Chapter 15: Good Time
Bree's POV..
Alex called me right after they arrived from Hong Kong. Ako na nag-drive sa kanya pauwi.
May business meeting pa kasing pupuntahan ang asawa niya kaya hindi na siya maihahatid pa nito.
Ang dami niyang dalang kwento, super kilig naman siya. At halatang masayang-masaya siya.
Sana nga at magtuloy-tuloy na ang kasiyahan sa buhay niya.
She already gave me her pasalubong from Hong Kong. Its a necklace with a sapphire pendant.
Sabi niya lucky charm ko daw sa love. Sana nga at gumana.
Tonight will be the network's annual Masquerade Ball for their talents.
Marco volunteered to be my escort. Do I have any choice? Well, if I do I will chose Sir Ric.
God, why can't the ones we love can love us back? And those we don't kept on chasing at us?
I dismissed the thought, it just ruins my makeup. I'm wearing a tafetta dress in white diamond.
It's accentuated with crystals at the center back. This is designed by none other than my best friend and young designer, Alexandria Olchondra-Yoshinori.
Bagay na bagay ang surname niya.
Then Marco came in advance to pick me up.
He's handsome with his black tux with a goldrush tie.
"Wow sweetie, you're gorgeous! Tonight, I will be every men's envy because I have the most beautiful piece of art God made," he smiled.
Nambola pa. Sana pwede kong ilipat ang nararamdaman ko para kay Ric sayo. Kaso hindi pwede.
"Nambola pa, tara na. We might miss the ball," I replied.
Camera flashes everywhere as we mounted from the car. Reporters kept on asking questions.
Why they can't let us live peacefully just for this night? We still need privacy, right?
Unfortunately, one reporter cornered us and asked several questions.
"Miss Brianna Hernandez, gaano po ba katotoo yung balitang kayo na daw po ni Mr. Marco Aragon? Totoo po bang may balak na kayong magpakasal?" she asked.
Grabe, nahihibang na ba ang reporter na ito? I don't know what she's saying. Bakit ko naman papakasalan si Marco?
I smiled widely at her and said, "First, I want to clear that there's nothing going on between Marco and I. We're good friends and right at this moment we're in a romantic state. As to your second question, maybe my first answer gave justice to it. No wedding bells."
"Bakit po may mga kumakalat na mga litrato ninyong dalawa at super sweet pa," she asked again.
Aba ang bruha, nagtanong pa. Di na nakuntento sa sagot ko kanina. Sasagot na sana uli ako nang biglang magsalita na si Marco.
"She already said we're friends. Super close lang talaga kami ni Bree kaya ganoon kami ka-sweet sa isa't-isa, yun lang yun. If ever man na maging kami or may kasalang mangyayari ay ako na mismo ang magpapa-interview. Baka ipagsigawan ko pa sa buong mundo," he said then smiled at me.
Don't smile at me Marco, you break my heart in pieces. I can't reciprocate whta you feel for me. Not now, not anymore. Maybe before, but right now Ric captured my heart.
We went inside and have some small talk with our co-stars and other artists.
I can feel that almost men stare at me, envious eyes at Marco. Naku, ano ba yan.
Don't stare at me men, I want only one here. The one in the..
Where is he? Is he not going to attend?
Nalungkot naman ako bigla. Nakakainis, nagpaganda pa naman ako para sa kanya.
Tapos di ko man pala siya makikita. Hmp. Paano na ang effort ko?
Kamusta naman ang lucky charm ko galing Hong Kong? Bakit naman di gumagana?
Naiiyak na ako. Kung sa tingin niyo OA ako, edi OA na ako. Para namang di niyo naramdaman o nararamdaman tong nararamdaman ko ngayon.
Ito yung todo-effort ka para mapansin ka ng taong importante sayo tapos wala man siya. Okaya naman sa iba yung atensyon niya.
That fucking empty feeling that devours my whole being. Argh!
Then someone bowed in front of me and smiled.
"May I ask you gorgeous to dance with me?"
