Safe In Your Arms

Chapter 36

Forgiveness

In the end, sila rin pala ni Niña ang magkakatuluyan, huh? I'm glad. It's what Niña always wanted... Ngayon, nasa kaniya na talaga ang lalakeng pinapangarap niya.

Hindi ko lang mapigilang makaramdam ng gulat. I wasn't prepared for that news. Why do I feel weird? I tried to cheer myself up and ignored that very familiar feeling. I need to enjoy myself here because that's what you're supposed to do at a party, right?

"Tito Art!" A familiar voice called. We turned to Samuel who's running to our direction while dragging someone with him. Nang magtama ang tingin namin ng taong 'yon ay nakita ko ang pagka gulat niya nang makita ako. I smiled at her. Siya lang? Nasaan ang asawa niya?

"Thanks for coming, Niña." Arthur kissed her cheek and Samuel's.

"Happy birthday, buddy!" Niña said excitedly and turned to me. Nawala ang ngiti niya.

"You came," she said. She was still the same pretty girl I knew. Walang nagbago sa angelic face niya. She became more mature lang but her beauty didn't change. Kulot parin ang buhok na naka pony tail ngayon. I nodded my head without saying a word.

"Happy birthday, Tito!" Samuel greeted. Nabaling sa kaniya ang atensyon ng lahat. He was talking to him and when he noticed me, agad na lumaki ang ngiti niya.

"Hello, ma'am!" He greeted. I smiled at ginulo ang buhok niya. I can't believe that the kid in front of me right now is my student and my old body guard's son. What a coincidence.

"Ginawa mo ba homework mo?" I grinned.

"Oh no, hindi pa po!" He looked troubled kaya agad akong umiling.

"It's alright. You can do it when you get home," sabi ko. Nakahinga naman siya ng maluwag at tumango.

"Oh, nandito na pala si lover boy." Arthur spoke. Nang lumingon ako sa direksyong tinitignan niya ay nakita ko si Rafael dala ang kaparehas na box na dala ko kanina. He raised a brow when he saw me, mukhang hindi na nagulat na narito ako.

"Happy birthday, bro." Rafael greeted Arthur nang makalapit.

"Thank you, Raf." Tinanggap niya ang dala ni Rafael then, he excused himself to put it away kaya naman ang awkward nang kame nalang ang maiwan.

"Bakit hindi ka sumabay sa'kin?" I heard Niña asked.

"Dumaan pa 'ko sa shop," sagot naman ni Rafael at binalingan ako. Nagwala ang puso ko nang bahagyang ngumiti siya at tinanguan ako.

"Nandito ka rin pala. Kumusta?" I can feel them staring at us. Sino bang hindi magugulat when you see him casually talking to me? After what happened in the past, it's really weird to have a normal conversation with him.

"Ah, oo. Arthur invited me." Napilitan akong sumagot. Hindi kame masyadong nag usap nang magkita kame sa shop kaya I'm surprised na he's talking to me casually.

"Hmmm.. adviser ka pala ni Sam?" He asked, hinahaplos ang buhok ni Sam na naka dikit na sakaniya simula nang dumating siya.

"Yes, Tito! She's very pretty and very nice 'no? I gave her the tulips!" Samuel spoke. Natigilan ako doon. Tito? I was expecting daddy or papa but Tito? I was so confused. Hindi niya tatay si Rafael? Hindi sila nagka tuluyan ni Niña?

"Yes," I answered. I wanted to get out of there but couldn't. Buti nalang talaga bumalik na si Arthur at nag simula na rin ang party. I sat with his friends kasama sila Rafael and God, I wanted the floor to swallow me. Bakit hindi nalang ako umupo sa mesa malayo kay Rafael? It felt so awkward the whole time. Nawala lang 'yon nang mag offer ng alak ang waiter at agad ko 'yong ininom.