HINANAP NG MGA MATA NI STACEY SI RENANTE. Nang marating ang rooftop restaurant, hindi niya inaasahan ang pagsalubong ng lamig ng hangin doon. It was only the beginning of the summer, for Pete's sake! She rubbed her bare arms with her hands before spotting him.

Nakaupo ang lalaki sa isang seat malapit sa balkonahe ng rooftop. Pina-secure iyon ng salamin na pumapader doon. Sa likod ng salamin tumambad ang view ng buong siyudad. Stacey could not help dropping her mouth slightly open in awe, as she walked closer to that table. Kumikislap ang mga ilaw na parang mga bituin sa lupa sa kabila ng mahabang linya ng mga sasakyan dala ng traffic. Bumalik kay Renante ang atensyon niya nang tumayo ito.

Anyone would mistake this man to be proper. Magaling itong magdala ng kasuotan, lalo na kapag mga formal na suit. But for now, he was wearing black button-down shirt with sleeves tailored in three-fourths. It was tucked in his straight black jeans. Kapansin-pansin ang navy blue na blazer na nakasampay sa sandalan ng upuan nito.

"Not wearing a suit to work?" nadulas niyang bulalas nang pasadahan ito ng tingin.

"Yeah," swabeng saad nito nang maglapit ang mukha nila. Napalapit ito nang lisanin ang upuan nito at napadaan sa harapan niya. "Suits to work? So 80s." Lagpas nito para ipaghila siya ng upuan.

"Wow," was her sarcastic remark. "Pulling seats for ladies now, huh?"

"Are we going to argue again?" anito bago tumango para udyukin siyang umupo na.

She sighed and reluctantly sat. Renante gave her seat a gentle push closer to the table before he was seated.

"So," patong ni Stacey ng shoulder bag niya sa kandungan. Gawa ang bag na iyon sa rattan na may kadenang strap. "Nasaan na 'yung sulat?"

"You already had dinner?" abot nito ng menu card sa kanya.

"What makes you think I'll have dinner with you?" taas niya ng kilay dito.

"I suppose you have to. Unless you don't want the letter anymore."

She was about to stand up when Renante reached for her arm.

"Stay here," matiim nitong titig sa kanya.

"I don't want this. You can't force me to this dinner."

"Bakit ayaw mo akong saluhan?"

"Isn't this awkward for you?"

"Why should this be awkward? Old friends having dinner?"

Stacey scoffed. "You're insane."

Tuluyan na siyang tumayo.

Renante stood up as well. "Look, gusto ko lang makabawi."

She gave him an undereye.

"I've been thinking about the last time we've talked, Stace and I know I've been a jerk to you."

Umiwas siya ng tingin dito.

"It was me who initiated it. I took advantage of your feelings for me. I was wrong."

Nagnakaw siya ng sulyap dito. Was he apologizing to her?

"I saw that," panghuhuli nito nang alisin niya agad ang tingin dito.

Pinasya na lang niyang umupo ulit. Ewan niya kung bakit. Nakatayo na siya, eh. Pwedeng-pwede na siyang umalis. At ano naman kung hindi na niya mabasa 'yung sulat para sa kanya? That was written a long time ago. Tulad ng sulat niya para kay Renante, baka wala nang sense anuman ang nasa sulat na iyon ngayon.

"Give me the letter then, then we'll have dinner," mataray niyang kandong sa shoulder bag.

Umupo na ang lalaki.

"At—" pangunguna niya bago pa ito magsalita, "—tutal, gusto mong makabawi, ikaw ang magbabayad sa bill natin."

He shrugged. "Is that all?"

Aba, confident.

"You also have to pay for my gas."

He dropped his mouth open in disbelief. "You are unbelievable."

Nagtaas-noo na lang siya at nilahad ang kamay.

"Yung sulat."

He sighed and took the letter from his jeans' backpocket. Pa-square na ang pagkakatiklop niyon.

At gusot na gusot.

