#RTG07 Chapter 07
Papa was convinced na boyfriend ko si Sean, and kahit ano'ng deflect ang gawin ko, convinced na siya... Kaya naman para matahimik siya, I promised him that the next time na luluwas siya sa Manila, ipapa-kilala ko siya si Sean... At kung by that time ay wala na si Sean sa buhay ko, sasabihin ko kay Papa na namatay sa aksidente si Sean.
"I never thought this day would come!" Clary exaggeratedly said when I sent a text asking to borrow a dress para sa party ng mom ni Sean. I looked at my closet and was immensely disappointed dahil wala akong damit para sa ganoong party. Binigyan kasi ako ni Sean ng invitation... and sa invitation pa lang, alam ko na kung anong klaseng party iyon.
Agad akong natawa nang makita ko na may mga naka-latag na na dress sa kama ni Clary. May mga boxes din ng sapatos sa paanan ng kama.
"You're really excited," I told her.
She nodded. "Yes! I told you; you'd make a great model!" sabi niya. Kapag kasi walang prof sa school, ako ang pinagti-tripan ni Clary kapag wala siyang maka-chismisan. She'd bring out her makeup at kung anu-ano ang gagawin sa mukha ko.
The next minutes, pina-suot lang sa akin ni Clary iyong iba't-ibang damit niya. I was really nervous pero ayoko lang sabihin. Ayoko naman kasing magkalat doon sa party mamaya... Alam ko na mayaman talaga si Sean. Ayoko naman siyang ipahiya.
"Where's your review center ba?" she asked while trying to find the right shoes to match my black dress. It was just a simple dress tapos manipis na spaghetti strap and flowy. You can never go wrong with a black dress.
"Villamor," I replied.
"What? Why?! I thought we all agreed with Salao?" she whined.
I feigned surprise... Alam ko naman talaga na nagka-sundo na sila na sa Salao iyong review center na pipiliin namin daw para sama-sama kami sa soro... Pero ayoko silang kasama sa review dahil alam ko na sa club ang diretso namin malamang.
Graduate na rin ako doon.
4 years na akong puma-party. Tama na 'yun.
"Who's with you there?" she asked after settling with the strappy red heels. Ngayon naman ay nilabas niya iyong lalagyan niya ng jewelry. Casual lang. Akala mo hindi diamonds iyong naka-lagay doon.
"Not sure... I think Niko and his friends are there, too."
"Oh... So, Sancho, too?"
"I guess."
"Too bad you have Sean na, no? Sancho's got a huge crush on you kaya," she said while making me put on the teardrop diamond earring.
"What? No," I replied.
"Yes kaya," she said. "You're just always too vocal about not wanting to date law student, so he backed off first year pa lang."
What? Absurd. Crush ako nun? Wala nga kaming matinong pag-uusap nun, e.
"Anyway, you have Sean naman na, so his crush's moot and academic already," she said, and then beamed. "Finally! Perfect ensemble!"
Tumayo na ako, but she shook her head.
"Prepare here, please? I'll put make-up on you and then I'll just ask Manong to drive you back to your condo," she said, clasping her hands together. "Please, sis?"
I rolled my eyes. "Fine."
She really jumped. "Yay!" she shouted. "There's towel in the CR. Feel at home," she said.
Dumiretso na agad ako sa CR niya. She's living in a 2-floor condo, so malaki talaga... 'Di ko alam if corrupt iyong tatay ni Clary dahil anak siya ng governor... pero galing din naman sa mayaman na family iyong nanay niya... So, really, who could tell?
I took my time in taking a bath. Paglabas ko, Clary began to blow-dry my hair and then straightened. She parted my hair right in the middle and then tied it loosely. Then she proceeded with my makeup.
"Do you know Sean's family?" I asked because they probably run in the same circle. Mga mayayaman.
"Not really," she said. "Are you nervous?"
"Very."
"Don't be," she said. "Just be yourself. You're not a gold-digger naman, so you'll be fine."
I laughed. "Really?"
"Yeah... They have a way of knowing."
"How come?"
"I don't know. Once, my brother dated this girl and my mom absolutely hated her. We all didn't understand the hatred because at that point, it was kinda over the top, but then later, we all realized, after Mom massively violated Kuya's privacy, that Kuya's basically paying for that girl's entire existence. His credit card was maxed out for the entire months they were dating. Mom was so mad," kwento niya habang nilalagyan ako ng red lipstick.
"Really?"
"Yeah," she said. "So, since then, Kuya's credit limit was down to a hundred thousand a month na lang."
Wow.
Hundred thousand a month lang.
"I'm done!" sabi niya. I looked at my reflection at the mirror and was in awe... Ang galing ni Clary! Ang light lang ng make-up na nilagay niya sa akin, but for some reason, she was able to accentuate my features... mostly iyong mga mata ko... They looked more alive...
I told Clary na kahit 'wag na iyong alahas niya dahil natatakot ako na baka mawala, but she told me na insured naman daw 'yung diamonds niya, so I needed not worry.
Rich people, really.
