I am waiting patiently for my friends who promised to be on time. Sadly, they are nowhere in sight.
"Drawing na yata." inip na sabi ko.
I went to the dining room to check if all the preparation there is done.
It's Mom and Dad's idea, this supposed dinner for me and my friends as I have been away too long.
Aside from missing my presence and the company of my friends, I think my parents missed making things like hosting and entertaining people. May mga instances kasi na they want to show off.
Minsan tuloy hindi ko maiwasang isipin na they're doing this for themselves and not for me.
But what can I do?
They are my parents after all.
"I'm glad that you're back anak. I may not say it often but I am really really happy to see you again. I love you." Dad said as he sat beside me.
"Thanks Dad. I love you too and Mom. Thank you for always there for me. For supporting me even if I fail you all the time." I replied as I looked at him.
"Hey, you were never a failure. You did what you can but it's just not for you. With or without that belt. You will always be my champ." sabi niya sabay akbay sa akin.
Napangiti ako. Sumandal ako sa bisig niya at yumakap. Hinigpitan niya ang hawak sa akin. Masarap pa ring maging baby sa Dad ko. Mom saw us in that position so she immediately approached us.
"What did I miss? Can I join you guys?" she asked.
"Come here, Mama. Let's give our daughter a proper welcome hug." Dad answered.
We all hugged each other. It felt good to have them again in my arms. Ang tagal ko din kasing nawala.
Nagtago yata Isabel.
Nawala. Umalis. Nagtago.
They're all the same.
"O don't be so emotional na Papa kasi masisira ang mood kung iiyak ka." sabi ni Mom as I saw Dad taking his glasses off to wipe some tears.
Huh, never kong nakita si Dad na ganyan.
"I just can't help it Mama. Tears of joy as Isabel is now here with us. You're correct though, let's not get emotional. We are here to celebrate her homecoming." he said.
"Exactly. Now let's go to the lounge and wait for them. Shall we, Isabel?" Mom asked.
"Bea na lang kasi. Huwag ng Isabel." nakalabing angal ko na parang bata.
"You will always be Isabel to us, anak. Don't worry, kami lang naman ng Mom mo ang tumatawag sayo nyan. Nobody will know." Dad replied.
"If you say so." I said as we all walked out from the dining room and settled in the sala.
While sitting, I can't help but remember all the things that happened two years ago.
Me, on top of the world.
Well, in kickboxing world.
I was the number one kickboxer under the women's category in the country.
Was.
I had the perfect life. Career wise and personal life. However, in just a snap, it was all gone.
Then her face suddenly surfaced.
I blinked and tried to block her image from my mind. I started moving my legs in an unsteady pace.
Mom noticed my uneasiness.
"Are you okay?" she asked as she put her hand on my thigh.
I somewhat returned to the present time.
"You're home now. Relax." she whispered.
Bago pa ako makasagot ay may mga sasakyan ng dumating sa labas ng bahay. Mom stood up and looked outside.
"They're here." she said.
I prepared myself.
"Good evening Tito and Tita." bungad nila.
"Beaaaaa!!!! Omg, welcome back bro." tili ni Ponggay sabay takbo at talon sa akin.
Nabigla man ay nasalo ko siya. I carefully embraced her. Ayokong may masaktan sa aming dalawa. She gave me kisses, sa cheeks. Kahit kailan talaga, tsk tsk. Ganito si Ponggay kung super excited haha.
"Namiss kita sobra. You looked good." she said as I put her down.
"Thank you. I miss you too." sabi ko sabay akbay sa kanya.
Nakatingin lang sa amin ang iba pang tropa. Si Ponggay kasi ang pinaka close sa akin kaya siya ang naunang bumati. She's like my sister from another mother.
Isa isa nila akong nilapitan at niyakap kahit nakakapit pa rin ang kamay ni Ponggay sa leeg ko. Ayaw na akong pakawalan.
Binati ko sina Kim, Dani and Kat.
Lima kaming lahat sa grupo. We used to call our group, Voltes 5. Isa isa ko silang pinagmasdan. Nagbago na silang lahat physically. More than two years ba naman kaming hindi nagkita kita.
