"How long are you planning to stay here?"
I asked Porch as we eat dinner at home. After ko magpa-facial kanina, umuwi agad ako dahil sobrang bothered ko sa nakita at nalaman ko today. Now, I'm acting as if wala akong nakita.
"I'm not sure yet. I'm not done taking care of my personal business here." He looked at me and stopped eating for a while. "Why, princess?" Nag isip agad ako ng palusot, pero walang pumapasok sa utak ko.
"Uhm, nothing!" Mabilis kong sagot sakaniya at iniba agad ang topic. "I've noticed that you're always out lately. I hope you're not busy tomorrow. It's my birthday." I pouted like a baby and he chuckled.
"Of course. Everyone's coming. I wouldn't miss it for the world." He continued eating and little did I know that I'm staring at him. I sighed.
"Porch, I saw you at the hospital a while ago." I blurted out. Mukhang hindi na kinaya ng bibig kong magpigil. I noticed that the color drained out of his face. He immediately stood up and bring his plate with him.
"I just visited a friend." I can feel that he's nervous. It's obvious in the tone of his voice. I watched him walked to the kitchen and went upstairs to his room. I want to squeeze the truth from him. I wonder bakit niya tinatago na siya ang nag aalaga kay Psyche and bakit hindi nila sinasabi ang sakit nito? I respect their privacy, medyo chismosa lang ako.
Bigla tuloy akong napaisip sa break-up nila ni Harry. Is it because Psyche is sick? Napasuklay ako sa buhok ko dahil naffrustrate na ako sa kaka-isip. I shrugged the idea off my mind.
I finished my food and went to my room. Kailangan ko mag beauty rest ngayon dahil dapat ako ang pinakamaganda bukas. Aba, dapat lang. Birthday ko, eh. Walang sasapaw.
I sat on my vanity mirror and applied skincare on my face, and placed a face mask I bought from Korea. I lay on the bed and scrolled on my Instagram feed to checked what should I upload next. I was about to post a selfie I took earlier at the derma clinic when Harry's phone number popped up on my screen. I groaned because I wasn't able to post it and answered the call instead.
"What?" I could not care to say hello anymore.
[Architect!] My forehead creased when I heard the guy who talked on the other line. I know that voice. [Help naman, Architect!]
I glanced at the number on my screen to check if it was really Harry because I believe that Jared is on the phone right now.
"What? Ano bang nangyayari?" I asked him, confused. Naupo ako mula sa pagkaka higa ko dahil sa mga naririnig ko. Nasa bar ba sila? I can hear a loud music at iba't ibang ingay galing sa mga tao.
[Tumba na po si Engr. Salvatore! Wala na akong ibang matawagan, eh. Hay nako! Engr., wag ka sumuka dito.] Frustration is evident in Jared's voice. I sighed.
Kazumi Celine, don't tell me pupunta ka para magpaka hero doon?
"Where are you?" I asked him and stood up habang inaalis ang face mask ko. Nilagay ko sa loud speaker ang tawag at nagbihis. I just put on an oversize sweater and a denim shorts. Myghad, wala ako ngayon sa mood pumorma dahil emergency lang naman ito.
[Dito sa the Island. Bilisan mo na po kasi nagwawala na rin siya. Hindi kaya ng powers ko!] I ended the call and fished my keys.
Damn, nasira na ang beauty rest ko dahil sa'yo Harry. Pasalamat ka talaga at patay na patay ako sa'yo. Can someone give me an award?
Hassle pa dahil malayo ang BGC sa Quezon City. After an hour, nakarating na rin ako dahil wala masyadong traffic. Sinalubong ako ni Jared sa entrance at sinamahan sa table nila ni Harry. We carried him to the car and told the bartender 'to ask someone to clean up the mess.
Nasa backseat si Harry na nakahiga at nasa shotgun seat si Jared. I drove them papunta sa condo ni Harry.
"Wala ba kayong trabaho bukas? Bakit kayo naglalasing?" I asked while driving.
"Sabi niya wala raw, pero don't worry Architect, tuloy ang trabaho sa site ng mga tao." I wasn't really pertaining to the project.
"Kasama namin 'yung ibang engineers kanina nagkayayaan lang po tapos etong si Engr. bigla bigla na lang tumutungga ng bote ng alak. Swapang!" He laughed a bit and sighed. "Broken po yata."
