Habang sila ay paalis, kinakausap na ni Arjuna ang isang beterano na sa aming industriya. But no matter how interesting the subject is, those haunting eyes always learned to follow where I'd be. Nakalingon pa rin sa akin si Ram, nagnanakaw ng mga nag-aapoy na tingin.
He looks so ready to kill.
As I was standing regally, a solid fierce look in my eyes, and a shadow of a man behind me, I figured looking at this man will always be a mistake. A sin. But the important thing is, I was still standing firm on my ground.
If not for fear, sin would be sweet, they say.
It was all true. Only, I wasn't afraid of this man, of his influences or of his power. What I was afraid of was to fail. The impurity of him, and me together. And I have never been so grateful to fear for something.
Nilingon ko na ang aking paligid at si Sean. Umalis na kaming dalawa roon.
Sa isang mala vintage na restaurant kami kumain. Hindi iyon masyadong kamahalan at naging over dressed pa ako. Katabi namin ang anyong tubig at kumiskilap ang mga ilaw sa repleksyon.
Pagkatapos kumain ay hinatid na ako ni Sean pabalik sa unit.
"That wasn't so bad," kumento niya, his boyish grin taking over again.
"Are you expecting it to be?" Tinaasan ko ito ng kilay but I agree with him. That was a decent one kahit na puros pagbibiro ang ginagawa. Its his forte.
"Matagal na tayong magkaibigan so you'll know I'm lying when I say no," Sean deeply chuckled.
"I thought so," sabi ko at mas lalo lamang lumakas ang kaniyang pagtaka.
Tumitingkad lalo ang kislap sa kaniyang mga mata kapag ganyan. Sumingkit ang kaniyang mga mata atsaka pasimpleng humawak sa aking likod. I slapped his hand away.
Bago tuluyang umalis si Sean ay nagpaalala ito sa kaniyang selebrasyon. I greeted him happy birthday one last time. Nang nakasakay na ako sa elevator ay nilingon ko si Sean. His shoulders sagged disappointingly because I still haven't given him a gift.
Napailing na lamang ako rito. Mamaya pa naman kasi iyon.
Ramona was still picking her dress for the celebration when I got inside, habang si Beth ay nasa bathroom. Inihanda ko na ang mga gagamitin naming heavy make-up at pang style ng buhok. I showered after Beth since Ramon was still at it!
After almost three hours, nakababa na kaming tatlo at inaantay ang si Arjuna na susundo sa amin.
"Is there someone on the front seat?" asik kaagad ni Ramona sa kapatid.
"Wala! Bakit naman magkakaroon?" dipensa naman ni Arjuna.
All of us girls shook his head at him. Naalala rin siguro ni Ramona iyong isang beses na binuksan niya ang kotse ni Arjuna. Mayroong babae roon, tulog at tila ba hindi nadamitang maayos. Pareho silang nagkasigawan at nagimbal.
I remember that disaster perfectly where and because Arjuna couldn't keep his pants on!
"Stop ganging up on me!" reklamo noong malanding lalaki.
Bago sumakay ng kotse ay nagkaroon muna ng picture taking sa lobby. Arjuna was the photographer. I was in the middle, Beth and Ramona on my side.
I wore a two-piece dark red dress, which the top was strapless. My torso was bare, and a lot of skin was revealed but the color of the evening gown complimented my skin perfectly. Nakataas ang aking buhok ngunit may strands sa gilid ng aking mukha. I wore my teardrop earrings.
Beth wore a stunning Prussian blue chiffon dress. Dalawa ang slit nito sa magkabilang mga hita at ang tattoo niya mula sa binti pataas ang highlight, while Ramona looked so daring in her glittering mermaid dress. It was a low back, and also with a low dip on the front. Her tan matched it well.
Ang PangApatnapu't Apat
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