Kabanata 5: No I
"Please? Please?!"
"Aster Geneva!"
"Odelette Karine!"
My sister could not take it anymore, she's over it, but I won't stop until I get what I want. I know I may seem like a selfish ungrateful brat right but because it's for the right reasons.
"What about the Ambriosa family? For God's sake think about them! They're perfect for you!"
"Because you want to push me for a possible arrange marriage for them in the future, huh?"
All of us got an invitation for a CREED party at the usual 'five-star' hotel place, it's private, I've never been to any of these CREED parties or meetings so this would be my first time.
Some of us will be attending with escorts, usually with members of some family that are invited or members of some family that we have a good relationship with.
Karine is attending with that one guy who is basically head over heels for her, panget naman ang mukha at ang ugali.
Cerine will attend with Quinten, the head of the Diamante bloodline in the future, and me?
I don't feel like going to be honest.
Parang 'di ko naman mundo yun, CREED is just for rich people and meetings about what is happening in the world especially the most crucial topic--Villanuevas.
They need an update, wala naman akong naririnig tungkol sa pesteng pamilya na yun pero importante pa rin na malaman kung may impormasyon yung mga iba tungkol sa pamilya yun. Some of them are still out there hiding, but we are also out there looking for them until all of them rot in the prison.
"Fine, if not the Ambriosas... then who?"
"Dominic!"
"W-What?"
Nang tinanong ako ng mga kapatid ko kung sino ang gustong dalhin isa lang din ang pumasok sa utak ko, si Dominic.
Why not Dominic?
Gwapo naman siya ah?
Anong problema sa kanya?
Tsaka nasa tamang edad naman na din siya, siguradong lahat ay mapapanganga kapag nakita nila kaming magkasama.
Ang gwapo at ang maganda, right? We'll look great, so great that everyone in the room would be so shook and just jealous of us.
"Dominic... Dominic Herrero? Our--"
"Yes! I want him, you'll be coming with me Herrero!" sigaw ko, kinabahan si Dominic sa sigaw ko, nasa likod ko lang din siya, he's taking care of my business and my orders when yaya Maria is busy with other stuff since she's the head maid here.
"M-Ms. Dixon... I-I don't think that is--"
"Aster Geneva, this man is going to be busy!"
"Anong busy?"
"Nag-aaral na siya, he might be busy that day!"
"Dominic, busy ka ba nung araw na yun?"
"Ah... sa susunod na buwan pa yung--"
"See? He's not busy?"
Bakit ba ayaw niya kay Dominic? Kasi empleyado na'min dito?
And yes, nag-aaral na siya pero distance learning siya so every now and then he would be taking an online class so he could graduate high school, he wasn't able to finish his senior high years because of Villanuevas.
Pinapaaral naman nila raw yung mga inampon nila pero merong pinatigil ang mga pag-aaral nila dahil sa pera raw, Dominic is one of them.
I was one of those people who jumped in happiness when he told us that he'll return to school and finish senior high.
Para akong magulang na proud na proud sa anak nila.
Pero talagang ako yung girlfriend na proud na proud sa boyfriend niya, ayan na... ayyiie!!
"Geneva, I don't think you understand."
"Ano nanamang 'di ko maintindihan? Ikaw yung 'di nakakaintindi, si Dominic ang gusto ko! Tinanong mo 'ko, sinagot ko, o!"
"Dominic used to be in that 'family', people would find it uncomfortable if he was there."
Are you kidding me? Did she really have to go there? It's not like he asked to be kidnapped and be a member of that stupid family?
"Are you telling me that they'd be uncomfortable because he would attend thanks to him being adopted from that stupid gross family? That's stupid! Isn't it better if he attended anyway? 'Di mo man lang ba naisip kung ano yung benefit na'tin kapag sumama siya sa'tin doon?"
I saw the way Karine's eyebrows twitch from my words, kininditan ko si Dominic na kabado pa rin, parang tinatanong niya 'ko kung anong pinaplano kong gawin o sabihin.
"What do you mean?"
Don't worry, Dominic.
I got this!
Your future girlfriend got this!
"Pag nalaman nilang inaalagaan na'tin nang mabuti si Dominic, then people will start to think that we're way different from Diamantes that I'm sure you dislike the most."
Kahit na kamag anak na'min ang mga Diamantes dahil sa deal at nakaraan ng dalawang pamilya noon, Karine still dislikes them--hate is kind of exaggerating.
She doesn't like our family being dubbed the 'Devil's Right-hand man' because the Devils are what they dubbed Diamantes as too.
Marami ring natatakot sa'min dahil sa kapangyarihan na'min bilang pamilya, we're just something else. And Karine wants to change that.