Marco asked.
I just smiled at him and clasped my hand to his.
We danced. Just danced and stared at each other's eyes.
Tapos bigla siyang nagpatawa, natawa naman ako. Sana siya na lang ang pinag-uukulan ko ng ganitong damdamin. Sana siya na lang para di na masakit.
We danced in several songs and my feet were already aching. When I was about to ask him to let me sit for awhile and rest, someone spoke behind me.
"Pretty lady, may I have the pleasure to dance with you?" he asked.
I spun around and gasped. God, it's Ric! Is this real? Did he just asked me to dance?
"Of course Sir Ric," I smiled at him and at Marco. He just nodded and Ric patted his shoulders.
He put his hand on my waist and the other on my back. I, on the other hand, rested my hand on his shoulders.
I cannot contain my happiness. He just doen't know how happy he made me.
At first, we just danced in silence. He cleared his throat and spoke.
"Brianna," he said.
"Yes, sir Ric?" I replied with a smile.
"You should smile more, it makes you more beautiful. And please, stop with calling me Sir Ric. Just Ric, please. I look old with that, I'm just a year ahead of you," he said.
What? Isang taon lang ang tanda niya sa akin? E di 27 na siya? Sobrang bata pa niya talaga para humawak nang ganitong network.
"Okay Ric, I'll call you Ric from now on. Then if I'll call you with just Ric, then you have to call me Bree," I bargained at him.
"Bree then, it sounds cuter though. I saw you at the red carpet being harassed by a reporter awhile ago. I thought the rumors are true," he said.
Oh no, alam pala niya. Buti na lang at nagsabi ako ng totoo sa reporter kanina. Hayy, baka akalain pa niyang kami ni Marco at magpapakasal na.
"As what I've mentioned earlier, Marco and I are just friends, super close friends, that's all. And about the rumors of a marriage, it's just nothing. Maybe some other avid fan of ours invented it," I replied calmly.
He stared straight into my eyes. Ano to, tine-test niya kung nagsasabi ba ako ng totoo? Grabe, kahit buong magdamag niya akong i-eye-to-eye malalaman niyang honest akong tao.
Then we danced again and again. And when are feet got tired, we went to the verandah outside.
We talked about many things we could talk about: politics, showbiz industry, economy, some personal stuff.
He's funny too. Or maybe it's just only him that makes me laugh like this?
I'm having a good night with him when I heard my name being called out inside.
I won as the Lady of the night and Marco as the gentleman of the night.
He extended his hand to mine. I was hesitant to go with him. And I don't want to go inside and claim my crown and their applause.
Happiness is just right here with me, standing in front of me.
"Why?" he asked.
"I don't want to go there. Nakaka-suffocate na ang attention nila sa amin ni Marco. Kapag pumunta ako doon lalo lang lalala ang spekulasyon nilang may something sa amin kahit wala naman," I said honestly.
"Okay, let's go." He reached for my hand and tugged me to follow him.
We took the stairs in the verandah. We fled from the ball.
Nakakatuwa, sinamahan niya akong tumakas.
We mounted on his Jaguar and sped away as city lights cascades at us.
Hinatid na niya ako sa condo ko.
"Good night Bree, I had a great night with you. Thanks for the company," he said then kissed the back of my hand.
"Good night Ric, I also had a great night with you. I should thank you more because you helped me sneak out. I had a good time," I said sweetly.
"Bye Bree," then he left.
“Take care,” pahabol ko.
O-EM-GEE! He kissed my hand! And come to think of it, we had a nice conversation and I enjoyed it. We both did.
I should thank Alex more for the lucky charm she gave me. The sapphire brought me a good time with my beloved Ric.
I hope it will be as good as this night or even better.
A/N: Short UD lang. Masama ang pakiramdam ko ngayon. Yung JLMA sa thursday o friday na lang ang update. May klase na ako bukas kaya di ako pwedeng sumingit sa pag-uupdate. Make me feel better by commenting and voting :)
XOXO,
SERENDIPITY214