CHAPTER THIRTY ONE: Entertainment News
“Good morning son” bati ng isang awtorotibong boses mula sa likuran ni Charlie.
“Dad! Good morning!” bumeso pa sya sa ama na naupo sa dulo ng mahabang dining table.
“So how’s your celebration in Saint James?” tanong nito sa kanya sabay buklat ng mga dyaryo at higop ng mainit na black coffee.
“It’s great. Red, Isaac and their wives say hello. And also Phillip.”
“It’s good to know you’re still friends with those kids. Wait, Prince Charlie have your read the news?” biglang tanong nito kay Charlie sabay abot ng entertainment page.
‘The sole heir of Don Ricardo Montecarlo of Montecarlo Group of Companies and the son of Lady Priscilla, Prince celebrated his 25th birthday last Saturday. On that event, socialite women including models and politicians’ daughters from all over the country wore their best designer gowns and masks in the hopes of luring and catching the half royalty half millionaire’s attention but only one lucky lady got the chance to dance with the very gorgeous Prince. But just like in the most celebrated fairy tale, Cinderella, the mysterious lady flew off before midnight, leaving him without any clue of who she really is. I wonder what will Prince do about it, will he send his royal entourage to let every single lady try a glass shoe, for who ever fits the shoe will be the one he’s going to marry?”
Natulala si Charlie matapos basahin ang laman ng balita. May kasama pa itong picture kung saan nasa hagdanan ng hotel sya habang hinahabol ang misteryosang babae na nakasayaw nya. Tinitigan nya ang litrato, lalo na ang babae. Hindi nya maintindihan ang sarili ngunit may naramdaman na naman syang kakaiba nang maisip ang babae. Napangiti pa sya sabay buntong hininga.
“So, is it true?” tanong ng matandang Montecarlo.
“What?” balik na tanong ni Charlie.
“Yang nakalagay dyan? That you finally found the lucky girl who will lure your heart?” nakangisi pang tanong ni Don Ricardo.
“Dad? It’s just one dance” napangiting sagot ni Charlie.
“But you can’t stop thinking about her?” deretsahang tanong ng ama.
Ngiti lang ang isinagot ni Charlie.
“So totoo din ba yung sinabi dyan na you’re going to search the whole country to let every girl try the glass shoe and that you’re going to marry whoever fits them?” patuksong tanong nito.
“Dad? Hindi ko akalaing mahilig ka pala sa mga tsismis?” biro ni Charlie sa ama.
Tawa lang ang isinagot nito sa kanya.
“Actually dad, I’m somewhat confused.”
“Why? Is there another girl?” kilalang kilala talaga nya ang anak.
Isang mahinang tango lang ang isinagot niya. “You see dad, when I danced with that mysterious girl I felt different. I know I’m attracted to her. When I touched her hand it felt like magic. Para bang huminto yung buong paligid ko nung mga oras na yun. Parang kaming dalawa lang. Ano ba yan masyado na akong nagiging corny.”
“Don’t worry son, I perfectly understand what you’re talking about. I also felt that same weird thing when I first touched your mother’s hand. At narealize kong it’s love. If that’s the case, what seems to be the problem?” seryosong tanong niya sa anak.
“There’s this one girl. She’s a very close friend of mine. Sa tuwing kasama ko sya, masaya ako. Nasasabi ko sa kanya lahat ng nasa loob ko. Kahit nga po yung sentiments ko about the very tight security. Soryy dad” kwento ni Charlie.
Nagkibit balikat lang ang ama sabay ngiti.
“Anyway, tuwing hindi ko po sya kasama pakiramdam ko may kulang sa loob ko. Kapag hindi ko sya nakakausap parang kulang yung araw ko. We can talk anything and everything under the sun. We can just sit silently in one corner drinking our cappuccino frappe without talking but still it felt complete. I can just watch her all day laughing or just simply reading a book while the wind blows her hair. I don’t know dad. I can’t stop thinking about the mysterious girl but I also can’t stop thinking about Cinderella” sabay buntong hininga pang kwnto ni Charlie.
“Cinderella’s her name? Cute. Alam mo anak, mahirap nga yan. Hindi ko akalaing may pagkachick boy ka pala ha.” Biro pa nito.
“Dad naman.”
“Actually ikaw lang ang makakasagot nyan eh. Pero may saying nga akong nabasa, if you want to be happily married for the rest of your life, marry your best friend. But there’s also a saying that if you want to be truly happy, marry your true love and make her your best friend” nginitian pa nya ang anak.
“I heard someone talking about marriage? Who’s going to marry who? Is that you son? Are you planning to be married, with whom?” sunud-sunod na tanong ng kadarating lang na ina.
“Good morning mom” hinalikan ng mag-ama ang bagong dating.
“Well?” naghihintay ng sagot na naupo.
“That’s nothing honey. It’s just a conversation between two man” nakangiting sagot ni don Ricardo.
“Alright. By the way Prince Charlie, the event organizer called. She told me you asked for the complete list of the guest who attended the ball. Why do you want that?” tanong ng ina.
“I just want to see the list so that I can thank them personally.”
“Is that so? I thought you asked for it so that you can find the girl you danced with” simpleng sabi ni Lady Priscilla.
Nasamid bigla si Charlie.
********
“Mama nabalitaan mo na ba?” sabi ni Giselle sa ina habang nagaalmusal sila.
“Ang alin?” tanong naman ni madam Gretta.
“Nabasa ko sa tabloid kanina na pinapahanap daw ni Prince Montecarlo yung babaeng nakasayaw nya sa ball!”
Napaubo si Cinderella nang marinig ang sinabi ni Giselle. Tinignan lang sya ng mag-iina pero bumalik din sa pag-uusap.
“Talaga? At pagaaksayahan pa pala talaga nya ng panahon yung babae na yun?” nakaismid na sabi ng ina.
“Hay naku, masyado naman kasing feeling yung babae na yun eh. Imagine, sya na nga lang ang nakasayaw ni Prince tapos nagmaganda pa, tinakasan pa. Ano naman ang feeling nya, sya si Cinderella? Excuse me Cinderella, yung sa fairy tale ang tinutukoy ko” maarteng sabi ni Annie.
Napalunok lang si Cinderella.
“Kung ako yun, hindi na ako uuwi. Hindi ko na papakawalan si Prince!” halos patili pang sabi ni Giselle.
“Pag nalaman ko kung sino yung babaeng yun, humanda sya sa akin” sabi pa ni Annie na may pagbabanta.
“Uhm…excuse lang po. Papasok na po ako” paalam ni Cinderella sa mag-iina.
Pagpasok nya sa trabaho ay agad syang bumili ng mga dyaryo para hanapin ang mga balita tungkol sa nangyari sa party. At nalaman nyang totoo nga. Nakuhanan nga pala sila ni Prince sa may balcony habang nag-uusap sila at sa may entrance habang tinatakasan nya si Prince. Malamang ay ang mga paparazzi ang mga nakapuslit sa venue. May kuha pa nga na wala na syang mascara mabuti na lamang at malayo ang kuha at di masyadong nakuhanan ang mukha nya. Kung hindi ay hindi nya alam ang gagawin sa kanya ng mag-iina pag nalaman nilang sya ang nakasayaw ni Prince.
