Losing Control

Siyam

Lumabas na si Stephanie ng cottage nila suot suot ang kanyang oversized sunglasses.  Nagbihis na sya ng duster at nagpasyang maglakad lakad muna sa beach para mahanginan at mabawasbawasan ang kanyang headache.  Palabas na sya ng gate papuntang beach ng narinig nyang may humahabol sa kanya.

"Gigi, wait up," Enzo jogged after her.

"O, Sir Enzo, kayo po pala," Stephanie said tiredly.

"Gising na pala ang mahal na prinsesa," he smiled at her.  "Okay ka na ba?"

"Po?  Medyo may hangover pa po."

"Saan ka ba pupunta?"

"Dyan lang po sa may dagat, maglalakadlakad."

"Do you mind some company?"  he smiled at her again.

"No, not at all."

Lumabas na sila ng gate at tinulungan ni Enzo si Stephanie humakbang over the uneven sand.  Tinangal ni Stephanie ang kanyang tsinelas at naglakad along the shore, the foamy waves hitting her ankles.  Hinawakan nya ang laylayan ng kanyang palda pataas para hindi ito mabasa.

"Alam mo, nakakatawa ka palang lasing," Enzo chuckled.

"Ha?  Sorry ha.  Nakakahiya ba?"

"Hindi naman.  Ang cute mo nga eh.  Mas bratinella ka pa pala pag may tama na," he nudged her with his elbow.

"Tigil tigilan mo nga ako ha," sabi nya ng may pagkamataray pero natawa na rin sya. 

"Ang ingay ingay mo tapos lahat ng tao kinakausap mo, sinasayaw mo...sobrang fun to be around you."

"Hay, ano ba yan..." she covered her face with her free hand.  She had heard tales of her drunken escapades from Rachel and their other friends, so hindi naman katakataka kung may ganun ngang nangyari.

"Tapos nung nakapiggy back ka kay Ashton, ang sabi mo pa nga, 'Go, horsey!  Faster, horsey!  Tigidig, tigidig!'  Tawa kami ng tawa nila Eman at Lota pero yung mukha ni Ashton, hindi na maipinta."

"Oh em gee, ginawa ko talaga yun?"

"Oo!  Hindi mo na matandaan?"

"Grabe, nakakahiya naman sa amo ko!  I'm sure wala na akong trabahong babalikan mamaya," Stephanie shook her head.

"Okay lang yan," he slung an arm over her shoulder.  "If ever he fires you, I will just bring you back to Manila with me and dun ka na lang magtrabaho sa bahay namin," he smiled again at her. 

Mahilig talagang ngumiti si hijo...parang bata lang, walang pinoproblema, napakainosente.  "If I go back to Manila, there's a good chance I won't work for you...or see you ever again, for that matter," she whispered to herself.

"What was that?" he said to her, his eyes questioning.

She was about to speak up when she saw Ashton striding towards them, his board shorts hung low on his hips, exposing his abs and that v-line girls love so much, holding his surf board in one arm and running his other hand through his wet hair.  Stephanie just stared at Ashton, swallowing the saliva that threatened to dribble down her chin.  Drooling over boys had never been her style. 

Ashton was unsmiling as he looked at her.  Her skirt was raised above her knees, exposing her perfectly shaped cream colored legs to the world.   He was also annoyed that Enzo's arm was comfortably slung around her shoulders.  He looked into her eyes, found that her chocolate colored orbs were also staring right back at him.  Fearless talaga itong babaeng ito pagdating sa titigan.

"Hello, Gigi," Ashton said seriously.  "You look like you're okay."

"I am."

"Pwede ba kitang makausap?  In private?"