Nick felt her her reaction.He frowned then asked, "Honey? Is something wrong?”
She bit the bottom of her lip. "Can you help me to the bathroom so I can clean up? We can't talk properly if we are in this position." she made her tone sound light.
Nick narrowed his eyes but he obliged without saying anything.
They are now seated side by side on the couch. He is holding her hand. Kakatapos nilang kumain ng cake and are now drinking wine. He placed the wine glass with his other hand on the center table tapos nitong uminom.
"Honey.." he kissed her lightly on the cheek.
She turned her head to her left to face him. He traced the side of her face with his index finger.
"You are so lovely." he said.
Through her sleep mask, napikit niya ang mga mata. She likes the feel of his finger running on the side of her face. She had a sudden feeling of wanting to touch him too.
"Pwede din kitang hawakan?" mahinang tanong niya.
"Like before, I will let you touch my face but my hands will guide you kung saan lang pwede okay?" bulong nito sa paos na boses.
She nodded. He took her hands then he let her palms cup his face.
He has smooth skin! Stacey muttered to herself.
After a few seconds ibinaba ni Nick ang mga kamay ng dalaga on his chest. "Now you can let your hands roam from my chest down." he joked.
Stacey can sense that he is smiling. She felt the firm and hard muscles ofupper torso. Kinapa din niya ang biceps nito. Pinigilan niya ang sarili na mag-react. His body feels like every woman's fantasy. Kaya nagtataka siya kung ano talaga ang rason at ayaw nitong magpakita ng mukha sa kanya.
"Why don't you want me to see you?" biglang tanong niya.
Kumunot ang noo ni Nick. "I already told you why hindi ba?" he asked.
She pouted. "Derick, wala namang problema sa akin kahit ano ang hitsura mo." she said honestly.
Kung ano-ano na ang naiisip niya. Parang may kirot siyang naramdaman when she thought of one reason kung baka bakit ayaw nitong magpakita sa kanya. "M-May asawa ka ba?" she asked huskily.
She heard him cursed. Para siyang napaso na inalis niya ang mga kamay sa braso at dibdib nito.
Sumandal si Nick sa sofa then sinabunutan ang sarili.
Stacey's hands are shaking a little as she put them on her lap. GOSH! Mukha ngang may asawa siya! Kaya pala ayaw niyang makita ko ang mukha niya! She told herself.
Nick leaned forward and got something from the center table.
"H-Hindi ako pumapatol sa may asawa Derick." mahinang sabi niya.
"DAMMIT honey! Wala akong asawa okay?!" inis na sabi ni Nick. "Bakit ba kung ano-ano ang iniisip mo?" he asked as he took her left hand.
She pouted. "Kasi ayaw mong makita ko ang mukha mo eh!" she said in an irritated tone.
Nahilamos ni Nick ang isang kamay sa guwapong mukha nito.
"Honey di ba sabi ko naman sayo na magpapakita din ako pero hindi muna ngayon?" he said sa paos na boses.
"Eh kailan?" inis na tanong niya."Wala nga akong pakialam kung ano ang hitsura mo!"
Nick sighed. He wants to believe her but mas gusto nitong lumalim pa ang relasyon nila before he reveals kung sino siya talaga. Stacey is a very special woman. An extraordinary one. He wants to reassure himself na ang totoong Nick Alcantara ang magugustuhan ng dalaga. At hindi ang Nick na nakikita at kilala ng marami.
"Honey...just trust me okay? I want this to work..so magtiwala ka lang please?" pakiusap nito and she just sighed.
"I want to give you this." he said .
Stacey felt something cold around her wrist. "Ano yan? Bracelet?" she asked.
Naalala niya tuloy ang Pandora bracelet na binibigay ni Tyler dati.
"Oo. Always wear it. Pinagawa ko talaga ito for you. This is my surprise." nakangiting sabi ni Nick.
She touched it with her other hand. Mukhang hindi ito simpleng at ordinaryong bracelet lang.
"Can't I peek?" she asked.
He chuckled."No honey."
"What if I don't want to accept it?"
Her question caught him off guard. He didn't speak for a while. He knows that most women appreciate surprises lalo if alahas. His mother's eyes light up kapag alahas ang regalo ng papa nito. Iba talaga si Stacey.
"Derick?"
"Bakit naman hindi mo tatanggapin?" malamig na tanong ni Nick.
"Cause I don't accept expensive gifts from men." she said honestly.
"Don't you consider me as special? Hindi lang ako kagaya ng mga lalaking nagkakagusto at nanliligaw sayo." his tone sounds a little annoyed.
Hindi alam ni Stacey ang isasagot. Kasi nga naman ilang beses ng may nangyari sa kanila at ito ang naka-devirginize sa kanya.
