Lea
"Señorita Lea, matagal ka pa ba d'yan?" napalingon ako when someone spoke, only to see Aga leaning beside my bedroom's door at gusto kong matawa sa reaksyon niya the moment he saw me.
"Close your mouth babes, alam kong maganda ako, no need to point it out." I said confidently as I flipped my well straitened hair at ngumisi pa sa kanya, I grab my pouch na nakapatong sa dulo ng kama ko as I faced him, crossing my arms.
"Hangin, kung hindi lang kita mahal eh." he murmured but enough for me to hear, pa iling-iling lang siya as he walk towards my direction, "Oo na babes, maganda ka na. You're the prettiest woman in my eyes." pahabol niya and offered his hands to me,
"Shall we, Señorita?" he asks, tumango ako and willingly accept it as I interwind our fingers together.
"We shall, Señor!" sagot ko, lumabas kami ng kwarto ko as we made our way downstairs upang maka-alis na.
"Let me say this again but damn babes! You're gorgeous! May plano ka bang talbugin ang Mama ko sa sariling party niya?" tanong niya while chuckling, I shrugged my head in response.
"Do I look like I'm going to steal your Mom's thunder? Not my fault tho, this beauty is effortless!" I answered.
It's Aga's Mom 64th birthday and well, she invited me. With the Hawaiian theme, I'm wearing an off-shoulder floral dress na hanggang tuhod ko lang, paired with creme-colored stilettos while Aga on the other hand is wearing a matching hawaiian shirt and shorts.
"Ang taas ng confidence mo ngayon babes, ano?" wika niya as he opened the door of his car for me, pumasok naman ako sa loob and closed it as he followed and he immediately started the engine.
Tumingin ako sa kanya, "Honestly, I'm nervous." I confessed.
I'm going to face his family for Pete's sake! I mean, excluding his Mom and Kate, the rest of the clan.. well I think, the issue of me and Aga's separation back then, kung ba't kami naghiwalay, hindi pa iyon nabigyan ng linaw. Remember, ang buong akala nila I sent Aga a message saying I'm breaking up with him.
Speaking of which, I wonder kung sino nga ba ang may gawa 'nun.
"Bakit ka naman kinakabahan?" he took a quick glance at me then balik naman ulit sa daan ang tingin niya.
"Galit ba sila sa' kin?" I asked, Aga nodded na ikinagiwi ko. Lagot na.
"They are pero huwag ka mag-alala, kung sasabunutan ka mamaya ng mga Tita ko, nand'yan naman ako para iligtas ka eh." he said making me frown, loko. Ano ba talaga?
"Damn you babes. I'm being serious here, seryosohin mo nga ako!" naiinis kong sambit, kinakabahan na nga ako tapos the thought na baka sabunutan nga ako nga mga Tita niya mamaya, mas lalo pa akong kinabahan.
He chuckled, "Eh seryoso naman ako sa'yo ah. Mahal kita babes walang halong biro."
I closed my eyes in frustration as I massaged my temple. Yep, he's serious! Very!
"Stop making fun of me nga during serious matters." giit ko as I give him a glare.
"Pikon ka naman." he teased, "But yeah kidding aside, 'di naman sila galit sa'yo eh. Matagal na iyon, nakalimutan na nila iyon tsaka isa pa, alam naman nila na tayo na. In fact, they're happy for us." dagdag pa niya at parang nabunutan naman ako ng tinik dahil dun.
"Buti naman.." I mumbled, nagawa ko ng tumapak sa stage sa harap ng libong-libong tao ng hindi kinakabahan pero ang dumalo sa kaarawan ng Mama ni Aga, I'm way nervous than expected.
"We're here.." he announced after minutes of driving, napatingin naman ako sa bintana ng sasakyan and we're finally here at their house.
Madaming sasakyan sa labas so nahirapan pa siya sa paghahanap ng parking space but eventually, he did found one. Sabay kaming lumabas ng sasakyan at kaagad akong lumapit sa kanya as I clung into his arms.
"Your being uncomfortable babes, just smile and relax. Everything will be fine." sabi niya, napangiti na lang ako and the both of us made our way inside the venue.
"Welcome to the Muhlach Residence, Señora and Señorito!" bati sa'min ng mga tao na nagbabantay sa labas.
We went inside and as what I pictured out in my mind, madami ngang tao sa loob. Some have familiar faces, either from showbiz or politics and some, well, their Aga's relatives.
"Ang gwapo naman ng Daddy ko at ang ganda ng Mommy ko! I'm so blessed!" bigla na lamang lumitaw si Alysse sa harap namin while giggling, wearing her colorful hawaiian dress with a flower crown on top of her well-curled hair, she looks beautiful!
"Sino ka? Sorry Ms. but we don't know you." Aga jokingly said at akmang hihilain na ako palayo sa anak namin but I immediately threw him a piercing glare kaya napatigil naman siya.
"Ito naman, 'di na mabiro!" wika niya as hugged Alysse, "Naks, ang ganda natin ah? Mana ka talaga sa' kin."
"I beg your pardon pero sa' kin nagmana iyang anak ko, they say, like mother like daughter!" sambit ko at niyakap rin si Alysse.
