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Napakalakas ng kabog ng kanyang dibdib. Naghaharumentado sa simpleng salita ng binata ang bawat parte ng kanyang katawan.

Nakakabaliw.

"Stop spitting out nonsense, Attorney," gusto na niyang matapos ang sayaw na ito, ngunit tila ayaw yata siyang pakawalan ng binata.

"Hindi ako nagsisinungaling, Antoinette. The day I first laid my eyes on you, there's still unexplainable connection I felt for you. I can't describe what it is, but I know it's something deep. Nakakapaso. Nakakalunod. Nakakatakot. And believe me when I say that ikaw na lang ang babae ko simula ng tanggapin ko ang offer mo," his eyes still on her, pilit pinapabatid na sa kanya lang ang buong atensyon ng binata.

Hindi rin nito alintana ang iba pang mga taong sumasayaw sa kanilang paligid. He is too distracted with her.

"Stop lying, Leo. You're still seeing Aishana when we are together. I'm not blind," too much temptation.

He lowered himself to her and suddenly he take off her mask, "Yes, we are seeing each other not because we're back together. She really tried to get me back, but I didn't let her, baby. Dahil ikaw na lang ang babae ko, I'm too faithful to you. And she tried to used her Tita's case para makasama ako. Pero maniwala ka sa hindi, kung anuman ang lahat ng nakita mo dati, she just tried to seduce me, baby."

This is too much information. And she doesn't know if her mind can accept all of these.

Napakagwapo ng lalaki sa suot nitong kulay gray na tuxedo na pinaresan ng puting polo sa loob. Lumaki rin lalo ang katawan ng binata at ang bawat parte ng kanyang mukha ay mas lalong tumapang. His jaws was still breathtaking, nakakapanghalina. Napakaayos at linis din ng buhok nito na parang alagang-alaga talaga ng barbero.

Bahagya siyang umiling, "I don't believe you. Ten years versus me? Unbelievable."

"You knew me for a decade, too, baby," his voice was so soft.

"Not as much she knew you, Leo. I was just a nobody."

Leo touched her face for a seconds, "You' never been nobody or somebody, baby."

"I'm a broken pieces, Leo. Don't let this pain in a more fragile way, hindi ko na alam pa kung paano bubuuin ang sarili ko," she's now trying to stop herself from tears.

Pagdating talaga sa binata, napakababaw ng luha niya. Parang hindi siya kalahating taon nagtago dito. Sobrang sariwa pa rin kasi ng sakit, akala niya unti-unting naghihilom na.

"Let me fixed what I've broke, baby. Just let me," hindi na sila halos gumagalaw sa pwesto nila, they are just there, talking without space.

Paulit-ulit siyang umiling dito, "Too much damage, Leo. Baka mas lalo mo lang masira kapag sinubukan mo."

Bumadha naman ang kirot sa mukha ng lalaki, "I never intended to, baby. Believe me, the night before you left, that's one of my most memorable night. I'm also planning to confessed after that day, but you already left. You left me all alone, baby. Nasaktan rin ako noong umalis ka. And I don't have any idea where to find you."

"Kaya nga hindi talaga pwede ang gusto mo, Leo. We're just both hurting each other. We will just end up ruining one another," her tears are all in, kaunting kalabit na lang sa kanya ay mag-uunahan na itong lumabas.

"Hayaan mo naman akong mahalin ang sarili ko. I've been chasing you for so long, Leo. Hayaan mo naman akong maranasan na ako naman ang habulin. Nakakasawa at nakakapagod rin pala."

"Nakita na kita, Antoinette."

Bahagya siyang natigilan sa sinabi nito.

"And I won't let you out in my arms again, baby. Ako naman ang hahabol sa'yo, Antoinette. Let me do the job this time. I will be the reckless one for this one, baby. Hayaan mo akong ipakita na tunay ang intensyon ko," his eyes are so sincere, ni hindi niya ito makitaan ng bahid ng kahit anong kasinungalingan.

