Chapter Twenty Two
"That Sinking Feeling"
Daniel Rouge Gustilyo's Point of View
"Event starts at 8 pm!" The organizer yelled at everyone as he claps his hands for everyone to stop being sloppy and start being attentive to his orders.
It's 5 in the evening at maraming tao na ang nagsisidatingan meanwhile, Theo's nowhere to be seen. Kanina pa siya hinahanap ng Mom niya at kahit na ako ay kanina pa din naghahanap sa kaniya. Simula kasi nang lumabas siya ng kwarto ko kaninang umaga, umalis din daw kaagad ito matapos magbihis at 'di man lang ipinagsabi kung saan ito pumunta.
Kahit nga ako 'di alam kung saan siya pumunta.
Nakaupo lang ako sa loob ng kwarto habang patuloy naman ang sipagdatingan ng mga regalo sa loob ng kwarto ko, Abeline wants me to see all of them before they get displayed. She wants me to check them if magugustuhan ko daw, maids bring them in at sinasabi sa akin kung kanino nanggaling ang mga regalo.
May bigla namang dumating na malaking kumpol ng bulaklak sa loob ng kwarto ko. The maid read it, "It's from sir Eric Villanueva." Ani ng maid sa akin at binigay ang letter. Kinuha ko naman ito atsaka binasa.
'Hey Dani, It's your special day today and I wish you happiness in this world full of misery. You're really special to me and I hope you know your worth. I love you. Happy birthday babe.'
Napangiti naman ako nang mabasa ko ito. Si Eric talaga. Kahit kailan prince charming na prince charming kung umasta. Kahit ang sulat ng kamay nito parang pang prince charming din.
Nagpalinga-linga lang ako sa loob ng kwarto at tiningnan ang mga tao na nagkukumpulan sa labas ng bahay mula sa balcony ng kwarto ko.
There are too many unfamiliar faces. Wala nga akong kilala kahit sino man sa kanila.
Taking a deep sigh, I took a glance on the clock that was placed on top of my desk. It was still five in the evening, but Theo still isn't here. Baka may pinuntahan na naman na importante kaya hinayaan ko na siya. There's still three hours left and maybe he was busy with some last minute errands. He can still make it though. Boys don't take that long enough to dress themselves.
I was so busy fiddling with my hair when suddenly there was a knock on my door, it was his grandpa. This old man is very silent pero mabait din itong matandang 'to. Kahit na matanda na ito, ang sigla parin nito pero malumanay kung magsalita. Although I'm afraid of getting close to him kasi baka isang maling galaw ko lang lagot na ako sa kaniya.
He was carrying with him a small box and he smiled at me when he approached me. "I have a present for you Dani." He said. "Today's your special day right?" Tanong nito sa akin as he opens the box in front of me. "I had this custom made sa Italy from Cartier, I hope you like this." Ani ni Lolo Thomas sa akin as he shows me the swarovski made locket. Tapos sa loob nito may pangalang Daniel Rouge.
"The name Daniel Rouge really suits you." Inalis niya muna ang suot kong gold na necklace at pinatong ito sa higaan ko. He then carefully inserted the necklace on my neck at pinasuot ito sa akin. I hugged him.
"Thank you so much po Lolo." Ani ko sa kaniya habang yakap-yakap siya. He just caressed my back and said, "Anything for my son." His voice was really soothing that I never felt any ounce of nervousness, maybe because it felt like he was someone I could trust to.
After that, he excused himself at lumabas na dahil madami pa daw itong bisitang kakausapin. Naupo na lamang ulit ako sa loob ng kwarto ko then suddenly there were two makeup artists na pumasok para ayusan na ako. They did my hair and my makeup and it took them some time to finish.
They had my hair wet and brushed it up to the top of my head. Dahil mas bagay daw sa stoic ko na pagmumukha and as usual I had my red lipstick and my eyes were painted with smoky eyes to emphasize my face even more. Napatingin naman ako sa mukha ko sa mirror.
