Agad namang pumasok si Jasmine sa CR para sana magbihis ng damit niya ngunit pagpunta niya don ay wala naroon ang kaniyang damit.
"Nasan yung damit ko?" tanong nito kay Steven.
"Yung damit mo? Nilabhan ko kanina, ayun basa pa."
"Naku naman, pag minamalas nga naman ako oh!"
"Bakit ba kasi? May pupuntahan ka ba?"
"Meron at nagmamadali ako. Ano ba? Pahiramin mo kaya muna ako ng damit."
"Hihiram kana lang magsusungit kapa. Magplease ka kaya muna baka maawa pa ako sayo."
"Tsk! Ano ba naman yan, bahala kana nga." Sabi ni Jasmine sabay talikod. Natigilan naman siya ng nasa pinto na siya ng condo.
'Ano ba naman to? Mukang ang hirap naman atang umalis ng walang suot na underwear.' Nag-aalinlangang sabi ni Jasmine sa isipan.
Huminga siya ng malalim bago humarap kay Steven.
"Steven, please... please allow me to borrow your pants and shirt." May lambing sabi ni Jasmine at sabay ngumiti dito.
"Wow! Ginulat muko a. It touches my heart. Kung ganyan ka lang parati magkakasundo talaga tayo." Manghang sabi ni Steven at sabay na nagtungo ng kwarto para kumuha ng damit, sumunod naman si Jasmine sa kaniya.
"Pumili kana lang diyan ng masusuot mo." Sabi ni Steven sabay binuksan yung cabinet na puno ng damit pambabae, panloob at panlabas. Agad namang pumili ng damit si Jasmine. She picks the maroon button-down dress which is knee line, bra at panty short.
'Ba't ang dami niyang pambabae na damit? Sabi ni Mrs. Reyes wala pa siyang nadadala na babae dito sa condo niya? Eh kaninong mga damit to? Huwag niyang sabihin na siya sumusuot nito? Naku naman, baka dakilang bakla siya.' Ani ni Jasmine sa isipan sabay napatawa.
"Huy Jasmine! Ba't ka tumatawa diyan? Nabaliw kana ba?" intirap ni Steven sa iniisip ni Jasmine.
"Hindi ako baliw nu?! I'm just thinking kung bakla ka ba o ano?" sabi ni Jasmine habang nakatingin sa muka ni Steven. Inaabangan niya kung ano ang magiging reaction nito sa sinabi niya.
Bigla namang nagulat si Jasmine ng bigla siyang hawidin ni Steven sa bewang at inilapit sa katawan nito.
"Do you really think that I'm a gay?"
"Malay ko ba sayo." Sabi ni Jasmine habang umiiwas ng tingin kay Steven. Ayaw niyang tingnan ito sa muka baka magtama ang kanilang mga mata't mahypnotize pa siya nito.
"You know what? You deserve to be punished. You insult me several times this day. E kung tutuusin ako dapat ang nagagalit at nagrereklamo ngayon because you seduced me last night and one more thing, I know something about you." Panimulang sabi ni Steven at agad na inilapit ang labi sa kaliwang tenga ni Jasmine sabay bulong. "I'm your first, isn't it? I'm the first man you slept with." Sabi nito at sabay na napangiti.
"So, you're proud now? you're happy? Because you easily got me. Yeah, you're right na ikaw dapat magalit sakin dahil nga sa ginawa ko sayo kagabi, because I'm the one who did the first move but then you know that I'm drunk, sana naman inintindi muko! Because me, myself, I'm not aware of what I am doing. This thing is the most precious one I can give to the man I love whom I can spend for the rest of my life but because of my stupidity, I now looks like a bitch, a slut na basta-basta nalang pumatol sa taong di ko naman kilala." Naiinis na sabi ni Jasmine habang nag-uunahan sa pagpatak ang kaniyang mga luha.
"Jasmine, please don't cry. Oo may kasalanan din ako, but then the situation can't stop me last night. I tried to stop myself but I can't do it because the atmosphere leads us there."
"Yeah, it leads us there. So, we better stop it right now." sabi ni Jasmine at sabay lumabas ng kwarto ni Steven.
Maya-maya pa'y narinig nalang ni Steven ang pagsirado ng pinto ng condo niya.
"She already left." Ani Steven.
Bigla namang nagring yung phone ni Steven na nasa side table niya. Agad niya itong sinagot.
"Hello Sir Steven. Tumawag po yung secretary ng Min-Min Company. Otw na daw po yung ememeet nyo. Are you already in their Hotel?" inform ng secretary ni Steven.
"Okay thank you. Don't worry paalis na ako ng condo."
"Okay po Sir." Ani ng secretary at agad na ibinaba ang tawag.
Dale-dale namang nagbihis si Steven. He wears a formal business attire, black suit with white inner and black neck tie, black slacks, and black shoes. Kinuha niya lang yung importanteng document na nakalagay sa safety volt niya at agad ng umalis ng condo.
***
"Hi, please reserve me one room. The most expensive one." Ani Steven ng makarating sa Rumualdez Hotel.
