Kabanata 19
Guilty
"So pinaninindigan mo talagang maging wedding coordinator namin?" I asked Lana. Ngumiti naman ng malaki ang kaibigan ko habang naka-focus pa rin ang tingin sa daan. Kasalukuyang kaming bumbyahe ni Lana papunta sa boutique na tinutukoy niya sa akin kahapon palang. "Ngiting-ngiti ah. Dahil best friend kita, wala ng bayad 'to a!" natatawa kong sabi.
"Uy, Alegre! Hindi na uso ang libre ngayon!"
Napahinto ang sasakyan nang hindi ko inaasahan. Siguro kung wala lang akong seatbelt siguro tumilapon na ako.
"I never asked you about this, del Rey!" I laughed.
"But I am willingly and voluntarily wanted to help you. Pero syempre may bayad or treat 'to pagkatapos!" Inalis ni Lana ang seatbelt sa kanya. Dinilaan niya ako bago bumaba ng kotse. Umiiling na lang akong inalis ang seatbelt sa akin at sumunod kay Lana. Mabilis ang paglalakad ni Lana kaya nasa loob na siya ng Vienne's. "Darling, come here!" She shouted and giggled. And I rolled my eyes.
Nilagay ko na lang sa bulsa ng pantalon ko ang aking kamay habang naglalakad papunta sa Vienne's. Vienne's like Ericka's. I don't know if these two have this something, you know. But their works are extraordinary in this fashion industry. They both have international and local designers. They organized fashion show. Maipagmamalaki ang bawat disenyo at gawa nila. At least we have these two.
The building is made of glass. Mayroon sigurong 5 na palapag ang building na 'to. Automatic glass door ang sumalubong sa akin. May something like information desk sa isang gilid. At may place kung saan pwedeng maghintay. Gosh, this place is so damn perfect.
"So, this is the bride to be, Ms. Tan. This is my best friend, Leigh Alegre," Lana introduced me to a petite woman. Morena ang kulay nito. I think, she's 30 year old. Ngumiti ito sa akin. She offered her hand. And I'm gladly to shake her hand.
"Ms. Alegre soon to be?" she asked with playful smile.
I blushed.
And my bitch best friend answered, "Mrs. Salazar, Ms. Tan. Oh gods. I can't wait to see her in her wedding dress!" she screamed like a child. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung ilang beses akong mapapairap sa ginagawa ni Lana. She's so excited. Like I am. Shit.
"I'm sorry about my friend, Ms. Tan. Hindi pa kasi 'yan nakakainom ng gamot niya pangpakalma!" I arched one brow to Lana. She beamed at me.
"It's okay. I know—I know, you guys are all excited." Ms. Tan even clapped her hands while looking at Lana. Pinaglaruan naman ng best friend ko ang kilay niya habang nakatingin sa akin. I scowl silently.
"So I guess we should see the design?" tiling tanong ni Lana.
"Definitely!" Ms. Tan said. "This way, please," she pleased, leading the way to the elevator. Kumapit naman sa akin si Lana habang sinusundan namin si Ms. Tan. Kung ano-anong papuri ang binulong ni Lana sa akin tungkol sa Vienne's. I wonder who owned this company. The owner has this good taste in designing this building. Mayroon siyang magaling na interior designer. Sa daan palang kasi—sa hallway papuntang elevator—may painting na nakasabit sa mga kulay clear blue na glass na bato. Ang lamig sa mata.
Saktong pagkarating namin sa elevator ay bumukas ito. May lumabas na na tao roon. The guy looks familiar. Napakagat ako ng labi para alalahanin ang mukhang nasa harapan ko. He's wearing a business suit. Malinis ang porma. Clean cut ang style ng buhok. He looks so damn familiar. Napansin niya sigurong nakatingin ako sa kanya. His lips curve immediately. "Alegre," anito.
Tumaas ang kilay ko.
"Still the same arch of brow, Leigh..." He chuckled. "Mataray ka pa rin."
My eyes went wide, remembering this man.
"Montefrio!" Napalakas ang boses ko sa pagbanggit ng apelyido ni Jared. Gosh. I remembered being in COAS with him and with his cousins. Naalala ko tuloy 'yong mga nangyari noong highschool at college. May history pa yata 'tong si Jared at Densel. And mayroon pa yata between Tim din. I don't know. Medyo nakalimutan ko na.
Para makabawi sa kahihiyan ay ako muli ang nagsalita, "You work here?" I asked.
Bigla namang tumawa si Ms. Tan at Lana. So ako na lang ang hindi nakakaalam? Tinignan ko si Jared. He has this playful smile on his lips.
"Actually, kahit hindi ako makarelate sa inyo, Leigh. Mr. Montefrio is the one who owned this company," Lana said in a matter-of-factly tone. Napalunok ako ng mga dalawang beses. Bigla akong napaiwas ng tingin kay Jared at tumingin kay Lana. "Happy, Le?" she added.
I glared at her.
"Oh..." the only word I managed to say.
