The Girl in the End

IV

IV.

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'Table for two ma'am?' Tanong ng hostess sa kararating pa lamang na magkasintahan. Larissa's parents were already inside the restaurant and they already had their reservation.

'No, we have reservations.' Larissa says politely, her hand locked securely in Stanley's. 'For Mr. And Mrs. Francisco Vergara please.'

'Ah yes ma'am.' Ngiti naman ng magalang na staff. 'Let me check. Right. This way Miss.'

Iginiya ng staff ang magnobyo papasok sa malaking espasyo ng kainan. American ang restaurant na napili ng mga magulang ni Larissa.

Iba ang pakiramdam ni Stanley. Kahit alam nyang naka-on naman ang aircon, mainit ang pakiramdam nya. Pansamantala nyang binitawan ang kamay ni Larissa upang pahidin ang namumuong pawis mula sa kanyang noo.

'Hey, are you ok?'

Napansin naman ni Larissa ang pagkabalisa ng nobyo.

Tumango naman ang tinanong bago ngumiti.

'Medyo mainit lang.' Bulong nito before he loosened one button of his shirt.

'Baka napadami lang ang inom mo kagabi, andyan pa rin sa sistema mo kaya naiinitan ka.'

And then it hits him. What happened last night was wild. If he has to put something in his 'Wildest List', that would be number one. Parang piniga naman ang mga bituka nya matapos maalala ang nangyari kanina.

'What's this?' Tanong ni Larissa habang hawak hawak ang isang hikaw.

'Kay Marge yata 'yan.' Pagsisinungaling nya. Well, not totally naman pagsisinungaling kasi baka nga naman sa kapatid nya iyon na binisita sya nung isang araw. 'Pinuntahan nya kasi ako the other day, nanghingi ng allowance.'

'How's her studies na nga pala?' Tatango tango namang tanong ng girlfriend.

'Ayun. Di naman nagkkwento yon. Pero nakita ko yung post nya sa FB, bagsak yata sya sa isang subject.'

He finally let out a sigh of relief once he realizes that he's already out of the 'danger zone'.

'Ah! There they are!' Napabalik naman nito sa kasalukuyan ang lumilipad na isip ni Stanley.

Nakita nya ang mga magulang ng mapapangasawa. At mas lalo syang pinagpawisan. Nakita nito kung paano niyakap at hinalikan ng magiging biyenan ang nobya. Ngayon pa lang, gusto na nyang magpakain sa lupa.

'Hindi namin inexpect na ganito kaaga.' Natatawang sabi ni Mr. Vergara. 'You really never fail to surprise us Lee.'

Ngumiti at tumango naman si Stanley.

'So have you set the wedding?' Excited na tanong naman ng Mama ni Larissa.

'Wala pang definite date Ma. Pero kanina while we're on our way here, sabi ko what if June next year na lang. And Lee agreed naman.' Larissa beams, gently squeezing her boyfriend's hand.

'We agreed na sya yung maging hands on sa wedding. Well, kukuha naman kami ng wedding coordinator so, pero I will just be there for support.'

'Basta ba sisipot ka sa kasal, Stanley.' At napahagalpak naman sa tawa ang Papa ni Larissa.

'Papa..' Larissa pouts and Lee has to pull her for a hug.

'Congratulations, you two. We're very happy.' Mrs. Vergara smiles from ear to ear.

'So, Stanley. Business. Bakit hindi ka magtayo ng branch ng coffee shop mo dito sa Tagaytay?'

Napairap na lamang ang mag-inang Vergara. Kapag kasi pinag-usapan na ng dalawa ang tungkol sa business, naeechapwera na sila.

*******

They were already inside his car, about to leave and go home when Larissa's phone rang.

'Larri!'

It was Samantha.

'Yes Sam?'

'Dyan ka pa Tagaytay?'

'Yes. Pero papauwi na rin.'

'I was finally able to contact Zoey!' Sam says excitedly?

'Who?' Nakakunot ang noong tanong ni Larissa.

'Duh? Zoey! The wedding coordinator. Akala ko, nasa US pa sya, pero dumating na pala sya kahapon. Medyo busy sya pero sabi nya, may client sya na imi-meet dyan din sa Tagaytay. Saang restaurant ba kayo kumain?'

'Antonio's.'

'O malapit lang, daan kayo Balay Dako. She said she'll be staying there until 4.'

Larissa turns to her fiance.

'Do you have an appointment after this?' Tanong nito.

Umiling ito.

'Matutulog lang sana. Pero if may gusto ka pang daanan, sure.'

'We'll meet with Sam's wedding coordinator sa Balay. Okay lang?'

'No problem.' He smiles and kisses Larissa's hand.

'Thank you. After this, we'll go home, and then sleep.' She winks which, for the first time eversince Stanley had his relationship with her, made him feel uncomfortable.

*********

Magkahawak kamay na pumasok sina Stanley at Larissa sa cafe and restaurant na binanggit ni Samantha at ibinigay ang buong pangalan ng tinutukoy nito.

'Zoey Bernardo.' Sabi ni Larissa sa staff sa labas.

'Right this way Ma'am.'

On the very corner of the restaurant sits a petite lady, hair down, in simple tank top, cardigan and ripped jeans. She was looking through the glass panel, as if her mind is elsewhere.

'Miss Zoey?' Maingat na tanong ni Larissa sa nilapitang babae.

The lady looks up and she met Larissa's gaze before she looks at the guy she was with who froze in that very moment. Panandaliang napatigil ang babaeng nagngangalang Zoey Bernardo bago sya tumayo para iabot ang kamay.

'You must be Larissa.'

Napailing si Stanley. That voice was very familiar to him. That same husky voice was the one moaning, screaming as he thrusts in and out of her the night before.

'This is Lee. My fiancée.' Pagpapakilala ni Larissa sa kasama.

'Of course.' Tumango naman si Zoey saka iniabot ang kamay kay Stanley who shook it mechanical-ish. 'So, let's sit down, shall we?' She smiles warmly before she sits on her very same spot a while ago.

Binuksan ni Zoey ang laptop sa ibabaw ng table at napansin nya from hindsight na matamang pinagmamasdan sya ng lalaki sa harap nya. She carefully placed strands of her shoulder length hair at the back of her right ear and she swear she saw his eyes turned wide as platters.

She was wearing only one earring.

Muling napapunas sa noo si Stanley. That girl, Zoey. Their wedding coordinator. The one sitting in front of them was the very same girl who gave him the best sex of his life.

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