CHAPTER 5

RED knew that it’s a bad time to tease Lockett, but there’s something in him that really wants to see her and talk to her. Kahit pa nga alam niyang magagalit ito sa kanya. Palagi naman e.

Sinundan niya ng tingin ang papalayong bulto ng dalaga. Mukhang naiirita talaga ito sa kanya.

He put his hands on his pocket then walked after Lockett. He was about to enter the reception hall when he heard his friends voice.

"Hey, man. Where are you going?" Tanong ng kaibigan niyang si Iuhence ng makita siya nitong papasok sa hall na pinasukan ni Lockett.

Shit.

Binalingan niya ang kaibigan. "I'm going in there." Wika niya sabay turo sa reception hall.

Kumunot ang nuo ni Euhence. "Why? Did Tyron ask you to check the reception hall?"

"Yeah."

Iuhence gave her an arched look. "Red, you suck at lying. At ako ang inutusan ni Tyron na i-check ang reception hall."

Natawa siya ng mahina. Mukhang buko na siya. "May kailangan lang akong tingnan sa reception hall."

"Ano naman?" Usisa nito na kunot ang nuo.

He bit the inside of his cheek. "Wala naman. Titingnan ko lang kung maganda ang pagkakadisenyo ng reception hall."

Halata is Iuhence na hindi ito naniniwala. "I'll pretend that you are actually going there to see the design and not the woman who just entered a minute ago."

Buko na talaga siya.

"How did you know?"

"Red, we've been friends since I can remember." Nginitian siya nito. "Anyway, mauna na ako sa’yo, baka hinahanap na ako ni Tyron. Kailangan niyang niyang malaman na maayos na ang lahat bago pa mabaliw ang kaibigan nating iyon."

He nodded and smiled. "Okay. Susunod nalang ako sa’yo."

Nilampasan niya ang kaibigan at pumasok sa reception hall. Agad na nakita niya ang hinahanap. Abala ito sa sa pag-aayos ng medyo nakusot na table cloth ng isang mesa.

Red smiled to himself as he stared at Lockett. Kahit nakayuko ito at mukhang hindi ito komportanbe habang inaayos ang table cloth, Lockett still manage to move gracefully. Is she trained to move and act gracefully or is it natural? He’s curious.

"Hey, princess." That endearment suits her well. She does move like a princess, graceful.

Mabilis na humarap ito sa kanya. Her eyes widen when she saw him, then second later, the shock in her eyes was replaced by irritation.

"Ano na naman ang kailangan mo?" Sikmat nito.

"Nothing." Wika niya at lumapit dito. "You look lovely today."

Inirapan siya nito. "Lumayo ka nga sakin. Choo! Tsupi!"

He chuckled. "Come on, bakit mo ako pinapalis? Don’t you miss me? Ang tagal na nating hindi nagkita. Ako, na miss kita."

Naningkit ang mga mata nito at pinandilatan siya. “Puwede ba, tigilan mo akong lalaki ka! And no! I didn’t miss you, you insolent jerk!”

“Insolent jerk?”  He faked a sob. “You’re hurting me, Lockett. I am no jerk.”

“You stole a kiss from me!” She hissed at him. “That makes you an insolent jerk!”

He smirked when he remembered the kiss. “Hmm. That doesn’t make me an insolent jerk, Lockett, you know why?”

“Why?”

“Because you liked it and you want more.”

LOCKETT is controlling her temper from exploding. She won’t let this imbecile man standing before her affect her. She has to be calm. Baka kapag hindi siya kumalma, maging isa pa siyang mamamatay tao.

"I didn’t know that you work here." Anang boses ng lalaking pinagpaplanuhan niyang lunurin. Hindi niya alam kung bakit ginugulo siya nito. Akala naman niya ay hindi niya ito makikita pero mukhang nagkamali siya.

"Look, Mr. Whoever you are—"

"I'm insulted." Sinapo nito ang dibdib na para bang nasasaktan. "You don’t know my name? Grabe. And here I thought we share something special after the kiss we shared." His eyes were full of amusement.

Pinandilatan niya ito. "For your information, we didn’t share a kiss!" She snarled at the man. "You kissed me and—"

"And you enjoyed it, I know." Nginisihan siya nito. "Want me to kiss you again?"

