KANINA PA pabaling-baling sa buong paligid ang ulo ni Erriah. She was trying to find Zarrick but he was really not there. Hindi na ba ito tumuloy? That was good then, mas mabuti ang ganoon, para hindi siya mamoblema at baka makita pa ito ng kaniyang ate. Knowing that the twins will come here too.
She was sitting with her co-singers, but they are famous here in the Philippines. Nakasabay niya kasi ang mga ito na nag-audition din sa South Korea, but she was just too lucky that time that she got the spot. Hindi man nagtanggumpay ang mga ito sa bansa ng South Korea ay gumawa naman ng kaniya-kaniyang pangalan ang mga ito sa sariling bansa. Kaibigan din ng binatang Luke ang mga ito. She was not just sure if Zarrick knows them too.
Bakit ba kasi ang liit liit ng mundo nilang dalawa ni Zarrick pagdating sa grupo ng mga kaibigan na meron sila.
"I thought one of the members of Black Knights is courting you? That was a hot news back then" Nicole said, katabi nito ang kamatchy gown nitong si Darria.
"Kian, I think that's his name. Ang hot niya,ha!" Segunda ni Darria.
Umingos siya. "We're just friends" she gulped the sweetness of the wine, pero naglalakbay parin ang kaniyang isipan sa iisang tao. That particular man who has the audacity to act as if she's still his.
"Kuwentuhan mo naman ako about sa kaniya" pumangalumbaba si Varra, hindi pinansin ang anumang sinasabi ni Kevin sa kaniya. "He was one of the judges when I auditioned in LA"
"Naku, walang maganda sa lalaking 'yon" baka maging isa lang ito sa mga babae nito, naisip niya.
"Ang damot"
Brinn was with them too, doon niya nalaman na kilala rin ng mga kasama si Zarrick, hindi imposibleng narito na ito maya-maya lang sa tabi niya. Nilalandi nanaman siya, but would Zarrick flirts with her in this kind of place? Nah.
Kinukwentuhan siya ni Varra tungkol sa bagong patayo nitong bahay at bagong biling kotse nang may tumawag sa kaniya.
"Erriah" it was her sister, Harrietta. Nakasuot ito ng isang royal blue mermaid gown at nakapusod ang buhok sa maayos na paraan.
Natuwa siya nang makita muli ang kaniyang ate.
"Ate!" She hugged her, she misses her sister so much. Mukhang nanaba nanaman ito, ha? Hindi talaga nagkukulang ang kaniyang kuya Duke sa pag-aalaga sa kaniyang ate.
Tumingin siya sa mga kasama. "Hey, guys, this is my sister,Harri—"
Nagsalita naman si Tyron, pinutol siya. "Harrietta Serrano! The black angel from Paris! Ikaw 'yong sikat na model sa Paris,right? A famour designer too" his face was full of admiration. Well, her sister was really blessed. No doubt she succeeded to her chosen career. She's too proud of her too.
Her sister, Harrieta, smiled. "Yeah, nice to meet you all"
She could feel her ate's awkwardness. Hindi talaga ito sanay sa harapang pagpuri ng mga tao. Well, she shouldn't be ashamed of her success, ang galing kaya nitong tao at patuloy parin ang pagiging mababa kahit na may sinabi na sa buhay.
She remembered seeing her sister eat with street kids, walang arte itong bumaba ng kotse para lang bigyan ang mga batang kalye at sabayan ang mga ito sa pagkain. Kaya ang daming lalaking humahanga sa ate niya, pero alam niyang mas maganda parin siya dito. Well, they have almost the same features, an angelic face but her sister had that fierce aura, especially now.
"Wow! You're so pretty, ikaw pala yung sinasabi ni kuya na nakita niya sa isang runway sa Paris, after that day he didn't stop na to mention you. His room was full of your poster. That's kinda creepy, I know" Darria said, rolling her eyes and shaking her hand in the air. Yumakap si Nicole dito at may binulong.
"Thank you" Harrietta has an awkward smile. Gusto niyang matawa sa kaniyang ate.
They introduced themselves one by one to Harrietta while she was still busy trying to find Zarrick, baka bigla bigla na lamang sumusulpot.
She just tried to divert her attention and talked. "Guys, I'm still here. I know my sister is pretty too. Huwag gan'yan" she joked.
"You lose,Sissy" Varra said, twirling her pink hair with her index finger.
Napalabi siya, inirapan ang babae. "Hoy, I am not a loser,ah! Nauna lang siyang ipanganak kaya mas maganda siya sa akin.
"So, inaamin mo na mas maganda ako?" Nagtawanan ang mga ito sa sinabi ng kaniyang ate. Salamat naman at nawala kahit kaunti ang nararamdaman nitong awkwardness sa mga kasama niya.
Pero,hindi nagtagal ay iniba naman ni Tyron ang masaya nilang usapan. "But seriously,guys, where is Diego and Zarrick?"