"Makikita nila tayo bilang mga anghel at hindi kaibigan o assistant nung mga Diamantes, this is perfect! Right? We took care of him and we could boast to them that he's also completing his last years in senior high, think about it!"
Tingnan mo naman, wala mang nasa loob ng utak ko pero gumagana pa rin, parang love life ko. Pero of course 'di na 'ko magiging single in the future kasi alam kong magiging kami rin ng future boyfriend ko, my Herrero~
I have gone crazy for him. Ever since we became friends, marami rami nang pumapasok sa utak ko na mga plano ng dates na'min sa susunod na mga taon.
Gusto ko talaga siya, gustong gusto as in sobra! Sisiguraduhin ko na magiging kami, tsaka 'di naman niya tinaggihan yun eh, sinabi niya lang na imposible kasi 'kala niya na magkaiba kami ng mundo pero dahil sa sinabi ko... nawala na yung mentality na yun sa utak niya.
So... I have a chance! I have a chance to be with this man, my first love, my very first love!
"Fine, I'll take that. That is indeed a good benefit for us..." Karine sighed as she brings her attention to Dominic.
"Dominic."
"Yes, Ms. Dixon."
"Ikaw ang magiging escort ng kapatid ko, make sure that she won't drink illegally, I don't want people thinking that my sister is a rebel, or even a selfish ungrateful spoiled bra--"
"Hey, hey, hey! Anong pinagsasabi mo!"
"What? I'm just say--"
"Saying, saying! Ikaw yung nagsusumbong kay dad tungkol sa'kin, dinadamay mo pa yung mga Cactus ko o! Sisiguraduhin ko na pag balik ni Elijah susuportahan ko siya kaysa sa'yo."
"Right, right, I don't care, I'm sure Norvina would support me than that idiot." tawa pa ang mayabang!
Sus, sana magdrama yung escort mo para mapahiya ka sa party!
Nasaan na ba si Elijah kapag kailangan ko siya?
Ang arte pa kasi niya, papunta puna pa siya sa ibang bansa samantalang pwede na lang naman siyang mag-aral dito.
"Geneva!"
"Yes, Dominic??" huminto ako sa paglalakad at humarap sa kanya, napahakbang siya agad paatras, muntik na na'ming mabangga ang isa't-isa.
"I like it, I like that you call me Geneva now~" I smiled.
"You said I could call you that if it's just the two of us..."
"Yes, because we're friends... right?" I whisper, pulling him closer with the help of his tie.
"Am I right, Dominic?" matalim kong tanong ulet sa kanya, tumango na lang siya sa'kin at ako naman ang humakbang papaatras sa kanya this time.
"I don't think it was a good idea to make me your escort."
"Why? Why is it, hm?"
"Ms. Karine--"
"Hold on, don't call her Karine." nagulat siya sa sinabi ko.
Of course naman, selosa ako 'no. Kahit na 'di pa kami magiging kami naman din, ako lang ang tatawagin niya by name, not my sisters.
Wala akong pake, ako lang, ako lang!
"Uhm, Ms. Dixon said that because I belonged to that family, I might make them uncomfortable due to my presence..."
"First, you were kidnapped and adopted illegally, Dominic. Second, I don't care and lastly, I do not care, do you understand?" napansin ko ang labi niyang nguminginig parang may gusto pa siyang sabihin kaya mas lalo kong pinatalim ang titig ko sa kanya.
"Yes, Geneva."
"Good, Dominic~" kumapit ako sa balikat niya na para bang Giant Panda sa zoo, of course he thinks it's because we are good friends and I told him that this is completely normal.
Well, normal for us naman.
"Gutom ka na ba, Dominic?"
"Di naman masyado, bakit?"
"Do you want to eat together?"
"Now?"
"Of course!"
Sinusubukan kong imbitahan siya na kumain kasama ako, pero nahihiya pa rin siya dahil ayaw niyang mapansin nang iba na baka favoritism, and they're right!
There is favoritism when it comes to him, like hello?
Crush ko yan 'no! Of course paborito ko yan!
"I don't think I could..."
Natanggal yung pagkakakapit ko sa balikat niya at humarap ulet sa kanya, ano nanamang excuse niya? Pang-ilang excuse niya na ba 'to? 'Wag mong sabihin na busy nanaman siya?
"Busy ka nanaman? Klase? Homework? Quiz? Test? Or just work around the mansion again?"
Masaya ako na nag-aaral na siya ulet pero nabibwiset ako eh, ba't kasi nag-enroll pa siya sa summer class kung pwede namang mag-enroll na lang siya para sa August para sabay kami!
