The Dreamers

XXI

After meeting with Javi that day, everything went smoother. 

Well, at least not as bad as before. 

I had to co-lead the program and be involved with it heavily. Hassle, pero para matapos na, I had to bear with it. Even if it meant spending a lot of time in Laraya, and even occassionally seeing and talking to Javi.

Javi and I are civil. Only talking to each other if necessary. And when we do, we're professional. Nothing more, nothing less.

Now, with everything underway with Laraya's fair, I can focus on another big event we have. The fundraising exhibit.

I was walking around the venue, giving last-minute instructions to some of the members of my team who organized the whole event, when I heard a slight commotion malapit sa entrance.

Javi.

I knew he's going to be here. KBC extended an invite. Kaya nga kahit ako ang isa sa mga nag-organize, I suggested to Phil na huwag ako pumunta. Tinawanan niya lang ako at inignore.

I had been staring at him, lost in my thoughts, when I realized he was with someone. He turned to his side and smiled at the woman whose arm is hooked on his.

Margarette Garcia.

So the rumors are true. He is with Margarette Garcia. Of course. This is the woman he deserves.

"You okay, love?" I feel Phil wrap his right arm around my waist and pull me in.

I look at him and smile. "No." I answer honestly. No point lying when everything is written on my face.

He smiled sadly. "You will be." He bumped his forehead on mine gently.

Will I? I wonder. I've been wondering about it for 5 years now.

I turn around to look back at their direction and my eyes meet Javi's.

The same eyes that held me captive every single time. The same eyes I fell in love with. The same eyes I dream about every day and every night.

"I will be okay." I whisper, more to myself.

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I was taking a quick breather in the garden outside, nagpapatanggal ng hilo habang nakasandal sa isa sa mga poste, rubbing my tired ankles. Lintek na high-heels na yan, hindi nakakatuwa. 

Pero bakit si Margarette Garcia parang lumilipad kahit ang taas ng takong?

Siya na naman naiisip ko. Kasalanan nila eh! 

Both Marg and Javi are all smiles and all love-dovey eyes at each other. Kaya naman napainom ako ng konti. Okay, medyo marami. Kaya yata ako nahihilo.

Paano kasi nakakasuka silang makita. Maghanap kaya kayo ng—

"You're missing all the fun inside." A familiar voice said from behind me.

Napatayo ako ng ayos. What is Javi doing here? I feel him stand a few steps beside me.

"I think I had enough for tonight." I answer. 

"You should go back, Gov. Enjoy the rest of the night." Pagdagdag ko. I say this without looking at him. Have fun with your date, I grumble to myself.

He chuckled. "Where's yours?"

I frown and turned my head to look at him. "My what?" Wrong move, bumalik yung hilo ko. Napakapit ako sa posteng sinasandalan ko.

I feel him step closer to me. "You okay?" Akmang hahawakan na niya ang braso ko to help me balance myself but I raised my hands. "I'm fine, Gov. You should just go back inside."

"I think I like it better when you were calling me, Sir, back then." He said.

I froze. Bakit ba niya biglang binabalik ang mga nangyari na dati?

"I asked you where's your date. He should already drive you home." He said. I think he's talking about Phil.

"I'm fine. I can manage." I say. Phil went back to the office since he has an important late call.

"Isn't he a little too old for you?" He asks, sipping from his bottle after. Lumingon ako sa kanya.

"Ano?"

"Your partner. Isn't he a little too old?" He says. "Yun na ba ang mga type mo ngayon?" He asks while looking at me.

I frown. "I don't think that's any of your business, Gov. But he's not my partner. He's a dear friend." Pakialam ba niya.

He shrugs. "Maybe." Akala ko tapos na siya, nang bigla siyang magsalita uli. 

"Does he know your ex used to call you 'love', too?" Bigla niyang tanong.

Akala ko matutumba ako sa pagkakatayo. I whirl my head to him in surprise. "W-what?"

He holds my stare. "Love. I used to call you 'love'. Did you forget already?" He says with a straight face.

Saan nanggagaling to? For the last several weeks, we've pretended to not know each other. Ngayon naman, lahat pinapaalala niya.

I shake my head, "I don't know what you're talking about. I should go back in—"

"You used to call me 'love', too."

I froze. Tangina naman.

"Ano bang problema mo, Javi? Lasing ka ba?" I say fully facing him.

He looks at me in surprise. He opened his mouth, akmang may sasabihin, and then closed it again.

"Pinakikialaman ko ba ang personal mong buhay, Javi? Pinakialaman ko ba kung anong tawag mo diyan sa Margarette Garcia na yan? Kesyo babe, sweetheart, honey, or...or...love pa yan, wala akong pakialam. So why are you meddling and reminding me of things I want to forget? Can't we just go back to being back to strangers like we were for the past few weeks?" dere-deretso kong sabi.

His eyes soften. "You're still the same." I pause.

"You still lose composure when you get all riled up." He says.

I realize what just happened. Pinaglalaruan na naman niya ako, and I fell into the trap!

"Well, I hope you enjoyed it." I say angrily about to storm out when he spoke.

"I did. Especially when you called me by my name again."

Natigilan ako. Shit, I did that, didn't I.

Javi walked closer to where I am. I step back a little when he spoke again.

"I call Marj by her name, because friends don't need to have pet names for each other." Pagpapaliwanag niya. 

"And also, no." He says. "Your request to going back to being strangers? I refuse to do that." Tumalikod siya at naglakad pabalik sa loob pero bago pa makalayo ay lumingon siya uli sa akin.

"I missed this, Val. I missed you." 

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