Villaverde Brothers Series 1: Taming the Ruthless✓

Chapter Twelve

"Khrys can't make it. She's in the hospital right now. Inatake raw ng ulcer niya," sabi niya.

Napahawak si Raya sa noo niya. "How is she?"

"Ayos naman daw po pero hindi talaga siya makakapunta ngayon. Ayaw rin siyang payagan ng parents niya."

Raya heaved a deep sigh. "I understand," she said. "But she's one of the brightest stars tonight. Who will replace her?"

"You," Zai answered.

Nagtinginan sa kaniya lahat. Nang makuha niya ang atensyon namin ay tumalikod siya na para bang ayaw kaming makita. Nakatanggap naman siya ng hampas sa likod mula kay Jairus na tumatawa.

Napangiti tuloy ako pati na rin ang ibang mga kasama. Proproblemahin ko na rin sana iyon kung hindi lang dahil sa suggestion ni Zairus.

"That's a great idea, Raya," Kylei said. "Ikaw na lang. Kaya mo naman and it's doubtless you'll shine."

Having no choice, Raya nodded. "Okay, I'll proxy for her."

I smiled. Problem solved in just a few minutes. Raya doesn't need to fix herself. Nakaayos na kasi siya. Siguro kaunting retouch na lang at ayos sa buhok niya ay okay na.

Lumabas na ang mga Villaverde at sinabing maghihintay na lang sa labas. Nagpatuloy ang pag-aayos rito sa loob habang ako naman ay kinakabahan. Nang hindi na ako makahinga dahil sa kaba ay nagpasya na rin akong lumabas at nagpaalam sa kanila.

I waved at my parents who are sitting in front but I didn't go to them. Tinuro ko ang comfort room at naintindihan naman nila 'yon.

Kinalma ko ang sarili ko sa loob. Isa't kalahating oras na lang ang natitira at magsisimula na kami. I breathed deeply a lot of times. Umihi rin ako dahil kanina pa ako naiihi sa kaba. Nang matapos maghugas ng kamay at mag-alcohol ay lumabas na.

Saktong kalalabas lang din si Cai sa comfort room ng mga lalaki. Nginitian ko siya but just like the usual, he didn't smile at me back. I waited for him na makarating sa tapat ko saka ko siya sinabayan.

I didn't notice that my hands were still trembling so I fisted them to hide it.

"Still nervous?" he asked suddenly.

I glanced at him and nodded diffidently. "I can't calm down."

"Distract yourself for a while."

"Good thing, you're a distraction."

His lips twitched. "Really, huh?"

I just smiled at didn't answer. Tumingin ako sa runway at pinagmasdang mabuti ang ayos no'n. Kakaiba ang dating na binibigay nito. Simple lang pero magandang tingnan. Usually, runway stages doesn't have any decor, but this has a little touch of elegance because of the tiny yet shining light from above that hits the stage.

"It looks good," Cai complimented.

"Yeah. I can't say anything bad about it."

His presence beside me is adding the anxiousness that I am feeling. Hindi ko na lang 'yon kinilala at tinuon ang pansin sa ibang bagay.

I don't know how long he had been there to join me but when someone called him on the phone, he excused himself and I just let him go away.

Alangan naman pigilan ko, 'di niya naman ako jowa. 'Di ako batas, saka ba mamaya importante 'yon.

At 8:50 pm, I went to my team's seat and sat beside Jil.

"Excited ka na ba, Mamsh?" tanong niya.

Tumango ako. Sa kabila ng kaba ay na-e-excite din ako. Confident din naman akong maganda talaga ang mga ginawa naming damit. Lahat sinigurado ko na maayos at walang magiging aberya.