"I'm sorry to interrupt all of you. But please, excuse me," pormal na utas ni Jared. Sumulyap lang ako saglit sa kanya. Tinanguan ako ni Jared kaya ganon din ang ginawa ko. He has this smile on his face. At pagkatapos ay naglakad na siya. I look at him over my shoulder. Kumabog ang dibdib ko nang tumingin din siya sa akin. "By the way, your twin brother works in Ericka's as one of their models. But I am pleased to see you here in Vienne's. And please if you don't mind can you look at the design of Ms. Encarguez? I hope you'd have a great time here, Ms. Alegre." Something on his words...the tone...I can't figure out.
"I hope, too, Mr. Montefrio."
"Jared, Leigh." He corrected me with the first name basis.
"Jared," ani ko.
"Leigh," anito.
And we both nod at each other and walks in different direction.
**
"I know Daddy mentioned something about Montefrios, Leigh. Nakalimutan ko na kasi I was too sleepy. But he looks good. You know, formal is the new sexy," anito sabay kagat ng burger. I roll my eyes. "Never thought you gonna meet him, right?"
"I thought he's living abroad," ani ko. Kumagat na rin sa burger na binili namin. Kasalukuyang nasa isang bench kami dito sa loob ng mall. Nag take-out na lang kami kasi pauwi na rin naman. Saka inuubos lang namin 'tong burger na binili namin.
"Baka bumalik," Lana said. "Saka alam mo parang tinitira niya si Densel sa mga sinabi niya. Parang lang naman. Did they have some history?" asked by Lana.
I nod, letting this conversation come to an end. I don't want to think of anything but my wedding. Nakita ko naman 'yong design. At ang gaganda lahat. We'd set an appointment to them para sa pagpunta sa bahay. Papakita ko rin kila Mama 'yong napili ko.
"Tara na!" I declared and stood up.
Lana scowled. "Saglit na lang!" reklamo nito.
"Tara na! Hinihintay na 'ko ni Mama. Saka baka nasa bahay na si Benj." Hinila ko ang braso niya para tumayo na ito. Sapilitan ko pa siyang pinatayo. Sumimangot ito sa akin. "Lana, tara na." I added.
"Fine!" Pinagpag niya ang kamay niya pagkatapos ay tinapon ang kalat namin sa malapit na trash can. "You drive the car, okay? Masyadong akong nabusog sa burger." She said.
"Okay, madam." I said and I saw her roll her eyes.
Inabot naman niya sa akin 'yong susi. Pagkatapos ay naglakad na kami palabas ng mall. Nagdiretso kaagad kami sa parking lot para sa kotse. Lana has this new car and I envy her. She has this Ford Everest na niregalo ng brother niya sa kanya for no reason. Papasakay na sana kami ng kotse nang may tumawag sa pangalan ko.
"Leigh!" Somebody called my name and I am obliged to see whose idiot he is. Damn it. I guess, he's really an idiot.
"What?" Nairita kaagad ako nang makita siyang papatakbo papunta sa amin.
"Sino 'yan Leigh? Parang ang dami ko yatang hindi kilala?" Lana said, confused.
Nagdiretso si Benedict sa pwesto ni Lana.
"Benedict Salazar Jr.," he said and offered his hand to my best friend. "Lana Marjorie del Rey." He added.
"Don't tell me, Benj is your brother," Lana said, still confused. Kitang-kita ko ang kunot ng noo at kilay nito habang tinitignan si Benedict. "But you don't look like him, sir. Sorry, no offense meant, ah. But how did you know my name?"
"I'm sorry. Pero mabango ang Dad mo sa industriya. Alexander del Rey Jr., your father, a lawyer and a businessman. Sino bang hindi makakakilala sa kanya at sa mga anak niya?" He said, complimenting the del Rey family. I want to wipe his smile off his damn face. Nakakairita.
"Thank you for that. But I think, I and Leigh need to go. We need to meet your brother—Oops." Bigla akong naintriga sa tinitignan ni Lana sa isang direksyon. Hindi ko na sana papansinin at papasok na lang sa kotse ngunit may pamilyar na pangalan akong narinig.
"I guess my brother Benj has this other business," said by Benedict.
I look at the direction. My mood lights up like a firework going to explode seeing him right now. At least pwede kaming sabay pumunta sa bahay at masabi ko na sa kanya 'yong nakita ko. I am too excited to tell all the details. Unti-unti akong ngumiti at saktong tumingin siya sa direksyon ko. But he is not alone. Kasama niya ang mother niya. Nang makita nito ang direksyon nang tinitignan ni Benj ay bigla siyang kumapit dito. I think she glanced at Benedict's direction. Pagkatapos ay nagmamadaling hinatak si Benj papunta sa kotse. Hindi na nga nito nahintay si Benj na pagbuksan ito ng pinto.
"Benj!" I called him. Hindi na ako makapaghintay. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag nang tumingin muli siya sa akin.
"Come on, Franco!" I heard his mother called his name. Na sobrang nagmamadali. Biglang bumaba ang balikat ko. Benjamin looks at me, feeling guilty and sorry. Umiling ito at pumasok sa kotse.