Nagsalubong tuloy ang mga kilay niya. "Bakit ganito ang hitsura nito?"

"You'll find out once you've read the letter," he muttered before picking up the menu card. Inabala ng lalaki ang sarili sa pagpili ng o-orderin nito.

Napailing na lang si Stacey at binuklat ang papel:

HI, STACE. ALAM KONG ANG AKALA MO, WALANG NAGMAMAHAL SA IYO.

LAGI KA NAMAN KASI NAKAABANG SA MANHID NA IYON. AKALA MO BA, HINDI KO MALALAMAN?

AKALA MO BA, HINDI KITA NABABANTAYAN?

KONTING HINTAY NA LANG. MAPAPANSIN MO RIN AKO. BAKA SA ALUMNI PARTY, KASAMA MO NA AKO.

KAHIT MAKA-GRADUATE TAYO, MANANATILI AKONG ANINO MONG NAKABANTAY SA IYO.

X

All of a sudden, everything seemed to disappear around her. She was suddenly surrounded with darkness, pitch black darkness. Hindi niya napansin na kitang-kita na ni Renante ang panginginig ng kanyang mga kamay at braso habang nakatitig sa kawalan. A chill from the past seemed to return, an overwhelming nostalgic feeling that only stirred fear within her.

"Stace," she heard Renante's voice, but the darkness would not allow her to see him.

"Stacey," mariin nitong ulit kaya napakurap siya.

She finally found him seating across the table, facing her. Pero kinakabahan pa rin siya. Naninikip yata ngayon ang dibdib niya.

"Is that him?" tanong sa kanya ni Renante.

Tinitigan lang niya ang lalaki. Sinusukat ni Stacey ang binata bago siya nakaisip ng gagawin.

"I'm going," she murmured, unzipping her bag.

"No way," matatag nitong wika, deretso ang tingin sa kanya. "We have to talk. I'm in that letter."

"It doesn't say Renante," angat niya ng tingin dito.

"Ako 'yung Manhid, alam ko."

Nagmamadaling siniksik niya ang sulat sa shoulder bag. "Renante, I have to go," matatag niyang saad at sinara agad ang bag.

"You're not going. We're having a dinner here!"

"I want to leave!" she blurted that startled some of the customers there.

Napahiyang tumayo agad si Stacey at iniwanan si Renante.

Nang makasakay sa elevator doon na siya nagsimulang maghabol ng hininga. Nanghihinang napasandal siya sa pader niyon. What made her feel more suffocated was the fact that she was alone in here. Every mirror inside the elevator reflected her horrified beauty.

"He's our schoolmate," she murmured. "We're in the same school. We're in the same school." Inalala niya ang alumni party. "He could have been in that party too."

Muntik na siyang mapasigaw nang marinig ang pag-ring ng cellphone niya. Her hand was shaking as she answered the call.

Stacey, nai-imagine na niya ang madilim na anyo ni Renante. Bumalik ka rito.

"I am not! I need to go home!"

You realize that you'll be alone all the way to your house, right? Pinapadali mo lang para sa stalker mo na sundan ka at masolo ka.

Her heart came to standstill.

Renante was right. He had a point.

Napatitig siya sa mga buton ng elevator. She decided to change floors.

Babalik siya sa rooftop.

.

.

"ITO BA ANG REASON NG PAGYAYA MO SA AKIN?" kalmadong saad ni Stacey ngayong nilalapag nan g waiter sa mesa ang mga in-order nila. "Dahil kay X?"

Hindi umimik ang lalaki. Mukhang hinihintay muna nitong makaalis ang waiter bago magsalita.

"You're guilty, aren't you?" she snapped in a low voice. "Nakokonsensya ka dahil hindi ka naniwala noon sa akin."

It was way back in college. Stacey had a stalker. At si Renante ang una at nag-iisang tao na hiningian niya ng tulong.

And the only thing he told her that time was: Then ask help from the police. Not from me.

Masama pa rin ang loob niya dahil doon.

