Chapter 24
I just put a light make up on my face and finally I put lipstick on my lips. I'm ready to go.
Tiningnan ko pa sa body mirror ang suot ko. I'm wearing a black velvet off shoulder dress with a black pump and a black purse. Tita Aimee bought it for me two days ago and it fitted on me well.
Lumabas ako ng kuwarto when I saw Joshmer trying to fix his red bow tie. He's wearing a tuxedo. Lumapit ako sakaniya para ayusin iyon. He smiled at me.
"You're so gorgeous." Bulong niya sa akin. Bahagya ko siyang tinapik sa dibdib.
"You're always saying that to me." Nasasanay na nga ako sa pambobola niya kaya hindi na ganon namumula ang pisngi ko kapag sinasabi niya iyon, though kinikilig pa rin ako.
"Oh here comes the love birds." Lumabas na rin mula sa master bedroom sina tita.
Tito beside her wearing a plain tuxedo too. While tita is wearing an off shoulder with a kind of sweetheart neckline navy blue maxi dress. She even curled her hair and a pale pink blush pouch from Kate Spade.
Sa isang kotse lang kami sumakay nina tita. Tito was the one who's driving the car then tita is on the front seat while we're in the back seat.
Same village lang din kaya hindi naman ganon kalayo ang binyahe namin. Kaagad kong nakita ang isang magandang bahay na buhay na buhay dahil sa ilaw nito. Dinig din ang nakakahele na music. Bigla tuloy akong kinabahan lalo na at mukhang mayayamang tao ang dadalo ngayon sa birthday party ni Joshmer.
Nasanay ako sa side ni tita Aimee, they were rich but not as rich as tito Jonathan's side; they were one of the powerful and wealthy families nationwide.
Humigpit ang hawak ni Joshmer sa beywang ko kaya tiningnan ko siya para ngumiti. Alam kong ramdam niya ang kaba ko.
"Don't be nervous. As long as I'm on your side, you don't have to worry." Bulong niya sa akin habang papasok kami. Kumalma ako ng kaunti dahil don. At least right?
When we're inside. Everyone's greeting Josh, of course it's his birthday. I lowkey got away with him because my instinct told me to do so. I'm happy watching him from afar, he's looking for me based on his face but he still managed to thank and talk to the others.
"So you two in a relationship?" Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko dahil sa gulat. Hindi ko inaasahan na may magsasalita mula sa tabi ko. Hindi pamilyar ang pabango niya kaya tumingala ako ng kaunti para tingnan kung sino siya, matangkad lang naman kasi siya ng kaunti sa akin.
It was Kyle. Josh's former best friend.
"We're not." I didn't deny him but I just told him what the truth is. I even saw Joaquin in the crowd together with their lolo and Jonas.
"Oh? Why are you here then? Does your family have partnership in their business?" He asked as if he's mocking me. Well not because of our financial stability, mock me because he thought I'm lying.
"We're close and tita Aimee's invited me too." I answered him.
"You're so close with his family but not with the Tan." He said. He's right, I'm close with them but not with the Tan. "This party is not simple as it seems, it's look like his grandfather's looking for a women who will pair for his grandsons." Napatingin tuloy ako kina Joshmer na nakikisalamuha sa iba kasama ang lolo nila na tumatawa.
Jonas seems bored. Joaquin is not pleased. And Joshmer's wearing a small smile.
"And?" I asked him. I don't know what he's trying to imply.
"It means that, whatever is going on with you and Joshmer right now. It will end soon, maybe after Joaquin's engagement?" He shrugs his shoulders. "Who knows?"
"And I think it's not your business to meddle." Napatingin ako ngayon sa kanan ko dahil sa nagsalita. It was Ryden Avillon, the cousin of Joshmer and Joaquin. He's holding a wine glass with a wine in it, of course.
"I'm just here to warned her. My intention is good." Depensa ni Kyle. Ngayon ay napagigitnaan nila akong dalawa.
"I'm sure my cousin can handle that." Ryden confidently said to Kyle. "His grandfather can't force him to marry someone he doesn't love. Especially now that he's already in love with someone." Kampanteng sagot ni Ryden at bahagyang ininom ang wine niya.
