all." "Here," he says and moves to open the door for me.

I hop on and position myself on the leather seat. "Won't you pull me closer in the backseat of your Rover?"

He chuckles and reaches for my seatbelt before locking it in place. While he is this close he answers my question, "I don't do backseats, baby."

I smile at him and remember that Baz is someone who can afford. Haha. Stupid, Gwen. Baz is silent while driving. Ayoko din naman mag-ingay dahil kakagising ko lang. Malakas pa din ang ulan kaya naman iilang piraso na lang ang kotse na nasa kalsada. It is a short drive of fifteen minutes.

"Did you just got off work?" tanong ko sa kaniya pag pasok ng apartment. "Yeah."

"Why do you work so late?"

"My mind works faster in the nighttime. When it's quiet."

"Pero kahit na, hindi ko akalain na gano'n pala ka-busy ang isang foundation owner? Don't you just, like, collect donations and whatnot?"

He laughs while he is pulling at his tie and I'm just there watching his perfect face open. "Is that what you think I do, huh?"

"Uh, yeah?"

May iba pa ba siyang dapat gawin sa isang foundation?

Inalis niya ang unang butones ng polo niya bago hinatak nang tuluyan paalis ng leeg niya ang tie. "Well, yeah, you can say that. I'm not this always busy. It's just that the foundation is nearing its golden anniversary and I have to plan everything—just how boring do you think it is for me to do that? Anyway, it's in the next three months."

"Plan, like, choosing venues, food, wine, guest list, and everything?"

"Yes," he answers and takes a step towards me. "Here, let me help you out of that."

Tumalikod ako sa kaniya habang hinahatak niya pababa ang aking blazer. It is the first time na mayroon nagtanggal para sa'kin. Wow. It feels strange to get it off without moving too much.

"Come, I'll get you something to change into." "You have girl's clothes?"

He laughs and directs me to the way opposite his dining table. There are three doors. I suspect isa 'yung banyo. Then the next is where we come in. It is a walk-in closet.

He pulls open a cabinet door and there are stacks of plain colored shirts. "Try to find something to wear."

Kumuha siya ng kaniya at biglaan na lang nag-disappear sa dulo ng closet. Konektado yata iyon sa banyo niya. Malinis at mukhang plantsado ang lahat ng iyon. Kumuha na lang din ako ng isa. Mabilis kong tinanggal ang pagkakabutones ng polo ko at hiniling na sana hindi pa lumabas si Baz sa kalagitnaan ng pagpapalit ko.

Mayroon naman akong suot na boyleg. I am in the middle of stripping my red tights off when Baz walks in again. Naka puti lang din siyang t-shirt kagaya ko at boxer shorts. "Are you trying to seduce me again?"

"Bakit magpapa-seduce ka ba?"

He grins back at me. "I'd die to get the chance to study in Ostfort. Those trademark red tights are really worth something, don't you think?

"Which reminds me, saan ka nga grumaduate?"

"Queenslane," he takes a step out the door. "Faster, baby. I ordered food."

"Queenslane?" paghabol ko sa kaniya palabas. "Nakakatawang isipin na magkalapit lang school natin pero hindi ko manlang nakilala ang famous sa i********: na katulad mo."

"So you have come across my i********: account?"

"Kanina. My friends found it."

"Should I have told you?"

"It wasn't really important. But it would have helped kung sinabi mo sa'kin na famous ka pala. Ni hindi mo manlang ako hinanap sa IG?"

He sits in his living room and holds my hand before pulling me down beside him. "I was too busy to go to social media. I barely have time to call you. So, tell me, what's your username?"

"No," sabi ko at binaba ang cellphone niya. "I don't want your almost 45k followers know that you're dating someone as ugly as me."

"What are you tal—" "Shh!"

He looks at me for a second, deep in my eyes just so he can make sure that I don't really want him to follow me. He puts his phone away and circles one arm around me. "What should I do with you?"'

"You can kiss me for starters."

A smile splits his face and he chuckles. He slides the knuckles of his other hand on my cheek. "I might not be able to stop."

"Did I say anything about wanting you to stop?"

I crawl to his lap and put my hands on his nape. Strangely, his lap becomes my favorite place in the world. I get that we already kissed but this is the first time I see him up close. His skin is really clear and I find out that I envy him for that. His lashes are really long that it shadows on his cheekbones.

There is a smile on his face but his dark chocolate eyes are serious and his hands on my waist and chin are firm when he says, "Don't be

too... ferocious. I might not be able to stop myself from doing things I know I shouldn't do."

"Ferocious?" I ask him. "You can just say, 'Don't be too wild, Gwen, or else I might r**e you.'"

"r**e you?" he laughs. "I'd never. There's no need for that. You should know, though, I can get a little persuasive."

"Shut up, Baz. You always talk too much. You ruin the mood." "Must be good for you to know how to make me shut up."

I return his grin and put our faces closer. Kapag tumingin pa ko sa ipin ni Baz baka mabulag na ko sa kutitap nito. Haha char.

We breathe together a few times and I'll be lying if I say I'm not getting impatient. "What are you waiting for?"

"Food."

"What?"

"The food's here." "Wha—"

Then his doorbell rings. I sigh in frustration and Baz squeezes my waist in comfort. He grins at kisses my cheek. "The door won't answer itself, baby."

I slide off him and plop down his couch.

Baz comes back within a minute later a huge plastic. Ugh, men and their food.

"I'm starving!" sabi niya at naupo sa sahig. "Aren't you going to eat?" "I'm not hungry."

"You'll need energy."

"For what?"

"The early morning is long. I don't intend to let you sleep so early when you don't have class."

"Keep me up, huh? How so?" "We can do fun things."

"Fun things?" sabi ko at napahawak ako bigla sa ulo ko. He can't mean that. Right?!! Right?!

"Uh-huh."

"Like what?"

Baz grins to me over his shoulder. "I'll tell you later when you eat." Sapat na ang nakakalokong ngiti sa mga labi niya para matakot ako.

=================================