"Akala ko kasi nagpapapansin ka lang," napilitan si Renante na sumagot.

"Eh 'di lumabas din ang totoo! May idea ka na may gusto ako sa'yo dati pa!"

Naiilang na iniwan na sila ng waiter.

Renante shook his head. "So, is this X still stalking you?"

This man is playing safe again. Nagpalit agad ng topic.

"Hindi na," titig ni Stacey sa in-order niyang salad. Salad muna dahil nawalan siya ng ganang kumain. Nanatiling matatag ang boses niya pero hindi niya maikakaila sa sarili na sobra-sobra ang pag-aalala niya.

"Then why are you still scared?" kilos ng mga kamay ni Renante para maghiwa sa in-order nitong pagkain. "Matagal na ang sulat na iyan. Maraming pagbabago ang pwedeng mangyari, Stace. Maybe after so many years, hindi na interesado kung sino man iyan na i-stalk ka ngayon."

"Hindi ko alam," matabang niyang saad habang kumakain ng salad.

"Come on, be honest with me."

Sinalubong niya ang titig nito. "Ano bang pakialam mo? Bakit all of a sudden, may pakialam ka na?"

"Why? Shouldn't you be happy?"

"Me? Happy? So you're expecting I'll be happy na may pakialam ka na ngayon sa akin?"

"Come on, we're not arguing again," he groaned before stuffing his mouth with food.

He looked cute with his puffed cheeks, but she needed to stay irritated with this idiot!

Tinuloy na lang niya ang pagkain ng salad.

"So, you didn't call the police."

"Oo," matatag niyang sagot dito. "Bakit pa? Baka pagtawanan lang nila ako."

"Why would they do that? I think it's a serious case. That stalker is bothering you. That letter is creepy."

Stacey gazed into Renante's eyes. "Kasi wala akong matibay na ebidensya."

"Isn't that stalker giving you letters and stuff?"

"He is. Pero puro typewritten."

Napakibit ito ng mga balikat. "But for sure, the letters have fingerprints of some sort..."

Stacey just sighed. "Pero nahawakan ko yung mga sulat niya, 'di ba? And for sure, iisipin lang ninyong lahat na gawa-gawa ko iyon, di ba? I can send letters and stuff to myself! Marami pang kukwestyunin sa akin at pakikialamanan ng mga pulis ang buong buhay ko para lang ma-detect ang stalker ko. And I believe that once they started inspecting every aspect of my life, they will just alarm my stalker. Makakapagtago siya at hindi mahahanap ng mga pulis! You understand what I mean? I don't underestimate my stalker," mabilis niyang wika. "You know what?" pagbagal ng kanyang pagsasalita. "It's complicated," iritable niyang saad. "You're right. I should have called the police. But I didn't. Maybe it's because I was stupid. Because I was too young way back then. Because I don't believe they can do anything right. It doesn't matter now. Wala na rin akong pakialam kung naniniwala ka sa akin o hindi—"

"I believe you, okay? That's why I am probing."

"Well, you're years too late to probe now, right?" sarkastiko ang tono niya. "He's gone now!"

"Ah, stop that," he groaned, putting down his utensils.

"Stop what?"

"Acting tough. You do that all the time, tapos magtataka ka kung bakit walang naniniwala sa iyo kapag humihingi ka ng tulong?"

Napatitig siya rito.

"Kaya mo naman lahat ng bagay, hindi ba, Stace? Why ask help? Unless you want attention."

"I didn't come here for your Ted Talk, Mr. Playing Safe," ganti niya rito. "And you didn't believe I needed help when I asked you for it, right?" the suave returned in her throaty voice.

He seemed stunned.

"Gantihan talaga ha?" he recovered, then resumed his dinner.

Sumimsim siya ng kaunting wine.

"Are you sure you're only going to have a salad?"

Stacey sighed. Nagtawag siya ng waiter at hiningian ito ng menu card. Binigyan niya ng mataray na sulyap si Renante nang maabutan ng menu card bago iyon pinasadahan ng tingin.

