CHAPTER 21

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NERI BECKONED me inside the gate. My mood lighten up as I inhaled the sweet smell of roses. May katiting na panghihinayang sa dibdib ko dahil hindi ko matanaw nang maayos ang ganda ng garden na nilalakaran namin dahil sa gabi na. Sigurado akong maganda dito kapag umaga. I like this place..

"So, what is he talking about? Why does he want you to wash your hands?" Tanong ni Neri habang naglalakad kami. I smiled wryly.

"I'm not sure about it, But that France guy kissed me on my hands. Well it's just a matter of introduction to me." Mahabang boses kong sabi. She flashed a wicked grin. What's going on her mind?

"Did he already told you that he likes you?" Tanong niya. Muntik na akong masamid sa sarili kong laway. How on earth can she ask that so directly?

"I don't believe him." Tipid na sabi ko saka diretsong tumingin sa harap.

"Why?"

"Because of some unavoidable circumstances," malamig na sabi ko. Mahina naman siyang nagreact pero hindi na nagtanong pa. 

Nang makapasok na kami sa loob ay mas humanga ako. Hindi man ito kasinglaki ng villa nina Lucas, mas elegante naman ang loob nito. Halatang pinangangalagaan ng maayos.

Napatingin sa amin ang ilang bisita lalo na ang mga babae. Kinumusta ng ibang tao roon si Neri at hindi ko napigilang mahiya. I don't know anyone in this room besides Lucas, some of his friends and Neri.

Nagsilapitan naman ang ilang babae sa direksyon namin.

"Neri, it's so nice to see you," bati ng isang babaeng kulay puti ang buhok. I she dyed it. May pagkabluish kasi ang buhok niya kahit mostly ay puti.

"Oh, Rish, It's so nice to see you too. By the way this is Lucas' fiancee-to-be, Loraine Cruz." Pakilala ni Neri sa akin. Napangiti naman ang babae sa akin saka inalok ang kanyang kamay.

"So you're that Loraine that everyone's talking about. You're very pretty in person. I'm Irish Helga, boyfriend ko si Dion." Nakangiting pakilala niya sa sarili. Medyo nagulat pa ako dahil hindi ko alam na may girlfriend pala si Dion. At isa pa, am I that popular with them? Bakit parang lahat ng babae dito ay alam ang pangalan ko?

"Sa totoo lang, madalas ka talagang topic ng mga girls in the same circle dahil kay Monique Devan and Andrea Cruz. Hindi ka madalas na umaattend ng mga social gatherings pero palagi kang nab-bring up sa usapan." Pagkukuwento ni Neri ng matunugan ang pagtataka sa mukha ko. I mentally cursed my Mom. How can she be so sure that her daughter and her best friend's son will end up together?

"Why?" Tanong kong muli. Napatawa nalang silang dalawa.

"I heard you're pretty sharp and brilliant. Sa totoo lang, maganda ka talaga, not to mention, powerful rin ang pamilya niyo. Maraming parents mula sa well-off family ang may gustong maipagkasundo ka sa mga anak nilang lalaki. Nakakagulat lang at parang hindi mo yun alam." Sabi ni Irish. Nanlulumo along napabuntong-hininga.

That's true. I don't have any idea.

"Mom didn't tell me," nasabi ko nalang.

"By the way, is it true that you and Khalil were dating? I heard from some of my colleagues that the two of you seems to be pretty close to each other." Sabi niya.

Kumunot naman ang noo ko. Seriously? Hindi pa nga tapos ang issue tungkol sa engagement 'kuno' namin ni Lucas, yung kay Kali naman ang inuungkat nila. Goddamn it. This is why I so hate being a socialite.

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