Embracing the Wind (Formentera Series #2)

Epilogue

Ibinaba ko ang dyaryo at nahagip ng mga mata ko ang maputing babae na papalabas na ng coffee shop. Bahagyang napakunot ang noo ko dahil hindi ko na nakita ang mukha niya.

Naging abala ako sa kumpanya dahil ang daming nabago. Hindi naging madali para kay Mommy ang pag-aasikaso nito kaya ngayong nandito na ako, ako na ulit ang magpapatakbo.

I don't fucking care if they're afraid of me. I dont give a fucking damn.

"Ice, sige na. Come with me. Hindi ka naman magiging judge agad, anak. Papanoorin mo lang. I will introduce you to my favorite model." Mom winked at me.

Napabuntong-hininga ako at tumango. Hindi naman ako mananalo sa kanya dahil makulit siya.

I was bored. Hindi pa nagsisimula ay gusto ko nang umuwi. I couldn't get enough sleep last night because my anxiety was attacking me.

Not until I saw a woman who was wearing a gold sleeveless and backless gown. Her hair was dancing as she moved. I was straightly staring into her eyes and I couldn't take my eyes away from her even though she was not looking at me... Pero kahit ganoon, kahit hindi siya nakatingin para akong tinatawag ng mga mata niya. She's the most beautiful and the way she walks screams elegance.

Her stance, posture, hair and everything about her screams elegance.

"Wah." Napabuga ako ng hangin at napahawak sa dibdib ko nang matapos siya at ngumiti sa mga reporters.

"You're so gorgeous, Yen! How did you manage to maintain that intimidating face while ramping? What a perfection!" my mom said.

Yen? Iyan ba ang ipapakilala niya sa akin? Bakit ang tagal?

She smiled at my mom.

"You're so professional, Yen. Tama nga ang mga tao na mabait at maganda ka." Who is this punk?

Hinilot ko ang sentido ko. What the fuck am I doing right now? Isinandal ko ang ulo ko at tumingala. I took a deep breath. Oo nga pala, wala na akong pakialam sa mga babae. Samantha was my last girl. Napayuko ako at humalukipkip.

"Mr. Damian, aren't you gonna approach her?"

I seriously looked at my mom. I don't care about her, Mom.

But I stood up. Seryoso lang ang mukha ko dahil biglang pumasok sa isip ko ang nangyari kay Samantha.

I removed my aviators when I finally came closer to them. My mom was smiling. Parang inaasar ako ng mga ngiti na 'yon.

I looked at Yen. I cleared my throat. "That was great... what's your name?" Gago anong tinanong ko? Did I really ask her name?

Pero kung makatingin siya sa akin ay parang wala siyang pakialam. We're just the same, miss. I don't care about you.

"I'm... Chayenne Hope Levisay." Beautiful name.

Pag-uwi ko sa bahay ay tili nang tili ang nanay ko. Nakakarindi kaya nag earphones ako pero mabilis niyang tinanggal 'yon. Bumuntong-hininga ako at pumunta sa kusina para uminom ng tubig.

She was following me.

"I want her to be my daughter-in-law, Ice!"

Naibuga ko ang tubig dahil sa sinabi niya. Napaubo pa ako. "Mom!" I yelled.

"What? She's pretty, kind, tall, perfect, famous and pretty and pretty!" She smiled.

I took a deep breath for the nth fucking time. "She's not my type, Mom. I don't like her." Tinalikuran ko na siya.

"Anong hindi type?! Napaka pihikan mo, Ice, ah! Kapag hindi siya ang mapapangasawa mo, huwag na lang!"

Napailing ako at pumasok sa kwarto. She'll never be my girl because I was still thinking of Samantha. Siya lang ang mamahalin ko kahit wala na siya. Walang ibang babae.