"Okay po Sir." Nakangiting sabi ng babae.
"And btw, can you make a call to Ms. Rumualdez. I have a meeting with her right now."
"You're Mr. Montemayor?" tanong ng babae. Tumango lang naman si Steven. "Kakarating lang po ni Ms. Rumualdez kanina, at pinapasabi niya po sa inyo, to meet her in her office." Dagdag na sabi ng babae.
"Can you lead me to her office?"
"Yes Sir. Dito po tayo." Sabi nito at sabay na naglakad papasok ng building.
She guided Steven hanggang sa makarating sila sa 10th floor ng building, the last floor kung tutuusin.
"This is her office." Turo ng babae.
May nakita naman silang sticky notes na nakadikit sa pinto nito and it tells "Rooftop."
"What does it mean?" nakakunot noong tanong ni Steven.
"Nasa rooftop po si Ms. Rumualdez Sir. Most of the time, don po siya pumupunta para magpalipas ng problema at sama ng loob. As I observed earlier, she's not in a good mood. Anyways, can you wait me here Sir? I will go upstairs. Sasabihin ko lang po kay Ms. na nandito na po kayo." Paliwanag ng babae.
"No, no. Hindi na kaylangan. Maaabala pa kita niyan e. Ako nalang yung pupunta sa rooftop. You can go back to the lobby." Nakangiting sabi ni Steven.
"Ahm, baka pagalitan po ako ni Ms. niyan Sir. Kapag ganyan po kasing may notes siya, ayaw niya pong iniisturbo don sa taas." Ani ng babae.
"Don't worry. Hindi ka papagalitan nun, sasabihin ko naman that I came here by myself. No one helped me." Ani Steven sabay kindat dito. "Just go back to the lobby okay?" dagdag nitong sabi sabay na tumalikod.
***
Nung makarating sa rooftop si Steven ay wala siyang natagpuang tao o Ms. Rumualdez pero may nakita siyang isang pinto sa bandang gilid ng rooftop katabi ng malaking tangke. Lumapit siya dito at sinubukang pihitin ang doorknob.
'Swerte ko naman at di nakalock.' Masayang sabi ni Steven sa isipan. Agad na nga siyang pumasok sa loob and he was shocked that inside that door is a stair downward.
'Ano to? May sarili siyang basement dito mismo sa rooftop? Secret hideout niya ba to dito?" nakakunot noong tanong ni Steven sa isipan.
It takes him 10 mins. before he gets on the floor. A little bit dark there but there's a small lantern that serves light on the wall, kaya afford na rin naman na makakita.
Naglakad-lakad lang si Steven doon until he saw someone sitting on a chair in front of him. Hindi din naman niya ito nakita dahil nakatalikod ito sa kaniya kaya nagsalita na siya.
"Excuse me Ms. Rumualdez?" ani Steven.
Nagulat naman si Ms. Rumualdez kaya bigla siyang nagsalita.
"Who allow you to go here? I clearly said to every one of you to not come here unless I say so!" pangangaral nitong sabi.
"I'm sorry but I'm not your employee."
Nagulat naman siya sa narinig mula rito kaya agad niya itong hinarap.
"Steven!"
"Jasmine?"
Sabay nilang sabi sa isa't-isa.
"Are you a ninja? How did you come here? Did you follow me? Huh?" nakataas kilay na tanong ni Jasmine.
"No, I'm not. I'm here to meet Ms. Rumualdez and it seems like... you're her. Tsk! I think we're destined to each other since our first met." Ani Steven sabay nagpakawala ng nakakalokong ngiti.
"Don't tell me you're Mr. Montemayor?" nakapamewang tanong ni Jasmine.
"You're right. I'm Steven Montemayor, your secret fiancé." Masayang sabi nito sabay na umupo sa kaharap na upuan ni Jasmine.
"What? Your secret fiancé? Are you joking? Or nababaliw kana talaga?" ani Jasmine sabay na napahampas sa mesang nakapagitan sa kanila ni Steven.
"Siguro nga nababaliw naku sayo. Ang lakas ng tama mo sakin e." ani nito na ikinainis ni Jasmine.
"You know what? If you have nothing to say, you can leave now! Pwede pa naman kitang idemanda dahil trespassing ka dito. You just enter this place without my consent!"
"Well... I already told you why I came here and you just acting impolitely towards your future husband."
"What the hell are you talking about? I'm someone's fiancé. Not you! Ever!"
"Okay. See yourself." Ani Steven sabay bigay ng ducument kay Jasmine.
Agad namang tiningnan ni Jasmine ang laman ng brown envelope. She saw an engagement contract which made by her grandfather and grandfather of Steven. Medyo may kalumaan na ang kontratang ito at mukang nakaranas pa ito ng sunog. May kalakip pa itong picture kung saan karga si Jasmine ng lolo niya at ganun din si Steven ng lolo nito.
"Do you remember this moment Min-Min?" nakangiting tanong nito kay Jasmine.
