Chapter 7
Who could've thought that I will feel this kind of conformity with a stranger—technically, he's not a stranger at all, from now on. Why did I forget his face or the whole him? Sure, I am not fond of making eye to eye contact with anyone but he has got me. And now, I can remember vividly his face, the way he pull me off the coming train to say that I shouldn't be doing those things. Yes, that crack me up. And also, he did ask my name when I just said thank you.
I immediately get my phone, I unblocked the unknown number—maybe that was his and he's trying to get to me but I am this person who don't even like talking to. After unblocking the number, a few of messages coming through and it comes from the same unknown number and from Lexus.
Lexus:
Where the hell are you, Leanne?!!!
Answer your phone! Or reply!!!
Shit! I'm going home with or without you!!!
I shook my head reading Lexus panic messages. He should've find me instead of texting me. That's why he ended up getting cermon by our parents. I next click the unknown number messages.
Unknown number:
Hope I got a response. :D
Hey, it's Harvin, thanks for stopping by.
Anyway, I send your resume to my friend. ;)
I immediately put his name on my contacts.
Me:
Hey Harvin. I don't know how can I thank you enough, how can I repay you?
I was waiting for a reply but maybe he's busy. I should've give him something instead of saying thank you. First, he's the only one who sees me from suffering a panic attack. And all the good intentions he had come no matter how stranger I am to him. Maybe he got many friends, and how wouldn't they become friend with a person like him? He's good—good looking guy, I never thought of that as the first time I saw him, but time changes and all of it wasn't constant when everything got to be something special.
There will be a gala night tomorrow on the family's company. I have no idea kung anong meron but the usual, kailangan nandoon kaming lahat. It's like a family occasion na rin dahil nandoon din ang ilang relatives namin dahil part din sila ng business and the part where I can't stand was to interact to most of the people. Yes, nasa sa amin na kung gusto ba namin makihalobilo or not but the guest people are the ones who insist, and the relatives, of course.
I sneak out downstairs, bigla na lang din ako nagutom. I should be restraining myself from eating but this just one time. Dumiretsyo na kaagad ako sa kusina and to find out that kuya Larry was there, babalik na sana ako sa kwarto ko pero nakita na niya ako kaya tinawag na niya ako.
"Why you're awake at two in the morning?" he asked.
"I am asking the same, kuya." Ngiti ko pa, "and what's with the alcohol on this time? Saan ka ba galing kanina kuya, you left me without notice."
He smirked, "just found someone from the past..."
I suddenly get interested kaya naman naupo na ako, he offered his drink but I shook my head, "who was it kuya? Did someone I know?"
He shrugged, "maybe or maybe not." He said not so sure, "actually, my ex-wife."
"I know her." sabi ko naman sa kanya, because I know a lot of things happened to them few years ago. "What happened? Did you guys talk?"
He nodded, "we actually did but when I saw the guy who put me in prison, everything ruined." Then he almost finished drink the one bottle, "you know, Ley, I shouldn't be telling this. It's over, we're over. But after seven years, I just wanna see my son..."
When he says those words, hindi naman ako makapaniwala. As in shock, wala akong kaalam-alam na may anak si kuya Larry and they didn't even tell me, or it was supposed to be in depth of silence na lang.
"I'm sorry kuya, I didn't know..."
He smirks, "everyone feels sorry for me, I hate this life." And then he stood up, leaving me in shock alone in the kitchen.
Nakaupo lamang ako ng ilang minuto bago ko marealize lahat ng nangyari. Siguro, it is better kung hindi na lang ako makisawsaw sa buhay nila because I have my own life to fix. Kumuha na lang din ako ng cookies at milk sa ref at dinala ko naman iyon sa kwarto ko. Hindi rin ako papatulugin nito ni kuya Larry, but he says, everyone feels sorry for him and I can't do anything about it.
On the morning, I texted Eria na babalik na ako bukas ng umaga sa apartment. Nami-miss ko na rin iyong kama ko doon. Mas feel kong mapag-isa kaysa sa may kasama, siguro nakasayanan ko na rin kaya komportable ako kaysa makipag-usap sa ibang tao.
Pagkababa ko naman, dumiretsyo naman ako sa sala kung saan naririnig ko sila sila na nag-uusap. When I reach them, may mga dress and suits sa boxes doon. Tinawag naman ako ni mama para sukatin ko daw ang damit ko.
"What is this for?" tanong ko naman.
"It's the gala night, Ley!" hinagis naman niya sa akin iyong dress na susuotin ko, "try to fit your dress, ako nang bahala sa hair and make up mo later."
"What about Veronica?" I asked.
She nodded, "I got her."
Pansin kong kaming tatlo lang ang nandito, wala iyong mga kuya ko at si papa.
