Mr. Ryon Mendez is my boss and I do had a crush on him... yung tipong ok na ko sa pasilay-silay lang. Tama lang na nakakakita ka ng gwapo sa umaga and that you had atleast the reason to smile during a hectic and tiring morning.
I know I maybe some kind of ilusyunada, flirt and feelingera. But whatever, hindi ko naman talaga inassume na mapapansin ako ng crush ko. I would like to emphasize, ok na ko sa tamang silay lang. Period.
But, I had the biggest surprise, one day. Hindi ko alam na andami ko pala plus points sa langit that He made me experience the major cringed of a lifetime. So eto na nga...
Everyone was enjoying the party. Well it's the holidays. Holiday is a major reason for a big celebration. It's karaoke night with the team. Probably bumabaha ng alak and a whole lot of singing. I sat closely with a couple of friends just enjoying each others conversation. Then all of a sudden, he just sat right next to me. I smiled at him. Not to give him a hint that somewhat I am excited what could possible happen next. (Admitted, biglang umandar ang bruhildang imahinasyon ko that it's super advance na mag-isip). He smiled at me back.
"Lasing ka na yata, Ate," he said. The way he called me is some kind of endearment. He's superior than me. Sanay lang siyang tawagin kaming lahat ng ate.
Hindi ako sumagot. I'll probably wanting to be drunk kung siya ang aalalay sakin. But chill muna tayo. Maaga pa ang gabi. I did appreciate though his initiative to make a conversation with me.
"Nakakailang bote ka na?" he asked again. This time he sounded superior.
"Eto pa lang, sir," I simply replied. As if trying to be defensive.
"Malakas ka ba uminom ng alak?" he asked again.
"Occasional drinker lang ako actually. I can't even remember when was the last time I drink alcohol," sagot ko.
"But have you been drunk so much before?" he asked again.
"I am not that naive and nice. Syempre we also had fair share of naughtiness once in our lifetime. Ang importante hindi natin yun pinagsisihan and we just treasure the moment," ani ko. I may sound overly explaining but I am happy he was talking to me. Syempre opportunity ko na 'tong makipaglandian sa kaniya. Might as well enjoy it and make the most of it. Baka di na maulit.
Napangiti siya. (My goodness! His smiles are to die for! Nakakainggit ang asawa nito.)
"So maglalasing ka ba ngayon?" he asked again.
I pouted my lips as if thinking. "It depends. Hindi ko pa sure pano ako makakauwi eh kung maglalasing ako."
"You need a ride home? I can drop you off," mabilis niyang sagot.
Natigilan ako. Woah! Teka lang. Ok lang naman ako sa silay ah. Bakit may pahatid sa bahay pa? Nag-OOT ata ang guardian angel ko.
"Mukhang balak mo ko lasingin, sir ah," biro ko. Trying to normalize our atmosphere kahit na ako lang yung hindi na makahinga.
He smiled wider and I heard him somewhat laughed. Oh my! He's really good looking! Ang gwapo maging inspirasyon.
"We'll whatever happens tonight, let's just settled that I am going to take home," he said in an almost whisper voice.
Napatingin ako sa kaniya. His innocent smile have been replaced with somewhat a seriously boyish grin. As if insisting on what he just said.
'He'll take me home...' Like what? Dropping me off? Or taking me in somewhere home na parang take out food?
"I-iba ata yung pagkakaintindi ko sa sinabi niyo, sir. Can you elaborate on that?" I said starting to stammer but innocently honest. It may be the kicking alcohol inside. Tumatabil na ang dila ng feelingera.
He again showed a devilish smile. Somewhat a naughty grin. Parang may ibang intensyon ang ngiting yun. Medyo lumapit siya sakin and with a straight look, he started talking again.
"You know what? You are very very pretty," he said seriously.
"The first time I saw you, I can help but notice how charming your smile is. I am trying to atleast set boundaries with you but I just can't stop myself in admiring you from a distance."
Hold up! Is that a confession of his feelings? Hindi ako makasagot. Hindi ko na alam ano ng eksena 'to. Bakit may pa-admiration from a distance?
"V-very very pretty? T-that meant extremely beautiful. Ako ba talaga yun?" I felt like blushing. Iba ang feeling kapag crush mo yung pumupuri sayo. Gusto mo agad maniwala.
But I need to set back a little. Baka hindi ko magustuhan ang susunod na mga pangyayari. I looked around. The people around us seemed to be busy enjoying the karaoke and drinks. And we just look na parang tamang kwentuhan lang. Wala bang makakarinig sa usapan namin? Parang wala silang pakialam na ako lang ang kausap ni sir? Bumalik ang tingin ko sa kaniya. He still looks at me as if wondering what was I'm thinking.
"Don't worry. Mga lasing na yan. If someone over hears us, there might be a chance they won't remember it next morning," aniya na tila nabasa ang tinatakbo ng utak ko.