She saw how her sister got shocked, maging siya naman ay ganoon din ang naramdaman, hindi niya lang masyadong pinahalata dahil baka magduda ang mga kasama. She silently looked at Brinn who saw her last time staying at Zarrick's place. Hindi naman ito nakatingin sa kaniya.
Nagsalubong ang mga mata nila ni Harrietta but she quickly averted her gaze and looked at Varra instead, pero hindi parin siya nakatakas sa kaniyang kapatid. Lumapit ito sa kaniya at bumulong.
"Erriah?" She was obviously waiting for her answer but she couldn't answer her too! She was also shocked, though she already expected this.
"Maybe they are late lang. You know Diego, baka hindi nanaman kayang iwan ang baliw na girlfriend" Darria said, rolling her eyes.
Binara naman ito ni Varra. "Sabihin mo, selos ka lang. 'di ka pa kasi umamin, 'yan tuloy sa baliw napunta" well, she doesn't know what were they talking about, nasa isang tao nanaman natuon ang isip niya. Bwisit.
Inasahan niya na ito, mayroon siyang circle of friends na kaibigan din si Zarrick. Talaga nga naman nakadikit na sa kaniya ang lalaki. Walang takas. Nakakulong na siya dito. Ang akala niya ba ay okay na siya dito, she promised to herself that she will get her revenge, 'yong hihintayin niya ang pagkakataon na ito naman ang makaramdam ng sakit. Pinanghihinaan nanaman siya ng loob.
She is not his doll anymore. That old Erriah who Zarrick ruined was long gone. Hindi niya na hahayaang bumalik nanaman ito. Siya nanaman ang kawawa.
Hindi nagtagal ay sumuko na siya at nagsalita, bumulong. "Zarrick is their friend too" but she couldn't look at her.
"Does he know that you're here"
Erriah shook her head. "I don't know" she lied, of course Zarrick knows! Kasama niya ito ng ilang araw and he knows about this event. "But Zarrick has his ways to know my whereabouts"
Ayaw niya lang mas lalo siyang usigin ng kaniyang ate. Sunod na sunod na tanong nanaman ang ibabato nito sa kaniya.
Harrietta was hesitant at first, but still she asked. "Ahm.." she started, contemplating herself if she wants to continue her words. Nagtanong parin naman ito. "Is he..is he.."
Alam naman niya ang gusto nitong malaman. Gusto niyang i-save ang kaniyang kapatid sa sitwasyong masasaktan nanaman ito but it was still up to her sister.
"Is he going here too? I mean, Leandro" siya na ang nagtuloy sa hindi nito maisatinig na tanong. "Well, I also don't know, sister. Leandro and Zarrick are brothers, but I don't think Zarrick will tell Leandro about you, kahit sabihin ko pa kung nasaan ka noon, hindi niya sasabihin kay Leandro, so...chill, okay?"
Iyon naman talaga ang totoo, hindi niya alam. Kung alam man ni Zarrick ang kinaroroonan nila noon sa Canada ay matagal nang nalaman ni Leandro kung nasaan ang ate niya, kung gusto man nitong ilaglag ang lugar kung nasaan sila.
Harrietta pouted her lips, hindi niya tuloy maiwasan ang hindi mapabuntong hininga, but then it was cutted when Darria exaggeratedly shout. "There they are! At last you're here!"
"Makareact ka naman parang isang taon kaming late" but Diego's voice slowly faded when she saw Zarrick, the only person matters to her at that moment was Zarrick, fcking Zarrick Saavedra.
Zarrick was walking towards them wearing his famous smirk, jaw clenched and his hawk-like eyes that directly pointed at her. Fck, nanghihina nanaman ang kaniyang tuhod. His effect on her was incredible she wanted to just be lost with him, in a quiet place, panting and dancing with the same rhythm she felt five years ago. The memories came back, the feelings too.
Kaya ayaw niyang umuwi ng Pilipinas dahil dito!
"Erriah" nakalapit na pala ito. He has this cold voice again, she doesn't know what was up to him.
Para hindi manghina ng tuluyan ay minabuti na lamang niyang iiwas ang tingin sa binata. "You are here" she said with her low voice. She couldn't even hear her own voice, it was too low but Zarrick manage to hear that.
She felt his intense gaze at her chest part pagkatapos ay tumiim lalo ang kanyang panga. Tila naiinis ito, aba, ito yata ang pumili ng kaniyang susuotin pagkatapos ay magagalit ito sa suot niya ngayon? Was he mad about it?
"Come with me" madiin ang utos nito sa kaniya, hindi siya pwedeng humindi.
Darria and Varra hissed. The four men made a sound, but they were wearing a smile. Doon siya napaangat ng tingin sa mga kasama. Para kasing hindi na nag-eexist ang mga ito kanina magmula ng dumating si Zarrick, gosh! Her sister was with them too, paano niya nakalimutan?!
