CHAPTER 11

The moment Garet stepped out of the bustling Francisco Bangoy International Airport, he felt the humid air wrap around him like a thick blanket. He adjusted the strap of his leather carry-on bag and scanned the sea of taxis waiting at the curb. Despite the chaos, his thoughts kept drifting back to the flight—a brief but undeniably charged encounter with one of the stewardesses.

Fiona.

Her perfectly polished smile and effortless charm had left a lasting impression. She had gone out of her way to make him comfortable, offering subtle but unmistakable hints of interest. Garet, however, had politely kept things professional. After all, he was here for business, not personal distractions.

As he approached the street corner near his hotel, the familiar voice of Fiona broke through his thoughts.

"Well, well, Mr. Businessman. Are you always this serious, even after a long flight?" Fiona chuckled as she draws herself towards Garet.

Garet turning to see her, genuinely smiled as he drop his phone from his ears. "Fiona? Didn't expect to run into you this soon. Are you stalking me?"

"Stalking? Of course not. But I did mention from the plane, you can call me...but actually, I'm living here in Davao, didn't I? Maybe it's fate."

Napangiti si Garet sa style ni Fiona. Gaya pa rin siya ng dati. Very aggressive.

"Fate? That's a bold assumption. I thought you had a tight schedule with your flights."

"I do, but tonight I'm off-duty. And I couldn't help but notice you're still in your 'all-business' mode. How about you loosen up for once?" Fiona slowly encloses her hands in Garet's necktie.

"Loosen up, huh? Tempting offer, but I've got meetings lined up. Big plans tomorrow." Garet wants to lessen her aggressiveness.

Stepping closer, her tone softer. "And what about tonight? Don't tell me you flew all the way to Davao just to lock yourself in a hotel room and stare at spreadsheets." She winked.

"Maybe I'm just trying to stay focused. You know, priorities." Garet saids as he paused, trying to resist her charm.

"Nandito ka na sa isa sa pinakamakulay na lungsod sa bansa, kasama pa ang babaeng gaya ko na alam lahat ng best spots. Sigurado ka bang 'yan ang priorities mo?" She jotted the word 'babaeng gaya ko' that time, as it means more something else.

Tahimik si Garet saglit, alam niyang may punto si Fiona. Nakasandal si Fiona sa isang railing ng exit hall, still convincing Garet to say 'yes'.

"Look, hindi ko hinihingi ang buong gabi mo. Dinner lang. You have to eat anyway, right?"
Bahagyang ngumiti si Garet that time, tila napipilitang sumang-ayon sa gusto nito.

"Fair enough. Pero siguraduhin mong hindi ito aabot ng madaling araw. Maaga pa ang meeting ko."

Ngumiting tagumpay si Fiona that time, she finally wins Garet's approval.

"Deal. Alam ko ang isang lugar na may masarap na pagkain at maganda ang vibe. You'll thank me later."

"Mukhang wala na akong choice, ano?"

"Exactly. Tara na, malapit lang 'yung lugar. Trust me, it's worth your time."

Habang naglalakad sila sa makulay na kalye ng Davao, napansin ni Garet ang confidence at ginhawang dala ni Fiona. Sa kabila ng kanyang pag-aalinlangan, napansin niyang nagsisimula siyang ma-enjoy ang gabing ito. He will make it more memorable, kailangan niyang libangin ang sarili, distracted na siya for the past few days, napapansin na ito ng kaniyang mga kaibigang sina Seb at Luciano.

"Tahimik ka? Huwag mong sabihin na na-speechless kita, Mr. Libradilla?"

"Just trying to figure you out. Hindi ka mukhang tipo na sumusuko."

"Life's too short for giving up, Mr. Libradilla. Especially kapag may something—or someone—worth the effort." She playfully smiled to him.

Bumagal ang lakad ni Garet, tila nag-iisip habang lumilitaw ang isang ngiti sa kanyang labi. Baka naman tama si Fiona, na ang gabi ay hindi dapat palagpasin.

"Alright. You win, after our dinner, let's hang out in my place."

"Sounds great!"

Nang makarating sa nasabing kainan ay nag-order na si Garet ng steak at champagne. Naaaliw siya kay FIona dahil gaya ng dati, napaka-casual lang ng usapan nila and they both enjoyed their topics. Katunayan nga, minsan kapag bored at kailangan niya ng kasama to warm his cold nights, isa si Fiona sa mga babaeng kasama niya. He is not a womanizer like Luciano but he is a healthy specimen of a man, kailangan niya ring magdilig ng mga magagandang halaman.

"You seemed troubled?" tanong pa ni Fiona sa oras na iyon. Kasalukuyan silang kumakain ng steak.

Garet wiped his mouth with a clean white napkin.

"Just tired."

"Hmm, I know, problemado ka pa rin ba sa Ex mo? Sino nga 'yon, Lo-Lora ba ang name niya?" Fiona asked Garet back.

Garet just shake his head. "No, someone else."

"Oh, is it your secretary?"

"No."

"Hmm, a new one?"

Napangiti si Garet. "Someone special."

"Special? Oh really. C'mon, don't tell me, you're in-love?"

"I don't know." He firmly answered.

"We're on this open-relationship, Mr. Libradilla. I have few men with that eyes, alam ko kung in-love ang isang lalaki. Marami akong nakarelasyon na gaya mo." Paliwanag pa ni Fiona.

"And did they end up happy?"

Uminom muna si Fiona saka muling nagsalita. She crossed her fingers between as she lean her chin above it. Looking straight to Garet's clean-shaved face.

"One question, Mr. Libradilla."

"Do you want to be happy?"

Garet just stared to her face, confused.

"Hoy, sumagot ka naman..." pangungulit pa nito.

"I guess, sino bang ayaw maging masaya."

"Oh, ayan ka na naman... you always continue some question to someone's question..."

Nailing si Garet sa sandaling iyon.

"Yes, I want to be happy."

"Then you must clear something here," she smiled and sit straight, "you must end all of your contacts, including me. If you want to have a fresh start with that someone, kailangan mong magpatuloy without the reasons that could make her jealous, sad, or worst.... uninterested to you. D'yan kasi ang madalas nagkakagulo e, kung gusto mong magseryoso sa iisang babae, start to clean your life..."

"Funny, how to be clean if there's many like you tailing me..."

Nahinto si Fiona sa sinabi ni Garet that time.

"Well, in this case, I'll choose to finish this dish and wipe my mouth, Mr. Libradilla. I am happy for you. At least now, mababawasan na ang mga lalaking kino-comfort ko." Pilyang ngiti pa ni Fiona.

"I really like that spirit, Fiona."

"Of course."

Matapos ang dinner nila ni Fiona ay hinatid na siya nito sa kaniyang hotel, mabuti na lang talaga at napaka-propfessional ni Fiona about their set-up, she never interferes Garet's wide opinions and perspectives, tanggap nito kung saan lang siya sa buhay ni Garet.

At least, in this part, they'll stand on their different ground.