PLEASE BE MINE...AGAIN (Completed/Editing)

Chapter 4

"Paano, kuya Steven, handa ka na rin bang ipakilala sa amin ang magiging bride mo?"

He was about to go back to the group of men he was talking with earlier when he suddenly heard a voice behind his back. He automatically turned to the side where that baritone voice was coming from. He was indeed bolted out the blue upon seeing him.

The boy's cheeky grin was the first thing that caught his attention. He was Enrique. He was the sixth child, thirteen years old, but didn't look like one. The boy's body built was already well-developed which made him look like a fully grown-up man. He also gained height kasi hindi ito ganoon katangkad nang magkita sila last year sa wedding anniversary ng kanilang mga magulang. Well, having a towering height runs in their blood.

"Quen! Kumusta?" he said, calling the boy with a nickname. "Binatang-binata ka na ah! Any girlfriend that you can introduce?" Then he followed it with a smile.

"Huh! Girls aren't my cup of tea, kuya Steve. They're nothing but distractions," diretsang pahayag nito.

Natawa siya pagak sa sinabi ni Enrique. He didn't have any clue where he got hat idea.

"Hey! Where did you get that?" aniya rito.

"Wala naman, kuya.You know, my future plans are still lining up," sagot naman nito.

The fact that Enrique was being a futuristic amazed him. He had been hearing statements from Megan that the boy was a deadly bullet when it comes to girls. Hindi lang mga kaklase ang mga nagkaka-crush dito kundi halos lahat mga estudyanteng babae sa Señora Carmen Memorial High School. BUT! He was known for being a notorious snob kid, kaya walang babae ang nakakalusot dito.

"Well, not bad! Keep up the good work, bro! Remember, walang Monterossa na umiiyak dahil lang sa babae."

Nabitin ang kanilang usapan nang marinig nila ang pagpingkian ng mga kutsara sa mga kopitang naroon. Both of them turned their attention to the newlyweds who were now sitting in front.

"Kiss! Kiss!" He heard the crowd clamored. Nagpaunlak naman ang dalawa na naging dahilan upang mas lalong umugong ang malakas na palakpakan.

The couple was wearing a sweet smile which obviously showed their fervent love for each other. Napangiti na lang siya saka napapailing habang nakatingin sa mga bagong kasal.

The couple's sweet gestures were in bad taste for a notorious playboy like him, yet he could not also help but feel very happy for his best bud. Ngunit habang sweet na sweet ang dalawa ay hindi niya rin napigilan ang makadama ng mumunting kurot sa kanyang puso.

His mind kicked around in another dimension. He was brought to the era when he had that "tragic" experience that caused him allergies with the stupid stuff called "love".

SIX YEARS AGO...

Steven felt they ray of the sun in his face. Sumilip na iyon sa butas ng bubong ng kubol kung saan siya naroon. He groped for a certain figure on the wooden floor. Ngunit hindi niya ito natagpuan.

"Lorabelle," he called the name of his girlfriend, but only silence responded.

He opened his eyes gently. He hovered them around and he saw his clothes scattering to-and-fro. Alam niyang magdamag niyang kasama ang dalaga at may nangyari sa kanila kagabi. Katunayan ay ramdam niya pa nga ang init ng kanilang pinagsaluhan kagabi.

"Hon?" he called her again as he was starting to put his clothes on. Ngunit kagaya kanina ay nakabibinging tahimik lang ang kanyang narinig.

His whole being has started to melt down in a state of unexplainable fear. Naalala kasi niya na minsan na itong nagpaalam sa kanya na tanggapin ang alok ng tiyahin nitong nasa Maynila. Inalok kasi ito na pag-aaralin sa Japan ng kursong gusto nito.

He knew that she wanted to explore the other side of the globe and of course earns for herself. Ilang beses na niya itong pinagsabihan na hindi na iyon kailangan dahil kaya na niya itong suportahan pero palagi itong tumatanggi. Ayaw raw kasi nitong masabihan na pera lang ang habol sa kanya.

He tried to search for her anywhere in the field but failed to find her. Nagtanong-tanong na rin siya sa mga sakadang nagtatanim ng tubo ngunit palaging negatibo ang sagot na nakuha niya.

Hnd his last resort was to go to Lorabelle's house and try his luck there. Tama! Baka naroon lang ang nobya niya. When his mind was set, he went home first in order to freshen up. He needed to look pleasant while facing his girl's parents.

"Tao po! Lora? Aling Maridon? Mang Joey?" tawag niya sa mga ito nang makarating siya sa kubo kung saan nakatira ang mga ito. He brought the mansion's land rover as his ride.

He tried to knock, but the padlock on the door caught his eyes. He peeped through the small window of the nipa hut and felt his world slowly crushing when he saw nothing inside. Wala na roon ang mga gamit ng mag-anak. Ang tanging naiwan ay ang mga pananim na gulay sa labas.

Lorabelle left without even informing him! Shit! Pupunta na ito sa Japan at ipinagpalit na siya sa ambisyon nito. Sobrang bigat ng kanyang pakiramdam at tila sasabog na siya dahil sa isiping iyon.

"Damn you, Lorabelle! How could you leave me like this?" nagtatangis ang bagang na sambit niya.

Nang hindi nakatiis ay ubos-lakas niyang sinuntok ang pintuang gawa sa kawayan na siyang dahilan upang magkabali-bali ang mga patpat na nakakabit doon. He didn't know how he was able to get back to their mansion. He tried to ask her mother Arrian about the sudden departure of Lorabelle's family.

"Pumunta nga rito si Aling Maridon upang magpaalam, Hijo. Sinabing luluwas sila ng Maynila at doon na titira kaya ibinigay ko na ang huling sweldo nila at bonus na sa December pa sana ibibigay. I thought Lorabelle and you were able to talk about it already.'Di ba girlfriend mo siya?" mahabang turan ni Señora Arrian. Hindi na lingid sa buong pamilya nila ang tungkol sa relasyon nila dalaga.

They were talking in the luxurious living room of their mansion. Arrian was busy with her cross-stitch but she stopped when he approached. That's what he loved in their parents. They may be so tied up with almost everything but they always find time for them.

"Yes, Ma. Iyon na nga po. She's my girlfriend and I've been telling her that I can already support her if we decide to get married. But why did she choose to leave?" His voice raised a notch higher. Sobrang dilim na rin ang bukas ng kanyang mukha.

"That I don't know, Hijo. Tahimik lang naman kasi ang batang iyon kapag napupunta rito." kalmadong turan ng ginang.

"Ma, do you have any idea where they are in Manila?"

"I'm sorry, Hijo. But I forgot to ask Lorabelle's mother because I was in a hurry yesterday. Hindi ko naman kasi in-expect na hindi mo pa alam."

"Shit!" That was what he could only blurt out. At sobrang galit na ang namayani sa buong pagkatao niya ngayon ukol sa dalaga. Pakiramdam niya kasi ay pinaglalaruan lang nito ang pag-ibig niya.