Midst of Chaos

XXII

I am wearing a white fitted backless long gown. Wow. Ang taas ng description Haha.

I am attending a party in Drew's house. He invited me here pero alam naman ni Mama kaya okay lang. They met on Christmas eve. I suddenly blurted out that we are dating kay Mama, he was happy that I acknowledge na dating daw kami kasi he thought that i didn't take his words serious enough.

My mama talked to me the next day asking if I am happy. I told her "Yes", i am. I can't deny the fact that I am happy being with him even though i am not kind of person na ipinapakita ang nararamdaman talaga. I asked her if she was okay with him.

Kasi naman gusto ko ding alamin kung ano ang nararamdaman ni mama, she may be cool with me having someone but i know she will really say something about the guy.

"It won't matter if i like him or not because i am not the one having a relationship or i am not the one dating him, anak. Just know your priorities for now and don't let your feelings prevail over your studies or anything na importante. Learn to balance lalo pa at you are in love with the guy. "

" I am not in love with him, Ma. Just-just happy... I think i like him pa" ani ko

"You wouldn't introduce him to me if you don't love him. Just be strong, anak." sagot nya

Kanina ay ipinakilala ako ni Drew sa mga kaibigan nya. They greeted me nicely but i think i am not welcome to their group which i don't mind because i have enough friends. Kaya naman ng matapos ay hindi ako nagstay doon na grupo.

" Wait for me. I'll introduce you to my parents tonight and I have a surprise for you kaya stay ka lang dito. Don't entertain boys." ani niya bago umalis dahil may tumatawag sa kaniya kanina

Drew's family is rich. Filthy rich. In never know na sila pala ang nagmamay-ari sa isa sa mga malalaking kompanya ng architectural and real properties sa Pilipinas. His friends are big time too kaya siguro hindi ako gusto dahil hindi ako katulad nila.

My father is one of the best mechanical engineer abroad while my mother is a businesswoman. We may not be rich enough just like them but we know what respect is. I hate how they look at me, judgmental. tsk.

I am leaning in the high table while waiting for Drew kasi may kinakausap pa siya kanina. Maybe, relatives?

Nang matanaw ko siya ay napangiti ako pero agad nawala iyon ng may biglang yumakap sa kaniya na babae. Nakatalikod sa akin ang babae kaya hindi niya ako kita habang si Drew naman ay nanlalaki ang mga mata na nakatingin sa akin.

My smile faded at imbis na titigan pa sila ay tumalikod akp at ininom ang wine na bigay ng waiter kanina.

Is this what my mother told me means? To be strong because Drew is not an average-type of person. Napangiti ako ng mapait. I never thought that I'll end up experiencing this kind of clique story. Though i am not a damsel in distress but the guy that i love is filthy rich that i can't even reach. I thought that we are pn the same level but now that I've seen him with that woman, I know, we are too far from each other.

I drank the last bit of wine in my glass at hihingi pa sana ng panibago ng naramdaman kong nagvibrate ang phone ko. I took it out of my handbag at nakitang si Mama ang tumatawag.

I answered the call as i walked away from the crowd. Naghahanap ako ng mas tahimik na lugar para mas marinig si Mama. She usually doesn't call me kaya nakapagtataka na tumatawag siya.

"Ma?" I asked

I heard some whispers from the call but i wasn't able to understand dahil malakas din ang music kaya naman ng nakarating na ako sa parking lot ay  siya ding pagkarinig ko kay Mama.

"Si Papa mo...." ani nya habang humihikbi

Takbo ang ginawa ko papunta sa venue. I tried to find Drew in the crowd. Umiikot at tinitingnan ang bawat table na nadadaanan. He was not with his friends.. Kagat-kagat rin ang labi dahil pinipigilan ang sarili na mapaiyak.

"Ang P-apa mo anak. Something hap-pened on his w-work. May s-sumabog daw. H-hindi ko a-lam kung a-ano ang gagawin. He was brought to the h-hospital. Naghihintay ako ng t-tawag galing sa kompanya ng Pa-pa mo pero w-wala pa. Anak natatakot ako pa-para sa Papa mo. "

I just want to go home. Kung pwede lang sana ay umalis na kaagad ako dito pero walang dumadaan na sasakyan dito o kahit taxi. I need to go home. I need to go to my Mama.

Frustratedly ay lumalakad ako papunta sa mga kaibigang pinakilala niya sa akin. Even if i don't want to, i need to ask them for his whereabouts.  But before i could reach there table, someone spoke in their stage.

Kaharap ko ang stage kaya kitang-kita ang emcee na nagsasalita. Greeting us and asking if we are happy with the party.

I don't want to mind the emcee but there is something in it that I should listen. Kaya tumigil ako para pakinggan iyon, kahit ayaw, kahit nagmamadali na umalis na.

"Good evening ladies and gentlemen. The night is not yet over as I tell you a special announcement tonight. This is a surprise to all of you, to the business partners of Arellanos', relatives na hindi pa nakakaalam and friends." panimula ng emcee

I don't know what is it but i have a bad feeling for this. It was as if someone is whispering to me that i should leave this place. But still here I am, standing in front, listening.

"Ladies and gentlemen, let us welcome Sebastian Drew Arellano and Sofia Gwendolyn Mercedes" pagpapatuloy ng emcee

There, the two that I saw earlier before i answered my mother's call is now standing in front of me.

"Tonight, I announce the engagement between Sebastian Drew Arellano and Sofia Gwendolyn Mercedes. Congratulations to the both of you and to the family!"

Kaya pala hindi ko mahanap-hanap. All along he was preparing something.  Woo's, claps and shouts of congratulations echoed in my ear. My heart is starting to ache more, mas napunan pa ang sakit na nararamdaman ko kanina.

I looked at Drew but he was wearing a poker face kaya hindi ko alam kung ano ang iniisip niya. Maybe he was happy. Is this what he told me about surprise? I laughed like an idiot and clapped, too.

Are you happy, Drew? Tha you really fooled me? Nakakatawang isipin na in the end naloko pa rin talaga ako. I bet you are happy that you won. That you end up fooling me. My mama is right, i should be strong. Kasi you are not an easy opponent. Grabe, napaniwala mo talaga ako. Even my mother and my friends. They seem to like you. IDOL Drew! Paturo naman kung paano manloko.

Ngayon ay nakatingin na din siya sa akin, his mouth gaped and his eyes were wide that he was trying to let mee see how shocked he was. Best actor ang gago. I showed him my sweetest smile and whispered, "Congrats!"

Pagkatapos ay tumalikod ako at mas binilisan pa ang lakad. I ran to get out of the crowd, to get out of the venue. My phone vibrated at kahit nagsisimula ng rumagasa ang mga luha at nakuha ko pang sagutin ang tawag.

"Z..."

Umiyak ako at hindi na napigilang ilabas ang emosyon. "Can you take me out of here. I want to go home, please...." ani ko

"Take me out of here, Al"