Ako pala yung hindi nila nakita.
"Nice to see you all guys." tipid na sabi ko sa kanila.
We have a lot of things to talk about and discuss. I can see that they are eager to hear from me but they chose to remain quiet.
They really are my best friends.
Pagkatapos ng maikling kumustahan ay nagpunta na kaming lahat sa dining room.
"Wow, I'm starving." sabi agad ni Ponggay pagkakita sa mga pagkain na nasa lamesa.
"You're always gutom kaya Pongs. Like you have this big snake inside your tummy." Dani said.
Tawanan kaming lahat. Okay din mang asar itong si Dani. She is the bunso in our group. Sobrang kulit din, next to Ponggay.
"As if ako lang ang gutom. Same lang kayo ng sinasabi ni Kat sa akin kanina on the way here." sagot ni Ponggay sabay dila sa dalawa.
"Why include me?" takang tanong ni Kat.
Hahaha. Si Kat talaga, ang hinhin pa rin kung maka react. Kahit yata gumuho na ang mundo ay sobrang poised pa rin niya.
"Hey girls, no need to fight who's hungry or not. We are all starving so let's dig in." Mom said.
Natuwa naman ang apat sa sinabi ni Mom.
We let Dad and Mom to get their food first. Iniwanan nila kami after dahil doon na sila kakain ni Dad sa adjoining room.
Ramdam ko na they want to give me alone time with my friends. So we can talk and have some privacy na din.
My friends started getting food as soon as they sat down. Wala na ring nagsasalita muna sa kanila. Basta food, natatahimik ang mga madadaldal kong kaibigan.
Hay, I really missed them specially sa ganitong okasyon. Yung kakain lang at magkekwentuhan pagkatapos.
"Bro, masakit ang ngipin mo?" tanong ko kay Ponggay.
She can't reply because her mouth is full.
"Hahaha, look at you Pongs. So pretty but no manners, yucks." Kat said.
Halos mamatay na kaming lahat sa kakatawa lalo at parang nabubulunan pa si Ponggay.
She is struggling with her steak. After managing to swallow the meat, she drank a lot of water. Hawak hawak niya pa ang kanyang dibdib sabay turo sa akin.
"Are you okay?" I asked habang hinahagod ang likod niya.
"Walanghiya ka bro. Your timing is always palpak. Kumakain ang tao pero tanong ka ng tanong dyan." she said.
"I'm sorry. Namiss kitang asarin that's why. Anyway, let's finish our food so we can transfer to my room." I said.
When we are done with our dinner, nagpunta na kami sa kuarto ko. My room is big. I think 20 people can fit into it. Being the only child, my parents have given me the biggest room in the entire house, huh.
Same pa rin ang hitsura nito pagdating ko noong isang araw. They kept all my things intact here. They just made sure that it is always being cleaned during the time I was away.
May big bed sa gitna, a chair and a table sa gilid ng kama. They put a mini fridge inside na rin. Sa front side naman yung entertainment set at game consoles. Madaming pillows din sa bed, just the way I like it.
There's a connecting door in my bedroom that leads to the veranda.
Doon kami dumiretso lahat.
"How are you Bea?" seryosong tanong ni Kim pagkaupo ko.
All eyes are on me, waiting for my answer with concern.
"Hey, ang seryoso but I'm good. I mean, really good." I replied.
"Are you sure? Because we really want you to be with us again, for good." Kat said.
Si Kat ang pinaka parang ate namin sa grupo. She's always serious sa mga bagay bagay. We can always count on her, talagang maaasahan mo ito.
"Yes, we do. Kulang talaga ang grupo kung wala ka Bea." Dani added.
They all looked crestfallen. Lalo na si Ponggay kahit hindi naman bagay sa kanya.
"No need to be sad guys but I'm really sorry because........." bitin na sagot ko.
"What? Bakit may because because ka pa?" hindi na napigilang sumabat si Ponggay.
"Because I'm staying for good whether you like it or not. So, lagi nyo ng makikita itong pagmumukha ko." I said that put smiles on their faces.
"Yesss!!!!" they all screamed.
Ang ingay, buti na lang nasa bandang likod itong kinaroroonan namin.
