Right Here Waiting (Complete)

Chapter 15- Lunch Date

Xykie

Ang tigas ng ulo ng lalaking ito... Look at me, dammit... Open your damn eyes!

I tiptoe and place a soft kiss on his lips. In an instant, his eyes opened.
"I am not her... whoever hurt you before," I told him and step back from him. He needs space now. At ano sinasabi nila, babae daw ang mahirap intindihin! Huh... clearly hindi pa nila nakikilala si Henry kung sino man ang nagsabi nun.

"Thank you for this night, Henry. Sleep well." I smile at him before I walk out of the ballroom. For this night, it is enough.

Para akong may hangover ng kilig... Hindi ako nakatulog ng maayos kaya antok na antok ako ng katukin ako ni Marissa, ang katulong na naka-assign sa akin.
"My Lady, you need to wake up. Lord Henry is waiting for you at the dining area." Masiglang sabi niya.
"I just close my eyes... Still sleepy." I murmured and cover my face with the comforter.
"My Lady...Please do hurry. His Lordship is in a foul mood this morning."
"Then I guess I will just sleep the whole day today," I replied.

"The Duke was here earlier. He gave you this." Tinaas ni Marissa ang isang paper bag.
"For what?"
"For your lunch with him." Naguguluhang sabi nito.
"What lunch?" Naguguluhang tanong ko.
Kinuha ni Marissa ang isang papel na naka-envelop at binigay sa akin. It's a lunch invitation signed by Lucas. I rolled my eyes.
"Do I need to wear a bloody dress again?" I asked.
"No...I don't think so, My Lady." Itinaas ulit ni Marissa ang paper bag.
"Now, you need to go down or the whole house will fall apart when Lord Henry gets mad."
"He is always mad," I replied flatly.

Naabutan ko si Henry na nakasimangot sa dinning area at umiinom ng tea.
"Morning." Bati ko sa kanya.
"You are late." He said.
"Sorry. Hindi kasi ako nakatulog agad kagabi." I replied without looking at him. Kumuha ako ng tinapay at butter.
"And why is that?"
"Dahil sobra akong kinikilig kaya hindi ako nakatulog agad." Sagot ko. I lookat him, bago ako kumagat ng tinapay. Mukha siyang natuklaw ng ahas sa sinagot ko.

"Bakit bad mood ka?" I asked him pagkalunon ko ng tinapay. Huwag kang tumitig, aba!
"Nothing, important." He replied clearing his throat.
"Anong oras nga pala tayo aalis mamaya?"
Mukhang naguluhan sa tanong ko si Henry. Kumunot ang noo nito at tumingin sa akin.
"Do you want to go back to the palace?" Tanong niya.
"No..." I replied. "Hanggang kailan ba tayo dito?"
"Why?"
"Stop answering me with questions," I said.
Nilapag niya ang binabasang news paper sa mesa.
"A week or so." He said. A week...
"Patay... Pang 3 days lang ang dala kong damit."
I heard him chuckled.
"Hindi mo naman sinabi. Akala ko weekend lang tayo." I rolled my eyes at him.
"Wash and wear tuloy ang damit ko."
Natawa si Henry.
"I will ask Morris to get you some clothes." He told me.
Umiling ako. "Morris might buy me some gown. Ako na lang ang hahanap ng mabibilan ng damit. Aalis naman ako ngayong lunch."
Nawala ang ngiti ni Henry. And I secretly dance in victory.
"Or pwede mo akong samahan bukas kung hindi ka busy." I suggested. A slow smile creeps into his face but he suppresses it. Ang tigas talaga...give in... Kailangan pang pigilan.
"Saka, mamayang dinner, pwede bang huwag ng bongga?"
Natawa ng bahangya si Henry. "I will tell Morris."
"Thank God. A night picnic by the river will be fine."
"Very well."
"Thanks. See, madali naman di ba akong kausap? Huwag ka lang sisigaw."
"Don't tempt me." He replied.
"Are you easily tempted?" Biro ko sa kanya.
Kahit pigilan mo yang ngiti mo...sisilay at sisilay yan. See, ang gwapo mo kaya kapag nakangiti ka.
"Maybe." He answered smiling.
"So, ano na? Sasamahan mo ba ako bukas or magpapasama na lang ako kay Lucas mamaya na bumili ng damit?"
"I will accompany you tomorrow." He replied.
"Good...It's a date then."I winked at him.

In fairness sa jumpsuit na green na padala ni Lucas...Kakulay ko ang mga puno. Hindi ko alam kung nagpapatawa ba siya pero bagay sa akin ang kulay. Plus, sleeveless ang damit kaya comfortable. At God knows, paano niya nalaman ang size ng paa ko is beyond me. But thankful enough dahil flats ang binigay niya. Nakabraid ang buhok ko at merong iilang hibla na nakacurl. Mabuti at magaling mag-ayos si Marissa kung hindi, mukha akong si Beast instead na si Beauty.

Kumatok si Morris sa pintuan at pinagbuksan ito ni Marissa.
"My Lady, the Duke is waiting for you at the foyer." He said. "You look lovely, by the way."
"Thanks, Morris. Thank you, Marissa. I better go. I think, being impatience runs thru the people of Cordonia." I whispered to Morris. He laughs at my joke.
"Yes, indeed, My Lady." He replied.
Nakangiti akong bumaba ng hagdanan at naabutan si Lucas at Henry na nakatayo at mukhang nagkakapikunan na naman.

"Hey... okay lang kayo?" I asked them.
Unang nagbawi si Lucas sa staring contest nila ni Henry. He gave me a friendly smile.
"Well, you look lovely." He said.
"Thanks," I replied.
Nakatitig sa amin si Henry at hindi ko alam kung bibiruin ko ba siya o hahayaan na lang.

"Take her home at 2 pm." He said to Lucas.
"4 pm," Lucas replied.
"3 pm...final," Henry said.
"Who are you? Her dad?" Sarcastic na tanong ni Lucas kay, Henry.
"Okay...guys... 3pm... tapos ang usapan." Pag-aawat ko sa kanila.
"Yung diner... huwag mong kakalimutan." Paalala ko kay Henry. Medyo, nawala ng kaunti ang pagkakunot ng noo nito.
Tumango siya sa akin. I smile at him.
"See you later," I said to him.

Hinila ni Lucas ang kamay ko palabas ng bahay. Nakangisi siya habang pababa kami ng hagdanan sa front door.