Being a woman indeed suits me better than being a man.
I thought to myself.
...
"Dear can you try and contact Theo?" Tanong sa akin ng mommy nito. "He's not answering his phone. The event will start in an hour." She added kaya tinry kong idial ang number nito but still, Theo's not answering his phone.
"Mom he's not answering his phone." Ani ko sa kaniya. I let it out of frustration.
Nakabihis na ako ng damit ko at ang ganda-ganda ko na sa mirror. Kulang na lang talaga si Theo. Hindi parin kasi siya dumadating ni kahit anino nito 'di mo makita sa loob ng bahay. He's been missing for the past few hours already and no one knows where he is and where he went! Lagot talaga 'yon sa akin kapag hindi 'yon sumipot ngayong araw.
Escort ko pa naman kasi 'yon!
Umalis na muna si Abeline dahil marami pa itong aasikasuhin. Pagkaraan ng ilang minuto, may biglang bumukas ng pintuan ko and it was Eric. "Hey, I wanted to check — you... out." His mouth gaped when he saw me turn around to face him.
"Shit." He uttered in complete disbelief dahil sa nakita nito ako. Nanlaki ang mga mata nito.
"What?" Nahihiya kong tinanong sa kaniya. He was wearing a tuxedo and he looks dazzling. A modern prince charming.
Bigla naman akong nanlamig kaya napahawak ako sa katawan ko. Kasalanan naman kasi ng gown eh, wala man lang pantakip sa taas ko. Ngayon parang wala akong damit sa itaas. Tubed pa naman itong gown na'to.
Napatingin na lamang ako sa sahig, kaya siguro nanlalamig ako kasi iniwan ako ni Theo?
Ganun ba 'yun?
Eric went closer to me at hinalikan ako sa kamay ko. "You look pretty tonight." Ani Eric na ikinamula ko naman.
"Are you saying that I look pretty tonight? Just tonight?" He nodded not knowing what I was trying to ask him.
Eric is so bad at words.
"I hate you."
"I really like you." He looks like he's been captivated kasi hindi man lang ito kumukurap at napapatingin lang sa akin. Not even minding what I was trying to ask him, minding if it was offensive enough.
"Ugh. Stop it Eric. I already feel so miserable tonight." Ani ko sa kaniya.
"Hey, don't frown. It's your special day kaya." Ani Eric. "Why? Is there something wrong?" I slumped my feet on the ground. He might had noticed my frustration.
"Theo's been missing for hours already at 'di ko man lang siya macontact." I vent out of frustration.
"That guy." Napapa-iling na sinabi nito. "Always missing on important occasions." He added, "I'll try and ask people out there kung nakita nila si Theo."
"Yeah, As if may nakakita sa kaniya." I exclaimed, he just laughed at me at dahan-dahang lumabas ng kwarto but before that, he kissed my hand.
Nag-ikot-ikot ulit ako sa loob ng kwarto ko. Nasaan na ba si Theo? Bakit 'di man lang siya nag-text sa akin?
I tried dialling his phone number again and I was lucky that he answered it finally.
I took a heave sigh of relief as I ask him, "Nasa'n kana?" Nag-aalala kong tanong sa kaniya."Saan ka ba pumunta?" Dagdag ko pa.
"I'm on my way." He said, at naririnig ko naman itong nagda-drive. "I'm so sorry, traffic lang talaga." He added.
"Shit." He uttered, narinig ko naman ang pagbosena ng kaniyang sasakyan.
"Okay,..." sagot ko naman sa kaniya. Not trying to sound suspicious dahil may masama akong kutob.
Although I don't know what it is specifically. Basta.
"Hey, Dan. Are you mad?" Tanong nalang nito sa akin.
Ako? Galit? I'm not mad. I'm just really tired, I just feel so hopeless kasi kahit sa birthday ko ngayong araw hindi man lang nito matuon ang kaniyang atensyon sa akin. He's always doing errands for the past few days and excusing himself every after practice kun'di kaya mawawala na lang na parang bula.