Siguro affected talaga siya masyado sa break-up nila ni Psyche. He's really a mess. I wonder kung ganito rin ba siya noong maghiwalay kami. Maybe not, kasi may kapalit agad ako. My heart hurt a bit. I glanced at him using the rear-view mirror. He's sleeping like a baby again.
"Does he know that you're half brothers?" I broke the silence between us. Medyo malayo pa kami sa condo ni Harry. He made a small smile and looked outside the window.
"Hindi pa po. Hindi ko alam kung paano sasabihin or kung okay lang ba sakaniya." He let out a sigh and closed his eyes for a while.
"Wala naman akong intensyon na agawin sakaniya kung anong meron siya. Gusto ko lang maging engineer sa kompanya nila at ma-experience kung paano maging Salvatore on my own." He smiled again at me and I just nodded. As much as I want to tell Harry what I know, I kept my mouth shut. They have their own reasons kung bakit hindi pa nila nasasabi ang mga bagay bagay– just like with Porch and Psyche's condition.
Nang makarating kami sa condo, iniwan ko muna si Jared sa kwarto ni Harry para mabihisan at mapunasan ito. I went to the kitchen to get him cold water. I noticed some picture frames in the living room so I decided to take a quick look. Harry's side features are the best, especially his jawline. He looks so hot with this angle.
Me, being the chismosa, opened the drawer in the living room. I saw some photos and small boxes. I was about to close it when I noticed a red velvet box inside. My heart skipped a bit because it looks like a wedding ring box!
Does he have plans marrying Psyche?
That thought made my heart ache. I slowly opened it and saw a necklace, instead of a ring. I gasped when I saw the name on it. Kazumi. It was a gold necklace with a name chained to it. I panicked when I heard Jared's footstep so I hurriedly returned the box inside the drawer.
I was breathing heavily when I handed him the glass of water. "Okay ka lang?" He asked me. I nodded and asked if Harry was settled in. We entered the room to take a quick check. Jared went out of the room first and I stayed for a few minutes.
I caress his hair before I kissed his forehead. Everything's gonna be alright. I whispered to him. Ang laki laki niyang tao, pero para siyang baby.
Okay lang sa'kin gawin kang baby, forever. I chuckled on my silly thoughts.
"I'm sorry." I felt him hold my wrist as I was about to leave. I think he's dreaming because his eyes were closed. I removed his hand and tucked it inside his comforter. "I'm sorry, Umi." His eyes are slightly open and closed it after a few seconds. I left the room and I headed out with Jared.
"Architect, mag g-grab na lang ako. Nakakaabala sa'yo. Out of the way ako." He refused when I offered to drive him home. Late na rin kasi baka mahirapan siya sa pag uwi. "Happy Birthday, Architect! See you, laters." He happily greeted me. 12 na pala. It's my birthday.
Before I went to sleep, a lot of things are bothering me. Harry's messed up situation, his drunk ass, the freaking necklace, and his apology. For what? For being an alagain na lasing? For being mean to me?
I woke up around 11 AM and went to Alabang because that's where the venue was located. The makeup artist immediately dressed me up and prep me for the party later.
"Ma'am, may package po kayo. Sa'n ko ito ilalagay?"
"Just put it there somewhere," I answered the lady who entered the room without looking at her. I'm reading the greetings from my friends and relative while they are still putting my makeup on.
I felt someone took over the makeup artist and I groaned when she pulled my hair and looked at her in an instant. My eyes widened when I saw who that bitch was.
"You bitch!" I stood up and hugged her. "But that hurts. What's the package?" I rolled my eyes on her while massaging my scalp.
"Me. Duh." Erina rolled her eyes on me and sat on the couch beside the vanity table. "Happy birthday, bestie. You're so old na."
"Nagsalita ang hindi 22 years old. Mas matanda ka sa'kin, FYI." My make up artist returned and continued on what she's doing.
Nagkamustahan lang kami ni Erina tungkol sa mga nangyari these past few days sa'kin, pero noong tinatanong ko siya tungkol sa nangyari sakaniya, she's hesitant to answer. There's something wrong pero hinayaan ko na lang muna. I don't want to be stress today.
Natapos na akong ayusan at kumain muna kami dahil for sure mamaya at hindi ako makakain sa dami ng guests na kailangan kong kausapin. The event will start at 6PM and 2 hours na lang magsisimula na.
