GIANNA shifted restlessly in her chair. She was wondering why Hunter was still there and not leaving yet. Ang akala niya ba ay may ibabalik lang ito? She couldn't enjoy her dessert because of him. Sa bawat pagsubo niya ay ramdam niya ang mga mata nitong nakatingin sa kanya.
"You still haven't forgotten my favorite dessert, Gianna," nakangiting sabi sa kanya ng mama ni Sage. "It's really good to see you back here."
"Why, of course tita. You know I'm also fond of chocolate cake," sagot niya naman.
She threw a quick glance at Hunter who seemed like he was enjoying his cake. Napakunot ang noo niya. She remembered he wasn't fond of sweets. No wonder he hadn't had an ounce of sweetness in him. "I thought you didn't eat cake," puna niya. "Don't you hate sweets?"
"Is that something you should concern yourself about?" balik tanong nito sa kanya.
She had this urge to curse at him but she stopped herself from doing so. If only not because of Sage's mother who was also with them. He was the only person she knew who could make her snap in just a few seconds. Gaano man siguro kahaba ang pisi ng pasensya niya ay mapuputol at mapuputol din yun kung ang isang katulad ni Hunter ang kausap niya.
"You two should stop arguing. Why does the two of you don't get along?"
She didn't know why either. His hatred was the only thing evident for her. She already got tired searching her memory for possible reason for him to hate her that much. For him, she was an eyesore.
He lifted his head and their gazes locked. He glared at her with an intensity that tightened her chest. She averted her eyes from him. Noon man o ngayon, uneasiness would always sweep over her whenever Hunter was around. Bigla ay nawalan siya ng ganang kumain. She decided to change the topic instead.
"Hey, tita," she started. She tried to make her voice sound cheerful as she could. ""Alam niyo bang may bagong pelikula pala si Sage? He's still probably in shooting right now. And next week ay sa Puerto Gallera ang next shooting location nila. I plan to go with him there."
"What?" rinig niyang bulalas ni Hunter.
Nilingon niya ito at sinalubong ang matalim na tingin nito. And even though she was scared, she tried to compose herself. With a steady voice, she answered, "Why? I haven't been there yet. I want to see the beach. It would be a shame kung sa buong buwan na pag-stay ko dito ay puro mall lang ang napupuntahan ko."
His jaw clenched at hearing her reason. "Really? Is that all to it?" He knew that was not the only reason. It was because of Sage.
"Yes," she answered without batting an eyelash.
Bigla ay parang gusto niyang tumawa. Did she honestly think she could lie to him? He knew her very well. He knew how much she loved his cousin. That night, he saw the pain in her eyes as she watched Rainee and Sage held hands. It was already evident that whatever feelings she had for his cousin, it would be hopeless. She already had no chance. But here she was, still going for it. Woman. He found them unbelievable as they would go at any lengths just for this so-called love.
"I should at least enjoy my stay here. Matagal din akong nawala. Umay na ako sa matataas na gusali na lagi kong nakikita. A change of scenery would be nice," she added. She just hoped he would believe her.
"I'm sure you would like it there, Gianna. We went there last year. You're probably stressed from your work, you need some break."
She smiled. Why, of course she would. At least there she won't see that woman. And she doubted that she would come with him. She was already looking forward to it. At least there she won't see that woman. She doubted Rainee would come along with Sage. After all, he would only go there to shoot some scenes for his upcoming film. Hiling niya lang ay sana walang sumira sa kasiyahan niya.
"THANKS, tita. I'll come back here again kapag nandito na si tito."
Ngumiti ito. "I'm sure Albert will be happy to see you. Mag-iingat kayong dalawa sa pag-uwi," Yvette replied.
"We're going now, Tita Yvette," rinig niyang sabi ni Hunter. He turned his gaze at her at ang ngiti sa labi nito ay naglaho. "Get in," malamig ang tono na pagkakasabi nito sa kanya.
She tried her best to ignore his tone at kahit ayaw niya ay napilitan siyang sumakay sa kotse nito. Sa rearview mirror ay tanaw niya ang Tita Yvette na hinihintay ang pag-alis nila bago ito tuluyan pumasok sa loob ng bahay.
"Wala na si tita. You can now drop me off. I'll just take a taxi pabalik ng condo," aniya ng hindi man lang nililingon ito. She wanted to get out of his car right away. She didn't want to be with him in this small confinement of his car. She was sure he felt the same way too. Napilitan lamang ito na isakay siya sa kotse niya. He didn't have a choice anyway. Ang Tita Yvette na mismo ang nakiusap dito na ihatid siya pabalik sa condo.
