Chapter 2
Beautiful
"Ang gwapo niya talaga!" I squealed when Abrielle sent me a new batch of Jace's stolen pictures.
I looked at the screen of my iPad and saw Abrielle frowning at me.
Nothing's new with her expression everytime I asked her to send me pictures of Jace. Kahit naman naiinis siya at ayaw niyang gawin ay pinipicturan niya pa rin si Jace para sa akin.
I was so enthusiastic when I've learned that Abrielle and Jace are studying in the same university. Kahit wala ako doon ay nandiyan naman si Abrielle para tulungan ako. I'm really lucky to have a bestfriend like her.
"Zarina, I would just like to remind you that I already have a boyfriend." She reminded me. "He doesn't want me taking pictures of Jace. Nagseselos siya kahit na ilang beses kong i-explain na para sa'yo 'yun."
I pursed my lips and felt slightly guilty. "Don't worry. I'll talk to him for you." Sabi ko nalang sa nakiya. "At saka kung ayaw niyang ikaw ang kukuha ng pictures eh di siya nalang ang pagkuhain mo."
Abrielle facepalmed and frowned even more. I know that she's just trying to hold in her frustrations.
"I don't know what to do with you anymore, Zarina." She said. "Alam mo, kung kasama kita ngayon ay baka nabatukan na kita. Pasalamat ka at nandiyan ka sa New York."
"Thank God I'm in New York!" Ngiting-ngiti ko namang sabi at itinaas pa ang dalawang kamay ko.
Muli naman akong sumeryoso nang makitang hindi na talaga natutuwa si Abrielle sa pinaggagawa ko. Looks like I need to stop now before I exceed her threshold.
"I'm serious, Zarina." Her voice toned down and became more serious. "It's been three years already. Aren't you done with Jace? It's time to be serious. You should find a lover there in New York. Ang daming gwapo diyan!"
"Ikaw na nga ang nagsabi, Elle..." I trailed off before I continued. "It's been three years since I left, you still think that I'm not serious with Jace?"
I barely survived the last days of being a senior high student before we graduated. I wanted so much to talk to him or at least get closer, but I did my best to avoid him because I promised.
Tuwing nakakasalubong ko siya ay kunwari'y hangin lamang siya kahit na ang gusto kong gawin ay harangan siya sa paglalakad at guluhin siya sa pagiging masiyadong seryoso.
"Zarina."
Halos mapatalon ako nang may tumawag sa akin. I turned around and found Liana smiling at me. She is Jace's twin.
Unlike Jace, she's more open to others. She's warm, nice and friendly. She's completely the opposite of her twin. Others told me that we're kinda alike. Iyon nga lang, Liana is more graceful and reserved than I am.
"Liana! Hello!" I cheerfully greeted her, but shock was still evident on my tone because she just talked to me.
"I'm sorry if I wasn't able to attend your debut last time when you invited me and my twin." She still apologized though almost three weeks have already passed since my debut.
"It's okay, Liana." Your twin attending my debut is already fine with me, I wanted to add, but I didn't 'cause that would be so disrespectful of me.
"Well to make up for it, I'm inviting you to my debut next month. The invitation isn't with me right now but I can give it you once its already produced. Maybe next week." She said.
Next month... Our graduation's already in three weeks. Three days after, it will be my scheduled flight to New York.
"Uhm, anong date?" I carefully asked her.
"April 28." she answered. "That's a Saturday. It's exactly our birthday."
I took track of the calendar inside my mind, hoping that there will be a sudden rearrangement of dates even though it's very clear that it won't happen. I want to attend their birthday before I leave but my flight's already on April 19. I won't be able to attend her debut that is also Jace's birthday.
Napanguso naman ako. "I don't think I can attend your debut..." Nag-aalangan kong sabi.
"Why not?" Her smile faded. "Is it because of Jace? Huwag kang mag-alala. Ako ang bahala sa kaniya. It'll be fine."
"Flight ko kasi papunta ng New York sa April 19. That means wala na ako ng 28 kaya hindi ako makakaattend." I explained.
"Oh..." She exhaled. "Sayang naman."
Magsasalita pa sana ako nang biglang napangiti si Liana habang nakatingin sa malayo. Due to curiousness, I turned to look where she's looking at and I saw the man of my dreams whom I'm currently pushing away from the clouds where my dreams are being made.
Napatayo naman ako sa aking kinauupuan. Napatingin sa akin si Liana at pati na rin si Abrielle na katabi ko. Kanina pa siya tahimik dahil sa pagrereview sa last exam namin.
"Pupunta lang ako ng library. Hindi pa pala ako nakakapagreview." Palusot ko habang mabilis na inaayos ang aking gamit at saka uminom ng tubig.
I glanced at Jace's side and I caught him looking at us. He's looking at me like I did something wrong again.
Am I also not allowed to be close to his twin? Or is it because I turned to look at him?
Mas lalo lamang akong nagmadali sa pag-alis. I don't want him thinking that I'm not keeping our promise and trying to find other ways just to be close to him.
I need to keep my distance from him and anyone close to him. The farther, the better.
Greetings, batchmates!
This is Elora Mae Cruz, your Alumni representative and also the former President of our Student Council during our last year in Senior High.
I'm very pleased to announce that after 6 years, we'll be finally meeting again in our reunion this coming April 1 at Belle Danse: Regular Function Hall (Manila Branch), 6PM sharp.
Hope to see you there!
