"Did you know that Dan's back too?" tanong ni Kristoff sa kaniya habang nakatingin sa magandang view ng rice terraces. Nasa isang restaurant sila para mananghalian. Hinihintay nila ang kanilang inorder na pagkain.

Maganda ang lugar na inirekomenda ng driver para sa kanila dahil open area ito at may magandang tanawin. Ito na ang pang – apat na araw na nakapamasyal silang dalawa ni Kristoff at so far, hindi pa naman niya napapatay ang lalaki.

Naging maayos naman ang pamamasyal at paglilibot nila ng Bali noong mga nakaraang araw at hindi naman sila nagka aberya. Hindi na rin niya masyadong pinapatulan ang mga paminsan – minsang hirit ni Kristoff sa kaniya kaya hanggang sa ngayon ay matiwasay pa naman ang buhay niya.

"Yeah. Actually, we're keeping tabs with each other's schedules and locations." Kibit – balikat niyang sagot. "I mean she usually texts me her location while everyone was wondering where or what she's up to."

"So you mean you knew all along where she was?" Napatingin si Kristoff sa kaniya, nakakunot ang noo. Tumango lang siya. "Then why didn't you tell Ash?"

Mukhang kahit ito ay mayroon din palang concern sa dalawang kaibigan nila.

"We shouldn't get involved in their own game of chess Kris. If Dan wanted to be found, I'm sure Ash doesn't need to ask anyone."

There was a long silence. Napaisip si Kristoff sa sinabi niya. Highschool pa lang ay magkakaibigan na sila at hindi na lingid sa kaalaman nila ang namamagitan sa dalawang kaibigan nilang sina Dan at Ash.

"So, she's not going to become a nun since she's back?"

Oreo smirked. "Dan really wanted to. But I guess God has a different path prepared for her. She's probably too obsessed playing games with Ash and God knows she'll just commit a sin getting inside the convent half – hearted."

"Hmmm...What about you?"

"What about me?" balik niyang tanong sa lalaking naging seryoso na ang mukha.

Bumuntong – hininga ito. "When will you stop denying your feelings for me?"

Napatitig si Oreo kay Kristoff. That question was literally out of the conversation but he managed to fire it to her dauntlessly. Nandito na naman sila sa topic na ito. Ano nga ba ang gustong patunayan ni Kristoff sa kaniya?

Kung aaminin niya man sa lalaki na gusto niya ito ay ano naman ang mag – iiba? Ano nga ba ang patutunguhan nila? Kung napipilitan lang naman itong alagaan siya dahil may pangako ang lalaki sa ina.

"Kristoff, let's say I do have feelings for you, that maybe you make my heart beat fast, what will change? What do we get from it? Sa tingin ko gano'n pa rin naman. Dahil hindi pa rin ako papayag na magpakasal sa 'yo." Napalunok siya at nagpatuloy. "Hindi kita papayagan na pakasalan ako dahil lang sa pangako mo sa mommy ko. Hindi ako gano'n ka selfish."

A show of sadness passed across Kristoff's face. He gazed at her with eyes obviously displaying he got hurt with her words. "What if, you're the one who makes me happy?"

"I don't make you happy. I always make you sad. And that's the truth of the relationship that we have."

Nakita niyang naikuyom nito ang mga palad bago nagsalita. "How can I convince you that you are the person that can only make me happy? I've been waiting for you for more than 15 years. How much longer will you play this hunting game, Chocolate?"

"First of all Kris, I didn't ask you to chase me. I told you before and now, you are free to do whatever you like. You are free to choose another woman, another person to give yourself into and love. Hindi tayo magpapakasal dahil alam kong napipilitan ka lang. Don't slap me with that truth."

"Paano kung sabihin ko sa 'yong hindi naman talaga ako napipilitan?"

"Do you have proof? You probably haven't tried dating other women. Takot ka bang multohin ka ng mommy ko kapag 'di mo ako pinakasalan?"

He displayed a mocking smile. "If you really think I haven't tried dating other women, then that's where you're wrong."

Wait...what? He tried dating other women? Bakit hindi ko alam 'yun? Kailan? Sino?

