I followed his instructions at sa mall nga kami napunta. After taking his anti pain meds he's alive and kicking nanaman, he almost dragged me into boutiques and different shops to buy stuff para sa one week na ipag-iintay niya sa pag balik ko ng Manila. I felt my phone ring and answered immediately noong nakita kong si Darylle yung tumawag.
"Hello Avie! Nasaan ka na ba? Ikaw nalang iniintay, lost ka parin ba?" Sunod sunod na tanong ni Darylle.
"Malapit na ako, may dinaanan lang ako saglit, nasa mall lang ako" I replied. Naramdaman kong kinakalabit na ako kaya for sure oras na para magbayad. I gave my wallet to him para siya na ang kumuha ng pera dahil dapat akong magconcentrate sa dami ng mga tanong sakin ni Darylle on her follow up questions. Hindi na kasi siya makapag-intay sabihin sakin kung ano nang updates sa pakikipag-chikahan niya sa college friends namin. I ended the call in not more than 6 minutes, sakto naman doon ang pagbalik ng wallet ko sa kamay ko. Parang hindi nabawasan ang cash na dala ko when I pressed my fingers on my wallet.
"Hinahanap ka na yata nung mga kasama mo, tara na?" He asked habang dala dala yung bags ng mga pinamili niya. Wala na akong nagawa when he dragged me again palabas ng mall.
Sa wakas! Nakita ko na ang signboard ng Star Waves at kasunod nga nun ang Dalampasigan Beach Resort. The staff were very accomodating lalo na dahil ako nalang pala talaga yung iniintay na guest para sa Amago-Felipe Nuptial. Nakahinga na ng maluwag yung head organizer dahil makakamove on na yung activities nila for the wedding, but there's one glitch that I have to personally attend to.
"Ahm Miss Avie, hindi po kasama sa accomodation yung kasama ninyo" the head organizer informed me.
"Oh don't worry about him, hindi talaga siya kasama, he'll stay as an independent guest here" I smiled sweetly at the stressed-out event organizer while guiding the bellhop with my luggage. Pina-una ko na sa designated room ko yung organizer kasama yung bellhop. Naiwan kaming dalawa sa nagsisimulang dumilim na parking area.
"I'm Victor" He offered his hand to me formally.
"Hello Biktor, I'm Avie" I smiled at him and shook his hand. Ang oldies naman kasi ng sound ng pangalan niya hahahaha
"Hindi, Vic-ter, pronounce it right, Vic-ter" May kasamang kasungitan ang pag-correct niya.
"Oh sige na Biktor" I giggled. "Ano? Nasakit pa yung katawan mo?" Umiling siya. It's been more than an hour after niyang magtake, magandang sign na hindi na masakit.
"Halika na, let's get you a room para makapag-pahinga ka na" I held his good arm para alalayan siya papunta sa front desk at makapagpa-book ng room.
Maganda at malawak ang lobby ng hotel sa Dalampasigan resort, agaw pansin pa ang malalaking sculptures, paintings and mini exhibits depicting the culture of Quezon Province.
"Those are real diamonds" he uttered.
Napalingon ako kay Victor na nakatingala sa malaking chandelier ng hotel, he seem to know a lot about expensive stuff.
Naputol ang tour around the lobby namin dahil sa sound ng tourist bus na nag-stop sa may main entrance. The banner on the bus' side caught my attention. The banner has a huge header containing a government organization's logo as well as it's name. Bukod pa roon ay ang ilang logos pa ng mga hospitals and medical equipment manufacturing companies, including ours. Meron lang sigurong conference or seminar and for sure daddy's company is one of the sponsors kaya ganun.
Nakaramdam ako ng kutob, I scanned the faces on the tour bus' window, hindi ko alam kung bakit pero parang may kakaiba sa bus.
An excited little girl got off the bus. Praning lang siguro ako but the little girl sure looks like Deedee. Si Deedee ang pinaka bunso namin. Naka-habol pa kasi si mommy at daddy after nilang mag-formal honeymoon sa Isla Dianna.