"Nako! Did you know that your brother wants to step down being the CEO of the company?" Stressed na kwento sa'kin ni Mom 'pagdating nila an hour before the party stated. "Stressed ang daddy mo dahil mapipilitan siyang tumayo ulit if that happens."
"Did he tell you the reason?" I asked her while checking myself in the mirror. I am wearing a high slit tube dress in gold. They curled my hair and put an extension to make it longer and to add volume.
"No. He said that it's a private matter. Ewan ko diyan sa kuya mo Celine ha! These past few months wala siya sa tamang katinuan."
Natawa ako ng kaonti dahil palagi namang wala sa sarili si Porch, eh. Kung ano ano ngang pumapasok sa utak niyan. We may think that he's crazy because of it, but perhaps he has his own reasons.
"Mom, maybe he has his reasons and he'll tell it to us soon." Ayokong pagtakpan si Porch at ayoko rin maging dagdag isipin sa pinagdaraanan niya ngayon. Perhaps, he really loves Psyche until now that it pains him to see her in that condition.
The event started with the host talking about pretty things about me and other related stuff na hindi ko pinapakinggan because I'm looking for a person. Darating kaya siya?
I'm here in the backstage, waiting for the cue to come out on the stage for my corny speech. Maraming tao na hindi ko kilala. For sure, they are business-related people. Nasa isang side naman yung mga friends ko and colleagues. This huge place is full of gold and silver accents. It has large doors where I am supposed to be entering but I disagree. Bakit may pag rampa? Debut ko, ghorl?
"Thank you all for coming tonight. To my friends and family, I appreciate your presence. And to business people out here, I am grateful that you made it tonight. I hope you enjoyed the night." I raised my champagne glass and proposed a toast. Those who are invited to the after-party already know where and what time to go.
Mom and dad talked with the business people while I entertain my guests. Nothing special is happening right now. Gusto ko lang agad matapos 'tong formal party na to at nang makapag after-party na.
"Happy birthday, pinsan!" Ander greeted me while hugging. Kompleto sila rito – Ander's friends, Tori, Lana, Cara, Erina, Travis, and some other friends during college.
"Alam niyo na ha! I can't wait na matapos 'to." I told them and they gave me a thumbs up. Next, I went to my colleagues' table and I saw Jared there.
"Ang pogi mo ngayon, Engr. Santos." I complimented him while he's eating.
"Ngayon lang, Architect? Araw-araw akong pogi. Palibhasa hindi ka naman pumupunta ng site palagi, eh." I sat on the chair next to him. Nagpalinga-linga ako pero no sign of Harry. Hindi ko rin makita si Porch. Nasa'n kaya ang lalaking 'yon? May 'pag I wouldn't miss it for the world pa siya.
"Hinahanap mo si Engr. Salvatore, noh?" I just nodded. "Baka late lang. Darating 'yon." He assured me with a smile and left the table.
Damn, hindi ko ma-enjoy tong party na to. Gusto ko na ng alak. Oo, alak na alak na ako. I went out of the event hall for a moment to breathe some air. There I found a balcony on the side door of the function room. Ang ganda ng view – Alabang's city view.
Matapos kong magmuni muni sa balcony ay bumalik na ulit ako sa loob ng function room. However, I gasped when I saw the situation. Harry was already on the floor touching his bleeding lips. Porch was standing in front of him like a mad man with his fist closed tightly. It looks like my freaking brother punched Harry.
The guests are already staring at them and the music suddenly stopped. Ander and his friends tried to calm Porch down. "Gago ka rin, no?" That was his last word to Harry before he went out of the hall.
Ohmyghad! What a mess! I rushed towards Harry, but Jared was already helping him.
"Damn! What happened? Are you okay?" I asked Harry while panicking. His lips are bleeding and I know he's not okay. Ang tanga mo sa tanong mong 'yon Kazumi.
"Yeah." He answered me while wiping the blood out of his lips. Jared assisted him to the restroom, but he assured me na pupunta sila sa after-party. I was planning on getting naughty pa naman mamaya, but my mood was already ruined.
"Okay! Go on! Let's continue the party!" I shouted to let the guests know that everything is okay. Kahit hindi! Hinanap ko agad si Porch to ask him what happened. Of course, hindi gagawa si Porch ng katangahan without reason. But I can't see him. I sighed in frustration. I'm disappointed.
Myghad, Porch. You ruined the party.
//
If you're reading this, thank you for being here and for patiently waiting! ❤️ Another update later tonight.