“We cook the best seafood paella.”
Silence.
She stared at me. Then it hit me. I have fallen for her.
“Red, I want ice cream.” She smiled. It was the most beautiful smile I’ve ever seen in my life.
I stood up and offered my slightly quivering hand.
Her eyes fixed upon me, she moved in close, holding onto my hand.
---------------------
“One plate of Seafood Paella for a stunning lady.”
“Wow. Did you cook this?” Red served me a large plate of Spanish masterpiece of rice and all-star mix of chorizo, prawns, mussels and chicken seasoned with the unique flavor of saffron.
“The one and only.” He proudly declared with that fake British accent while carelessly unbuttoning his white long sleeves. He grinned.
“Are you seducing me?”
“You want to be seduced baby?”
I was mesmerized as I stared at his dazzling, breathtaking male beauty from his light brown eyes to his Moreno skin and full pinkish lips, to his amazing cheekbones and chiseled jaw line , to the muscular chest and 6-pack abs peeking out. He moved closer that I could feel his breath on my face.
“Baby Ata,” he said in his sexy, husky voice. He moved his hand closer to my cheek and saw him swallowing hard. His gaze went to my lips and as his gaze returned to my eyes, I arched my head down anticipating what was to come. With my eyes closed, I felt the touch of his hand as it slowly touched the side of my lips.
“Not yet baby,” he said and gave me a half-laugh as he pulled away. He sat down on the chair opposite me.
I couldn’t find the right words to say. I assessed myself. What am I thinking? Am I frustrated because he did not kiss me? He’s just another asshole from a bunch of assholes including Metis. Where is Metis? He did not even look for me! I dismissed those thoughts and murdered the seafood paella.
“You must be hungry.” And he started to laugh. I ignored him and busied myself tasting, biting, swallowing the shrimps.
“Sir, tumawag po si Mr. Soriano. Hinahanap kayo. Papunta na raw po siya dito.”
Sir? Bakit nagsisir iyong frontdesk officer. Suki siguro siya dito. Baka maraming dinadalang chikababes. Tsk. Gwapo nga babaero naman.
“Bakit daw?”
“ Nagmamadali po sir eh. Otw na po siya kaninang tumawag.”
“Ok. Salamat Toby.”
“Sige sir.” Umalis na si Toby at ako, finally, patapos na ring kumain.
“I have to go. Miss, bill please,” I informed the waitress standing closely.
“You don’t have to pay for it. It’s my treat.”
“ Wala akong barya pamasahe kaya ako na lang magbabayad. Miss, iyong bill, pakibilisan.”
Lumapit iyong waitress sa amin.
“Ma’am kasi..”
“Ano?”
“Sir..” Humihingi pa siya ng tulong ah. Crush niya siguro itong barakudang ito. Barakuda naman talaga siya. Malaking tao, matipuno pero alam ko, malaking sakit din ang idududlot niya sa akin…
“Go back to work. I’ll settle this.” Tumalinama naman iyong babae.
“Ano bang problema mo?! Kanina ko pa gustong umuwi! Look, if you insist on paying for the paella, fine! It’s all yours, I’m going!” I stood up and headed straight to the door.
“Ata!”
Don’t turn around. Keep moving.
“Ouch!”
I looked up into the face of a man I hated since today. Now, we stared into each others’ eyes, me instinctively reaching for my weapon. There was no movement, no sound.
“Ata! Hey, are you fine?” Red was then infront of me holding my face as if I’ve just been bumped by a car.
“I’m alright. I really have to go,” I whispered.
“Bro, watch where you’re going! You fucking hurt my girl.” Red turned around and faced him, ready for a bloody fight.
“Metis?!”
“Red.”
What??!
“Sir Red, nandito na po si Mr. Metis Soriano,” biglang pasok ng frontdesk agent tapos tumigil nang makita kaming lahat .
“Sir, iwan ko na po kayo.”
Eksenador itong Toby na to ah. Grabe, oo nga no. Mr. Soriano. Metis Soriano. Sa dinami-dami ba naman ng Soriano, maiisip mo bang si Metis iyon? But, how are they connected?
“Ata, can we talk? I’ve been looking for you for almost two hours. I would not forgive myself if something happened to you. Thanks God, you’re safe. I’m really sorry.”
“Not today,” I didn’t even look at him.
