Unveiling Truth

Chapter 10

"Leo!" It was Dwayne Perez, a bacheler in the The Seige club. Sa kaniyang bisig ay naroroon si Rain. Nanlaki ang mata ko. I thought they broke up?!

"Dwayne, bro. Saya natin ngayon ah?" Biro ni Leo sabay sulyap kay Rain na tahimik lang na nakangiti.

Hinapit ni Dwayne si Rain sa baywang. "Of course!" Nagkatinginan ang dalawa at mukhang nakalimutan nilang nandito pa kami.

"By the way, this is Gabourey Klein, my date." Ani Leo.

"The famous Bourey among the club's Bachelers. Hi, nice to see you again. Tagal na kitang di nakikita rito ha?" Si Dwayne.

"Medyo busy lang." Maikli kong tugon.

"Sus! The last time we hang out was two to three years ago! Naging mailap ka na after that!" Napalunok ako. As much as possible, I don't want to anymore talk about that.

Ngumiti na lamang ako.

Nagpaalam na sila. Sinulyapan ko ang mahinhing si Rain. Seriously, she's pretty but looks out of place. I mean, innocent and pure. Samantalang, ang club na ito ay hindi para sa mga katulad niya. Just like Trace's fianceé, Yuri Henares.

"Kuya Leo!" It was Yuri's sister, Yassi Henares alongside his fiancé Jarden Sevilla.

I smirk mentally. Parang kailan lang ay pinaguusapan namin sila ng kaibigan ko. Speaking of, nasaan na nga ba si Precious?

"Hi li'l girl!" Biro ni Leo sa kaniya.

"Sus di na ko bata!" Aniya sabay taas ng kaniyang kamay na suot ang engagement ring.

"Leo." Jarden acknowledged.

"Uy, Jarden. Naunahan mo pa 'ko ha? Anyway, congratulations! This is Gabourey Klein, my date."

"Hi!" Bati ko sa kanila. They both smiled at me.

"Enjoy the party, kuya! Puntahan ko lang si Nanay." Tumango si Leo. Nginitian akong muli ni Jarden at Yassi saka sila sabay na umalis.

"You were close with Yuri's family, Dr. Ablaza?" Tanong ko.

Tumango siya. "I am Yuri's college friend. I used to court her, too. No, marami kaming gustong manligaw sa kaniya noon pero masyadong mailap. So I ended up being an ordinary friend to her."

"So, Yuri's quite popular with boys too? Wait, she went to Atwoods with you?! Akala ko bang mahirap sila?"

"She's a scholar. She actually graduated Magna Cum Laude. See? That's why boys like her. Beauty, brain and attitude. All in one package. My type of girl." Aniya habang nakatingin ng matiim sa akin.

Medyo nanliit ako roon. I don't know. I've never been this insecure my whole life. I feel like I've got everything pero hindi.

I may be rich, beautiful and sexy but I didn't graduate with flying colors in college. Yes, I once was a Dean's Lister and actually running for Cum Laude but everything turned dust when Alvin broke up with me.

I lost everything! Even my father's affection.

Umingay ang reporters sa labas. Naroon na kasi ang mga kapatid at pinsan ni Trace na sabay sabay papasok ng hall.

"Hans Atwoods, M. A. Maguire," Anunsiyo sa naglalakihang speakers. Oh, his famous cousins!

"Is he her? For real?"

"Yes. The Andersen's bastard."

"Is this even happening? Totoo ba? Akala ko tsismis lang iyon!"

Even in this kind of social gathering, mayroon pa ring tsismosa. They were talking about Hans' step brother. For all people know, Hans is an only child. But her mother had an affair and the rest is history.

" and Maddox Salviejo!" Napangisi ako.

"Sa lahat pa ng makaka-affair ng nanay ni Hans ang mahigpit pang kalaban sa business ng kaniyang ama." Ani Leo.

"And who would've thought that he will be invited? Trace is so generous." Sabi ko.

Umiling si Leo. "No. They were actually close. Si Maddox ang may gusto sa ibang lugar. Hans and Tyrell were inseparable mula nung malaman nilang magkapatid sila."

"Ang dami mong alam tungkol sa pamilya nila. Now, I know more about their family rather than yours." Sabi ko.

"Why? Do you want to know what type of family we have?" He looked down and stared at me.

I suddenly feel awkward.

"No. Not really. It's just that you're quite mysterious."

"I am not. Kung ano si Eonji, gano'n din ako." Aniya.

"I doubt that. You are completely opposite. Ako ang nakakakita kaya gano'n."

"You're wrong in that aspect. We tend to show a different side of ourselves to someone comfortable to us." Sabi pa niya.

"You mean, you're not comfortable with me? So you hide-" He cuts me off.

"Known to others and known to self, unknown to others and known to self, known to others and unknown to self, unknown to others and unknown to self. You get my point?" For a second, it was unclear to me but then I smirk.

"Are you trying to lecture me about the JoHari Window?" Humalakhak siya.

"You're still smart even after the tragedy." Nanlamig ang katawan ko sa sinabi niya. Para bang may alam siya na hindi ko alam.

Tumayo ang nga balahibo ko. I tried to stand the nervousness and the sudden goosebumps I felt. I don't like to open up about my past right now. And assuming that he knows scares me.

"Are you trying to be a Psychologist now? As far as I know, you're a surgeon." Sabi ko na lang. Pero sa aking loob ay napakarami kong tanong.

"Won't you ask me why I know?" Doon ako tuluyang nabigla. Lumunok ako ng dalawang beses.

"C-can we not talk about it here? I don't know why you know but I want you to keep it from me. Hindi pa ako handa. I'm curious as hell but I don't want to breakdown here, if you know what I mean."

Tumango siya at hinapit ang aking baywang. Now, I'm more concerened of his hands doing slow circles on my back.

"If that's what you want." Aniya.

"And now, the man and woman of the night! Let us all welcome, Mr. Trace Winston Andersen and Ms. Yuri Henares!"  The master of the ceremony announced kasabay ng pagbaba ni Yuri sa mahabang hagdan habang naghihintay sa kaniya sa baba si Trace.

Para kaming nasa debut. Pero iyon talaga ang balak ni Trace dahil hindi ito naranasan ng kaniyang fianceé. It's obvious that he wants all the best for his girl.

Napangiti ako ng mapakla. I was once a princess that is loved and adored that I became so contented about everything. Kung alam ko lang na panandalian lamang ang lahat, inenjoy ko na sana at hindi na 'ko nagpatumpik tumpik. I wonder what would happen if things didn't go wrong.

Maingat na inalalayan ni Trace si Yuri. Para bang isa itong babasaging bagay. Ingat na ingat.

"Yuri is so lucky to have tamed a man like Trace." Bulalas ko.

"Yuri deserves it and Trace is even more lucky to have her." Sagot niya. He stared down on me.

Medyo nailang ako sa paraan ng pagtitig niya. But there's something in him that makes me want to stare back at his intense gaze.

"Every man, on the other hand, deserves a girl who can only tame him." Aniya, ang aming mga mukha ay sobrang magkalapit na.

"Gabourey, please tame me and I'll only be yours."