To sum it all up I am disappointed.
Napatingin na lamang ako sa mga taong nagkukumpulan sa labas ng bintana ko.
Ang saya nila...
I know I should be happy tonight. It's my special day after all. Pero buong araw, wala ako ibang inisip kun'di ang magtaka kung ba't nalang biglang nawala si Theo?
"No, I am not." I uttered nonchalantly but disappointment is evident in my voice. Suddenly I heard him let out a sigh. It was an excruciated sigh.
"I'll explain everything when I get home. Just then please don't be sad. It's your special night."
Theo, tell me. How can I not be sad when it's you who was the reason of my sadness after all? Your attention is not on me, its in something else.
I let out a sigh then just ended his call. Ayaw kong i-entertain 'tong tawag na'to. It's better to talk it out face to face. Whatever his reason is I know it's something important.
It's my big night at ayaw kong sirain ang araw ko mismo dahil sa anxiety na'to.
I know I used to look forward to this day pero ngayon, I just want to get this over and done with.
I know my feelings is already sinking down and it's not healthy anymore.
I decided to go out of my room at nakasalubong ko naman si Abeline. "Dani dear, have you contacted Theo?" I nod at her.
"He's on his way na po." I answered.
"Good. Now, don't feel sad okay? Baka masira ang makeup mo. You look pretty pa naman tonight." She cheered me up as she cupped my chin to tap them lightly, she might had noticed the gloom on my face kaya ngumiti naman ako sa kaniya.
"Andami naman pong tao sa labas?" Ani ko nalang rito.
"You know the Gustilyos is a pretty prominent family in the country. So you should be proud that you're almost a part of it!" She exclaimed. "Don't worry, may mga kakilala ka naman."
"Nandiyan po ba sina Mama?" Her forehead creased.
"I'm sorry dear but they can't go to the event." Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako.
"Oh, okay."
"Hey, cheer up." Ngumiti na lamang ako sa kaniya and she pulled me next to a woman na dadalhin naman ako sa venue.
"Theo's already here." Ani ng babae sa kaniya. The woman then instructed me of what to do at pinaupo na lamang ako sa stage na natatabunan ng isang malaking kurtina sa taas ng grand stair case ng bahay.
Pinaupo nila ako at naghintay naman ako ng ilang minuto dahil magsisimula na ang play — a play in which I am the doll used for display. I can't help but feel like I'm that doll in a show and tell play.
Bigla namang dumating si Theo. He was wearing a tuxedo and his hair is slicked back. Then he was taken aback when he looked at me, "Shit you look so gorgeous tonight." Ani nito sa akin. Hinalikan naman nito ang kamay ko at namula ako. It just feels like the sadness he gave me started drifting away.
Pero 'di parin ako nakangiti. "Hey, why so gloomy?" Tanong nito sa akin. "Something wrong?" He added.
Umiling lang ako at 'di ako tumingin sa kaniya. "Come on Dani. What's the problem?" He asked again.
Inalis ko ang kamay ko mula sa pagkakahawak nito. "Wala nga." I tried my best not to sound irritated but I failed, anger took its own toll on me.
"Look, I'm sorry okay?" Hinawakan niya ako sa braso just so I could face him pero tinulak ko lang ito.
"Theo, just please stop bothering me. It's my special day, don't ruin it." I added acting as if I was okay but actually I am not. I diverted my own attention to something else as I try to roll my eyes just to prevent my self from crying. I just feel so miserable, parang tutulo na naman kasi ang mga luha ko.
S-hit. I really hate confrontations.
© 060720
AN
071720 — First part of the surprise haha! Anyway, happy 5.2k reads!
HOPE YOU ENJOYED THE UPDATE 😉
Btw may naramdaman ba kayo sa chapter na'to? Ako misery eh i mean i feel bad for Rouge
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