Losing Control

Dalawampu't Tatlo

"Abo, tapatin mo nga ako.  Are you stalking me?"  Stephanie said as she swatted away Ashton's hand that kept trying to feed her a forkful of cake.

Ashton just ignored her and placed the fork next to her lips so she would be forced to take the bite. She took the bite because she was beginning to get annoyed by Ashton force feeding her bite after bite after bite.  "Sarap?" he asked of the chocolate cake he fed her.

She just nodded and looked at him, waiting for him to answer her question.  "Ano?  Para kang kabute.  Kung saan saan ka sumusulpot."

"I'm not a stalker.  Bakit ko naman iistalk ang girlfriend ko?" he laughed and wrapped an arm around her waist as they sat by side on the booth of the bakery.

"Eh paano mo nga nalalaman kung nasaan ako?  Nakakaloka na eh."

"Easy.  I put  a tracking device in your purse," he said easily and took a bite of the carrot cake.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ni Stephanie and she reached for her purse to look inside.  Kinalaykay nya ito para mahanap ang so called tracker na nilagay ni Ashton.  Pilit naman tinatago ni Ashton ang tawa nya.  "Wala naman eh!"

"Eh bakit ba hindi kasi pwedeng coincidence lang ang mga meeting natin?"

"No!  Ang laki laki kaya ng Manila!  So you mean to say chance meeting lang dun sa garden and now here?"

"Yeah," he winked at her.

"Uh, Miss Stephanie, sya po ba ang iyong mapapangasawa?" tanong ni Yen na tumabi na sa kanya after makausap ang pastry chef na kaibigan ni Stephanie.  Si Yen ay ang wedding planner na hinire ni Lorraine Benitez.  She was a petite lady with pixie-ish features and fruit punch colored hair.  

"Uh..." napatingin si Stephanie kay Yen.  

Inakbayan ni Ashton si Stephanie at hinalikan sa kanyang pisngi.  "Oo, ako nga.  I'm her fiance," nginitian nya si Yen.  Siniko sya ni Stephanie na nasamid.  Ashton rubbed her back and handed her water.  "Love, are you okay?" panic was evident in his voice.

"Ikaw kasi, binibigla mo mga tao dito," she growled at him and put a fake smile on her face.

"Sir, ikaw po pala si Mr. Benitez.  Ako po si Yen, ang wedding planner.  Buti naman po nakasama ka today."

"Oo nga eh, buti na lang nakahabol ako."

"Sorry po kung unprofessional man itong sasabihin ko,  pero bagay na bagay kayo.  Halatang halata ko na mahal na mahal nyo si Miss Stephanie.  Kanina ko pa po kasi kayo napapansin eh," medyo nagblush si Yen for being so candid.

"Yes, mahal na mahal ko ang fiancee kong ito," ngumiti si Ashton bago bumulong sa tenga ni Stephanie.  "Love, sino si Stephanie?"

Crap! Crap! Crap!

Stephanie took a deep breath and decided to come clean with her name.  There was no way around it anymore anyway.  She was backed into a corner and for once she couldn't claw her way out of it.  "I'm Stephanie.  Stephanie Geraldine Asuncion ang pangalan ko.  Gigi is short for Geraldine."

"Ah, Stephanie.  I like it.  Bagay sa yo, Love," Ashton smiled at her.  "I'm used to Gigi pero I guess I will start calling you Stephanie from now on since yun naman talaga ang pangalan mo."

"I guess, that's fine," she shrugged.  

"One question though; bakit gumamit ka pa ng alias?"

"It's just a nickname, ang dami mong tanong," umiwas si Stephanie sa tanong ni Ashton na hindi nya kayang sagutin kahit simple lang naman ang tanong nito.