“Of course he does. But I am more handsome,” he answered with a laugh.
“Alam mo bang ikaw pa lang ang lalaking nagluto para sa akin. Si Papa o kahit si Kuya di ako naipagluto. Si Mama ang magaling pero maaga siyang namatay kaya hindi na niya na niya naipasa ang skills niya sa akin.” Sa halip ay nahilig siya sa trabaho ng papa niya kaysa sa gawaing-bahay.
“Believe it or not, ikaw pa lang ang babaeng ipinagluto ko.”
“How do you impress girls? With diamonds? Trip around the world? With your vast winery or with your escapades? they are just awed by your glamorous world.”
“You are right,” he answered playfully. “But of course there’s my gorgeous face and body. Saka marami pa akong talent na hindi ko basta-basta mai-share.”
Tumaas ang kilay niya. “At least nai-share mo sa akin ang pagluluto mo.”
“You should eat more. You are so skinny.” Inilapit nito ang plato ng pestou with shrimp sa kanya. “Mabuti di ka tinangay ng bagyo kanina.”
“Mukha lang akong payat pero malakas ako. Alaga ako sa exercise. Kailangan iyon sa trabaho ko. Dapat marunong akong bumalya o kaya sumingit para makakuha ng magandang pictures. Dapat matatag din ako sa puyatan at sa gutom. Alam ko rin dapat kung paano ipagtanggol ang sarili ko. Kaya kapag may bumastos sa iyo, sabihin mo lang sa akin. Ipagtatanggol kita.”
Humalakhak ito. “That’s original. Keep it up and I will keep you. Requirement ko kasi iyon sa babaeng pakakasalan ko. She should be able to keep women at bay.”
Nadismaya siya. “Iyon lang ang gagawin mo sa akin? Taga-protekta mo sa mga babaeng nababaliw sa iyo?”
“No! I will also take care of you and protect you. Titiyakin ko na hindi ka magugutom. Na kakain ka sa oras. And I can make you happy.”
Itinirik niya ang mata. “Ah, I am suspicious with the last one.” Anong klaseng kaligayahan ba ang ibibigay nito sa kanya?
“It is something that could make your blood rush.”
“I already had enough adrenaline rush. I love the scent of danger. Iyon din ang pakiramdam ni Papa noong foreign correspondents siya. Kailangan lang niyang I-give up ang trabaho niya para sa amin ni kuya. Iyon din ang na-experience ko. Parang hindi na nga ako takot mamatay. And I simply got hook.”
He sighed. May lungkot sa mukha nito. “You are missing a lot, Reese.”
“Katulad ng boyfriend?” Umiling siya. “I don’t think so. Di naman boyfriend ang kailangan ko kundi love. At kapag na-in love ako, sa palagay ko wala rin akong mami-miss out. Kaysa naman magka-boyfriend nga ako pero di ko naman mahal. That’s what I call wasting time. Well, how about you?”
“Just like yours. Dapat in love kapag pumasok sa isang relasyon.”
“Ilang beses ka nang na-in love?” she asked curiously.
Ilang saglit din itong natahimik. “Di pa ako nai-in love.”
“How about those women? Wala ka bang naramdaman na espesyal sa kahit sino sa kanila?”
“I don’t want to sound conceited. But they usually want to be photographed with me for a few days of fame. So they can have a legal claim to brag that I had an interlude with them. At kung may nagsasabi man na mahal nila ako, sinasabi lang nila kapag…well…” He was hesitant to continue.
“When you are in bed,” she supplied. “You don’t have to worry. Sanay na ako sa ganyang usapan dahil madalas pag-usapan ng mga kasamahan kong lalaki iyan.”
“Those women make me feel empty. Its always sex and glamour.”
“Well, I prefer dates like this. Away from the prying eyes of the press.”
“That’s why you are different.” After dinner, they sipped wine near the window while watching the rain. “This is a perfect date. Thank you, Reese.”
“Ha? I did nothing but drink your wine, eat your food and talk.”
He held the back of neck. “You look beautiful tonight.”
“You are the one who perfect. Thank you for making me feel special.”
“You are special, chère.” He moved his face close to hers. “And I don’t want this to be our last date. Do I get a kiss on our first date?”
Ginaya niya ang mga napapanood niya sa TV. Iniyakap niya ang kamay sa leeg nito. His mouth was so warm against hers. He tasted of heady wine and raw masculinity. She felt tingle in her spine when his playful tongue skimmed the inside of her mouth. It was so raw. She loved it. Her blood was ringing in her ears. Isang reaksiyon na nakukuha lang niya kapag nagko-cover siya ng balita.
Only she didn’t feel any danger. He made her feel safe and content. Only she wanted more. She knew that he could offer more. If only he didn’t stop.
He kissed the tip of her nose. “I have to stop now, chère. You are sucking the life out of me with just a kiss,” he said with a laugh.
“Is that bad?” she asked curiously.
“No. It is simply perfect.”