I Knew I Loved You

Chapter 28

🌺Pumailanlang ang malungkot na awit sa paligid. Tila dinadamayan nito ang dalamhati sa loob ng dibdib ko.

"Bumangon ka nga riyan! Why are you acting like this, Ada?"

Nagtalukbong ako at tinalikuran si Wella.

"Umalis ka na. Hindi ako pupunta," tamad na sabi ko.

"Maraming business partners ng family n'yo ang darating. Even some of your friends from Springtide will be attending..."

Kaya nga ayaw ko! I heard that it will be a grandiose event of the year.

"Both of our Dads are sponsoring the ceremony, too. Who's going to represent The Rhycels?"

"Ikaw," walang buhay na sagot ko.
Kailan lang sinabi sa akin ni Daddy na isa sa mga sponsors ng banquet nina Chary ang RFC kaya pinapupunta niya ako sa event na iyon.

Tinanggal ni Wella ang kumot ko. "Get up!"

"Hey!" I shouted, trying to pull back the blanket.

"Get dressed. I'm not going unless you go, too!" sermon niya. Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinila mula sa pagkakahiga ko sa kama.

Si Lowella ang natatangi kong kaibigan na palaging narito kapag ayaw ko nang lumaban. She has been my friend for a very long time. She always lifted me up when I thought I was about to fall.
Kaya kahit mabigat sa loob, bumangon ako dahil sa pangungulit ni Lowella.
Ilang sandali ang lumipas. Naghintay si Wella kahit gaano pa katagal akong nag-ayos sa sarili. I was still putting on my lipstick when Wella entered my room. She stared at me in the mirror.

"That's better." Hinawakan niya ang mga balikat kong nakalitaw. I was wearing a backless, shiny dark-blue, lacey gown. "We have to go, Ada," aniya.

I sighed. "Do I really have to, Wella?" may pagdadalawang-isip pa rin na tanong ko.

"Tell me, Ada. May iniiwasan ka ba? Was it Zedrick?"

Hindi ako kumibo. Nanatili siyang nakatingin sa harap ng salamin.

"It's clear that you don't like him. Tinapat mo na siya, 'di ba? If he harasses you again, we'll make sure he'll pay for it. Kasama mo 'ko, Ada."

Malungkot akong napangiti. She knows all my escapades, about Zedrick, about the man who broke my heart, but she doesn't know who it was.

Halos mapuno ang bulwagan nang dumating kami. The grand plaza ballroom was elegant with mix colours of white and gold. Umuulan na rin ng mga inumin. Sinalubong kami ni Chary sa magarbo niyang suot na kulay dilaw na floral gown. She's escorted by someone remarkably familiar.

"Hello Ada." Chary smiles were sincere or at least that's what I saw. She gave us a peck and Lowella immediately looked at her escort.

"Have we met?" Lowella asked, fascinated with the man wearing a formal black suit.
Kinuha ng lalaki ang kamay ko sa halip na sumagot. "It's been awhile, Ms. Matilda Rhyce," he said.

My forehead creased.

"You didn't recognize me? It's Jamil Leonard Oliveros."

"J-Jammy?" Unti-unting may sumilay na ngiti sa labi ko.

"Akala ko nakalimutan mo na." Binitiwan niya ang kamay ko.

Namamalikmata akong napatitig sa kanya. He has turn into a real man. I mean, gumuwapo, nagkamasel at hindi na siya makulit.

"We're dating," singit ni Chary at humawak sa braso ni Jammy.

"Oh!" halos sabay lumabas sa bibig namin ni Wella. I didn't see that coming. I thought...