Part 47

She waited for them to finish talking. Lily stopped by at their table for a while to chat. Nika immediately recognized their closeness.

But there's something more in there, isn't it?

Kanina niya pa 'yon nahahalata. Lily's been glancing their way sometimes. Hindi nga lang mahinuha ni Nika kung sino ba 'yong tinitingnan ni Lily sa gawi nila ni Kenzo.

Was it him? Her? Both of them? Someone behind them?

She couldn't figure it out.

But she caught him, too. The stolen glances and the way his eyes linger on her . . .

She knows what those looks meant.

Especially when Lily left their table. She watched how Kenzo followed her with his eyes, walking away.

Tumikhim siya. "So, magkukwento ka ba, Sir?"

"Kuwento? About what?" he asked.

"Hmm . . . " Medyo naningkit ang mata niya. She momentarily looked around. Wala namang ibang tao sa table nila kung 'di silang dalawa lang. Sakto lang din naman ang distansya ng kabilang table.

"Bakit tayo nagpapanggap?" she asked, making sure nobody was near to hear her question.

"I told you no questions asked," he reiterated.

"Grabe ka naman, Sir. Tayo-tayo lang naman dito. Saka kanino ko naman ipagsasabi? Kayo lang ni Andy kilala ko dito pati si Ate Cheryll. Hindi ko naman na kayo makikita pagkatapos nito, 'di ba? Kaya wala ka dapat ipag-alala. Kung machika ko man sa mga kaibigan ko, 'di rin kayo magkakilala."

Nika crossed her arms, resting her back on the chair to sit comfortably. She was waiting for his response pero naiiling lang din naman si Kenzo sa puwesto niya. Nika noticed how his shoulder rose and fell when he took a deep breath as he laid his back on his chair, too.

"Okay, ano bang kailangan mo, Ser? Kailangan mo ba munang tumoma para makapagsabi ka? Saka strangers naman talaga tayo 'di ba? So kung i-judge man kita dahil sa kuwento mo, wala 'yon gaanong bearing sa 'yo. Kaya ano bang gusto mo? Kahit ako na kumuha ng alak para sa 'yo do'n sa open bar."

"Double whiskey, neat."

"Taray, 'yong usual pala ang bet. Ako gusto ko ng ginbulag kaso wala naman," Nika said before standing up.

Medyo nagulat din siya nang tumayo si Kenzo. "D'yan ka na. Ako na lang kukuha."

"I want to go with you. Let's drink at the boardwalk," sabi niya.

They both got his usual drink. Nika was curious what's so good about it so she asked for a glass of his drink, too.

She winced when it burned in her throat. "Anong swabe dito? Grabe ang tapang."

He chuckled. "You'll get used to it," he said before sipping on his glass.

Nika watched him swallow his drink. Medyo nangunot din ang noo niya dahil wala lang talaga para kay Kenzo 'yong alak.

"Ang galing, walang effect sa 'yo," she remarked while they were walking to the boardwalk not far from the gazebo where the reception was being held.

The salty breeze blew some strands of her hair away.

Kenzo caught the smile lingering on her lips before looking up at the cloudless sky.

"Sige na, Sir. Bakit nga tayo nagpapanggap? I think I did a good job naman, baka puwede kong malaman kung bakit pretend girlfriend mo ako ngayon?" tanong ni Nika.

A sigh slowly escaped his lips.

"I'll tell you, but we have to revise our deal."

"Ha? May pa-revise pa. Sige, Sir. Anong revision ba 'yan?"

"We have to keep this going for at least two months."

"Ano? Two months? Itong pagkukunwarian natin? Grabe ka naman, Sir. Paano kapag may gusto akong landiin?"

"Then I won't tell you."

"Luh. Intriga ka masyado."

"It's up to you. That's the revised deal."

"Grabe ka naman. Sige na nga, agree na ako, magkuwento ka na," sabi ni Nika saka niya sinubukang sumimsim ulit sa baso.

Obvious talaga na 'di ko na kailangan magpapilit. Siya niya na lang din siguro lalandiin ko.

"The three of us were friends. I met Lily and Jake when we were in elementary school. Pero mas nauna sila naging magkaibigan."

"Ay, teka," sabi ni Nika. "Love triangle ba ang ganap ninyo?"

Medyo natawa naman si Kenzo sa naging tanong niya.

"Not really."

"E, ano?"

"I liked her."

"Oh . . . " Tumango-tango si Nika. "Tapos bet ka rin ni Lily?"

