Tumango-tango siya. “He is out on a date with a woman no doubt.” Kahit saan pumunta si Nikos ay may babae ito.
“I thought he would end up his meaningless dates with different women. The last time we talk, he told me that he found the girl he wants to marry. And when I saw you, I thought it was you whom he was in love for the time in his life.”
“If there is such a girl, it is definitely not me.” Ilang araw pa nga lang silang nagkakasundo ni Nikos. Malamang ay di rin siya ang tipo nitong babae.
“You didn’t wait for me?” tanong ni Nikos nang maabutan silang nangangalahati na sa hapunan.
“We thought you went out on a date,” sabi niya.
Bumadha ang pagkagulat sa mukha. “I visited someone special,” nasabi lang nito at sinamahan silang maghapunan. “You want to go out, Arize?”
“Work starts tomorrow. It is not wise to exhaust my self tonight.”
“You are so straight laced, my dear,” wika ni Ariadna sa kanya. “You ought to find a nice guy to take care of you.”
“I can take care of myself. Thank you,” nausal niya.
“How about you, Nikolos? Where is that woman you were telling me?”
Nagulat si Nikos. “I am taking my time with her, Theia.”
“And who is the lucky girl?” tanong niya sa sarili bago matulog nang gabing iyon. O may ganoon babae nga ba na pwedeng makapagpatino dito?
HUMANGA si Arizona sa hotel habang pinagmamasdan mula sa pool area. It was Cycladic in design with eighteen rooms. But instead of a hotel, it looked like a grand villa on top of the hill. It was in the village of Oia.
“It is typically for honeymooners, actually. Couples can watch the majestic sunset while lounging on the pool. You they can stay inside the room, awestruck at the surroundings and with each other.”
“Nice romantic insight, Sir,” she said with a smile. Pero tama ito. Sa lugar na iyon, pwede kang umupo lang sa isang tabi at tumunganga. And you won’t feel like you were wasting your time because the place was exquisite itself.
“It was acquired from my dad’s friend. Nagkasakit ang kaibigan ni Papa kaya anak na nito ang nag-take over. Dahil kulang sa experience, the place was mismanaged. Sayang ang potential. I was in the middle of the cruise when I received the message about the protest of the employees. Napag-desisyunan kasi ng board ng La Brissa na palitan sila. Inilaban ko sila sa board. After all, it was their incompetent boss who was at fault. Masisipag silang empleyado. Iyon ang sinabi ng kaibigan ng Papa sa akin. Siya ang nagsabi na huwag silang tanggalin.”
She never thought that he had a soft spot for small people. Then she remembered that her playboy boss was fair with his workers. Di pa man nito trabahador ang mga iyon ay ipinaglaban na nito at pinrotektahan.
“And you won over the board?”
His lips curved into a smile. That time, he looked more like an angel than the nasty maniac she used to loath. “I played my cards right. Put that in mind, Arize. If you value something, put your cards right next to your heart. You’ll surely win.”
“Is that how you play with love as well? That’s why you can get anything you want?” she asked before she could even think. Bumadha ang pagkagulat sa mukha nito. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have asked such personal question. It just slipped.”
“You just surprise me. I never thought that you give a damn about my love life. But, yes. That’s how I deal with everything even with love.” Naglakad ito palayo sa kanya subalit patuloy sa pagsasalita. “Santorini is a hot spot. Kahit na sa susunod na buwan pa ang opening, fully booked na ang hotel for the next three months.”
Patapos na ang renovation ng hotel. Just enough for the re-opening next month. She wished she could go back to the hotel. Not for business but for a vacation. Pwede naman sigurong pumunta dito kahit di honeymooner. Di naman ako maiinggit sa mga couples na makikita ko, no? Sa cruise nga nagawa kong magsolo, dito pa kaya sa isla na marami akong pwedeng puntahan kahit nag-iisa.
She almost tripped when she saw Nikos right on her face. Di niya napansin na tumigil ito sa paglalakad para hintayin siya. While she was fascinated with the interior of the hotel. Mabilis siyang umurong subalit mawawalan naman siya ng balanse at babagsak siya.
Nikos caught her by the waist and pulled her against him. “It is okay, Arize. I got you,” he said in a suave voice.
She could hear her pulse pounding on her neck. They were so close, their lower bodies almost touching. She closed her eyes when his masculine scent enveloped her. Dumilat siya at nagsalubong ang mata nila. Hindi niya alam kung ano ang sasabihin. Wala na siyang lakas na lumayo man lang dito.
“S-Sorry,” nasabi na lang niya sa kawalan ng sasabihin.
“It’s okay,” he said then slowly let her go. “It is almost five.”
“Babalik na ba tayo sa villa.” She felt that she would be safer in the villa once she locked her self inside her room. Safer from her self instead of him.
“No. May pupuntahan ako.”
“Your special someone?”
He turned back to her. “Do you want to meet her?”