"Homeworks and work."
"Ugh, Herrero!"
"Geneva, this is important for me to do better in my classes and also finish my work around here. It's the only way I could thank your family."
"Paano naman ako? 'Di mo ba ako pasasalamatin? Kahit kain lang, tayong dalawa lang, okay na yun tapos you're welcome na agad ako sa'yo, please?" konti na lang luluhod na 'ko, kahit isang beses lang!
"I'm sorry, Geneva."
"Dominic~!"
He laughs at me and proceeds to place both of his hands on top of both of my shoulders with a smile on his face.
"Magkaibigan tayo 'di ba?"
"Yes, of course!"
"Maiintindihan mo naman kung may kailangan akong gawin, 'di ba."
"Oo... oo na..." nakanguso kong sagot.
"I promise that when I'm done with everything, I'll come to you."
"Really?"
"Yes, Geneva."
Hays... ang gwapo talaga niya. Ang gwapo nang kaibigan ko na future jowa ko rin, why am I so lucky to have this man by my side? I just really want to hang out with him again, I need to make sure that he'll like me too, there's not much time!
"Okay, okay! Hihintayin kita ah!"
Minsan natatakot akong lumabas kasama siya, paano naman kasi kung may makakita sa kanya? Ayoko may sumubok na akitin siya 'no, I am not going to let that happen.
I know that I tried hard to not let myself fall even harder for him but after we became friends and became a bit closer to each other, we're friends, still friends.
'Di naman madali na maging close agad, it takes a long time. And I'm sure that it's also not easy for Dominic, masyadong mabilis ang pangyayari sa buhay niya.
He's probably careful about his life now, I don't want to make things quick between me and him.
It doesn't matter kung mabilis o mabagal, magiging kami pa rin.
I'm going for it, I am going after him.
Pero masyado yatang mabagal. Since our shopping in Calvin Klein and some makeup, wala pa ring nangyayari kung 'di usap usapan lang, parang Romeo and Juliet o yung larong tagu-taguan.
Ayokong mag-tago! Dapat kaibigan sa harap ng mga tao rin dito!
"Hah..."
"Geneva, don't sigh in front of the food."
"Oo na, Cerine, oo na." inirapan ko yung babae na nasa tabi ko.
'Di rin nakakatulong na siya ang katabi ko, parang Karine 2.0 pero yung nakakainis na version.
Sana may kambal din ako para doble doble ang daldal sa bahay kapag wala sina mom at dad, ipagdadasal ko na maaga ang pagbisita ni Elijah.
"Geneva, Cerine, we'll be receiving our customed dresses a week from now, it's from the same shop here in Manila."
"Got it."
Tumango ako sa kanya, wala akong ganang magsalita, wala akong gana. Matalim kong tiningnan si Dominic na nakatingin sa ibang tao, may karapatan ka pang tumingin sa ibang tao o sa ibang bagay samantalang nandito ako!
Malapit na yata ako magkaroon, grabe yung attitude ko today. Ang dami kong pinagdadaanan, sana na lang talaga magkaroon ako para may excuse ako sa ugali ko.
Pagkatapos kong kumain bumalik ako sa kwarto ko at nilock ang pintuan, it's time for me to either watch shows and get fluffy or just sleep.
I'd like to do both.
Binuksan ko ang tv ko across my room at binasa ang mga text messages ng mga kaibigan ko, yes... my kaibigan din ako. Kahit na may mga bwisit akong mga kaklase, meron naman akong naging mga kaibigan.
We even have a group chat, I just ignored it. We all seem to be busy having fun and letting it all go during our summer breaks.
Pinanood ko na lang yung mga anime na 'di ko natapos kahit 'di ko na natatandaan yung mga storya nila. And that's how it worked, my night kinda sucked, it really did, and it was so boring and empty.
No surprise when I woke up with nothing but emptiness in my heart. I need to do something, I should motivate myself at least, maybe this would be a good time for me to do something productive today.
Masyado akong maraming nakain kagabi, I should workout and take a walk to burn some calories.
Nag-sipilyo ako at nag-lagay na rin nang sunscreen sa buong mukha ko, tinali ko rin ang buhok ko in a ponytail. I am too lazy to change clothes kaya 'di na lang ako nagpalit nang damit at lumabas na 'ko nang kwarto.
Now thinking about it, I should go out and walk in the garden first. I should check my cactuses, mahal din sila at of course naman mahal ko sila, mga anak ko yun.
Nag-paalam ako sa mga kasambahay na maglalakad lang ako sa may garden and then around the neighborhood after. I also ordered them to not cook breakfast for me, I'll skip breakfast for today and just eat two meals for the whole week.
