Taming the Vampire

CHAPTER SEVENTY-FOUR

M I L L E R

Na-serve na ang pagkain, lumabas na rin ang waiter, at kami na lang ulit ang natira sa silid. Ngunit wala sa aming dalawa ang nagsimulang umimik. How do I start a conversation with a stranger that I completely have nothing to care about?

I just met her a few minutes ago at mukhang balak niya lang din na umupo at kumain. She also looks like uninterested. That's cool, we can just eat together then leave.

Inabot ko ang kutsarita sa gilid ng plato ko para tikman ang appetizer nila na sa palagay ko ay isang uri ng onion soup. The food is the typical steak with few more tiny side dishes. Iyong mga pagkain na madalas na sineserve sa mga restaurant ng mga mayayaman.

Susubo na sana ulit ako ng soup nang mapansin ang nakangiwi na mukha ni Amika.

"Hindi mo ba gusto ang pagkain?" tanong ko.

Nagulat naman siya at naiilang ako na tiningnan sabay ngiti. Kinuha niya rin ang maliit na kutsara para humigop ng soup.

"Hm! I think the food is delicious. Such a shame I'm on a diet."

Hindi ko siya hinusgahan nung nakita ko siya kanina. She's petite despite of her tall figure. But I guess it requires a lot of maintenance to keep such body. Wala namang masama, but I guess, that explains why she's not enjoying the meal.

"Why did you come here? Looks like you were just forced to go. You were lying when you said you forgot the name of the restaurant, weren't you?" Hindi na ako nagpadalos-dalos at prangka ko ng tinanong ang babae.

She paused in the middle of sipping the soup. Inilapag niya sa plato ang kutsara bago nagpunas ng bibig. She gently placed her hand on the table as she leaned forward then said, "I thought you were stupid. Guess I was wrong."

I smirked as I told her my opinion of her. "Your first impression kind of hurt me... Anyway, you look bright. Iniisip ko na imposibleng makalimutan mo ang pangalan ng restaurant if you can just check your phone again."

Hindi nagbago ang ngiti sa mukha ni Amika. Nagsimula lang ulit siya na humigop ng soup at tumingin sa tanawin ng nagliliwanag na building.

"Your father's idea of a romantic date is very cliché. A dinner by the city lights. How beautiful..."

Hindi ko siya sinagot. Mas pipiliin ko pa ang ngumuya ng steak kaysa ang kausapin siya. Mabuti na lang at masarap ang pagkain. Kung nagkataon ay baka iniwan ko na ang babaeng ito rito.

Isa pa, masyado pang maaga, Hindi pa nga lumilipas ang isang oras simula nung dumating ako.

"Were you deceived by your father? Because in my case, I was forced to come here. Actually, I was intending to make you mad for coming late. But it looks like you are the calm and rational type of person."

The innocence in the air around her vanished in a flash, so as the simplicity. Binago niya ang upo niya; sumandal siya sa upuan, nagkrus and kamay, at tinaggal ang naka loose ponytail niyang buhok.

"I heard that you are the mischievous type. So, I thought you would hate a plain and demure woman approach, but it looks like you don't care what type of woman I am."

Ah. She's the assertive kind. Mukhang nag-effort talaga siya para lang ma-reject siya ng magiging date niya. In that case ay maswerte siya, dahil hindi na niya kailangan na magpakahirap sa pagpapanggap because no matter how she acts and appear in front of me her charm won't be effective.

"Your smile early was sweet. Why add some spice now?" tanong ko sa kanya.

"Why not? It's just us here. Just drop the mask and be yourself..." Nagbuntong-hininga siya sabay taas ng kilay, "I wanted to be clear – I am not into arranged marriages. Our fathers might be business partners and call each other close friends but I know they are only each other's influence. It's their business, and I don't want to be part of my father's business. I am not his tool."