Chandelle

Chandelle is a steep climbing turn in which an aircraft almost stalls as it uses momentum to increase its rate of climb.

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"Welcome, sir and ma'am!" bati ng isang waiter sa amin. "A table for two, is it? This way, please."

Sage didn't take me to a hotel, as I've first thought of, but to a comfortable restaurant just a block away. At totoo nga na may alam siyang lugar around the area that fit the bill.

Pagkatapos ng lahat ng ginawa ko para makahanap ng perfect spot, nakaisip kaagad siya ng replacement. Of course, alam niya ang mga lugar na may masarap na pagkain and also a hot date spot; given his experience and love of food.

"Cheers," he remarks, lifting his wine glass at my direction. Ang unang dumating naman kasabay ng menu ay isang bote ng white wine.

"Cheers..." giit ko habang pinipilit ko na hindi mag-flinch under his challenging glare.

The sound our glasses make resemble a gong signaling the start of a fight. The first round has begun.

"May gusto ka ba with the appetizers?" tanong sa akin ni Sage a few seconds after namin matignan ang menu.

"The bundnerteller looks delicious," I remark.

"'Yon din ang iniisip ko." Bahagya naman siyang ngumiti.

"Pero 'yong goulash and zwiebelsuppe... mukhang masarap din."

"Bakit hindi na lang lahat ng iyon? Nasa shortlist ko rin 'yong mga iyon."

"Puro appetizers and soups naman, kung ganoon." Tinignan ko naman ang iba pang nasa menu. At kahit si Sage ang nagsama sa akin dito bilang option for tonight's dinner, ako pa rin ang taya para sa dinner na ito.

"Check mo 'yong signature dishes nila." He draws a little closer in order to help me turn the menu to the page that reads Signature Dishes. "Siguro magugustuhan mo 'yong Peppersteak Swiss Inn or 'yong Zurich Geschnetzeltes nila. Then, a Gerard Bertrand 6 Sens Blanc for the perfect wine pairing. Anong sa tingin mo?"

"I'll take the Zurich Geschnetzeltes," sagot ko.

He nods, and before turning to the waiter to settle our orders, he says, "Then I'll have the Peppersteak Swiss Inn." Afterwards, when the waiter leaves, he turns to study my face with an interested smile. "Mukhang magkatulad tayo ng taste sa food. Baka nga totoong mag-soulmates tayo."

Tinitigan ko siya pabalik. "Kung ganoon ang tingin mo, perhaps we can satisfy each other... in all kinds of ways."

Hindi naman nawala ang ngiti niya at pawang napataas lamang siya ng kilay. "Excuse me?"

"Magkakilala na tayo since high school. Kahit matagal na 'yong last natin na pagkikita before the most recent ones, masasabi natin that we know each other in ways other people don't, 'di ba?"

"Sorry to break it with you. Pero hindi ko kailangan ng mga useless stuffs as that. If I'm physically satisfied, then I'm fully satisfied."

Useless, ha?!

"Another round of wine." Kinuha niya ang bote ng white wine at inalok na salinan ang baso ko pagkatapos niya lagyan ang sa kanya. "All fine with you?"

I chew the inside of my mouth. "...Yeah."

"Mukhang hindi ka masyadong enthusiastic sa sagot mo. Lightweight ka ba? O gusto mo lang talaga na i-keep up 'yong guard mo?" He pulls the wine away from my glass, placing it back on the table.

"Neither." I shake my head. "Baka magulat ka na I am good at handling my alcohol."

"Ah... But, alam mo ba na mas maganda na magpanggap ka na lang na madali kang malasing, especially with guys you like."

"Ahem! Let me reaffirm my decision. I'm going to get you fair and square. Hindi ako magsisinungaling over small matters as that."

"Hmm... stubborn." He laughs. "But interesting. Mukhang hindi ako mabobored. This is a game worth playing."

Hindi niya naman kailangan maging masyadong obvious tungkol doon... At totoo naman na may karapatan siya na ituring lang ito na parang isang laro. Words alone aren't gonna do the trick.

Kailangan ko may gawin. No matter how small the gestures are. I have to get him from all sides. Napaisip naman tuloy ako sa mga sinabi sa akin ni Mika kanina. A few instructions, ika nga niya.

Kung tama ang pagkaka-alala ko...

"How does this sound?" Naka-ngiting tanong ni Mika sa akin kanina sa video call namin.

Tinitigan ko naman siyang maigi pagkatapos ko masigurado na ayos na ang make-up ko. "Okay, I am listening."

She instantly held her hands in front of the camera, slowly tracing her thumb against the back of her other hand. "At the right moment, do this. Pero dapat light lang at malamang, dapat sweet. Parang ghostly touch lang, ganoon!"

"Hmm..."