"Hep, hep! Teka lang po, bago pa kayo magtalo d'yan kung kanino ako nagmana; para fair, sa inyong dalawa na lang!" nakangiting ani niya at nag-thumbs up pa, sasagot pa sana ako when someone poke me from behind kaya lumingon naman ako to see who it was.
Wearing her bohemian styled dress and a flower crown just like Alysse, Chiara greeted me while smiling.
"Hello Tita Lea, hello Daddy!" bati niya at nakipag-beso sa' kin, then to her Dad.
"Isa pa 'to, you looked beautiful Chia!" Aga said, tumango naman ako in agreement. Indeed, she do look beautiful.
"I know right Daddy!" sagot nito at bumaling kay Alysse, "Hey Aly, punta na daw tayong backstage. The program proper will start anytime soon." and by that, sabay na silang nagpaalam upang pumunta sa backstage.
For I know, they have their performance together with Eros in tribute for their Mamita, hindi ko nga lang alam kung ano ang gagawin nila but we're too excited to see them perform on stage.
___
The rest of the night went smoothly and I swear, the thought that Aga's family will welcome me with open arms never crossed my mind but guess what, that just happened and I couldn't be happier.
The program started and the three of them did a number, Eros played the guitar while the girls sang Katty Perry's Birthday song. Truth to be told, Chiara and Alysse both have amazing voices, ang ganda rin ng blending nilang dalawa.
Dinner time came and now, we're currently eating. Nasa iisang mesa lang kami together with Aga, Alysse, Chiara, Eros, Kate and her husband. Buti nga lang nasa iibang mesa ang Mama ni Aga eh, sobra na ang tension'g nararamdaman ko mula kay Kate, huwag na sanang dagdagan pa.
"Holy shit." lahat kami napatingin kay Chiara because of her sudden outburst, she's sitting beside Aga who's sitting next to me habang nasa tabi ko naman si Alysse.
"What's the matter, Chia?" Kate asked her but the latter didn't replied, nakatingin lang siya sa isang direksyon na animo'y gulat na gulat. Anong meron?
Because of curiosity, I followed Chiara's gaze and just like the reaction she had earlier, nanlaki rin ang mga mata ko ng masilayan ko ang isang babae, wearing red sequency dress na masayang nakikipag-usap sa Mama ni Aga sa bandang entrance.
"Kuya, Mama invited that crazy woman? Kailan pa naging close ang dalawang iyon?" rinig kong tanong ni Kate kay Aga, napatingin naman ako sa kanya and coincidentally, he's also looking at me.
"Ewan. Ni hindi ko nga alam na nandito na siya eh." Aga answered with his forehead creasing.
Without saying a word, tumayo si Chiara and immediately went to her Mom's direction. She probably missed her Mother.
"That gate crasher bitch! Sinigurado niya talaga na iba ang suot niya just to be the center of attraction, how pathetic." naiinis na wika ni Kate while looking badly at Clara's direction.
Ininom ko ang iced tea ko to calm myself from uneasiness. Why am I even threatened of Clara's presence anyway?
Chiara didn't come back to our table at dun na siya naupo kasama ang Mamita niya and her Mom. Nature calls, I excused myself for awhile upang pumasok sa loob to take a pee.
Their house is huge at talagang maliligaw ako dito but because there are numerous maids scattered around, 'di na ako nahirapan pang hanapin ang CR.
Umihi na ako and after that, inayos ko muna ang sarili ko as I applied a thin layer of red lipstick. That's better. Lumabas na ako and I was surprised upon seeing Clara, standing outside. Nagulat rin siya ng makita ako, or did she really?
Ngumiti ako ng tipid at akmang lalagpasan na siya but she held my arms making me stop from doing so.
"Yes, you need anything?" tanong ko at hinarap siya.
"Lea, right? You must be really happy, enjoying my throne aren't you?" she replied in a sarcastic way. Problema nito?
"Excuse me but I need to go." aalis na sana ako pero nagsalita ulit siya na ikinakulo ng dugo ko.
"You're an actress, 'di ba? When it comes to the field of professionalism, you must be really good pero how could you flirt with someone kahit na alam mo sa sarili mo na may asawa't anak na siya? Ganyan ka na ba ka despereda?" at tinawag niya pa akong desperada? Saming dalawa, sino ba ang nagmumukhang desperada?
"Flirt is way different compared to love. Kasalanan ko ba? Mahal ako eh, mahal ko rin." I answered shortly, "Tsaka isa pa, oo, may anak nga siya pero wala naman siyang asawa. Bakit, kasal ba kayo?" I asked na ikinatahimik niya. Oh, did I hit the bull's-eye?
Before leaving, nginitian ko muna siya, more like a grin, "Just a tip lang ha, next time, matuto ka namang bumasa ng memo. You see, ikaw lang iyong iba eh 'no? It's like, there's a trash mixed in a pile full of golden treasures and that trash is... you." I said before finally leaving her behind na halata namang nagpipigil lang sa galit.
She started it 'tas nganga naman pala siya sa huli? Indeed, she's pathetic.
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