I was walking back to our table ng mabigat ang pakiramdam. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko susuyuin si Abel. I know he's mad because of what I did.
''I'm a fan of you, you are a great model'' Napalingon ako sa may lamesa namin. My forehead creased when I saw my brother talking to Abel's date, which is Ashley Rivera. Kilala niya ba kuya ko?
I glanced at my Brother who's enjoying talking to my rival. I rolled my eyes. Nasa katabing lamesa lang namin sina Abel.
Tumikhim ako at inayos ang sarili ko tsaka lumapit sa kanila. I took a glance at Abel and saw him sipping his wine while looking at me, with his dagger looks. He looks mad.
Tumingin sa akin si Kuya while Ashley was still talking to him. Magkaharap sila ni Ashley. Kung ide-describe, magkatabi kami ni Ashley but we are apart a little bit from each other because of the space between us kung saan ang daanan ng ibang guest patungo sa kung saang lamesa sila uupo band, sa maikling salita...
Kaharap ko si Abel and it's awkward kasi kanina lang kami nag away sa may banyo.
''You done?'' tanong sa akin ni Kuya. Hindi ko naiwasang mapatingin kay Abel. Tumibok ng mabilis ang puso ko nang makita ko ang mas dumidilim pa niyang mukha.
Parang gusto ko nalang atang kumain sa condo ko. Nabusog na yata ako sa galit ni Abel.
''Yeah'' sagot ko. Umupo ako sa harap ni Kuya, pinipilit ang sariling hindi mapatingin kay Abel.
''Hi!'' Napatingin ako sa nag mamay-ari ng boses. Nakita kong nanlaki ang mga mata niya at umawang din ang bibig niya.
Para siyang di artista.
''Oh my god! It's you! Aaliyah Cher Juarez, the most influencing photographer of the year, and your photography won a lot of awards at the International Photography Contest!'' she exclaimed like she can't believe it's me.
Yeah, nanalo nga ako sa America ng parangal 3 months ago. Syempre masaya ako kasi pangarap ko iyon, halos nga mahimatay ako kasi hindi ako makapaniwala noon na ako ang nanalo. Well, my clients nominated me on that contest and thanks to god, I won 5 straight awards.
Ngumiti lang ako at binati din siya.
''Hi'' iyon lang ang nasabi ko. Ayaw ko sa kanya no! Hmp!
She covered her mouth in disbelief. I admit, she's adorable. Baka kaya siya nagustuhan ni Abel... Pakiramdam ko tuloy wala na akong pag-asa.
''I'm Ashley Rivera'' Naglahad siya ng kamay.
I accepted her hand. ''Glad to meet you, i saw a lot about you on the internet, you are a famous celebrity.'' sabi ko sa kanya, In a matter of fact kasi totoo naman.
She giggled. ''Thank you, I just can't believe na nakita kita in person with this super model in front of me. Like this is amazing! Aaliyah Cher Juarez and Akiro Jade Zamora, are you two dating?'' agad niyang tanong.
Zamora is my mother's ex husband's surname.
Napatingin ako kay Abel. Nakatingin siya sa pagkain niya pero magkasalubong ang kilay niya. He looks so frustrated talaga.
Anyare ba sa kanya? May effect pa ba ako sa kanya o may iniisip lang talaga siya? Ay teka nga, ganyan naman talaga facial expression niya e.
''Just eat, Ashley. You're invading their privacy'' saway ni Abel na may iritasyon ang boses.
Ashley pouted and I just smiled at her.
''Alright, sorry for asking'' mahinang sabi ni Ashley na parang nahiya.
I heard Kuya chuckled. ''It's okay and yes, we're in a relationship and we already planned to tell it to the media'' sabi ni Kuya na nagpalaki ng mata ko.
BINABASA MO ANG
Abelino Pete Felixiano
Non-FictionTrigger Warning: Rape. [Male lead is a criminal.] Aaliyah Cher Juarez, a bratty poor girl. She's a beauty and brain. She has been just a happy girl with a big dream of being a photographer but it changes. Her world shift into a nightmare because of...