Siempre we did a group hug sabay sayaw na din pero sila lang.
I don't dance.
Because you can't dance Isabel.
"The fuck bro. Pinakaba mo ako dun ah." Ponggay said.
"Yeah, you should have seen your face bro." I whispered.
"Nakakainis ka talaga Beatriz." sabi niya sabay hampas sa akin.
Out of reflexes, I managed to dodge it and nearly landed a jab on her face. Pero nahagip pa rin konti ang ulo niya.
"The hell?" she asked while holding her head.
"Oh sorry." sagot ko sabay haplos dito.
"May utang ka sa akin ha. Mamaya ko sisingilin." sabi nya.
"What? Nag sorry na ako ah. Bakit may utang pa?" tanong ko.
"Basta. Later." she said.
"Let's have a toast for our dear friend." Kim said from nowhere.
Pagtingin ko, aba may hawak na siyang champagne. Sina Dani at Kat naman ay may mga basong dala na. Didn't notice them leaving me and Ponggay huh.
Kim uncorked the bottle and the champagne came pouring out. She immediately started filling the 5 glasses there but I managed to get an empty one. Hindi naman nila naintindihan ang ginawa ko.
"Not for me guys." I said.
There was a surprised silence from them.
"I haven't touched alcohol for the last 18 months." I added.
"Why? Are you sick or something?" nag aalalang tanong ni Kat.
Napangiti ako sa kanya.
"No. A lot happened with me when I disappear. I was in so much shit that I drank alcohol like it was water. It came to a point that I can't sleep without drinking. Thankfully, I seeked help before it was too late. Hence, the reason guys." I expounded more.
"That's great but maybe a bit of sip will do you no harm bro." Ponggay said.
Agad naman siyang binatukan ni Dani hahaha.
"Damn. Sakit nun ah." sabi ni Ponggay.
"Such a BI talaga itong si Ponggay. Sinabi na nga ni Bea na hindi na siya umiinom tapos yayayain mo." Kim said.
"Baka lang naman haha. Kayo naman hindi na mabiro. O mag water ka na lang bro." sabay kambyo ang Ponggay.
We had a lot of catching up. Mostly sa kanila ang kwento. Kat now owned her own restaurant business. Finally, natupad na rin yung pangarap niya. She is a chef kasi. Si Kim naman is happily employed and working as a Marketing Manager. Dani is into Sales naman.
Si Ponggay ay may sariling private security agency.
"So, what's your plan Bea?" Kat asked.
Napaisip ako. My parents owned a string of hotels in the city. Matagal na rin akong kinukumbinsi nila Mom na mag aral na how to operate our businesses pero hindi ko pa nagagawa.
"Honestly, I don't have plan yet. But you all know me, ayoko pag walang ginagawa. Ang problema, I don't have any interest sa pagma-manage. I'll get bored lang pag office works." I replied.
"Ehem, ngayon ko na sisingilin ang utang mo bro." singit ni Ponggay.
"What utang?" I asked.
"When you hit me earlier di ba?" she replied.
"What's the connection with the topic?" Kat asked.
"I have a proposition and I want you to help me so Bea will say yes." Ponggay told them.
"Hey bro, wag mo na silang isali sa kalokohan mo." sabi ko.
Ponggay glanced at them and they all nod. Aba, may usapan na yata sila. Mukhang may alam din sila sa plano ni Ponggay.
"Bea, I want you to work for me." Ponggay said.
"Nooooo way!!" mabilis na sagot ko.
"But hear me out first. I badly need your service bro. Kahit na one month lang max. Ikaw lang kasi ang kilala ko na perfect for the job. Habang wala ka pang ginagawa. Please, please, please." she said.
"Ponggay, my answer is no. You have a lot of connections, I'm sure may makukuha ka pang iba." I replied.
"But Bea, this is urgent and I can't afford to risk somebody's life. I know that you're perfect for the job." sabi niya.
"What is the job exactly?" I asked so she'll stop pestering me.
"A personal body protection to the Governor." she replied.
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Chapter 2 for you guys dahil nanalo ang Creamline.
Presenting to you Bea's character.
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