CHAPTER TWELVE
"JORAM, darling." Ang walang-emosyong mukha'y dagling lumambot at naglabas ng matamis na ngiti. Sinalubong nito ang lalaki at ikinawit ang braso sa braso nito."Meet the reporter and the photographer..."
Si Charlize ay hindi matiyak kung saan nanggaling ang matinding kabang mabilis na umahon sa dibdib niya nang tumayo siya at lingunin ang celebrity na nakatakda niyang interview-hin.
And as his eyes met hers, she felt an impact that was almost like a blow. It left her unable to talk.
Her celebrity spoke for her. "How are you, Miss dela Serna? I'm glad you are on time. I hate late appointments, inaabala nito ang iba ko pang gagawin..."
Hindi pinansin ni Charlize ang aroganteng tono ng lalaki. Mas pinagtakhan niya ang deretsong Tagalog nito. Alam niyang may dugong Pilipino si Joram al'Zaim, pero maraming Filipino-American ang hindi marunong mag-Tagalog. Halimbawa ay si Lou Diamond Philipps na isang Hollywood actor.
All she could do was look at him. He had gleaming black hair, as black as an Arabian's; he was dark and tall, well over six feet. His eyes were like two black opals. Matangos ang ilong. And the two-day growth of stubbles on his face reminded her one of those hunk men na nasa pahina ng GQ.
Under his white expensive sportshirt and faded blue jeans lurked a natural athlete's body, hard and muscled in the right places.
Sa suma-total, Joram al'Zaim was a very attractive man. No wonder Louis was dying to take him to her bed. Delectable. That was what Louie said. And she was right.
Subalit para kay Charlize, Joram al'Zaim was just a man. Another job to do and get over with. Pero bakit hindi niya maipaliwanag ang kabang nararamdaman niya. Alam niyang hindi dahil sa iyon ang unang pagkakataong mag-i-interview siya at sa isang foreign celebrity pa. It was more than that.
There was something familiar about this man. She just couldn't place it. Lalo na ang mga mata nito. She was sure she had seen those opal black eyes a long time ago.
"Well?" si Joram. The corner of his lips twisted as he smiled mockingly. "I thought you came for the interview?"
Banayad at palihim na siniko ni Rodulph ang dalaga.
Napapitlag siya. That voice!
"O-of course..." Nilingon niya si Rodulph na inihahanda ang camera at pagkatapos bumaling siya sa mga sofa sa paligid, wanting to get hold of herself."Where would you want to sit, Mr. al'Zaim? But of course, we would like to take your photograph first."
Bahagyang naningkit ang mga mata nito. "Dispense with the photograph shooting. That can be done later. If you want this interview, let's get on with it. Follow me to my study, Miss dela Serna," he commanded arrogantly. Tumalikod at nagpatiunang lumakad, followed by the tall and sexy woman.
"Ano ang nangyayari sa iyo? Bakit natulala ka?" bulong ni Rodulph sa kanya. "This isn't like you, Charlize."
"My first assignment as a reporter, remember?" she said sarcastically. Mabilis na hinablot ang attaché case. "You wait here at ihanda mo iyang camera mo anumang sandali," bilin niya rito at nagmadaling sumunod.
Binuksan ni Joram al'Zaim ang pinto at pinapasok siya. Pagkuwa'y nilingon ang babae.
"You can leave us, Mildred."
"I'm sure there's no need for privacy, Joram," wika nito at tiningnan si Charlize na inilapag sa gitnang mesa ang attaché case.
"I don't want an audience, Mildred," wika nito sa tonong hindi mababali.
Saglit lang ang kislap ng inis sa mga mata ng babae. Agad itong tumalikod. Isinara ni Joram ang pinto at humakbang patungo sa pang-isahang sofa at naupo.
Sinisikap kontrolin ni Charlize ang kabang kanina pa nasa dibdib. Nagmamadali niyang binuksan ang attaché case at inilabas ang notebook, ball pen, at ang portable tape recorder. Inihanda iyon at pagkatapos ay tumingala siya kay Joram. Nasalubong niya ang mga titig nito sa kanya.