Deedee saw me, pero mukhang hindi pa siya sure kaya naglakad siya papalapit on my direction. A hand pulled Deedee's arm at binuhat siya. I examined the woman that carried Deedee. I waited for her to turn dahil may iniintay pa siyang bumaba ng bus.
Walang iba kung hindi si Mamu! Si Mamu at Lolo Daddy pala dahil sumunod na bumaba ng bus si Lolo Daddy.
Oh shoot!
"Halika na dali!" I pushed Victor towards the front desk.
"Sandali, kilala mo yung mga nasa tour bus?" he asked habang pilit pang nililingon yung mga bumababa ng tour bus.
"Yes, they're my grandparents, I love them but they're not ready to meet you yet" I kept pushing dahil malaking mama si Victor at nanlalaban talaga yung mga muscles niyang mabibigat. "Come on, please?" I pushed harder because he won't budge.
"Bakit naman? Mukha naman silang mababait ah?" sabi niya while blocking my arms na tumutulak sa kanya.
"Victor, please?" I begged him. At saka lang siya natinag para maglakad papunta sa counter. Nagkusa na si Victor na mag-inquire regarding the details of the wedding para malaman kung gaano ba katagal siya magsi-stay.
"Ate Avie!" Lumingon ako sa tumawag, pa-lapit na pala sakin si Deedee while Mamu watches her from afar. I waved at Mamu para sabihing kasama ko na si Deedee and then Mamu went back into waiting for their stuff na mai-baba ng bus kasama si Lolo Daddy.
Deedee hugged my waist nung makalapit na siya sakin. Awww ang lambing talaga ng baby Deedee namin. "Ate Avie, bakit po hindi ka na nakakadalaw sa bahay?" nakangusong tanong sakin ni Deedee. Nagtatampo na siguro siya dahil halos hindi na nga ako nauwi.
"Baby busy kasi si Ate lately eh, kapag hindi na mashadong busy, dadalaw ako sa bahay" I could hear chatter on my background habang tuloy parin ang pakikipagusap ni Victor sa hotel staff. I felt light tapping on my back at alam kong cue na yon para i-abot ang credit card. I did at saka ko narinig ang beeping sound, indicating na nai-gawa na ng hotel key card si Victor.
"Avie sign mo daw" nakiliti pa ako when Victor whispered from behind me. I turned to sign a few documents on the front desk kaya bumitaw si Deedee. I felt Deedee move papunta sa likod ko.
"Are you my Ate's boyfriend?" Naputol ang pag-babasa ko ng documents sa tanong ni Deedee. She's looking up at Victor with very curious eyes nung nilingon ko siya.
"No Deedee, he's not Ate's boyfriend" I corrected her and looked sa direction nila Mamu, mukhang matatapos na yung pag-unload ng mga gamit from the bus dahil sunod sunod nang lumapit yung mga bellhop to receive their luggage. Binilisan ko ang pag-pirma ng 3 pang papers at nireceive ang key card ni Victor.
"But he was kissing your ear po kaya kanina" walang ka gatol gatol na imik ni baby Deedee. Talagang igi-giit ni baby na kiniss ako ni Victor.
"No baby, I wasn't" magiliw ang tono ni Victor kay Deedee.
"You were doing like this po kaya" ngumuso si Deedee and began moving her lips like what Victor did while whispering. Mas exaggerated nga lang yung version ni Deedee dahil bonggang kiss yung tinutukoy niya.
Victor's eyes brightened and the corners of his mouth curved slightly upward. Ang gwapo pala niya kapag naka smile. "Baby we're not kissing, I haven't kissed your Ate yet"
"Avie, Deedee" Mamu called us habang papalapit sila. I placed the key on Victor's hand and tapped him to go at wag magpakita kina Mamu. Buti nalang at saktong bumukas yung elevator at nakapasok siya. He was still smiling as he waved at me bago sumara yung pinto.
"Avie, Iha" Mamu called my attention.
"Yes Mamu?" I faced her.
"Are you sick?" She pressed her hand on my forehead.
"No, why?" I frowned.
"Namumula ka, iha" I smiled at Mamu.
Chapter 3: What's better than suing
Mulai dari awal