"Men go gaga for this stuff, Yvie!" She giggled. "Sigurado ako. He'll go weak at the knees!"

Hindi ko na naman siya tinanong if ganoon ba ang ginawa niya dati sa fiancé niya. Pero ngayong iniisip ko, mabuti na lamang at hindi. Dahil kahit ano namang gawin ko, hindi ganoon kadali para magkagusto si Sage sa akin; compared sa kanila ng fiancé niya na kaya naman nauwi sa date ay dahil talagang attracted sila sa isa't isa. Itong si Sage... sex lang ang hanap. Kaya hindi ko alam if talagang gagana ba iyon towards him. Sobrang obvious kasi. Panigurado ay naranasan at nakita na rin ni Sage iyon too many times to count.

He is intently looking at the menu, especially for the wine list when he asks me, "Which wine should we go for?"

As he reads through the menu, his hand is at just the right distance from mine. This is, by far, the perfect opportunity to try it out. Pero...

Wala akong ginawa. Kinabahan ako kaagad. That's why I just twine my fingers together.

Sage chuckles habang nakatingin pa rin sa menu. "Wala pa rin?"

I blink. "Huh?"

"I already created an opening para sa iyo." Pumaling siya sa akin at mas lalo pa siyang ngumisi. "Sa tingin mo ba magkakaroon ka pa ng mas madaming pagkakataon para sa ganito?"

Alam niya... Alam niya ang binabalak ko kaya talagang linapit niya ang kamay niya sa akin? Mas malala pa nga ito. Pakiramdam ko nagsasayaw o naglalaro ako sa apoy.

"May iba't ibang relationship sa mundo." He closes the menu and speaks on an indifferent tone. "Hindi mo ba naisip na 'yong almost perfect match natin ay patunay na baka tadhana talaga lahat ng ito?"

Nanatiling tikom ang aking bibig. Dahil panigurado ako, kung ganoon ang turing niya, o kung ganoon talaga, hindi ito 'yong klase ng tadhana na pinangarap o pinagdasal ko.

"Ano? Wala kang masasabi tungkol doon?" he challenges.

"To be honest, I am frankly stunned." Umiling ako. "Hindi ko inaasahan na ikaw 'yong klase ng lalaki na i-ooffer ang kanyang katawan para sa mababaw na rason na iyon."

Kumunot kaagad ang kanyang noo. "Ano?"

"You've got a lot going for you, and you sell yourself that short? It doesn't make any sense to me," dagdag ko.

"You know, naging curious ako bigla kung saan galing 'yang tapang mo?" He smirks while looking me up and down.

I suddenly feel so vulnerable laban sa titig niya, parang pakiramdam ko ay naka-display ang buong pagkatao ko. Pero tinatagan ko ang sarili ko at tinitigan siyang maigi.

"Looks like I'll have to get serious," sagot niya at bahagyang tumawa.

"Ibig sabihin ba hindi ka seryoso dati?"

"Testing the waters? Siguradong-sigurado ako na it's either you'll run away or agree to my terms. Pero na-realize ko na hindi na ikaw ang Yvonne na kilala ko dati. At least, at that, I am sure of."

"Hindi ko alam kung ano ang hinahanap mo na sagot mula sa akin tungkol diyan."

"Wala akong inaasahang sagot mula sa iyo." He draws closer to me, causing me to instinctly move away a little. "So, I'll step up to the plate. Sisiguraduhin ko na hindi ka ma-didisappoint. I'll ensure that I'll give you the best sex you've ever had."

Back to square one?! Ha!

I narrow my eyes at him. "Sa tingin mo ba ganoon ako? Like some thirsty woman just asking for sex?"

"Hindi ko sinabi 'yon. Gusto ko lang na mas maintindihan ka." Ngumisi na naman siya muli. "Only physically can men and women ever truly appreciate each other." May kinuha naman siya kaagad mula sa bulsa niya at linatag niya sa mesa.

My eyes widen at the sight. There is no doubt that it is a hotel keycard. Binalik ko ang tingin ko sa kanya, at naguumapaw naman kaagad ang galit ko.

"I'm staying at the Dusit tonight." He taps the table close to the keycard with his fingers. "Kung anong gusto mong gawin sa card na iyan ay depende na sa iyo. In my opinion, get up the courage to take a step forward. Baka magulat ka sa possible na new version mo, at magustuhan mo 'yong version mo na iyon."

My. God... Bakit ba ako na inlove sa ganitong ka-selfish na tao?!

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A/N: Hello! How are you doing? My only news for you from this week is that the endorsement letter for my CAAP PPL renewal check ride had been received already, and I am currently waiting for a schedule.

Vote, comment and share! 👀 Also, follow me on twitter @23meraki for more updates, trivia about the story, aesthetic boards, and etc. Love, love, love! <3

UPDATED: 14 May 2024 | 1116H

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