The Great Seduction

Pustahan

Gaize

"Gago kasi iyong boyfriend ko!" Nanliit ang mata ng lalaking kaharap ni Gaize sa mesang inuupuan sa resto bar grill na El Gracia. Napalagok tuloy sa canned beer na kanina pang pinaglalaruan.

"Hindi gago iyon. Mahal ka noon. He won't do stupid things just to be with you." He seemed irritated but trying to control it.

"You think so?" Tinaasan pa niya ito ng isang kilay at humilig sa mesa para asarin.

Medyo maingay sa restaurant. Kailangan pa niyang ilakas ang boses para magkarinigan sila ng kausap. Uminom rin siya sa kanyang canned beer.

"He thinks I'm still not over with my ex." She looked at him in the eye wanting to see his immediate reaction.

He shrugged his shoulder. "You can't expect him to be fine with it. Sabi mo nga, nakita niya kayong naghahalikan ng ex mo. It's normal for him to react that way. Baliktarin mo ang sitwasyon, you saw him liplocking with his ex. What would you feel?"

Galing dumipensa! Pwedeng maging lawyer.

"Alam ko naman iyon. That's why I regretted following Reese that day. Correction, I did not kissed her back. I'm trying my best to push her away."

The man pursed his lips and sipped from his can one more time. "He did not saw that. I think he based his reaction on what was being implied."

"Well, he better open his eyes wider. Kasi kung nakita niya, I'm trying my best to push her away."

"Would that mean, you're pushing Reese out of your life too?" Both of his elbows were on the table. His eyes were directly at her.

"Yes... I already told her to stay away. If that will make him happy."

"But you don't want her to leave."

"That's the truth. I want her out! Matagal na. I'm helping her on the custody case. That day, she kidnapped her son. For God's sake, nabigla ako dahil kaya niya palang gumawa ng ganoong klaseng desisyon. She clearly told me na huwag kong isama si Bob or else madadamay siya. I'm just protecting my man. Nagsisimula pa lang siya sa kanyang ahensiya. I don't want his hard work to put in vain."

He crossed his arms and let out a big sigh. "Do you think he wanted that? What if, mas gusto niyang samahan ka at wala siyang pakialam sa kumpanya niya kung masabit man ito sa gulo o hindi. Did you get what I mean?"

This guy really knows how to interrogate!

"Well, ahm.. I'm in hurry. Hindi ko naman akalaing matatagalan kami."

He straightened his back. "You assumed. You did not know how worried he was. You did not know that he can follow you."

"Wait... What? Sinundan mo kami?" Napadilat ang medyo pumupungay ng mata sa ilang latang beer na ring naubos.

Big smile formed on his lips. "Talo ka."

"Oh no! The game is not over. Nabigla lang ako which is why I lost my focus."

He smiled more. "You sleep at my place tonight."

"No.. no.. Hindi pa ako talo." Nanghihinang napasandal si Gaize sa upuan. "It should be the other way around. I was supposed to win this game so that you will turn down Lynette. Dinadaya mo ako e!" Pagalit pang angil niya. Sinabayan na rin ng paglaklak sa natitirang beer na hawak.

"Saan kita dinaya? Ikaw ang unang nag-react. I'm playing fair."

Nang umalis sila sa condo ni Bob ay dinala siya nito doon sa restaurant within the vicinity. Nagugutom na raw ito dahil di pa kumakain ng matino sa maghapon. Sinabi ni Bob na susundan sana siya sa Muntinlupa nang malamang hindi siya pumasok sa opisina. Naghinala itong pupuntahan niya ang kanyang ama nang hiningi niya ang address kanina. Pero nagkaroon ng problema sa ahensiya kaya kinailangan niyang unahin iyon.