Chasing Fire (Completed)

Chapter 18

Celebrate

"What the hell are you saying Lex?"

Ni hindi nga kami nagkaroon ng relasyon tapos ngayon sasabihin niyang fiance ko siya? The fuck?

"That's why I want the both of us to talk privately." Sabi niya sabay sulyap kay Marco nang sabihin niya ang salitang 'privately'.

Did I made friends with someone na may topak? Like seriously, may topak ba ang isang to? What, he asked me while I'm drunk then I said 'I do'? Oh come on! He's not Marco!

"You know what Max? Or whatever your name is, wake the fuck up." Marco said with controlled anger bago ako hinawakan sa palapulsuhan at naglakad palabas doon.
Marco's pissed. Damn it.

"Marco..." I called pero patuloy parin siyang naglalakad habang hila-hila ako.

Baka hinahanap na ako ng guards ni Daddy tapos isusumbong na naman ako ng mga pabidang yun! At dadagdagan na naman yung araw na grounded ako!

Hanggang sa nakarating kami sa parking lot ng school at agad niya akong pinasok sa front seat ng sasakyan niya at pumasok rin siya sa driver's seat.

I heard him sigh heavily.

"Fuck, ang seloso ko." He breathed.

What... the hell!!! Bakit ako kinikilig?

"I'm sorry. I'll talk to Lex about what he said. And... that will never be true. You're the one I'm in love with."

After what I said, nilingon niya ako and I saw how his lips twisted. Tinagilid niya ang kanyang ulo at tinitigan ako na para bang naninimbang.

"What? Don't... look at me like that." Sabi ko at nag-iwas ng tingin nang hindi ko na nakayanan ang paninitig niya.

"Don't talk to him again. What the hell? Ano bang pinagsasabi ng gagong yun?"

Napalingon ako ulit sa sinabi niya. And why is that? While in fact I should go and talk to him right now ro ask him what was that all about.

"But he's my friend... And... hindi naman siguro totoo yun."

"And I'm your boyfriend." Agad niyang sagot.

My heart leaped. Damn it! Hindi ako nakapagsalita. How can I?! Ang dali-dali niyang sabihin ang mga salitang yan! And.. he said he's my boyfriend! So it's official! Damn, we're official!

"No, forget it. I'm sorry kung sinasakal kita. I'm just really... jealous and... selfish. But no matter what happens, sa akin ka lang okay? Do you understand?" He said seriously and held my face.

Oh gosh! Kailan pa siya naging ganito? I never remembered him being like this noong naging kami noon! He'll just always say yes to whatever I want to do! Pero mas gusto ko itong ngayon, damn it! Ang rupok rupok ko!

"I understand, big boss." I smiled at kinindatan siya.

"Good." Sabi niya habang pagkatapos dinala ang kamy niya sa pisngi ko at hinaplos iyon.

After that day, hindi ko kailanman nakita si Lex sa campus. He's not answering my texts and calls and he is nowhere to be found. Magtatanong pa naman sana ako tungkol doon sa party na sinasabi niya. So I guess... wala na yun?

But really, I want to talk to him about what he said. Naguguluhan ako sa kanya. I never remembered him asking me for marriage. At kung meron man, I will never say yes to him. Dahil isang tao lang naman ang makakapagpasabi sa akin nun.

At isa pa, I'm just twenty and still in college for bitch's sake!

But damn it. May gusto kaya yun sa akin kaya siya nagkakaganon? Gosh! Ang ganda ko talaga.

Friday came and Dad told me about a party na dadaluhan namin bukas sa Casa de Maravilla. And yes. It's the same party where Lex invited me.

Hindi na namin napag-usapan kung anuman ang sinabi ni Lex. Hindi ko siya makita sa campus at hindi ko rin alam kung nasaan siya. Baka naman nagbibiro lang siya? But heck, he sounded so serious when he said that he's my fiance!

Marco will be there too, of course. Hindi niya man gustong mamahala sa business ng ama niya, nang nalamang pupunta ako ay sinabing pupunta din siya.

Dahil wala ng oras para magpagawa pa ng maisusuot sa party, I decided to buy at some designer stores but then naunahan na ako ni daddy.

It was a cream halter and backless top na hanggang ankle at slit sa kanang binti. Napaisip nga ako kung bakit nag abala pa si daddy at hindi niya naman gawaing pumili ng isusuot para sa akin sa kahit anong party na dinaluhan ko.

Something is really strange pero hindi ko na muna inisip yon. I neatly tied my hair into a low bun, put on a light make up and a nude lipstick. I wore my five inches nude shoes that completed my overall look and I'm ready to go.

"Are you ready?" Tanong ni Daddy habang nasa loob kami ng sasakyan papunta sa Casa de Maravilla na mas lalo pang nagbigay sa akin ng kakaibang pakiramdam.

Why is Daddy acting so so strange?

"Of course Dad, I'm always ready. Why?" Tanong habang nakakunot ang noo.

Nang nilingon ko di Daddy ay nakitaan ko ng kaba at pag aalinlangan ang mata niya. At nagsimula na akong kabahan dahil sa ekspresyon niya.

"Wala naman Vienna."

He says nothing but his expression doesn't say the same. What are you up to Dad?

"Are you sure po? Is there something wrong?"

Galing sa isang kabadong ekspresyon ay naging serysoso iyon bago ako tiningnan para sagutin ang tanong ko.

"I am sure." He said with finality like he won't take any bullshit from me.

Pagkarating namin sa Casa de Maravilla ay agad kaming sinalubong ng media. They asked Daddy about the company and asked me if I would take it over when the time comes. They also asked about my dress and make up so I answered it honestly.

Sa wakas ay nakapasok na kami sa loob. Golds and reds greeted me. Its the Maravilla's golden wedding anniversary, Lex's grandparents.

Agad na hinanap ng mata ko si Marco. He texted me earlier that he's already here with his parents.

And when I found him, his eyes were already on me na para bang nag-aabang siya na hanapin ko siya. Kahit na gusto kong lapitan siya, Daddy's here so...

I just smiled at him bago umupo sa table malapit sa mga Maravilla. And then there, I saw lex in his cream tux.

I felt my phone vibrated kaya pasikreto ko iyong kinuha sa illim ng mesa. it's a text from Marco.

Marco:

You look so stunning baby.

Napingiti ako sa mensahe niya at nilingon siya. He winked at me kaya napailing nalang ako at nakinig na sa Master of Ceremony dahil mukhang magsisimula na.

"Good evening everyone. We are all gathered here today, to celebrate the 50th wedding anniversary of Senyora Florentina and Don Teodoro Maravillia. Not only that ladies and gentlemen, but also to celebrate the engagement of Alexander Maravilla and Vienna Salvador!"

Pumalakpak ang mga bisita habang ako ay pinoproseso pa ang sinabi ng master of ceremony. Parang nabibingi ako sa palakpak nila at inulit sa utak ko ang sinabi ng master of ceremony.

Vienna Salvador...

No. There's now way this is happening!