"I'll drop you at the condo."
Gulat siyang napatingin dito. She looked at him waiting for him to take back his words. But he didn't. He was serious. Pagkaraan ay ibinalik niya ang tingin sa labas ng bintana ng kotse. "Why, do you fancy my presence now?" her voice dripped with sarcasm.
"I may hate you but I'm still not a heartless man who would just leave a woman on the side of the road na ganito na kadilim. This is not New York, Gianna. You've only been here for a week. Hindi mo pa kabisado ang lugar dito. And the people around here."
She couldn't help but laugh bitterly at his statement. To think someone like him would be worried about her. Magugunaw na ba ang mundo? She preferred hearing those words from Sage instead. Matutuwa pa siya. But from him? It sounded weird for her.
"I don't want to be indebted to you." Not him, of all the people.
"You don't owe me one for this," he answered, ang tingin nito ay naka-focus sa daan.
She didn't utter a word anymore. Hahayaan na lang niya itong gawin ang gusto nito. She had no idea on what's going on inside his head. Gusto na niyang makabalik kaagad sa condo. Nandun na kaya si Sage? Had he already eaten? Should she order some takeout just in case he hadn't had his dinner yet?
She wanted to ask him how did the shooting went. She already watched some of his series and films online. Wala sa mga ginampanan nito ang hindi niya nagustuhan. She loved his acting. Dalang-dala nito ang bawat character na ginagampanan nito at pati ang tamang emosyon ay nagagawa nitong ilabas. No wonder he already won Best Actor twice. She couldn't help but be proud of his achievement. Mabuti na lang at sinundan nito ang gusto talaga nitong gawin. Even her couldn't picture his childhood friend as a doctor.
"Damn!"
Biglang nagpreno si Hunter dahilan para muntik na siyang masubsob sa dashboard. Mabuti na lang at may seatbelt siya. Pag-angat niya ng mukha ay nakita niya ang isang babae na natawid. Ito siguro ang dahilan kung bakit biglang nagpreno si Hunter. He muttered something incoherently. Bakas sa mukha nito ang pagkairita. Ibinalik niya ulit ang tingin sa labas ng bintana.
And once again, a defeaning silence surrounded them. She shifted on her seat. Gusto niyang may bumasag ng katahimikan but she didn't want to initiate the conversation first. Alam niyang ganun din ito. She just decided to turn on the radio instead. Pero hindi pa man ay nakakatagal ay pinatay nito ang radyo much to her surprise.
"Why did you turn it off?"
"Maingay," simpleng tugon nito.
She rolled her eyes. "It's much better than this awkward silence surrounding us!" she huffed.
She glanced at her wristwatch. Only ten minutes had passed since they left the house but it felt like forever. And being stuck in traffic didn't help. Ganun na ba kalala ang trapik sa pinas?
"Who would have thought that the girl I used to call ugly back then is now a supermodel. You were thin like a stick before that I even fear you might get carried off by the wind."
Napatingin siya dito. Her eyebrows raised. "Oh, yeah? I guess you didn't expect that." She might not be that beautiful back then compared to right now but she wouldn't call herself that ugly. She was just a plain girl who didn't know how to dress up well. And there was now what you called makeup.
"Was it fun playing around with those guys? I didn't expect you to be that type of person who gets bored easily in your relationship."
She was taken aback by his bluntness. Pero agad din siyang nakabawi. "And I didn't know you are the type of person who believes easily on what they read on the Internet. Some of it are just merely lies. Seriously, you can't trust the media these days now. You of all people should know that. Hindi ba't artista ang pinsan mong si Sage?"
Hindi ito nakakibo. Napabuntong-hininga na lang siya. She didn't like the media. She hated how it was easy for them to slander one's image just for this so-called ratings. Ratings meant money. Lots of it. At anumang salita ang bitawan nila ay paniniwalaan naman ng publiko.
"It's because I want to believe it," rinig niyang sabi nito. "And by believing it, I can have a reason to hate you even more."
Maang siyang napatingin dito. She was speechless. Yun na nga lang ba talaga ang tanging nararamdaman nito sa kanya? Ang pagkamuhi. She laughed bitterly. If he was looking for a reason to hate her even more, then she would gladly gave him one. She would take Sage away from that woman. Hindi pa naman kasal ang dalawa so she could do whatever she wanted.
"I'm not going to let you do whatever you want, Zaylee. You don't know me and what things I can do."
"Is that a threat?" she asked.
He didn't answer. Instead, the corner of his lips curved into smirk. Whatever he was up to, she's pretty sure she wouldn't like it.