Mukhang napansin nitong nagulat siya sa huling sinabi nito. Kaya nagpatuloy si Kristoff sa pagsasalita. "I tried dating to test my own theory. I am a genius but there are things that I can't prove unless I do a test of my hypothesis. So I did date some women. And it ended the same results, even they were all different women."

Hindi alam ni Oreo ngunit nakaramdam siya ng pagkirot ng kaniyang dibdib sa mga narinig mula sa lalaki. She bit her lower lip to stop herself from reacting inappropriately. But she couldn't stop from feeling this pungent emotions covering her heart. She had never felt this feeling before – it felt like a betrayal for her, something inside her was breaking into pieces.

No one told her that he dated someone, not even their mama. How come no one told her about it? Who did he date? How did it happen? There were so many questions in her mind right now, she couldn't even choose which one to ask first.

"Why?" and that was the only word she was able to utter.

"Maybe that's what love is all about. That I'm the kind of man who kept loving one girl even after I met a lot." He shrugged, like it was no big deal to him telling her something as shocking as that. All along she thought Kristoff would never dare to date any other women, but he did and she had no knowledge about it.

"Sino sila? Matalino ba? What are their jobs?" sunod – sunod niyang tanong. She didn't know why but she felt the itch to know everything what happened with all the women he dated.

"Does that even matter?" nagtatakang tanong nito sa kaniya.

Hindi niya naiwasang mahampas ng malakas ang mesa. Nagulat si Kristoff sa ginawa niya pati na rin ang ibang mga taong nakapaligid sa kanila. "Of course it matters! I want to know what kind of women you dated!"

"Wooh! Chill, Chocolate. Why are you getting all worked up?" itinaas pa nito ang dalawang kamay na para bang sumusurrender sa kaniya. "Are you upset that I dated other women?"

"O – Of course not! Why would I be upset? It's your life anyway. But I just want to know what kind of women you dated," hindi siya makatingin ng diretso sa mga mata ni Kristoff.

"Ahuh...you really want to know?" Kristoff crossed his arms in front of his chest. "Okay. The first one was Ariadna, she's a beauty queen, and I dated her when you left for the States. The second one, her name was Shola. She was really nice. She's a Criminal Psychologist. And the last one, right before we met in Brazil, I dated Aivy Almeida, Arkhee's cousin."

Oreo was having a hard time processing what she heard. She couldn't believe that Kristoff dated other women when she was away. And those weren't just ordinary women whom he picked up across the street, they were decent women with top – rank careers and beauty. Now, something fired up inside her, but she couldn't point out what kind of emotion was this – angry? No. Upset? Not at all. Jealous?

Am I jealous? Why? Why would I be jealous that he tried dating other gorgeous and smart women? When all I did was push him away? He deserves to date other women.

"What happened? Why didn't you pursue a relationship? They all sound real women to me. Or maybe nagpasikat ka na naman sa pagiging gifted mo at lahat sila na turn – off sa 'yo?"

Tumawa ng pagak si Kristoff. "Actually, they were very impressed how smart I am. I told you, I dated them to test my theory and to prove if I'm only loving you because I'm bonded with my promise to your mom."

Tumaas ang isang kilay ni Oreo sa narinig. "Buti hindi ka nila pinapulis. If I became a guinea pig in such experiment, baka nabugbog na kita."

"Oh, it wasn't a secret. I told them right from the start and they agreed to it. They also have their own reasons why they accepted my experiment."

Hindi makapaniwala si Oreo sa narinig. "They knew?"

"Of course. And in the end, we all had our own interesting results." Napangiti ito. "I had a great time."

He had a great time? What did they do? I mean, they couldn't have gone to that level, right? They couldn't have done something like sleeping together? This is f#ck up! Buhay niya naman 'yon. Wala naman akong karapatang sabihin na hindi siya pwedeng makipaglandian sa iba.

Subalit bakit nasasaktan si Oreo sa isiping may ginawa ito sa mga babaeng naka date?

*****

Oh no! Nagseselos na nga ba si Oreo? Ano sa tingin niyo?

Votes and comments are very much appreciated po!

Love & Light,

BC