Mariin niyang ipinikit ang mata para pakalamahin ang sarili. She counted from one to ten. Her temper is about to explode. Her patience is wearing thin. One irritating word from him and she swear, she's going to lose it.

"Why is your eyes close? Waiting for my kiss, princess?" The man asked.

Iminulat niya ang mga mata at kung nakakamatay ang tingin kanina pa ito inilibing. "Look here Mister. I’m not playing with you. I don’t have time for that. So please lang, tigilan mo na ako!"

The man stared at her for a moment then smiled cheekily. "Sure, but you have to call me by my name, not Mister. I hate it when they call me Mister. I feel old."

She exhaled a long breath. "Fine. What’s your name?"

"I already told you my name, princess."

"I forgot. And don’t call me princess!"

The man just grinned. "I’m calling you princess because you look like one."

Her eyes widen a bit as her cheeks flamed. Is she blushing because of that simple compliment? Damn it!

"I don’t remember your name. I have short term memory lose of people I don’t like."

The man just smile, not even a bit insulted at what she said.

"Okay," the man drawls, "How about we make a deal."

She eyed him suspiciously. Bakit ba pakiramdam niya may binabalak ito. "What deal?"

"I will stop calling you princess and I will stop bugging you if you called me by my name. Promise, kapag nagkasalubong tayo sa daan, magpapanggap akong hindi kita kilala."

That’s an amazing deal, but ... "Ano naman ang kapalit kapag hindi ko maalala ang pangalan mo?"

"A kiss. But this time, it’s not going to be stolen."

She gaped at the man. "That deal is absurd!"

He shrugged. "Not my problem. You have one hour to remember my name."

"Hindi ko pa tintanaggap ang deal mo!"

"You don’t have a choice but to accept it. Because if you won’t, I’m going to kiss you in front of so many people, and I’m not bluffing. I will do it." Kinindatan siya nito. "See yah later in the reception. A-attend muna ako sa kasal ng kaibigan ko."

"Wait." Pigil niya sa lalaki ng akmang aalis na ito. "Bakit mo ba ginagawa sa’kin to? I didn’t do anything to you."

He stared at her for a second then says, "Because you look like a freaking princess."

“What?”

“It means you’re beautiful.” He said then walked away with an annoying grin on his face.

She’s beautiful? Ipinilig niya ang ulo. Bwesit!

Huminga siya ng malalim at marahang hinilot ang sintido. She was trying to remember his name but she can’t. Naaala niya na nagpakilala na ito sa kanya, hindi lang niya maalala kung ano ang pangalan nito.

"Hey, Lockett, what are you doing here alone?" Tanong ni Reeve ng pumasok ito sa reception hall at nakita siyang nakatayo ng mag-isa.

She composed herself before answering. "I was just checking if everything is okay. Anyway," She bit her lower lip. "Ilan katao ba ang dadalo sa reception?"

"I’m not sure." Reeve said with a shrugged. "If you want to make sure how many, you can go to my office and ask my secretary to see the copy of the list. Alam naman ni Gail kong nasaan yun."

She smiled cheekily. Bingo! Siguro naman kapag nabasa niya ang pangalan ng lalaking iyon sa listahan ng imbitado sa kasal, maaalala niya.

"Thanks." Nakangiting wika niya.

"Don’t mention it. Sige, maiwan na kita."

Nginitian siya nito bago lumabas ng reception hall. Siya naman ay nagmamadaling tinungo ang opisina ni Reeve na hindi naman kalayuan sa De Luxe Hotel.

Lockett entered Reeve office then smile when she saw Gail, Reeve’s secretary.

"Hey, Gail." Nakangiting bati niya rito. "Nandito ako kasi titingnan ko sana ang kopya ng mga imbitado sa kasal. Baka kasi magkulang kami sa pagkain. I already ask permission from Reeve, okay naman daw na tingnan ko."

Gail smiled. "Sure. Just wait a minute. Kukunin ko lang."

Lockett keeps on telling herself na walang masama sa ginagawa niya. It’s partly true na kailangan niya ng eksaktong bilang ng pupunta sa reception. Wala namang masama kung alamin niya ang mga pangalan ng mga imbitado, right?