"No. Sila talaga ni Jake, una pa lang. I just happened to like her, too."

"Hanggang ngayon ba kaya ako nandito ngayon?"

He shook his head. "I don't like her like that anymore. Matagal na. She just worries about me."

"Bakit?"

"Because when they began dating before, I was shocked. I couldn't wrap my mind around it. Akala ko kasi talagang magkakaibigan lang kaming tatlo. No romantic feelings attached kahit may gusto ako noon kay Lily. I didn't do anything about it because I thought that's how the three of us we're supposed to be. Until they both admitted to me that they were dating."

"Oh . . . "

"I was shocked and frustrated and I also felt left out. Minsan kapag magkakasama kaming tatlo, pakiramdam ko may personal space silang napanghihimasukan ko kaya in the end, I decided to be on my own for a while. That's when Lily noticed the distance I've been keeping. Hindi ko rin kasi sila kinakausap noon," Kenzo paused for a while to drink. Saglit din siyang napatingin kay Nika. Only to see that she was looking at him, too.

She smiled. "Alam mo, Sir. Hindi sa pampalubag-loob to, ha. Pero kung hindi kita kilala tapos 'di ko rin kilala si Jake, 'yong para bang natanaw ko lang kayo bigla, ikaw 'yong ituturo ko sa mga kaibigan ko tapos saka ko sila sasabihan na 'uy, tingnan n'yo 'yong dumaan, ang pogi.'"

He returned her smile. "Really?"

"Oo naman. May nakapagsabi na ba sa 'yong ang lakas-lakas ng dating mo?"

"Not that I know of."

"Well, ngayon alam mo na. Malakas dating mo. Ayan 'yong first impression ko sa 'yo. Tapos kahit tindig mo pa lang, parang dalang-dala mo na rin agad sarili mo besides sa pagkakaroon ng face value. But anyway, sige na. Ituloy mo na kuwento mo."

"Where did I stop?"

"Hmm . . . 'yong nahalata ni Lily na umiiwas ka?

"Ah, ayun. She noticed I was keeping my distance then she asked me if she did anything wrong. Akala niya may kasalanan siya sa akin tapos galit ako sa kanya. She cried that day and I couldn't do anything else but tell her the truth why. Nagulat din siya sa reason ko. Hindi niya daw expected. Then she said sorry because she doesn't see me that way and si Jake daw talaga gusto niya. She also said thank you."

Hindi naiwasang bumuntonghininga ni Nika sa narinig.

"Grabe," sabi niya saka tinapik si Kenzo sa balikat. "Okay lang 'yan, Sir. Makakahanap ka rin ng para sa 'yo."

"But I'm not looking."

"O edi mahahanap ka rin ng naghahanap sa 'yo. Good luck nga lang sa kanya, sana 'di siya abutin ng 50 years."

"50 years?"

"Oo, mailap ka, e. Baka maunahan ka pang mag-asawa ng magiging apo ko in the future ha."

He laughed.

Natigilan naman si Nika. Just for the reason that he's laughing.

She couldn't help herself smiling again, too.

It's such a good look on him. He should do that often.

"I actually want to get married before I turn forty," sabi naman ni Kenzo.

"Mga anong exact age mo gusto magpakasal?" tanong niya.

"Thirty-five? Or when I'm established enough. How about you? What's your preferred marrying age?"

"Ako? Kapag established na rin siguro basta 'wag lang lalagpas ng thirty kung sakaling may balak kaming magpalaki ng anak. Ayaw ko magbuntis past thirty-five."

"If walang plan for kids?"

"Edi kahit abutin ng forty, okay lang. Basta ang mahalaga malago ang pera ko."

"I see."

"Pero lumayo na tayo sa topic, e. Kung nagkausap naman pala kayo ni Lily nang maayos, bakit kailangan pa natin magpanggap?"

"Oh . . . that," sabi niya sa papahinang boses. "Umiwas na kasi ako pagkatapos no'n. But Lily still approached me even if I kept them both at arms length. She worries about me most of the time because I was always by myself. She thought I'm lonely, but I actually liked my own company. We're still friends, anyway. Saka nandiyan din naman si Andy. We're close, too. There's no reason for me to be lonely. She also said there were times that maybe I'm still hung up on her that's why I've been single all these years."

"Pero? Hung up ka ba talaga?"

Umiling si Kenzo. "No."

"Weh? Talaga? E, bakit tumitingin siya sa 'yo tapos 'yong mga tingin mo rin sa kanya kanina. Parang may something talaga, e."

"She was actually looking at us. It's my first time having a girlfriend you know."