"I love you, Mary Antoinette. Let me chase you, please."

Her knees almost lose its support upon hearing what he just have said. He just said he loves her! This is a dream!

At kung panaginip man ito, huwag na muna sana siyang gisingin.

"Then serenade me, Attorney," she spoke in a fiercest manner after a minutes of shock.

At iyon rin ang naging hudyat niya para iwan ang binata sa gitna ng alon ng mga tao.

Her tears just fell out after seeing Vixen waiting for her return. Sinalubong pa siya nito ng mainit na ngiti at yakap.

He is a man of a dream.

At hindi niya alam ngayon kung lumuluha ba siya dahil sa sakit o saya. Halo-halo na ang kanyang nararamdaman. Nalilito na siya.

"I got your back, Toni, always," Vixen hugged him tighter habang hinihimas nito ang kanyang likuran.

All she can do is to cry on his chest. Lagi na lang niyang iniiyakan ang dibdib ng binata.

SA KABILANG DAKO, nagkaroon man ng kaunting pag-asa ang puso ni Leo, lugmok pa rin ang kanyang damdamin dahil nasaktan talaga ng lubusan ang dalaga dahil sa kanya.

What a jerk he is.

"Ano, dude? Kayo na ulit?," kuryosong tanong ni Ethon sa kanya pagkabalik niya sa kanilang table.

"I'm really an ass. I'm still hurting her. Damn," aniya at kapwa bagsak ang dalawang balikat.

"Baka naman kasi sila na nung lagi niyang kasamang lalaki? Kita ko IG post nun last year, magkasama sila ni Antoinette sa Korea!," panggagatong naman muli ng kaibigan.

Sinamaan naman niya ito ng tingin bago damputin ang sariling kopita ng alak, "Shut up! You're not helping," inis niyang wika dito.

"Just giving you an idea. Kasi kung ako si Antoinette, hindi kita pipiliin, dude, hindi naman kasi ako bakla," Ethon laughed like a drunk man.

"Like I'm interested, Corpuz," ismid naman niya dito.

"Pero ito na seryoso, bro, I think nasaktan talaga si Antoinette sa naranasan niya. Just give her time, saka ka na umarangkada," at nagawa pa nitong tapik-tapikin ang kaniyang balikat na parang napakalaking tulong talaga.

Umiling siya, "I gave her half year. I don't want to wait anymore, baka maagaw pa siya ng iba sa akin."

"Napaka-competitive naman ni Attorney! Basta ako pusta ko lagi sa'yo kahit matalo pa!," he is now giving him a weird smile while raising his brows nonstop.

Napailing na lamang siya at tiningnang muli ang pwesto ng dalaga kung saan nakaupo na ito ngayon katabing muli ang lalaking kasa-kasama nito.

"I never been an Attorney for nothing, Antoinette. Believe me when I say," he is now taking on his self.

"MADAM, may biglaan pong client ang gustong makausap kayo," her secretary spoke using their intercom.

She lazily fixed herself mula sa pagkakayukyok sa sariling table, "For what?"

"Papagawa 'raw po ng bahay," alanganing wika ng dalaga sa kabilang linya.

After yawning a bit, tuluyan ng nagising ang kanyang diwa, "Dito talaga dumiretso?"

Pa-VIP naman masyado ang kliyenteng ito, she thought.

"Opo, Madam. Papapasukin ko po ba?"

Tumango naman siya kahit hindi naman makikita ng kaharap, "Yes, she may come in. Wala naman akong inaasikasong gawain."

"Alright, Ma'am," and right after their conversation ended.

Inayos naman niya ang pagkakaupo sa swiveling chair habang hinihintay ang bagong kliyente.

This day in her office is a boring one, ni wala siyang halos ginawa. At sa tingin niya ay hindi naman masama itong pagtanggap sa hindi inaasahang panauhin.

Kailangan niya rin ng distraksyon dahil hindi pa rin nawawala sa kanyang isipan ang muling pagkikita nila ng binata.

"Hello, Toni."

