"Teka lang ano klaseng party ba 'to? Bigla bigla ka nalang nag aaya," I was clearly panicking. Sino ba naman ang hindi mag papanick hindi ba? Bigla bigla ka nalang dadalhin sa isang party.
He chuckled before answering, "Relax. Anniversary ng company namin. You don't have to worry okay? Kasama mo naman ako, "I sighed and nodded.
We arrived at Courtyard by Marriott and he parked his car. My hands were trembling. Hindi ko din naman alam kung bakit ako kinakabahan. He looked at my hand and wrapped it with his. I looked at him and he showed me his gentle smile. The smile I fell in love with.
Sabay kaming nag lakad papasok sa ballroom pero napatigil ako para tignan ang nag text sa akin. It was Elisaria kaya hindi ko na nireplyan. I was about to walk towards Tadahiro when I saw Shontelle in front of him, basically clingin her arms around him. Napa taas ang kilay ko nang may biglang lumapit sa kanila, they were around 60 years old.
"Aba! Kayo pala ang partners ngayon," the old lady said.
"Ano ka ba naman mahal, ever since sila naman talaga ang mag partner sa event na ito," sabat naman ng matandang lalaki.
I felt out of place already. I was about to leave when Tadahiro called my name.
"Oh there you are!" napa tingin din sa direction ko ang matandang mag asawa. Tadahiro went near me and grabbed my waist. Inalalayan ako papunta sa mga kausap niya.
"Mr. and Mrs. Moore, I want to introduce my girl friend. This is Dr. Celestine Eliana Vazquez," he proudly said. My heart jumped when he said I was his girl friend. I wanted to correct him but seeing Shontelle's face right now, I'd rather not.
"Good evening, Ma'am and Sir," I politely greeted.
"Oh my! I am so sorry hija. I thought Shontelle was his date for tonight," she apologized. I smiled at her.
"Don't worry about it, Ma'am. Seeing how she clings unto him, kahit ako din siguro. I will think the same," I looked at Shontelle.
After a few minutes of talking we excused our selves para puntahan ang table kung nasaan ang mga magulang ni Tadahiro. His mother stood up at sinalubong kami ni Tadahiro.
"Oh my! Celestine! I missed you so much!" she hugged me tight.
"I missed you too, tita."
I was sitting beside Tadahiro, habang kaharap ko naman si Shontelle. I noticed 2 vacant seats beside her kaya nag taka ako kung sino pa ang makakasama namin sa table.
"Mommy! Daddy!" Shontelle began waving her hand.
Tita Leora and the woman hugged each other. She was about to sit down but I guess she noticed me kaya bigla siyang nag salita. "Oh. We have someone with us. Hija sorry pero can you sit somewhere else? This table is for our families only." Napayuko na lamang ako. Nahiya sa nangyayare.
"She's my girlfriend tita," Tadahiro spoke.
"Akala ko nililigawan mo si Shontelle, hijo?" tanong ulit ng ginang. Tadahiro laughed at her question and he looked at Shontelle kaya napa iwas ito ng tingin. The lady faked a cough to ease the tension.
"Tita, Shontelle and I are just friends. This is Celestine Eliana by the way," he introduced me to them kaya wala akong nagawa kundi ngumiti kahit irap lang ang sagot sa aking ng mama ni Shontelle. Her dad on the other hand smiled at me.
"What a beautiful girl you have there, hijo."
The woman scoffed. "Tadahiro, saan mo ba nahanap ang babaeng ito?"
I saw how Tadahiro's hand balled into a fist. Hinawakan ko ito kaya napatingin siya sa akin. I smiled at him kaya he smiled back.
"She was my girl friend since Senior High School tita."
Her eyes widened. "Ah! So siya pala ang babaeng nabuntis mo dati?" rinig namin ang mga bulong bulongan ng mga tao sa paligid. She raised her voice on purpose!
"T-Tadahiro, what's the meaning of this anak?" nagtatakang tanong ni Tita Leora. I know hindi niya alam ang nangyare dati. Tadahiro hid it from her.
"Oh my! Hindi mo alam Leora? This cheap girl got pregnant 8 years ago. Nabuntis ng anak mo," she smirked. I looked at Tita Leora's face, she was crying. Sumakit ang puso ko.
"Nabuntis?"
"8 years ago? Grabe naman."
I felt tears running down my cheeks. Agad ko naman ito pinunasan. Tadahiro immediately grabbed me and hugged me tight.
"Babe. Shhh. Don't cry. Calm down okay? Baka ano pa ang mangyare sayo," he whispered in my ears and kissed my temple.
"Celestine!" I jumped when I heard Tita Leora.
"T-tita let me explain-"
She hugged me kaya bigla akong napa hagulgol ng iyak. "I'm sorry hija. I am so sorry."
I smiled at her. "Tita no. Wala po kayong kasalanan," I explained.
"W-where is my apo?" she asked me. Napayuko ako kaya nanlaki ang mata niya. She cupped my cheek and cried. "Jusko hija."
Bigla akong nahirapan huminga kaya agad ako kinarga ni Tadahiro. Pumasok kami sa suite ng hotel at nilapag niya ako sa kama.
"Are you okay?" he asked and I nodded. He looked relieved. Bigla naman pumasok ang parents niya.
"Mom, Dad."
"You better explain," his dad said while crossing his arms.
Inalo naman ako ni Tita Leora, she kept on asking me if I was alright. Tadahiro was explaining everything sa parents niya. "Celestine, we are very sorry." I looked at Tito and smiled at him.
"It was 8 years ago po tito, it's okay," I told him and held Tita's hand to assure her.
"Why is she still here? Leora she caused all the mess sa baba!" bungad ng Mama ni Shontelle pag pasok niya sa kwarto. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya nalaman ang room number.
"Susan pwede pa. Celestine is still struggling right now, let's respect that," Tita Leora stood up and faced her. Tumaas lamang ang kilay nito.
"Struggling? Eh siya nga itong gumawa ng gulo sa baba! Now every one is talking about it!"
"Hindi naman po pag uusapan ang bagay na 'yon kung hindi ninyo binanggit," my eyes widened when Tadahiro butted in.
"Hijo, ano ba ang nakikita mo sa babaeng iyan? She got pregnant at the age of 19!"
"Tita, I was the one who got her pregnant. And to hell with all the accusations you give her, it was my decision to get her pregnant!"
"Hiro, why are you defending her?" Shontelle asked him. I mentally rolled my eyes with their acting.
"Shontelle, can you give me a favor at umalis muna kayo ng mommy mo dito sa kwarto."
"Pero-"
"Out!" Natakot din sila siguro sa sigaw ni Tadahiro kaya umalis din naman sila.
"Sorry dad. Mukhang mapapasama ang pagiging magkaibigan ng pamilya natin sa kanila," he looked down ngunit tinapik lamang ng daddy niya ang balikat niya.
"Don't be sorry son. You did that to protect the one you love and you protected your girl. That's whats important."
He sighed and hugged me. I hugged him back. "I'm sorry you had to experience all this. I'll protect you okay? I'll protect you this time. Just don't leave me again okay? Don't leave me. Mababaliw na ako pag iniwan mo ulit ako."
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cyleaor