Paper Planes

Kabanata 39

112818: Welcome to the family, baby Jon Liam! 💋💋💋

KABANATA 39

Hindi naman ako nahirapan sa paghahanap kay Himamura-san. I found him talking animatedly with some of the student leaders. His assistant saw me first and pointed me to him.

"Arianne," tawag niya nang makita ako pagkalingon, "What's wrong? Do you need anything?"

"Um, sorry, pero gusto ko na sanang umuwi. Okay lang ba?"

Sandaling dumaan ang lungkot sa mga mata nito bago pinalitan iyon ng isang ngiti.

"Pagod ka na ba?"

Tumango ako, paulit-paulit na humihingi ng pasensiya sa isipan ko.

"Okay, I'll take you home."

"Ha? Hindi na kailangan, Hima--, I mean, Sean. Tatawagan ko na lang si Gene para sunduin--"

Marahan siyang umiling.

"Ako ang sumundo sa iyo kanina kaya nararapat lang na ako rin ang maghahatid. I also need to properly thank your parents for permitting me to be your partner to this event," he said smiling before offering his elbow to me.

Sandali ko pa siyang tinignan habang naghahanap ng dahilan para tumanggi. He's an important part of this occasion and therefore needed to stay here.

"Please allow me to take you home," pakiusap niya.

The more I tried looking for ways of rejecting his offer, the more I felt worse about myself. Parang ang sama kong tao dahil nagagawa kong tanggihan ang isang katulad niyang walang ibang ginawa kundi ang maging mabuti sa akin.

"Sumimasen ne," I said as I smiled at him and accepted his elbow.

Mabilis ang naging biyahe namin pauwi. Bumaba rin siya pagkababa ko sa kanilang sasakyan at hinatid pa hanggang pintuan namin. Ilang katok lang, bumukas agad ang pinto, revealing my parents in their pyjamas.

Sandali pa silang nag-usap bago nagpaalam si Himamura-san na aalis at babalik sa venue. Kailangan pa niyang magbigay ng speech bago matapos ang selebrasyon.

Mimi's eyes found the crown I was holding and automatically became ecstatic.

"You won the title? Really?" Tili nito bago ako niyapos, "Oh, Aya, I'm so happy for you!"

"Of course she would win, Mi! I bet my head she's the most beautiful Princess out there!" Bulalas pa ni Gene.

Niyakap ko siya matapos akong pakawalan ni Mimi, naisip ang lahat ng ginawa nila para lang maranasan ko ang gabing ito.

"Thank you so much for this, Gene. You didn't have to but you did anyway... for my sake. I'll always be grateful."

"Anything for our Princess," anito bago ako pinakawalan.

Ilang sandali pa kaming nagkuwentuhan habang tinutulungan ako ni Mimi na mahubad ang damit. They asked about the theme, who went there, who I danced with... Although Gene's eyebrows would painfully twitch at the topic.

Mga bandang alas onse na nang napagpasyahan naming magpahinga. They both kissed me good night before closing my bedroom door, leaving me to myself once again.

My gown was carefully laid on the cushion seats they've recently installed in my room. And beside it sat the exageratedly designed crown. Ilang sandali ko pa silang pinagmasdan, hindi pa lubusang nagsi-sink in sa utak kong nangyari nga ang lahat ng iyon kanina.

Humilata ako sa kama at ang kisame naman ang binalingan. Muli kong binalikan ang mga kaganapan kanina. Ikinatuwa ko ang karamihan sa kanila at pinagsisihan naman ang naging reaksyon sa ilan.