"Oh. I thought their grandfather could pull some strings so everyone would obey him just like how he always does in business." Kyle sarcastically answered.
"But his grandsons are not business and obviously not his business partner who'll agree for whatever he says." Mukhang ayaw patalo ni Ryden kay Kyle. Ganon din naman si Kyle.
Sasagot pa sana si Kyle kaso nga lang may tumawag na sakaniyang isang lalaki kaya binigyan niya nalang ng tingin si Ryden bago umalis.
"Don't listen to him." Ngayon, sigurado na ako na ako ang kinakausap niya dahil umalis na si Kyle sa tabi ko.
"Well, he has a point though." Minsan ko na rin kasing naririnig na napag-uusapan iyon nina tita Aimee at nang kambal niyang si tita Ainna.
"He have but don't you trust Josh?" He's like a conscience to me. I chuckled a bit to release some tension for our topic. It's too serious.
"I trust Josh and I always will." Ngiting sagot ko sakaniya.
Magkasama kami ni Ryden sa party dahil mukhang ayaw bitawan ng lolo nila si Joshmer. Of course, this is his night. Kumain na rin kami ni Ryden.
"Do you want to be near to him?" Tanong niya sa akin habang nakatingin ako kina Joshmer na ngayon ay nakatayo na ulit. They were done eating.
"I can wait." Bahagya pa akong hinikab "Er, excuse." Nahihiyang pagpapaumanhin ko. He nodded his head.
"Let's go." Hinawakan niya ang palapulsuhan ko tiyaka hinila palapit kina tita Aimee.
"Oh Ryden!" Bati ni tita Aimee sa pamangkin then she looks at me with a smile. Hinila niya ako palapit sakaniya. "Kanina ka pa hinahanap ni Josh." Bulong niya sa akin.
"Kasama ko po si Ryden kanina. We ate and met some of his friends." Kuwento ko kay tita. Pinakilala niya rin kasi ako sa mga babaeng kaibigan niya.
Napatingin ako kay Josh na nasa tabi ng lolo niya. Ngayon ay nakangiti nang makita ako. Ngumiti rin ako sakaniya.
"Oh. That so sad that your grandaughter couldn't make it tonight." Sabi ng lolo niya sa mga kasama namin na nakapabilog habang nakatayo.
Mukhang kakadating lang ng dalawang mag-asawa kaya sila ang in-entertain nila. Base sa sinabi ng lolo nina Joshmer, hindi nakadalo ang apo nilang babae ngayon.
"We would love to see her with Joshmer. They look good together." The lady chuckled. Bigla akong natigilan sa sinabi ng Ginang, naramdaman ko ang pagpisil ni tita Aimee sa kamay ko at ang pagkawala ng ngiti ni Joshmer.
He looks at me with a worry eyes, I smile at him so he can compose himself, bahagya niyang inayos ulit ang sarili niya at tipid na ngumiti.
"But that's okay though. We can meet next time, right?" Their lolo said and gave a chuckle. "Right now, we're still busy preparing for Joaquin. After his board exam or even after his graduation we can throw an engagement party. I hope that time we can meet your granddaughter."
We excuse ourselves. Kaagad sumunod sa amin si Joshmer pagkatapos niyang magpaalam. Hawak pa rin ni tita Aimee ang kamay ko. Nahihiya siyang ngumiti sa akin.
"Don't mind what their lolo said earlier." Binigyan ako ng matamis na ngiti ni tita tiyaka marahan na pinisil ang palad ko. Ngumiti ako sakaniya.
"Ayos lang po iyon tita, doon naman din po kapupuntahahan." Hindi ko alam kung bakit ko nasabi iyon, pero nang sinabi ko iyon ay nakaramdam ako ng pait sa sistema ko.
"No." Tita assure me bago makalapit sa amin si Joshmer. Kaagad na pumalupot ang kamay ni Josh sa beywang ko.
"Una na kami ma." Gulat akong tumingin sakaniya. Aalis na kami? Party niya ito.
Marahan naman tumango si Tita bago binitawan ang kamay ko.