Baka 'di magkasiya yung damit na pinadala, mahal pa naman yun.
Lumabas ako sa mansion at nag-simula na sa lakad ko. It's so early too, damn, I just love this vibe where you could feel the air glowing without the sun fully out yet, I feel better, just a bit better.
Nang papalapit na 'ko sa may garden, may napansin akong lalaki malapit sa section kung nasaan yung mga cactus ko, it's a special mini-garden for my cactuses, all of them are my babies!
But then, I realized that there's someone taking care of my cactuses, early in the morning? This early?
"Hey! What are you--"
"G-Geneva?"
I couldn't finish my words when the man turned around with a whole pink apron around them while holding a garden hose and a glove in the other hand.
"Dominic?"
What is he doing out here? Hindi niya suot suot yung suit niya naka sleeve buttoned-up shirt lang siya pero may mga bukas siyang butones, nainitan yata siya. 'Di ako makapaniwalang nakasuot siya nang pink na apron at... nagdidilig siya nang halaman at 'di lang halaman, yung cactus ko?
"You're watering my cactuses..."
"Uh... yes... you know... things..."
"I thought you have work? You told me that you have work everyday from morni--"
"This!" he interrupts.
Napansin ko yung kulay pula sa magkabila niyang pisngi, and another thing I noticed are his glasses!
"SALAMIN! NAKASUOT KA NANG SALAMIN I--" gusto kong tumili, gusto kong sumigaw.
Putang ina naman! Ang gwapo! Mas lalo lang siyang gumwapo na may salamin pa siyang suot-suot, sinasabi ko sa'yo mas gwapo pa siya sa mga anime characters na naging crush ko noon.
"I... it's just, I have bad eyesight, I am trying to wear contacts but I don't want to get used to them."
"Of course, of course, Dominic. But... why are you here?" lumapit ako sa kanya at inobserbahan ang mga diniligan niyang cactus ko.
They look lively, happy, and just perfect!
What the fuck?
Narealize ko na parte ng trabaho ni Dominic ay baka pagdidilig din ng mga halaman ko? He's not a gardener though.
"You don't have to do this, this is not your job, Dominic."
"But... I want to." he blushes.
'Di niya ba naiintindihan na kapag ganyan ang reaksyon niya iba ang iisipin ko? Iisipin ko na baka may gusto rin siya sa'kin dahil pula diyan sa mga pisngi niya.
"Wait..." napatingin ko yung Aster flowers sa may gilid ng mga cactus ko, ngayon ko lang nakita 'to,
"This is the flower that I bought from the flower shop, with my own money that the Dixon family has given me, I'm thankful, yes." he grins, touching one of the petals.
Oo! Ito yung mismong bulaklak na nagustuhan niya sa flower shop, he wanted to get it. I didn't expect him to actually get it with his own money, pwede ko namang bilhin na lang yun para sa kanya.
"Aster... you really... uhm... like it?" nauutal ko pang tanong.
Aster. He likes Aster. My first name is Aster, fuck!
Kinikilig ako kahit na hindi ako ang type na Aster na gusto niya, ayokong magselos sa bulaklak, nakakahiya.
"No, I love it."
Ayokong kiligin! Ang aga-aga, Dominic!
"So uhm... you do water my plans, you do..." I couldn't speak properly, I didn't know how.
"Yes, Geneva." he quickly answered, flustered.
Wait a minute. All this time, his 'work' in the morning besides helping in the kitchen is also... watering my cactuses? My mini-garden?
At katabi pa nung mga Aster flowers yung mga Cactus ko... oh my god.
That makes me feel special, it feels like we'll always be together next to each other for some reason. I know I shouldn't be assuming things but I can't help it, I like this guy too much.
This is so crazy, this is so fucking crazy! I'm going crazy! I really am! Ang aga pa ni'to para sa'kin!
"Geneva, are you alright?"
"Yeah, I am..."
Naaalala ko tuloy nung nabangga na'min ang isa't-isa at 'saka yung time din na inamin ko yung nararamdaman ko sa kanya dito, dito sa mismong garden na 'to.
And now this?
Parang everytime na napapadpad kaming dalawa dito mas lalo lang lumalim yung nararamdaman ko para sa lalaking 'to.
"Dominic~"
"Hm?"
Niyakap ko sa patalikod nang mahigpit at itinago ang mukha ko sa likod niya.
"Gusto kita, gustong gusto kita!"
"G-Geneva... stop it--"
"Just go out with me already! Liligawan pa kita kung gusto mo ganun muna!"
"No, Geneva! Stop it!"