I told Sean na nasa condo ako nila Clary and he told me na dito na lang niya ako susunduin. Si Clary naman, sabi niya ipapa-hatid niya na lang sa driver niya iyong gamit ko and ipapa-iwan na lang sa lobby. She's a nice friend, really. Kahit lagi ko siyang niloloko na puro kaartehan lang siya, she's always willing to help me kasi sisters daw kami.
"Enjoy!" she said, kissing both my cheeks as she walked me out the door. Pagbaba ko, agad kong naabutan si Sean. His lips parted at the sight of me—ganon din ako sa kanya. He was wearing a tuxedo... and for a second there, it felt like he was born to wear one. Lalo na at naka-brush up iyong buhok niya.
"Damn..." he said nang maka-lapit ako sa kanya. His hands were on the sides of my waist. He bit his lower lip as he stared at me.
"What?" I asked, suddenly feeling conscious dahil sa paraan ng pagtingin niya sa akin.
He smiled, shaking his head. "You look very beautiful," he replied.
Agad na namula ang pisngi ko. "Thanks. You don't look too bad yourself," sagot ko sa kanya. Gusto ko sanang sabihin na sobrang gwapo niya, pero sure ako na alam niya na 'yun. Araw-araw ba naman niyang makita 'yang mukha na 'yan. Ano kaya ang feeling nun? Na ang saya makita ng mukha mo sa salamin?
"Ready to go?" he asked.
"Sure," I replied.
Kinakabahan talaga ako. Even though Clary told me that I shouldn't worry, kinakabahan pa rin ako. Of course, pamilya 'to ni Sean. As much as their validation wasn't necessary per se, of course mas gusto ko na magustuhan nila ako. Pero ayoko namang maging trying hard. Ayokong sumipsip sa kanila.
"You're quiet," he said.
"What if your family doesn't like me?"
"Highly doubt that," he replied.
"But what if?"
He shrugged. "Then they don't," sagot niya. Napa-angat ang kilay ko. Sakto na napa-hinto ang sasakyan dahil sa traffic light. He looked at me, reaching my hand and holding it. "Your relationship is with me, not them. I'm introducing you as formality—it's not me asking for their permission."
Hindi ko napigilan ang pagsilay ng ngiti sa mukha ko. He's really so sure of me... kahit hindi ko talaga maintindihan kung bakit.
Sean Denver Cuesta's got it bad for me.
"Okay?" he asked.
"Okay," I replied, nodding.
"If anyone's rude to you, tell me, okay?"
I arched my brow. "What will you do?"
He just smiled. "Just be yourself," he replied, instead. "That's what got me in the first place, anyway."
I forgot if Sean told me kung saan gaganapin iyong birthday ng nanay niya... I was a bit surprised nang pumasok kami sa Forbes Park. I pursed my lips. He's really rich, wasn't he? Sobrang mahal ng per square meter sa lugar na 'to.
We stopped in front of a house that had an old feel to it. Yup. Sean's definitely from an old rich family. I knew it even then... this just cemented the fact.
"Ready?" he asked.
"Let's do it," I replied, shrugging.
Pagpasok pa lang namin, ramdam ko na agad iyong tingin ng mga tao sa akin. Of course, they'd look. I was a new face. Tapos katabi pa ako ng anak ng birthday celebrant.
But Sean, being the gentleman that he was, introduced me to everyone as his girlfriend... I was starting to feel really bad na hindi ko siya pinakilala sa pamilya ko kasi heto siya, pinapa-kilala ako sa lahat bilang girlfriend niya... Tapos ako, ang dami kong pagdududa na hindi siya seryoso sa akin.
May mas seryoso pa ba rito? It's like he made a fucking declaration that he's officially off the market!
"Where's your mom?" I asked him nang matapos kami sa pagpapakilala. "Is there a grand intro?" tanong ko.
He laughed. "What? No," he replied. "She's probably here somewhere..." sagot niya sabay tingin sa paligid... Tapos ay tumuro siya roon sa isang gilid. May naka-tayong isang babae at may kausap sa waitress. "That's my mom," Sean said.
I watched his mom. Mukhang nakikipag-usap lang sa waitress at kumuha ng pagkain na dala. Tapos kumuha rin siya ng champagne doon sa dumaan na waiter.
"I'll introduce you," Sean said, pulling me with him.
Nang papalapit kami, narinig ko na tinatanong ng nanay ni Sean kung ano iyong recipe nung kinakain niya sa waitress. His mom's voice sounded so soothing. Biglang nawala iyong kaba ko.
"Mom," Sean called.
Nang tumingin sa amin iyong nanay niya, her eyes widened a bit. "Oh... Is this her?" she asked, looking at Sean who nodded. "Nice to meet you, hija," sabi niya.
I smiled. "Happy birthday po," I said.
"Thank you," she replied. "Sean told me you're reviewing for the BAR. Did he drag you here?"
I immediately shook my head. "No po," I said with matching hand gesture.
She laughed. "Drop the po. You're making me feel much older," she said. "Just call me Tita Shirley."
I smiled. "Okay, Tita."