"Let's call your lolos butler?" Umiling si Josh sa suggestion ni tita.
"We'll walk."
"Okay. Ako na bahala sa ibang bisita." Ngiti ni tita tumingin siya sa akin. "Take a rest, don't overthink. Drink milk. Okay?" Pagpapaalala niya sa akin tiyaka ako tumango.
Nang makalabas na kami ay nilagay ni Joshmer sa akin ang coat niya para hindi ako lamigin. Twenty minutes walk lang naman ang layo ng bahay sa mansion ng lolo niya.
"Don't worry. It won't happen." He said while walking. He held my hand and held it tight when he said those words.
We're walking under the stars and moon. Good thing, it's not raining. Even though Joshmer gave me his coat I can still feel the coldness of Baguio.
"It will, someday." Mahinang bulong ko. At alam kong wala naman akong laban kapag nangyari ang araw na iyon.
"I won't let that happen. Why would I marry another woman?" He asked me. I shrug my shoulder as an answer. "The woman I will marry is you. Always you." Bahagya akong natigilan sa sinabi niya kaya napatigil na rin siya.
Nasa kalagitnaan na kami kaya masasabi kong malapit na kami sa bahay nila. Kinakabahan ako sa mangyayari kung napansin nilang nawala ang presensiya ni Joshmer sa party at ang malala kasama pa ako. Though, of course tita will always cover for us.
"Pero hindi naman natin madedeny ang possibility na pwedeng mangyari iyon diba?" I gave him my smile. I'm okay. It's okay, I understand.
"What are you trying to say?" He tried to read what's on my mind but I gave him my sweetest smile.
"It's okay, Josh. I'll be happy for you." Nakangiti pa rin ako sakaniya para hindi siya magduda.
Wala rin naman akong panama sa babaeng pipiliin panigurado ng lolo niya. Anong panama ng isang tulad ko? Simple lang namumuhay at nakikitira pa sa hindi kamag-anak.
"Well, I won't." He said directly, looking to my eyes. "I won't be happy if it's not you."
"But we need to learn that fate is not always with us right?"
I'm healing. I'm starting to love myself. Natatakot ako na baka maging malupit nanaman ang tadhana at paghiwalayin kami. Pero ramdam ko na kahit paghiwalayin man kami, hindi na ako mawawala.
Yes, there's something missing but I won't let myself be lost again in this cold city.
"Then we'll fight fate's cruelty." Desidido ang sabi niya. Kinuha niya ang dalawang kamay, hawak hawak niya ito tiyaka deretsong tumingin sa mga mata ko. "If you don't want to fight then I will fight for us. Just hold my hand, I will fight and I'll be fine. Hmm." Ngumiti siya sa akin and gave me a soft kiss on my forehead.
"I'm scared of what's on your mind right now. But I really want to make it clear. I want us to have a label already." He paused.
"Dianna Farrah Pascua, I'm gonna court you." I chuckled. Why would he?
"Bakit kailangan mo pang manligaw?" Tanong ko sakaniya. Hindi pa ba obvious ang nararamdaman ko sakaniya?
"For formality and to show you how serious I am." This is the first time someone treated me like a Queen. A special someone.
Lahat ng mga salitang lumalabas sa bibig niya, alam kong galing sa puso niya. Alam ko dahil ramdam ko.
"Holding you like this, looking at you in front of me felt like a dream. But being your girl is more than just a dream." I honestly told him. Even in my wildest dream, I didn't dream with this moment.
I didn't dream because it's reality.
"We've been together even if it's just a month. You clap your hands at my best that's why I like you." I paused. "But you know how I fell in love with you? It's you who embrace me even if I'm still full of thorns and haven't bloomed yet."
Kaagad niyang inalis ang distansiyang namamagitan sa aming dalawa tiyaka ako niyakap. I can feel how fast my heartbeat is or it was his? Or maybe it's us.
Our heartbeat beats with each other.
"It's a yes. Always a yes." I whispered.
"I like you at your best and fell in love with you at your worst." He whispered between our hugs. "Continue blooming my rose, my baby."