“I’ll go ahead.” I quickly said and decided to leave them.
“Wait,” they pleaded in unison.
“Ata, please. Let’s talk. I’m sorry. “Metis persisted, following me outside the hotel restaurant. I walked faster.
“Let’s start over again , please,” I stopped.
“Ata,”
“Don’t touch me ever again!” I shouted.
Red swiftly punched Metis in the stomach, knocking the wind out of him and stunning him for a brief moment. The quick blow had opened Red up for another attack but Metis was too fast in putting a simple sidekick into Red’s stomach, doubling him over. Metis followed that up with a quick rising uppercut. I did not know that Metis could fight. But this is too way too much!
“STOP! BOTH OF YOU! STOP RIGHT NOW.”
Red fell on the ground. His bottom lip was bleeding.
“Don’t touch my girl! Or else, I’m gonna fucking rip off your head!”
“You’re girl?! Stop dreaming bro. She’s mine!”
“Fool! I am not your property Metis!” He was dumbfounded.
“Leave us alone!” With that, he started to walk away, back hunched and head dropped. But why does it hurt? I wanted him to leave but why does it twinge me back? Is this really the end of our friendship?
I walked around and to Red. “Does it hurt?” I asked, barely breathing, holding on to Red.
“It will only hurt if he hurts you. Let’s go,” Red said, slowly standing up. I felt him place his hand on the small of my back to lead us to the seashore.
Once we were there, I breathed in deeply. I let the cool crisp air fill my lungs completely before slowly holding out the breath I did not realize I had been holding. The horizon is now sprinkled with tiny, gliterring stars. Moonlight danced off the waves, illuminating the water with silvery patches.
I heard Red’s sigh. I turned to him, watching the ocean breeze whipping his hair softly around the edges of his face. Even in the diminishing light, his brown eyes sparkled with the moonlight.
He met my gaze and smiled.
“You know what?” he asked.
“What?”
“ I love the beach. That’s why I decided to put up my business here. To feel at home. To feel like I belong. There’s something in the beach that comforts me, something that keeps me living, something that sparks my passion.”
“You own the hotel and restaurant? I thought...”
“ I followed my dream all right. Eventhough my parents did not approve it since they wanted me to become a doctor. What do you expect from a family of medical practitionerss? I became rebellious then eventually stopped Med school, I traveled a lot and when I was in Singapore, I met Metis.”
“You are friends?”
“Were.”
“Huh?”
“He’s so nice. He was there when I was in the lowest moment of my life. He convinced me to pursue my dreams and he was one of the reasons why the hotel was built. He helped me a lot. And I am eternally grateful for that. But.”
“But? What happened?”
Kurt didn’t reply for a long moment.
“You want to swim,” he inquired. “Let’s go,” he stated pulling my arm..
The water was so cold. My heart beats more rapidly when he slowly wrapped my fingers around mine. He ran his long skilled fingers through my hair. I bit my lip.
He scooped me up in his arms and began to move his face closer to mine. Now, his body was pressed against mine. And he looked into my eyes and kissed my forehead gently. He touched my cheek softly. I touched his bleeding lip and trembled with this nagging feeling of anticipation. Carefully, he leaned over to kiss me. It was soft , calculating. I could taste blood, wine and cherries.
He buried his face into my neck and breathed in, causing me to shiver. He took off his long sleeves revealing lots of tanned, toned skin with the sought-after abs. I nervously ran my hands across the panes of his chest, over his abdomen, and wrapped my arms around his neck, pulling him down closer. He took my head between his hands and pulled it down into a fast, passionate kiss, slipping his tongue into my mouth and making it last for much longer than I thought I could go without breathing. I could already feel his manliness. And it’s huge. Again, he’s everywhere up my back and over my arms and suddenly he’s kissing me harder, deeper, with a fervent urgent need I’ve never known before
“Wait, Red. This is too fast,” I forced myself to stop him .
“I really like you Ata. Since the day we met, I’ve been thinking about you a lot. Don’t you feel the connection? I think the universe is conspiring for us to meet.” he murmured and moved closer and felt his exploring hands on my waist.
“But what happened between you and Metis?”
“Do we have to talk about him now?”
“I want to know.”
He looked at me and said slowly. “It happened one night in a hotel. We were drinking hard. Then he confessed.
"Confessed what?"
"He’s gay.”