Hanggang sa naubos na ang pagkain nila at puro wine na ang pinag-iiinom nila. Sarkasmo at pagtatalo ang pulutan.

"To be honest, I am scared," amin niya nang malasing ng kaunti. "I am scared kanina, Renante, kasi narealize ko na sobrang lapit pala sa akin ng stalker ko noon."

Renante had all his eyes on her while sipping his wine.

"Imagine? Nakakadaupang palad ko siya. Nahahawakan o nakakabangga ko," napapailing na baba niya sa hawak na wine glass. "Imagine that? Tapos mukhang tanga ako na nagkukunwaring okay at nakikita niya iyon kaya akala niya okay lang ako na pinapadalhan niya ng kung anu-ano at ini-stalk."

The man sighed and poured more wine in his glass.

"And the worst part? He's probably in the alumni party too!" sandal niya sa kinauupuan. "What if... what if nandoon siya, 'di ba? What if naka-attend siya? Nakita niya ako? Naisipan niya ulit ako i-stalk?"

"And why would he do that matapos ka niyang tigilan ng maraming taon, hm?" takip nito sa wine bottle.

Pagak na natawa si Stacey. "Are you blind? Sa ganda kong ito?" turo niya sa sarili bago mahinang natawa.

"Yeah," he stared at her at an otherworldly fashion, like he was suddenly in a daydream. "Sa ganda mo nga namang iyan., anyone would want a second try."

"Ah, yes," napapailing na unat niya ng braso para ilapit ang bas okay Renante. "So scary, right?" namumungay ang mga mata na titig niya sa lalaki.

Nakuha nito ang ibig sabihin ng kanyang kinilos. Sinalinan agad ng binata ang baso niya ng alak.

"Scary," he smirked. God, he's so handsome. "Last mo na iyan, okay? We're leaving."

"I'll stay. Magpapababa muna siguro ako ng tama bago mag-drive."

"Okay, we'll stay a bit then," lapag nito sa mesa ng bote ng alak.

"Nah. Go home. I want to be alone with my thoughts," at uminom na ulit si Stacey.

Renante stood up. Ah, this must be the last time they will see each other again. This time, Stacey felt so sure about this. Kinausap lang siya ng lalaki para bigyan nito ang sarili ng closure tungkol sa mga naging pagkukulang nito sa kanya. Now that there is nothing else to worry about, he can stop being guilty about the way he treated her in the past. Malaya na nitong magagawa ang mga gusto sa buhay.

"Owner of the red Corvette," kasunod niyon ang pagbanggit sa plate number at brand ng kotse niya. "Please, proceed to our receptionist immediately. Thank you."

At nakadalawang ulit pa ang pager ng restaurant sa pag-aanunsyo niyon.

"Hm. Bakit kaya pinapatawag iyon? Parking violations?" Renante murmured, wondering while leaning his back against the chair.

"Damn," Stacey was a little drunk it took her minutes to process the announcement. "That's my car," tuwid niya ng pagkakaupo.

"That's your plate number?" salubong ng mga kilay ni Renante nang sulyapan siya.

Stacey immediately stood up. Dinampot ni Renante ang blazer nito bago nagmamadaling sinundan siya.

.

.

.

***
AN

Hi, dears! Na-miss niyo ba ang updates! Belated Happy Valentines! Whether you're single or taken, everyone has space and right to celebrate it with anyone you want to be with on that day. Enough for the short greet, hehehe, I hope you enjoyed this week's chapters! After TDU, lipat naman ako sa Lost Angels universe para makapagsulat ng UD sa Soul Searching. (I am hoping and praying may maisulat ako, challenging lately isulat ang SS) So, if you're also reading that, abang na lang ng announcement if may new chapters na! ;) <3

Thank you for being here and reading StaceyxRenante's story ;) See you on my next update!

With Love,

ANAxoxo