"Are you seriously going to attend the reunion this Sunday?" Paninigurado sa akin ni Abrielle nang pinabasa ko sa kaniya ang invitation na hindi niya binibigyan ng pansin sa kaniyang email.
She can't stop herself to visit me when I sent her a message on Facebook that I'm already home, though she has work today. Halos hindi ako makahinga kanina nang magkita kami ulit sa sobrang higpit ng yakap namin sa isa't isa.
"Yes, I am." I've already made up my mind the moment Fretzie told me that there will be a reunion.
"Let me guess..." Tumaas ang kaniyang kilay at saka humalukipkip. "Is it because of Jace?"
I automatically smiled like an idiot upon hearing Jace's name. Pangalan palang napapangiti na ako, pano pa kaya kung makita ko siya ulit?
Napabuntong hininga naman si Elle dahil alam na niya ang kasagutan ko sa tanong niyang 'yon. Ngiti ko palang ay alam na ang sagot.
"Okay, Zarina... First of all, we don't know if Jace will even attend our high school reunion. Assuming that he's a very busy man, I doubt if he can give time for our gathering." She said. "And second, have you forgotten about your promise to him?"
"Of course, I didn't. That's the worst promise I've ever made in my life." Sabi ko naman. "I will just attend the reunion. Hindi ko naman ipagsisigawan na siya pa rin hanggang ngayon. Hindi ko naman sasabihin na pumunta ako roon para sa kaniya. Saka baka nga hindi na niya ako naaalala eh." Katwiran ko at humalukipkip na rin.
"If you want to attend then so be it." Sabi ni Elle. "Gusto ko lang ipaalam sa'yo na hindi ako makaka-attend ng reunion dahil may dinner ako sa araw na 'yun kasama ang pamilya ni Sandro. I can't reschedule that dinner or even back out."
"Don't worry, Elle. You don't have to accompany me. I have other friends." I assured her. "I'm pretty sure that I won't be out of place."
Hindi na ako kinulit ni Elle at hinayaan na ako sa gusto kong mangyari. No one can stop me from seeing Jace again. I've already suffered almost seven years of not seeing him. I'll consider this as a welcome back gift for myself.
"Your father already set a schedule of your visit to our company." Sabi ni Mommy saka sinulyapan si Daddy. "It's on Monday that's why we will give you the files and other accounts that you need to review this coming Sunday."
Napatigil naman ako sa pagkain nang banggitin ni Mommy ang salitang Sunday.
"Can you just give it to me on Saturday, Mom?" I asked. "I already have a planned schedule on Sunday. I can't compromise that I'll be able to review everything."
Napataas naman ang kilay ni Mommy sa aking sinabi.
"And what schedule is that, that is more important than the company?" She asked and wiped her mouth before she drank water.
"It's our reunion po. It'll be the first time seeing my friends after 6 years and a half—"
"No. You will not neglect your duties to the company just because of that irrelevant occasion." Agad na pagputol sa akin ni Mommy. "Wala ka namang mapapala doon."
"But, Mom—"
"I said no, Zarina." She said with conviction and finality.
Kinagat ko naman ang aking ibabang labi at saka nilingon si Daddy. I pouted and silently asked for his help by giving a meaningful eye contact.
Bumuntong hininga naman Daddy at saka ako nginitian bago nilingon si Mommy.
"Hon, let Zarina enjoy first. I can reschedule her visit. Let's give her a week to cope up with everything. Kakabalik niya palang ng Pilipinas. Hayaan na muna natin siya." Dad tried to convince Mom.
"Rey, your daughter needs to settle everything as soon as possible. She's the only heiress of our company." Giit naman ni Mommy.
"Of course, I know that. But I trust our daughter that she can settle everything in no time. She's a fast learner." Dad said and my heart can't help but to feel warm because of his words. "I'm sure that you'll be working hard, right, love?" Malambing na tanong sa akin ni Daddy nang binalingan niya ako.
"Yes, Dad. I will!" I eunthusiastically said.
Wala nang nagawa si Mommy kundi ang pumayag nalang since Daddy already made his decision. Later that day, I already planned how I'm going to spend my one week free time.
"Anong mas bagay sa akin?" Nilingon ko si Abrielle at ipinakita sa kaniya ang dalawang dress na hawak ko. "This black one or red?"
"I don't know why you still have to buy a dress when you already have plenty of it." Reklamo niya pero pumili pa rin sa dalawa.
She picked the black one. I smiled because I also like this one than the other. I just really want to hear out her opinion.
"I might see Jace tomorrow and I wanted to look good in front of him." sabi ko. "Plus, my dresses are composed of pastel and light colors. I want to look more mature."
"Well, sorry to break it to you but even if you wear that kind of dress, you still won't look mature because of your attitude." Sabi naman ni Abrielle.
"Don't worry, Elle. I've already practiced on how I'm going to behave. I will use every bit of acting skills I have." Sabi ko naman.
Abrielle taught me few things on how to look more mature while we were eating after we're done shopping.
Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nagising. I jogged to enchanced my curves for tonight before I took a bath. Pumunta pa ako sa spa na malapit sa bahay namin upang makapagrelax din. Pati ang buhok ko ay pina-treatment ko rin.
Pagkauwi ko ay muli akong nagshower bago naghanda para mamayang gabi. I still have four hours before the party. I took that much time left to make myself exceptionally beautiful for tonight.
My goal for tonight is to be the most beautiful girl who will attend our reunion. I want all of them to turn their heads on me, and when I say all of them, that includes Jace.
Well, that is only if he's going to attend tonight.