Sean excused himself. My system went in panic dahil iiwan niya ako kasama iyong nanay niya! I mean, she seemed nice, pero paano kung mabait lang siya sa akin sa harap ng anak niya?
"Don't be nervous," Tita Shirley said, smiling. "Are you nervous, hija?"
I just smiled. Alangan namang sabihin ko na kinakabahan ako?
"I won't bite, don't worry," she continued. "How long have you two been dating?" she asked. "I mean, if you don't mind me asking."
"Few weeks, Tita," I replied.
She nodded. "Is he treating you well?"
"Very well," sagot ko. Alam kaya niya na dinala ako ng anak niya sa Maldives? Baka isipin niya rin na gold digger ako! Hindi ko naman hiniling 'yun! Nagulat na lang ako sa trip ni Sean! Ready na lahat, e! Ano pang gagawin ko?
"Good," Tita said. "I raised that boy to be a gentleman. I expect nothing short of that from him."
I smiled.
This... was so different from what I was expecting. Akala ko talaga magiging issue sa kanya na hindi ako mayaman kagaya nila... But wala naman siyang natatanong na ganoon sa akin.
After that, nagtanong lang si Tita sa akin tungkol sa law school at kung ano ang plano ko after. She told me na may mga kilala siyang may-ari ng firm and if I needed any recommendation, she'd be very happy to help.
So nice of her.
Later on, dumating na si Sean at nagkwentuhan kaming tatlo... but Tita was quickly called kaya naman nagpaalam siya na aalis muna siya. Sabi niya, dumalaw daw ulit ako sa kanila para makapag-usap pa kami.
"So?" Sean said.
I sighed. "She's so nice."
"Told you."
"Hindi kaya! You didn't tell me your mom's super nice!"
Sean laughed. "It was fun seeing you panic."
I glared at him. "Jerk," I said. "Where's your dad?"
"Died a few years back," sagot niya.
My face fell. "Oh..."
"It's okay," sabi niya. "We all knew it was coming."
Hindi na lang ako sumagot. I'd never be prepared to lose a parent. Kahit pa sabihin na alam ko na na mamamatay, a part of me would still surely die along with my parents...
"How about your siblings?" tanong ko na lang.
"I think they're on the way," sabi niya.
Sean told me before na siya lang ang nagka-interes na maging doctor sa kanilang magkakapatid. Nasa ibang field iyong dalawang kapatid niya at sobrang workaholic daw. Hindi sila pinilit ng magulang nila na maging interesado sa medicine kahit na iyon ang family business nila. Mabuti na lang nandyan si Sean. Siya tuloy iyong magmamana nung St. Matthew's.
After almost 2 hours, nagpaalam si Sean na ihahatid na ako pauwi. Tita Shirley made me promise na bibisita ako sa bahay nila para makapagkwentuhan kami. Kinabahan lang pala ako sa wala! She's super nice! Parang super comforting niya as a person. Nakita ko kung saan nagmana si Sean. Ganyan din kasi siya minsan, e. Kahit iyong mere presence niya lang, ang comforting na agad.
"Where do you wanna eat?" Sean asked.
"Ha? Just drive me home," sagot ko dahil hindi pa naman tapos iyong party and pwede pa siyang bumalik doon. May mga ka-age din siya kasi na nasa party na anak ata ng mga kaibigan ni Tita Shirley. Obvious na hindi big fan ko iyong mga babae, pero pakielam ko sa kanila? Nanay nga ng jowa ko, gusto ako, e.
"Let's eat first," he replied. "Or you wanna get takeout?"
"Won't Tita look for you?"
"No, she knows I'm with you."
"Okay, fine," sagot ko. "But you can't stay for long, okay? I have class tomorrow."
"Oh, I know," he said bago kami dumiretso sa fave resto namin ni Sean. Ang alam ko talaga bawal ang takeout sa resto na 'yun, pero family friend ata ni Sean iyong may-ari kaya pumapayag kapag siya. Mayor talaga 'tong lalaki na 'to. Daming kilala.
Pagdating namin sa condo ko, magpapalit na sana ako ng damit nang biglang pinigilan ako ni Sean.
"What?" I asked while I was taking off the diamond jewelries.
"Can I take off your clothes?" he asked with that naughty smile.
"This isn't mine! You can't rip it off!" I warned him because he had a history of destroying my clothes! Dumating kaya sa point na naubos na panty ko kaya hinila ko talaga siya sa mall at pinagbayad ng binili kong panty. Aba, alangan namang mabuhay ako ng walang panty!
He chuckled. "I'll be careful," he said as he took a step forward.
I was glaring at him as he slid the strap of my dress off my shoulder. I could see Sean's eyes focused on getting the dress off of me. Para ngang hindi na siya humihinga habang pinapanood na mahulog iyong suot ko... until I was left with just my lace panty and red heels.
"Holy fuck," he cursed under his breath as he licked his lips.
"Sex?" I asked, my brow arched.
"Yes, please," he breathed. "But keep the heels on," sagot niya bago mabilis na umabante hanggang sa mapa-atras ako at mapa-higa sa kama.