She was going to talk when Zarrick stopped her and pulled her up. Nakita niya pa sa kaniyang gilid ang gulat na ekspresyon ng kaniyang kapatid. Sht!
Wala manlang pumigil sa mga kasama niya. Hila-hila na siya ni Zarrick at patungo na sila sa gilid na bahagi ng bahay, may garden doon at may mga upuan din, pero hindi na abot doon ang party. Wala na ding mga taong nagtutungo doon, dahil marahil sa madilim na ang parteng 'yon.
She snatched her arm at Zarrick and glared at him. "Alam mo, para ka talagang kabute! Bakit ka nandito?!"
Imbis na magseryoso ito ay natawa ito sa kaniya. "Don't be mad"
"Alam mo—"
"Namiss kita"
Naumid ang dila niya.
"Namiss kita" ulit nito na parang hindi niya narinig ang sinabi nito kanina. "Namiss kita"
"Pangatlong beses na at wala akong pakialam. Hindi kita namiss" gusto niyang itanong ang babaeng pinagkaabalahan nito at hindi siya nito nahatid kahapon. Takot siyang harapin ang masakit na sagot nito. "Huwag mo akong ngitian!"
Tila nang-iinis itong lalong nilaparan ang ngiti. Zarrick held her hand again and kissed the back of it. Inagaw nanaman niya 'yon dito pero alam niyang pulang-pula ang kaniyang pisngi.
"I couldn't stop myself from smiling, you look adorable acting like a mad girlfriend"
Umingos siya, umikot ang kaniyang mga mata at bumulong-bulong. "Hindi mo'ko girlfriend. Masyado ka nanaman mabilis. Baka masakit nanaman kapag naging tayo"
"Erriah" he became serious again. Bipolar talaga ang lalaking ito. Hinalikan nanaman ni Zarrick ang likuran ng kan'yang kamay. Sinikop nito ang mga hibla ng buhok na humaharang sa kaniyang mukha at inilagay ang mga 'yon sa likuran ng kaniyang tainga. Like her old self, butterflies stretched on her stomach again, doing party. "Hindi mo ba ako namiss?"
"I was with you yesterday morning, Zarrick. Huwag kang ano diyan"
"Ano?" Nangingiti parin ito, but then his expression changed quickly and he became serious again. With his knotted eye brows, he spoke. "Why were you not answering my texts and calls? I was waiting for you, but be thankful I'm too inlove with you I couldn't stay mad at you"
Well, she expected that declaration from him, but she knew better. Kahit na may kaunting saya at pagpupugay siyang naramdaman sa kaniyang sarili ay iniwaksi niya 'yon at pinalitan ng pagdududa. Gustong-gusto niyang magpasakop kay Zarrick, bigyan ito ng isa pang pagkakataon pero paano? Paano kung, maraming 'paano kung' sa kaniyang isipan kaya nanghihina ang loob niya. She decided to believe her doubts. Marami, oo, maraming pagdududa pagdating kay Zarrick dahil ayaw niya na muling maranasan ang ganoong sakit.
Tumingin siya sa mga mata ni Zarrick, pilit na binabasa ang katotohanan doon pero bigo siya. Bigo siyang mabasa ang totoong nararamdaman nito. Hindi na lamang niya pinilit.
Ilang sandali ay may naalala siya. Naalala niya ang babaeng nag-ngangalang Guiniver. Oo nga pala, galit rin pala siya dito dahil sa rason na 'yon.
"Who is that girl named Guiniver?" Tumaas ang kaniyang kilay.
"Guiniver?" Kumunot sandali ang noo nito. Tila nawala sa isip ang huling sinabi. Ang deklarasyon nito.
"Oo, that girl who texted you when we were having breakfast yesterday. You were talking to her on the phone too, akala mo hindi ko pansin. Is she your new girl?"
Nangingiti nanaman ito. Iba talaga! Tila mas lalo nitong na-e-enjoy ang usapan nila.
"She's my secretary, doll" that endearment again that melts her anger again. Ang lakas! Ang rupok niya! "Guiniver is my secretary, Erriah. She's not my new girl. You are my only one doll, ikaw lang ang babae ko"
Umarko ang kaniyang kilay, bahagyang umiwas ng tingin dito para hindi nito mahalata ang kaniyang kilig. 'Self, get yourself together! Juicy hotdog naman, huwag kang masyadong halata na mahal mo parin ang ugok na 'yan'. Kastigo niya sa kaniyang sarili pero nangingiti na din.
"Let's go back together"
Nataranta siyang napatingin dito pero bigla din nangiti nang may pumasok sa kaniyang isipan.
"Okay"
'We will start, and I will take the risk.'
'Oh sht'. Kastigo niya sa kaniyang sarili.