JELA, The Drama Club Actress (St. Catherine University Series #3) [COMPLETED]

Chapter 2

THE PLACE was perfect. The romantic ambiance, the relaxing music and the appetizing food. It was a very lovely evening. At alam ni Jacob, damang-dama na niya, na ito na nga ang gabing sasagutin na siya ni Sherry. Kakaiba ang ningning sa mga mata nito habang nakatingin sa kanya. Tila may kahulugan rin ang mga ngiting ibinibigay nito habang kumakain sila.

Dahil alam niyang espesyal ang gabing iyon ay nag-iba siya ng hairstyle upang magpa-impress kay Sherry. Ginaya niya ang recent hairstyle ni Dingdong Dantes dahil medyo hawig naman sila nito. Mukhang tama naman siya ng desisyong magpa-trim ng buhok dahil pinuri ni Sherry ang new hairdo niya na marahil dahilan kung bakit nagniningning ang mga mata nito habang nakatingin sa kanya. Mukhang lalo itong na-in love sa kanya.

"Did you like the food?" tanong niya.

"Yes. Thank you." Inilibot nito ang paningin sa paligid. "I love this place. This is the place where my dad proposed marriage to my mom."

"Nice. Memorable pala ang lugar na ito para sa parents mo."

"Yes. On their twenty-first anniversary together just three months ago, we were here. Ako ang nag-arrange ng dinner anniversary nila."

"Why, that's sweet of you. I'm sure napasaya mo sila."

She smiled happily. "And you know, as I watched them from a distance during their dinner, kinilig ako. The way they look and smile at each other, para pa rin silang mag-boyfriend at mag-girlfriend. And I smiled dreamily and wished that I could have that kind of love. Do you want to know how my mom and dad met?"

"Tell me," aniya matapos sumimsim ng wine.

"When they met, they're both engaged with someone else."

"Really?"

"Yeah. And they fell in love."

"That's pretty complicated. How did they end up with each other?"

"They followed their hearts."

Tumangu-tango siya. "And I think they've made the right decision because if they didn't end up together, someone as wonderful as you wouldn't have existed."

Lumuwang ang ngiti nito. "Thanks." Pagkatapos ay dinala nito ang rim ng kopitang hawak sa bibig nito. She stared at him unblinkingly. He held her stare.

"I want a relationship like my mom and dad's. Then, I thought about this one person and I think, he could be the one who could give me the kind of relationship I've always wanted."

Napahigpit ang hawak niya sa kopita. His heart pounded in wild anticipation. That was it! Sasagutin na siya ni Sherry. Finally, he could call her his girl. "Sherry..."

She smiled sweetly. Her eyes sparkled. Doon pa lang ay alam na niya ang sagot nito sa tatlong buwang panunuyo niya rito.

"You've waited long enough and I think you deserve to know my answer now. My answer is..." Sadyang huminto ito at bumaling sa babaeng bigla na lamang huminto sa tapat ng mesa nila at humampas ng palad sa mesa nila.

Tiningnan rin niya ang babae na nandidilat ang mga mata habang nakatunghay sa kanya. Mukhang galit na galit ito and at the same time ay tila gustong umiyak. She somehow looked familiar. Parang nakita na niya ito sa kung saan ngunit hindi niya maalala. Tatanungin pa lang sana niya kung ano ang problema nito nang biglang magsalita ito.

"Hoy, lalaki! Sino siya?" turo nito kay Sherry. "Sino ang babaeng ito? Nakikipag-date ka sa iba habang ako, nagdurusa sa ginawa mo sa 'kin?"

Napanganga siya sa sinabi nito. "Huh?"