"Honey, please tanggapin mo na. I had it custom-made for you."
Lumabi siya. "Pwedeng tignan ko muna? I won't look at your face, promise. I just want to see it first. Mukhang hindi ito ordinaryong bracelet lang." she commented.
"You can look at it later ." he said with finality.
She frowned. Baka kasi mag-expect ito ng something in return kapag tinanggap niya. "What if I accept this? What's next?" kunot-noong tanong niya.
She didn't hear him react. Ayaw niyang isipin ni Derick na mabibili siya sa mga pa-regaregalo.
"Are you thinking na may hinihingi akong kapalit kaya binibigay ko yan? O baka naman tingin mo binabayaran o binibili kita?" he said while gritting his teeth.
She let out a heavy sigh again. He can read her like a book. Hindi alam ni Stacey kung dapat niyang ikatuwa yun o hindi. Alam nito ang iniisip niya, pero siya,hindi na nga niya ito nakikita, lalong hindi niya alam what he has in mind.
She felt him stand up.
Nick raked his hand through his hair. He is pissed dahil akala nito she'll be delighted with his gift. Mukhang magiging issue pa ito ngayon. He feels so guilty because dati tinawag niya pa itong gold-digger. Now he realized na kabaligtaran si Stacey ng dating inakala nito.
Calm down Alcantara! You messed up big time when you thought the worst of her! If you want to keep her, yyou have to be more patient! He scolded himself.
Nasanay ang binata na nakukuha palagi ang gusto at a snap of his fingers. Iba ngayon. Si Stacey ang pinag-uusapan.
Napaka-sensitive naman ng lalaking to! Tanggapin ko na kaya? Tapos pag nakita ko if masyadong mahal, ibalik ko na lang. Sabi ni Stacey sa sarili.
"Don't you want to be my woman?" he suddenly asked.
Napatingala si Stacey. She knows na he is just a few steps away from her. She frowned.
"I- I don't know. Our set -up is too unusual. Gusto ko pag nag-boyfriend ako palagi kong makakasama at makikita. How can we do that if ayaw mong magpakita ng mukha? Ilang beses ko ng sinabi na looks don't matter to me." she reminded him.She felt him come near her pero hindi ito umupo sa tabi niya.
Nick walked towards her. Tumayo muna ito ng ilang segundo in front of her before he bent one of his knees so he can take her hand and look at her face. Much as he wants her to be his, dapat nitong intindihin na hindi nga naman madali ang sitwasyon nila. As the cliche goes...patience is a virtue. Pag may tiyaga, may nilaga.
"I will wait honey kung kailan ka papayag na maging tayo officially. So you accept my gift?" he sounded hopeful. He kissed her hand with the bracelet.
She bit her bottom lip . Nick felt relieved when she finally nodded and said yes.
Itinayo nito ang dalaga then kissed her forehead and gave her a smack on the lips.
"Hindi ka magsisisi honey." he whispered.
Gaya ng dati, ibinaba siya ng binata sa kanto ng bahay nila then he followed her using his big bike.
Pagtanggal pa lang ni Stacey kanina sa sleeping mask niya ,ang bracelet agad ang tinignan niya. Napaawang ang bibig niya ng makita how beautiful it is. But napasimangot siya ng ma-realize niya na the bracelet is probably worth a small fortune.
Platinum ito and may design na mga puso .Tadtad ito ng maliliit na bato. Nailing na lang siya. Hinubad niya ito and ibinalik sa lalagyan bago ipinasok sa bag. Mag-uusap sila ni Derick mamaya.
(Nick)
He got her number and bumili siya ng prepaid na sim na gagamitin to text her. He gave its number to her. Hindi sila pwedeng madalas magsama dahil baka makahalata ito. Every Friday ang sinabi niyang pagmi-meet nila. It takes more than one day bago tumubo ulit ang stubble niya. Tutal halos araw-araw magkakasama sila sa opisina.
But as Derick, kailangan palagi niya itong tawagan. Kahit hindi man sila nagsasama, he needs to let her feel kung gaano ito ka-importante sa kanya.
Sa opisina, as Nick, he has to maintain their boss-employee relationship. Kailangan niya lalo ng mind-control. He is positive that it will not be easy being close to her without wanting to touch her.
Kahit mahirap,gagawin niya lahat for the relationship he badly wants to have with her.
He was ready to go to the shower when his phone rang. "Billy?" sagot niya.
He heard a heavy sigh.
"Mate! I have been calling you mula kanina but you're not picking up! What the hell is going on?" tanong nito.
"Going on with what?" he asked calmly.
"I got my June issue of the magazine this afternoon. Late na nga ang delivery tapos hindi pa si Stacey Ledesma ang cover! Ano ba ang nangyayari?" tanong ni Billy.