When Gail returned, she handed her a folder. "Nariyan ang mga pangalan ng mga imbitado. Walang numero ang mga pangalan so kailangan mong bilangin isa-sa."

She smiled at her. "Okay."

Binuksan niya ang folder at inumpisahan niyang bilangin slash basahin ang mga pangalan ng imbitado.

1. Iuhence Vergara

2. Train Wolkzbin

3. Ream Oliveros

4. Reigo Vasquez

5. Lander Storm

6. Creed Santillana

Namilog ang mata niya sa nabasa. Oh my goodness! Narito ang lalaking ito? Ang fake at made-up boyfriend niya?

Biglang bumilis ang tibok ng puso niya sa sobrang kaba na nararamdaman. Pero bakit siya kakabahan? Wala namang nakakaalam sa kasinungalingan niyang iyon. Siya lang.

Mabilis niyang binilang ang mga guests. Wala naman siyang napala sa listahang ito. Hindi talaga niya maalala ang pangalan ng lalaking yun.

Peste!

Ibinalik niya ang listahan kay Gail. "Salamat."

"Welcome."

Naiinis na lumabas siya ng opisina ni Reeve. Ano ba kasi ang pangalan ng lalaking yun? Bakit ba kasi hindi niya maalala? Nunkang magpahalik siya sa lalaking yun! Over her beautiful hot body!

One hour later...

LOCKETT stand beside Reeve as they supervise the Hotel staff. Tapos na ang kasal at paisa-isa ng nagsisidatingan ang mga bisita.

The newlyweds are the last one to arrive, along with a bunch of men laughing and teasing the newly married couple. At isa sa mga lalaking yun ay yung lalaking gusto niyang lunurin at ipakain sa pating.

The man was laughing with his friends but when his eyes looked at her direction, his facial expression darkened.

Kumunot ang nuo niya. Bakit parang galit ito? Siya nga ang dapat magalit dito. Inirapan niya ang lalaki at humarap kay Reeve.

"Maayos na ba lahat?" She asked.

Reeve smiled and then tapped her shoulder. "Everything is fine. Don’t stress yourself."

She sighed. "I can’t help it. I’m worried."

"Stop." He smiled. "Relax. Everything is going to be fine." Pagkokonsola nito sa kanya.

"Thanks Reeve."

"Don’t mention it."

When the group walked passed them, Lockett eyes were on the ground. Hindi niya kayang makipagtitigan sa lalaking yun na mukhang galit sa kanya sa hindi niya alam na kadahilanan.

"You okay, Lockett?" Nagaalalang tanong ni Reece. "You look tense. Didn’t I tell that everything will work out just fine?"

She shrugged. "I’m good."

Naglakad siya papasok sa reception hall kung saan nagsisimula na silebrasyon.

Lumapit siya sa staff ng hotel na nakatuka sa buffet table.

"Is everything okay?" Tanong niya.

"Yes, ma’am." Sabay sabay na sagot ng mga ito.

She smiled at them. "Good."

She turns around to leave the reception but stilled when she saw the man she wanted to feed to the shark in front of her. Anong ginagawa nito rito? Sisingilin na ba siya nito sa deal nila na halata namang talo siya?

"Anong kailangan mo?" Kinakabahan na tanong niya.

The man leaned in, she leaned back, her heart racing.

"Stop." She said, trembling.

The man looked at her innocently. "You don’t want me to get water? I’m thirsty and you're blocking the water dispenser."

"Oh." Mabilis siyang umalis sa harapan nito.

Sinundan ng mga mata ni Lockett ang pagkuha ng tubig ng binata. Even when he drank the water from the glass, her eyes were on his lips.

He gave her a side way look as he drank, when he finished drinking, he put the glass on the table next to the water dispenser and then he faced her.

"You okay? You look tense?" His voice was somewhat calm, yet it sounds off. It’s like he's pretending to sound calm.

She opened her mouth to answer, but before she can speak, Reeve hand her a phone.

"Mr. Santillana is on the phone, he wants to talk to you." Wika nito.

Mabilis niyang kinuha ang telepono na hawak ni Reeve at lumabas ng reception hall para kausapin si Mr. Santillana. Thanks god for the save.