MISSION 4: Pleasing You

Chapter 13 - Melted

"May gusto ka bang flavor?"

Nagkibit-balikat si El. "'Yong best-seller na lang nila siguro."

"May nuts allergy ka ba, baby?"

Mula sa hilera ng mga naka-display na ice cream ay bumaling siya sa katabing lalaki. Hindi napigilan ni El ang pagguhit ng ngiti sa mga labi. Ito ang unang beses na may nagtanong ng gano'n sa kanya. Bilang chef, sa kanya madalas manggaling ang tanong tungkol sa mga food allergy.

"Wala."

"Okay. Ako na'ng bahalang um-order, baby. Pili ka na lang ng mesa kung sa'n mo gustong maupo."

Tumango siya saka lumakad sa pinakamalapit na booth. Nang makaupo ay muling humayon ang paningin niya sa lalaking nasa tapat pa rin ng counter. Despite her reservations, Ace had been a good companion. More than good, actually. Hindi niya inasahan, pero nag-enjoy siya sa company nito. Ace had proven, time and time again, that he was not what she perceived him to be. Sure, may mga sandaling nangungulit ito, but at the same time, alam din nito kung kailan hihinto.

But the biggest surprise is how he handled Seb's presence earlier. Nang maupo si Ace sa tabi niya kanina ay inasahan na niya'y lalong magiging flirty at hindi hihiwalay ang lalaki sa kanya. But he surprised her. Attentive ito sa pakikinig sa mga sinasabi ng kaharap nila, pero nanatiling tahimik. Nagbigay-daan nito noong dumating si Architect De Leon. He kept his distance and remained quiet. But El can feel his gaze following her every move.

For some strange reason, the usual icky feeling she gets whenever she knows someone's watching her is not there. If she's truly honest with herself, she actually felt a warm, tingling sensation in the pit of her stomach. She did, in fact, miss his presence by her side when they went to the mezzanine area of their would-be restaurant. What gave her comfort was that she knew she was still under his watchful eyes.

As if on cue, Ace looked her way. He smiled before he returned his attention to the crew taking his order. El sighed deeply as she tried to control the rapid beating of her heart as a result of his smile.

Napapitlag si El nang tumunog ang cellphone. Mula sa pagtitig sa lalaki ay binalingan niya ang hawak na handbag. Nang makita niya ang notification kung kanino galing ang messages ay napa-ungol siya. Group chat nilang magkakaibigan. Kung ibabatay sa nag-pop up na mensahe, puro panunukso ang mababasa niya.

"Is there a problem, baby?" anang lalaking naupo sa tapat niya.

"Yes. My wonderful friends. They're pestering me."

Imbes na basahin ay mas pinili niyang i-clear ang notifications saka niya muling ibinalik sa handbag ang cellphone.

Umangat ang isang sulok ng labi ni Ace. "Nagtse-check sila kung nag-e-enjoy ka sa date natin, baby?"

Tinitigan niya si Ace. Mas magandang malaman na kaagad nito kung ano ang totoong saloobin niya. Well, some of her inner thoughts, but not all. Hindi pa niya lubos na pinagkakatiwalaan ang lalaki.

"I don't date, Ace. Alam ng mga kaibigan kong mas gugustuhin kong ubusin ang oras ko sa pagpapalago ng negosyo namin kesa lumabas kasama ang isang lalaki. But because of astrology and compatibility crap they believed in, they are all ganging up on me."

Nabura ang ngiti sa mga labi ni Ace. Hindi ito nagsalita, halatang inaantay ang kasunod na sasabihin niya. El felt uneasy under his watchful eyes. His stares were unnerving. He looked at her as though he already knew what was on her mind.

She signed deeply but kept looking straight into his eyes. "I don't want to mislead you, Ace."

A half-smile once again curled Ace's lip. "Believe me, baby, you won't, and you can never mislead me. I'm trained to read all types of terrain and situations, Elamarie."