"Where's dad?"
"He's on a urgent meeting, I don't know what it is, but maybe for the gala later." Sabi naman ni mama. "Have you seen Larry, Ley? He's been drinking again, left all the bottles at the kitchen." I shook my head. No'ng umalis si kuya Larry kagabi, hindi pala kwarto ang ipinunta niya? Wherever he goes, sana hindi makakasama sa kanya. "Hope he goes home early, kailangan pa naman siya sa gala mamaya."
"Maybe he's somewhere..." iyon na lang din ang nasabi ko, "excuse me!" ani ko saka ako pumanik sa kwarto ko para sukatin ang dress ko.
Sinukat ko naman kaagad ang dress ko. It is a combination of white and black, the length goes lower the knee and it's good on me, and the fit is okay. Ate Loira did something good on this. Well, she owned a fashion house—she's one of the designer and she did this dress for us kaya hindi na siya nagsukat sa amin because she knows already.
My phone buzz and I check it out who messaged me, and my chest run fast as I read his name. Medyo nakakapanibago dahil pangalan na niya ang nakikita ko sa screen.
Harvin:
Hi! Sorry for the late reply but I just want you to know that you're enough, thank you's enough and you don't have to do anything for me. And I may have a good news for you.
And then someone knocked the door and ate Loira came in.
"Does it fit?" she asked, I stood up and nodded to her, "wow, it does look good on you!"
"Yes, the designer did the best."
"That's why you got the best sister." Aniya saka niya ako hinarap sa full length mirror, "never mind your brother's atleast you got a sister like me..." she giggles.
I chuckles, "I am lucky to have you..."
She pinched my cheeks, "anyway, I was waiting for your resume. Hindi po sine-send sa akin."
"As a matter of fact, I was waiting for something." Ngiwi ko pa.
"Stick to one masyado! Send me your resume para more chances of winning!" tawa pa ni ate.
And a message came through. "And this is what I'm waiting..." at nang tingnan ko naman ang message niya sa akin ay ngiti na lang din ang lumabas sa mukha ko.
"Anong ngiti 'yan Leanne?" tanong ni ate.
Pinakita ko naman sa kanya 'yong message ni Harvin.
Harvin:
Congrats! You got the job, it's like we're going to see more of each other. ;)
Nanlaki naman ang mata ni ate ng mabasa niya iyo.
"You got in," aniya, "but this guy is so into you, Ley! Congrats!" niyakap naman niya ako ng mahigpit. "I'm so happy for you!"
"Me too ate but you're choking me."
She laughed, "anyway, I have to meet that Harvin okay?"
I shrugged, saka niya ako pinalo, "okay ate, soon, I don't know..."
"Better be on it." Ngiti pa ni ate saka lumabas ng kwarto ko.
Agad ko namang nireplayan si Harvin.
Me:
Thank you so much! This mean so much to me, you are a gift!
And a minute, I got a reply.
Harvin:
Welcome... anyway, so are you. ;)
What's with the wink emoticon? I don't know kung ano ano iyong pinagsasabi ni ate Loira na he's into me. Gumagawa lang si ate ng kung ano ano para lang masabing hindi ako alone.
"And now you're done, Ley!" Ate Loira said. "You'll become someone else tonight."
Napatango na lang din naman ako sa sinabi niya.
After ng hair and make-up ay sinuot ko na 'yong dress ko. I just thought of what my sister said, if I can be anyone else in my physical attributes, how can I be anyone else inside? Kung hindi mo nga ako makilala sa panlabas na anyo, pero hindi naman nagbago iyong nararamdaman ko. I mean, the anxiety never goes away.
Half an hour later ay tinawag na kami ni mama para umalis na. Kuya Larry didn't show up, also Lexus. Tahimik lamang ako sa biyahe. Si Veronica lang din naman ang nag-iingay, hindi na pinapansin ni ate Loira dahil mas lalong mangungulit lang.
Nang marating naman namin ang venue, syempre, hindi ko maiwasan ang maintimidate sa mga tao na nandito ngayon. Hindi ako sanay humarap sa mga tao lalo na't kilala sila. Habang papasok nga kami sa loob ng ay sinasalubong kami ng iba't ibang tao, they greeted us at ngiti lang din naman ang nakukuha nila sa akin.
I can't start a word.
"Oh, look who's here!" napatingin naman kami sa isang guest nang magsalita ito, agad naman kaming napalingon sa likod ay nakita namin si Lexus.
"Glad you came, son." Father said and patted his shoulder. He just nodded to his father, "hope Larrione changed his mind too."
The event started but someone caught me off guard.
"Didn't know you're here..." he smiles.
"Harvin..." and then I just stared at him, blankly.