The gentleman she knows...

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Darren Hank was born and raised in Canada but they moved in the Philippines nung thirteen sya dahil sa business ng parents nya. He spent his time sa Pinas more than he did sa bansa nya kaya naman mas gusto nya talaga dito. Dito na sya nag-aral at nanirahan.

100% Canadian sya but ang heart nya 100% Pinoy talaga.

Darren's dream was to become a doctor para matulungan ang lolo nya but then his ill Grandpa died bago paman nya matapos ang kurso, kaya nag shift na lang sya ng course from psychologist to law.

At ngayon attorney na sya at kilala ng lahat sa ginagalawan nyang industriya. Masaya sya sa mga na achieved nya, pero mas lalo syang sumaya nung makilala nya ang babaeng nag patibok ng puso nyang pihikan.

Si Kylie Agoncilio.

Una silang nagkita nung minsang may ni-refer sa kanya ang friend nya sa trabaho. Said someone need some help regarding sa legal problem, though he almost decline it dahil marami syang ibang inaasikaso. Pumayag nadin sya, someone or, something pushed him that day to meet this new client at hindi sya nagsisi dahil Kylie showed up that day.

More like fate.

He wouldn't forget that day ng magkwento si Kylie patungkol sa problema nya sa kanyang tita. She was crying and obviously frustrated, that same day he promised to her na tutulungan nya ito no matter what it cost.

At ayun nga ang ginawa ng Canadian, tinulungan nya si Kylie at nabawi nila ang A mall na matagal ng kinuha ng kanyang tita mula sa mga magulang nya.

Palagi silang magkasama ni Kylie, hindi daw mapaliwanag ni Darren at hindi nya alam kung paano but he found himself slowly falling in love with this woman.

Naputol ang mahabang pagiisip ni Darren when the waiter came.

"Sir would you like to take your order?" 

"No, mamaya pa." He said politely.

Pangatlong tanong na ng Waiter ito dahil kanina pasya dumating sa reservation nila ni Kylie pero hanggang ngayon wala padin ang date nya.

Konti pa, she'll come. Alam ko darating sya.

Mayamaya bumukas ang pintuan ng resto at dumating ang babaeng inaantay nya. 

He finally smiled.

"Kiki! Over here." Senyas ni Darren waving his hands over Kylie. Nang makalapit ito, tumayo si Darren to pull the chair for her and greet her with the kiss on a cheek. 

Always the gentleman she knows.

Umorder na sila ng pagkain and eat silently, sobrang tahimik kaya si Darren na ang unang nag salita.

"So...how's your day?"

"Ayus naman. Ikaw ba?"

"I've had a rough day. Ito kasing bagong client ko sakit sa ulo. Two years ago his neighbors petitioned him to sell his house kasi nga nakakaabala na ang amoy ng poultry na gawa nya. He said he's planing to make a business out of it, which he did. Nag boom naman agad. Years later, he's neighbors petitioned him again but this time dahil naman gusto nya ng ibenta ang bahay at ititigil na ang manukan. And you know what my client told me?" Kylie shook her head. "Ang rason nya eh...kasi daw nababahuan na sya. See, sabi sayo sakit sa ulo eh."

Napansin ni Darren ang pagiging tahimik ni Kylie. Kaya hinawakan nya ang kamay nito across their table.

"Hey, are you ok? Kanina ka pa tahimik dyan, problem?"

"Wala naman."

"Is it Raffa? Inatake na naman ba sya ng allergy nya?"

"No, maayos sya nasa bahay kasama ang yaya nya."

"Well kung hindi si Raffa, sino? Kiki c'mon. I know that look, something's bothering you what is it?" 

Darren slightly squeeze her hand urging her to talk pero talagang ayaw kaya hinayaan nya na lang muna.

Hanggang sa natapos na ang date nila at inihatid nya na si Kylie. Medyo late na din kasi tinapos lang talaga nila ang isang film sa sine.

Nasa tapat na sila ng bahay ni Kylie when Darren tried to speak his mind.

"May problema ba tayo?"

Ngumiti lang si Kylie and simply ask. "Paano mo naman na sabi?"

"Three years, those years were enough time for me to know you. Kaya I could tell when something's bothering you."

Nanatiling tahimik si Kylie at umiwas ng tingin mula sa Canadian.

"Diba sabi ko sayo you can tell me anything, kahit ano pa yan, kaya sige na. Wag ka ng mahiya."

Kylie wiped the sweat off her forehead.
At first hindi pa makapagsalita si Kylie pero naisip nya na wala ng dahilan para patagalin nya pa. Para itago pa.

"Hindi naman kasi ako nahihiya. Natatakot ako."

"Kiki you have nothing to fear. Hindi naman kita sasaktan, gaya ng pinangako ko una palang diba? I'll be your protector. Always."

This made Kylie saddened even more. Napakabait ni Darren at hindi nya kayang magsinungaling dito.

"It's Ruru."

"What about him?" 

Dito biglang umiyak si Kylie. Tinanggal ni Darren ang seatbelt nya para makaharap ng maayos kay Kylie and wiped away her tears. "Hey shoosh. Bakit? Sinaktan ka ba nya? Did he do anything stupid? I swear Kiki I will pummel his face if--"

"Hindi walang ganon. He never.." Panay ang iwas ng tingin ni Kylie kaya he hold her face making her to look at him pero ayaw talaga ng babae.

"Then what happened? Tell me sabihin mo sakin so I can help you. Please.."

This time tumingin si Kylie and Darren could see the sadness in it like she's broken again, kagaya ng unang kita nya dito back then.

"May nangyari samin ni Ruru." Pag-amin ni Kylie burying her face on her both hands at umiyak ng todo.

Si Darren naman this time ang na nanatiling tahimik.

He's trying to process in mind ang mga narinig nya, hindi parin kasi nag si sink in sa kanya.

Ngayon hinihiling nya na lang na sana hindi natuloy ang date nila, baka sakaling walang ganitong aminan na nagaganap.

"Patawad, sorry talaga Darren hindi ko sinasadya..."

"Why are you saying sorry for? Hindi naman tayo diba? Wala naman talagang tayo. Ako lang naman talaga ang umaasa, na this relationship will turned into something. Na maging tayo balang-araw." He breathed hard, halatang nag pipigil. "Clearly you never want me."

"No. Hindi sa ganon, hindi ganon yun. Darren I like you. I really do. Per---"

"Pero you still love him." Muling walang nasagot si Kylie at umiwas ng tingin. Darren nod in acknowledgement. "Alam ko naman eh, ramdam ko. I can feel it lalo na kapag magkikita kayo, I can see the way you looked at him. Mahal mo pa sya."

"No. Hindi ko sya mahal, matagal na ko naka get over sa kanya. I hate him Darren I hate that man."

"Funny your eyes said the otherwise." Sabi ni Darren na natatawa pa kahit wala namang humour ang pinag-uusapan nila. "Kylie sabihin mo lang if I should fight for this, tell me kung may patutunguhan pa ba toh."

Darren left as soon as Kylie got off from the car at pumasok ng safely sa bahay.

Sinadya talaga ni Darren na hindi patanong ang mga salita nya. Letting her know na maghihintay parin sya.

Kung meron man syang pinaniniwalaan, eh yun yung ang sarili nyang paniniwala.

And now it is for her to decide kung may patutunguhan nga ba o wala?

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