"Alam ko. Tapos pekeng jowa pa. Ano ba 'yan, Sir! Ayaw mo ba ng totoo?"

"I don't have time to date. Even if it has crossed my mind, I know I couldn't commit because I'm too busy and focused on my studies and work at our firm. I barely have time for myself."

"Okay. Pero hindi mo pa nasasagot tanong ko."

"About?"

"'Yong tingin mo kay Lily kanina."

"Ah . . . that. Napaisip lang kasi ako."

"Tungkol sa?" Nika asked. Nang saglit naman siyang mapatingin sa gawi ng gazebo, nakita niya rin si Lily na nakatingin sa kanilang dalawa.

It turns out he's right. She was really watching the both of them. Not only Kenzo. But them. Together, as a couple.

Happily.

"That this was meant to happen."

"Hmm?" She momentarily had her eyes on her glass. She waited a few seconds to bring it back to him.

"Napaisip lang ako. That maybe I didn't really have to feel bad before because my friends were good with each other. Siguro I was jealous for no reason. I shouldn't have kept them at arms length. Mas naging close pa sana kaming tatlo. I also felt guilty for making Lily worry about me. Naisip ko rin 'yong madalas na sabihin sa akin ni Lily dati tungkol sa dream family at dream house niya. She said she wanted three kids, and she wants to live in a cottage . . . "

Nika counted again.

One, two . . . twenty-three seconds before she could slip her hand on Kenzo's arm.

It was always about the timing that makes their body language seem natural. Believable, and in sync.

She was in her head, no longer minding whatever Kenzo was saying because she was onto her current scheme.

Because even without looking straight at the gazebo, she could still feel Lily's eyes on them.

Nika inched closer to Kenzo, leaning to his ear.

"Sir, 'wag kang lilingon sa may gazebo, okay?"

"Ha?"

Her grip on his arm tightened a bit.

"'Wag kang lilingon sa may gazebo pero pinanonood kasi tayo ni Lily kanina pa."

"Oh . . . "

"'Wag ka ring magugulat, okay?"

"Magugulat sa?"

Nika pulled herself away with an endearing smile plastered on her lips. Her eyes were almost gleaming.

"Magsalita ka lang, ituloy mo 'yong sinasabi mo kanina. Ako kikilos ngayon, sumunod ka lang sa akin. Okay?"

"Okay? But what are you going to do?"

Her hand on his arm softly trailed its way to his face, cupping his cheek.

Maybe it's the whiskey. But his cheek was warm, too.

And for some reason, the endearing smile she had on her lips became real, and he looked so adorably curious with her movements she bet her eyes were sparkling by his anticipation for whatever she'll do next.

And it's as if he figured out what he should be doing. Kenzo leaned on her touch as he placed a hand on her waist.

Nika slowly closed the remaining gap between them, tipping her toes so she could easily reach for his lips.

She gave him one too many little sweet kisses at first to set a pace for them when his hand gripped her waist and he began kissing her back.

A grin played on her lips when the sweet little kisses became lesser and lesser and their lips sat comfortably locked with each other, smoothly moving in to a rhythm she orchestrated.

His breath was so warm it almost burns on her skin, and she wanted to taste him more.

Kenzo's mouth gaped open when she nibbled on his lower lip.

His gasp ignited the churning in her stomach the moment she slipped inside his mouth.

She knew she caught him off guard. But she couldn't help herself from kissing him more and exploring his mouth especially if this is how a neat, double whiskey tastes like.

Sweet, bitter, intoxicating . . . something she could never have for the second time.

So as long as the drink was this bearable, she should probably drown herself in it now.

Nika's hand travelled to the back of his head, balling his hair in fists as she deepened their kiss.

She couldn't help pulling him closer as if they weren't already close enough.

It's surprising how this was his first kiss and he could instantly match her rhythm with little to no direction.

That sudden thought seemed like the signal for her to stop.

He really did came with a warning sign.

Little by little their rhythm slowed down and they both pulled away.

'Tama ka naman, Sir. Swabe nga."

"Ha?"

She smiled, noticing the hazy look in his eyes.

"Itong double whiskey mo," she paused to lean in and claim his lips one more time.

She couldn't help it. And probably stealing one more kiss wasn't so bad at all before completely pulling herself away from him.

"Swabe."

She should probably walk away now. Nothing good comes out of this make-believe.

Pero masarap talaga lasa ng pinagbabawal.

But could she blame herself?

Especially when he makes a neat, double whiskey tastes so sweet.