She was stunned upon seeing her again, at dito pa sa loob ng kanyang sariling opisina.

Ni hindi niya inaasahan na muli silang magkikita ni Aishana pagkatapos ng nangyari.

"Nice meeting you, Ai. What brought you here in my office?," she tried to be nice like usual.

At ngayon niya lang nakitang muli ang dalaga na hindi puting roba ang suot, kundi isang casual na blusa at pantalon.

She stepped towards her table, "I'm planning to build my own house, and I want your company to be my contractor," Aishana was straightforward.

"I see. But you may sit first while we are discussing about your future house," she spoke casually.

Agad namang umupo ang dalaga sa upuang nasa harapan lamang ng kanyang table. Ni hindi ito nagdalawang-isip.

Kung hindi siya magsasalita ay napaka-awkward.

"Gaano ba kalaki ang gusto mong bahay? Ilan ang titira? May naisip ka na bang posible design?," binaha niya ito ng mga tanong kalaunan.

"I really wanted a bungalow one, iyong kasya lang ang maliit na pamilya. And about the design, your architect can show me some samples, I'm not really into arts kasi kaya I can't pinpoint what I reallg like," Ai spoke also casually 

Tumango-tango naman siya, "Alright, I'll discussed some details with you, Ai in our next meeting. Just give your information to my secretary. Pipili pa ko ng mga taong gagawa ng bahay mo."

"And I'll give you discount 'cause I knew you naman," she added, naaalala ang huling sinabi sa kanya ng dalaga na kung sakaling mapapadaan siya sa hospital nito ay bibigyan siya nito ng discount. She's just returning the favor.

Ai smiled on her sincerely, "Thank you...and I'm sorry, Toni."

She looked at her with confused look, "For what?"

"The reason I personally went here, not only about my house, but also I really wanted to send my apologies for everything," Aishana was so soft, kitang-kita niya ang emosyon sa mga mata nito.

"You don't have to, Ai. Wala ka namang kasalanan," hanggang sa maaari, she wants to understand everything, siya rin naman ang kusang nagsiksik sa kwento ng dalawa, kaya siya rin ang may kasalanan.

"No. I was the reason why you left Leonardo. I tried to get him back for many times kahit na ilang beses na niyang sinasabi na may iba na siyang girlfriend. Kasi who would believe, right? Ganoon niya lang ako kayang palitan, na parang hindi kami sampung taon nagsama. But I was wrong, he really did. I tried many things just to have him back. I even used Tita Chelita's case as Leonardo being an attorney. I used that excuse to be with him every time I needed him. Pero ganun pala talaga 'no?," Aishana was so transparent.

Kung ano ang ikinatapang ng ugali nito ay ganoon din kalambot ang emosyon nito ngayon. Para siyang babasagin na vase na oras na hawakan mo ay mababasag.

"You can't force someone to love you again. You can't force things to went out like what you're planning. Dahil hindi ganoon ang buhay, akala ko dati lahat ng gusto ko ay pwede kong makuha. I'm so spoiled with my parents and auntie, they even supported my passion. I have Leonardo's back to the point na nagawa ko siyang lokohin dahil sa tukso. At kung kailan nakuha na siya ng iba, saka ko ulit nakita ang tunay niyang halaga. Akala ko matalino na ako dahil nakaya ko ang pagiging doctor, pero mali ako. Nagiging tanga rin pala ang tao minsan, Toni," pagpapatuloy ng dalaga sa kanya.

"Don't blame yourself, Ai," she doesn't know how to comfort this girl.

Aishana hold her both hands on top of her table, "Ikaw na ang bahala sa kanya kung kaya mo pa siyang tanggapin, Toni. Pero Leo doesn't hold any liability about this. Everything is my fault, I was just being selfish. But this time, I tried to be not. Please forgive me, Toni."

She hold her back and smiled, "Hindi ka pa humihingi ng kapatawaran, napatawad na kita. You were never been a villain, Ai. You're just a victim of cupid...like me."

This is what it felt to be free.