"Don't call me on that name. It's imposible. Charlie is my secret fiancé. He alone!"
"Oh, come on! Maybe your fake seceret fiancé is what you mean."
"What did you mean fake? He also shows me this kind of document." Ani ni Jasmine sabay turo ng dukomentong hawak.
"Maybe it's a fake document. Nabiktima ka ng isang kasinungalingan. Ano ba sinabi niya sayo para maniwala ka agad?" nakakunot noong tanong ni Steven.
"No need for you to know. And why I should believe you? I don't know you either. You suddenly appear in my life, maybe you're one of those who want to pull me down in this industry."
"In this world, I am the only one who you can trust for my Min-Min."
"Tsk! In this world, you're the one whom I can't trust for. That's the right phrase you should say." Ani ni Jasmine sabay napinanlakihan ng mata si Steven.
"If you want an evidence in order for you to believe me, I can give you them but you need to go with me first."
"No, hindi ako sasama sa isang katulad mo. Na pervert, sinungaling, at manloloko." Bigla namang tumayo si Steven matapos iyong sabihin ni Jasmine. Agad niyang nilapitan si Jasmine and he slowly put his right hand into her waist.
"What are you trying to do?" naiilang tanong nito kay Steven but Steven didn't answer her. Sa halip ay hinila siya ni Steven palapit sa kaniya dahilan para magdikit ang kanilang mga katawan.
'OMG! I can feel his manhood right in my thigh. Tsk! Ano ba naman to.' Naiinis na sabi ni Jasmine sa isipan.
"Pwede ba pakawalan mu ko?!"
"No, I won't let you go." Sabay higpit ng yakap kay Jasmine habang tinitingnan ito sa muka.
"Alam mo? Sumusubra kana talaga! Ano ba talaga gusto mo?" taas kilay na tanong nito.
"Tinatanong pa ba yan? Syempre ikaw! Ikaw lang Min-Min sapat na." sabi nito sabay na hinalikan ang forehead ni Jasmine. Agad namang pinahiran ni Jasmine ng kamay ang noong hinalikan ni Steven.
"Hayst! Ano ba?!" Singhal ni Jasmine dito.
"Do you remember that moment in the picture?" tanong ni Steven sabay bumaling sa litratong nasa mesa. Umiling lang naman si Jasmine sabay nagsalita. "I lost some of my memory in the past, because of what happened in me long time ago. I don't even remember that my grandfather prepares me an engagement contract." Sabi ni Jasmine. Dahan-dahan naman siyang pinakawalan ni Steven matapos marinig yung sinabi nito.
"If you lose your memory, how come you know that Charlie is your secret fiancé?"
"Before my grandfather passed away, he told me that there's someone who will asked my hand and I will just accept it if he has an engagement contract. Charlie have that, so I accept it. And now, you also have that one? I don't know who should I believe right now." naguguluhang sabi ni Jasmine.
"Maybe it's a fake contract because no one knows on this secret engagement. Only you and my family know about this."
"Are you really serious of what you're saying?" tanong ni Jasmine kay Steven.
"Yes. Actually, I know a lot about you." Ani Steven.
"Really?" taas kilay na tanong ni Jasmine dito.
"Yeah. The real thing is, we met in the cruise ship in your 6th birthday, and that picture was taken there. At that time, my grandfather and yours made this engagement contract. I know because I was there when they're making this. We became friends at those time and you used to call me Monte because I was so little way back then and you also got it in my surname while me, I call you Min-Min because that's what your grandfather called you. Actually, the Min-Min Company was named by your grandfather for you. Well, it sounds cute and I like it." Napapangiting sabi ni Steven. "You grew up with your grandfather because your parents died in a car accident at the same year. You finished your study in an excellent university. Your grandfather died because of heart attack and you left no one." ani Steven. Patuloy lang siya sa pagkukwento dahil napapansin niya naman na nakikinig sa kaniya si Jasmine.
Bigla namang may sumasagi na memorya sa isipan ni Jasmine. Medyo blur ito sa isipan niya pero mukang sumasanto ito sa ikinukwento ni Steven. Pilit niya itong inisip ng sa ganun ay klaro niya itong makita. Sandali pa'y napahawak siya sa kaniyang ulo.
'Ba't biglang sumasakit tong ulo ko? Tsk!'
"A---Aray! Ang sakit ng ulo ko." Sabi nitong bigla.
Nilapitan naman agad siya ni Steven. "Why? What's happening?" pag-aalalang tanong nito sabay inalalayan paupo si Jasmine.
"I don't know. Its suddenly hurt." Ani nito sa mahinang boses.
"It's my fault. Just don't overthink okay? Calm your mind." Pagpapakampanteng sabi ni Steven kay Jasmine.
"I---I think I'm going to faint." Ani ni Jasmine sabay na nawalan ng malay.
_________
A/N:
*Do you think nagsasabi ng totoo si Steven? Na siya ang secret fiancé ni Jasmine?
*Kung nagsasabi ng totoo si Steven, sino si Charlie? Bakit siya naging secret fiancé ni Jasmine?
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