"You are indeed beautiful. And I am wondering what was it like being your man," he said in as if a dreamy look. Iniilusyon rin ba ako nito?
"Wait lang," awat ko sa biglang pagpapacute niya. My kilig feeling has been replaced by a confused state of mind. Asan na ba kami? Ano na ang nangyayari? "May gusto ka ba sakin?" diretso kong tanong.
Napalingon siya sa mga katabi. Probably checking if someone might overheard us. Kung di kami lalapit sa isa't-isa di kami magkakarinigan. He looked back upon confirming na halos hindi naman kami madidinig ng iba.
"If I say yes, how will you react?" he asked.
"That's..." I stammered again. Nalilito ako kung tatangihan ko ba in a way na magpapakipot kunwari ako or admit instantly na crush ko din siya. "...pleasantly surprising," dugtong ko. I preferred the safe zone though.
"Then I have a proposal to make," aniya. "I'd like to be honest. I do like you in a way a man like a woman. Meaning physically. I honestly don't know you that pretty well. I can just looked at you from a distance. So probably what I felt is not something on a serious side. If you get what I mean," he said. I couldn't think of any better way to understand it. It is definitely as clear as it is. He only wants a fling.
"Just to clarify, you are married and I am in a long term relationship," singit ko. Baka lang nakakalimutan niyang pareho na kaming taken. Nililinaw ko lang.
"Does it bother you?" he said.
"Tinatanong mo ba ko kung I am that risky to play your games? How far can my naughtiness go?" Naghahanap ata kami ng sakit ng ulo.
He did not reply. Tila wine-weigh kung papatol ba ko sa alok niya.
Aaminin ko, iba yata yung infatuation na nararamdaman ko towards him. And yes, I would like to take him as a fling. Besides, what is a relationship kung walang thrill. Pero kaya ko ba pasukin ang 2nd option role? Yung tipong ako yung kontrabida? I looked at him. Hell, yeah! Gaga na kung gaga. Yun nga lang makasilay ka, masaya ka na. Maging crush ka pa ng crush mo.
"How long have you been married?" I asked.
"5 years."
"And hindi ba ito ang unang beses na nagkagusto ka sa ibang babae bukod sa asawa mo?"
"I never cheated on her."
"Ah so ngayon pa lang?" I said almost laughing sarcastically. He gave me a boyish grin. Tila nahiya sa inaakto niya ngayon.
"It depends, if you'd say yes."
"But are you that attracted to me to the point na gusto mong magloko sa asawa mo?" ani ko.
"I don't know, actually. I have been holding on to this feeling for a long time now. And I feel that I just need to let it all out."
"Feelings? What feelings? I thought it just attraction of a man to a woman. Bakit may pa- feelings pa?"
"Attraction is a feeling. Wag mo na nga guluhin. But are you getting what I mean," he seemed annoyed na nagpapakipot pa ko. If I really don't want it, kanina pa ko tumanggi. And he seemed sensing that.
I can't help it but laughed. Nahilamos ko ang palad sa mukha. I really wanted to say yes, but I wanted to know more. Pano ba gagawin namin sa ganitong complicated relationship?
"I have to be honest din. Ofcourse you're physically likeable. No doubt about that. Pero hindi ko naman naisip na magkaron ng indecent proposal sayo. Do you know or nahahalata mo bang I like you?" Ani ko. That alcohol is definitely kicking in.
"You like me too?" He asked surprised. His face light up. Alam niyang kakagat ako sa proposal niya. "That's all I need to know. I'm good with that."
"Teka lang. Liking you doesn't mean tinatanggap ko yung indecent proposal mo. I still want to clear the table. Pwede ko bang malaman pano natin gagawin 'to?" Pag mamaldita ko na sa kaniya.
His naughty smile didn't fade. "Knowing that you like me, alam ko na nagpapakipot ka lang. But you can't say no to me. So my princess, just buckle up and enjoy the ride," aniya. He gave me a winked and stood up. He was just about to leave. But before he can do so. Kinuha niya yung bote ng alak na iniinom ko and brought it with him. He drank on it. "No more drinking. I'll take you home later," anito saka umalis.
Napatanga ako sa nangyari. What the hell had just happened? Did I just leap on trouble? Napailing na ko with still unbelievable expression.
"Hui, ok ka lang?" Tapik sakin ng katrabaho ko. Napalingon ako sa kaniya. So ngayon napansin na nila ako. "May iniinom ka pa?"
Sunud-sunod ang iling ko. Shaking off the confused state of mind. "I needed to drink more," aniko as I grab another bottle. I saw from the corner of my eye na nakatingin siya sakin although he was talking to someone else.
Magalit ka kung magalit ka. But what he offered was 'No strings attached'. Thus, I'll drink tonight!
I can't wait what happens tomorrow though. But who knows, baka there might be something more exciting that happens tonight pagkahatid sakin ni Boss...😉