Ford's PoV
"Ford," kaharap ko ngayon si Drag. Matapos naming pumunta sa amusement park ay dumiretso kami sa office niya. Nandoon si Lorice sa office ko.
Hindi ko alam kung ano ang sasabihin ni Dragon sa akin. I don't know if will he get mad. Dahil isa ng kompanya niya sa mga nasali sa tsismis, tungkol sa amin ni Lorice.
"I'm happy for you." imbis na sigawan o pagalitan o paalisin ay iyon ang natanggap ko mula sa kanya. Indeed he's my big brother. And I'm so proud of having him.
"Sorry, nadamay pa itong kompanya dahil sa akin--"
"No. I don't care. I can handle it. All I want is for my brothers happy with the girl you loved, like what I feel with Zoe. At itong company, I can handle it, wala kang dapat na ipag alala."
"Gusto ko rin na maranasan ninyo iyon nina Steve at Kiel. And now that you have found the girl you love, naka suporta lang ako sa inyo palagi. Even Zoe is happy nang mabasa niya yung article. Not everyone hates the news. We love it."
Napangiti ako dahil doon. It's kinda weird hearing Dragon's advices na parang tatay talaga. But he understands me. I know he do. That's I'm still lucky to have him as my kuya.
"Maiba ako," rinig kong sabi niya. "Ilalabas mo ba ang girlfriend mo sa media? Meron din kasing mga reporters na sumusunod sa inyo."
"Kung ako ang tatanungin, I don't want to. I just want to be happy with her. Ewan ko dyan sa mga paparazzi na yan. They keep on stalking other's lives."
Natawa si Drag. "You're right."
"Pero kung papayag siya, then I will show her to them para tumigil na sila."
Tinapik niya ako sa balikat ko. "Okay. Sabihin mo lang sa akin kung kailan magpapa set ng press con." I nod.
Bumalik ako sa opisina ko. And I saw her, sleeping. Sobrang napagod siya sa ginawa namin ngayong araw.
Pero naisip ko lang kung tatanungin ko siya kung papayag ba siyang lumabas sa media at nagpakilala bilang girlfriend ko sa harap ng lahat, will she say yes? I hope so.
Lumabas muna ako sandali para bumili ng maiinom nang makita ko si Tracy. She's here again?
"TOTOO BA TALAGANG MAY PINALIT KA NA SA'KIN? I KNOW THAT YOU STILL HAVE THE RING--"
"I throw it out. I told you Tracy, naka move on na ako. And I am happy with my new girlfriend."
"Don't you know that you're dad is angry? Because of that news."
I know. And it hurts me so much. But I don't freaking care. I'm happy with her.
"He wants you to be--"
"I know. At dadalhin ko ang girlfriend ko sa party mamaya. I will show her to dad." kaagad ko na siyang tinalikuran nang marinig kong magsalita siya.
"Would you still choose her even if you lose everything you have now?" tanong niya.
That question. Hindi na ako nag isip pa. Of course I will choose Lorice than them. Yes, she may be only my fake girlfriend but she makes me happy.
May pamilya nga ako pero gahaman naman at mukhang pera. Laging pera na lang ang iniisip.
"The party tonight is cancelled. But your dad wants me to tell you that a dinner will be happening tonight. At your grandma's house. I'm sure, she'll probably not be accepted by your grandma."
Nang nilingon ko siya ay naglakad na siya papaalis. A dinner in grandma's house? Napakatagal ko nang hindi nakakapunta roon.
Unti unting ginapang ng kaba ang dibdib ko. Knowing grandma, she never accepted any girl to be my girlfriend. She even didn't know that Tracy and I were ex-couple.
Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko, ngayon pa na nagugustuhan ko na si Lorice.
Bumalik ako sa office. And I saw her, kakagising lang. At lahat ng kaba na nasa dibdib ko, nawalang lahat.
"Hey." lumapit ako sa kanya. I sit beside her. "Lorice, I wanna ask you something."
"Ano yon?"
"Payag ka bang i reveal natin sa media na tayo? I mean--"
Tumango siya. "Alam ko rin namang mangyayari to, Ford. Kaya sige, sa media lang naman. Madali lang naman siguro yon diba?"
This girl. She's really different.
"Talaga? If you don't want, pwede naman nating--"
"Madadamay ang kompanyang to. Alam ko rin na galit ang papa mo dahil sa nabalitaan niya. Kaya, tutulungan kita sa parteng to Ford."
I looked at her eyes. Her face. Then she smiled. Medyo nagulo ang buhok niya kaya inayos ko iyon. But... while I'm doing it, there's a part of my memory's puzzle na parang nadagdag.
Her eyes... And Lorice's eyes were... same.
Di kaya, siya...yon?
Ford, stop the nonsense.
"By the way, there will be a family dinner in my grandma's house. And they want to see you there."
"Grandma?" tanong niya. I nodded.
"My grandpa's sister, and my mother's mother. She invited us for a dinner."
Napatango siya. I don't know why. Then she smiled again. Hindi ko alam kung bakit. But... seeing her like that, makes me like her more.