"Tell me when you're ready, Mr. al'Zaim." She swallowed at mabilis na nagyuko ng ulo. Hindi niya gustong salubungin ng tingin ang mga mata nito. Sa nanginginig na kamay ay binuksan niya ang notebook.
"I am ready, Miss dela Serna," wika nito, his eyes never left her face. His one leg placed over the other at relax na nakasandal sa sofa. "Have been ready for a long time..." he added huskily.
Bahagyang nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya sa huling sinabi nito pero isinantabi niya. Writers were usually eccentric.Their minds usually wandered kahit na may kausap, siguro'y nag-iisip ng bagong plot sa nobelang susunod na gagawin.
She fired her first question that even to her own ears sounded blase. "H-how long have you been writing, Mr. al'Zaim?"
Sandali lang niya itong sinulyapan at muling inihanda ang ball pen. She waited for his answer but none came. Nang mag-angat siya ng tingin ay banayad na nakangiti sa kanya ang lalaki at umalis sa pagkakasandal.
"Nalimutan mong i-on ang tape recorder mo, Miss dela Serna. Are you sure you can scribble my answers to your questions as fast as I say them?" he said mockingly.
She groaned inwardly. What was wrong with her? Hindi siya reporter pero hindi naman dahilan iyon para mataranta siya. Mataranta? Tama iyon. Natataranta siya.
Niyuko niya ang tape recorder na nasa mesang nakapagitan sa kanila at ini-on iyon. Subalit bago niya naiangat ang kamay niya'y naroon ang kamay ni Joram. He gently placed his left hand over hers and turned the full power of his black-eyed gaze upon her.
Napasinghap si Charlize. The spell of his eyes and the light touch of his hand ay tila magkasamang nagpainit sa buong silid gayong bukas ang aircondition unit.
Her physical response to him was heightening her senses and undermining her control. Pero kailangan niyang maging firm. The sooner na matapos niya ang interview, the better. May date sila ni Dave mamayang gabi.
Pagkaisip kay Dave ay tila nakakuha siya ng lakas upang ipagpatuloy nang maayos ang trabaho.
"When did you start writing, Mr. al'Zaim?" Inulit niya ang tanong. This time, more composed and calm.
"Hindi ka ba interesadong itanong kung Pilipino ako o Arabian, Miss dela Serna?"
Hindi agad makapag-react si Charlize.
That voice again!
It sounded like cigarettes smoked late at night... bittersweet love that would never come true, gray and empty rooms...
"Your readers would be very interested kung mababasa nilang Pilipino si Joram al'Zaim. Though I have foreign blood, I was born here."
He was born here! Nag-angat siya ng mukha at tinitigan ito.
Sa sandaling iyon muling bumukas ang pinto at pumasok si Mildred. May hawak itong tray na may dalawang baso ng juice.
Gustong mangiti ni Charlize. Natitiyak niyang ginawang dahilan ng babae ang juice para pumasok.
"Pakilapag mo rito sa ibabaw ng mesa, Mildred. And thank you." Muli'y naroon ang dismissal sa tono nito para sa babae. Nag-alanganin ma'y lumakad ito patungo sa pinto. "Close the door, darling."
Sinundan ng tingin ni Charlize si Mildred hanggang sa maisara nito ang pinto. "She's very beautiful," she said softly with a sigh. Then slowly, she turned her eyes to Joram al'Zaim. His lips twisted in one corner in a hint of a smile.
"But beauty is in the eye of the beholder, sweetheart..."
Charlize gasped. Napakabilis ng pag-ahon ng kaba sa dibdib. Her chest would break anytime sa lakas ng pintig ng puso niya.
Her eyes wide as she looked straight into his black eyes. He was staring back, a faint smile on his lips. Sa pagkakataong iyon ay hindi niya iniwas ang mga mata. Her eyes studied his face. At bago magkahugis ang anumang anyo sa isip niya'y nagsalita si Joram al'Zaim.
"Did I change that much in seven years, Liz, that you can hardly recognize me?" he asked softly, a hint of mockery in his voice.
"J-Jason..."
