ATHENA

Chapter VII

"Some people are meant to fall in love with each other but not to be together forever."

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"Are you ready Athena?"

Kumatok si mommy sa pinto ng kwarto ko at pumasok. Kakadating lang nina mommy at daddy a few hours ago from Europe.

"Give me a second, mom." Masaya kong sagot.

I grabbed my purse and I looked at myself in the mirror. I'm just wearing light make-up and added some eye shadow to match my dress. I'm wearing a black dress that has a long cut in the front that shows my cleavage and laces for my long sleeves. I wore the bracelet my parents gave me. It's sexy at the same time classy. I giggled, Get ready Christian I'm coming for you.

What does Christian look like? Is he handsome? Is he tall? Sexy? Is he gonna be nice?

Mom and I went downstairs to see Dad and kuya Cupid watching basketball on T.V

"Ahem." Kunwaring ubo ni Mommy para pansinin kami ni Daddy at ni Kuya.

And thank goodness lumingon din sila after a few fake coughs.

"My two favorite goddesses, beautiful as always honey." Then he kisssed my Mom "I can't believe my baby is already a grown lady! Look at you! You're gorgeous." He cupped my cheeks and kissed me on my forhead.

"wow, I never noticed I had a sister." Sabi ni Kuya at niyakap ako.

"Shut up." I rolled my eyes at him then punched him playfully on his arm.

"Let's go baka ma-traffic pa tayo." Pagyaya ni Mommy.

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We're now at the venue of the party  pinagmasdan ko ang paligid.Napakalaki ng bahay, at ang napakagandang-garden ni Mommy Francis at may malaking swimming pool sa gilid. Puno ng white and pink roses ang mga lamesa. Maaliwalas ang venue. Hindi katulad ng mga ibang party na kinakahiligan nga mga kabataan. Madilim at maingay.

Napansin ko na marami ang mga naka-formal attire. Naka tuxedo ang mga lalaki. Long gown naman ang suot ng karamihan sa mga babae. Iilan lang ang mga nakasuot ng maiksi ng gaya ng suot ko.

I stared at some of the guests. Walang familiar na mukha kahit isa or maybe wala lang talaga akong matandaan sa kanila.

Actually kanina pa talaga kami nandito pero I'm here all alone at our table malapit sa fountain. Why? Dahil syempre itong si Kuya Cupid ayun may kasayaw na babae, I wish kumuha na sila ng kwarto nila masyado ng PDA ang mga nangyayari sa kanila! Dad, on the other hand, ay kasama  ang mga bussiness partners namin including Tito Alfonso.

I let out a deep sigh. That's why ayokong sumama sa event na ito. It bores me to death.

"Rossi!" Bati ni Tita Francis kay Mommy.

Rossi ang tawag kay Mommy ng mga close friends niya. They hugged each other.

"Francis! I missed you!" Mom kissed Tita Francis on her cheek.

"Let's go somewhere private Rossi, I need to talk about some bussiness. Hija, pahiram muna sa mommy ha?" Masayang sabi ni tita.

"Sige po tita francis." Magalang kong sagot. Then they both left me at the table.

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"Huy Athena!" Napalingon ako kung saan ko narinig na may tumawag sa akin.

"Luizze!" Excited na sabi ko. Tumayo ako sa kinauupuan ko para mayakap siya.

Luizze is a close friend of mine since college. Isa na siya sa pinakatanyag na journalist sa States.

"Are you trying to seduce people with that?" She broke the hug then pointed me from head to toe with her right brow raised.

"Is it working?" I grinned.

"Oo naman, tignan mo oh naglalaway na ang mga lalake dito dahil sa iyo." Natawa kami sa sinabi niya.

Of course, who can resist a goddess anyway?

"So... bakit ka nandito Luizze? Akala ko for good ka na sa Amerika?" I asked her curiously. Sabi nya kasi noon kahit kailan hinding-hindi na daw sya babalik dito sa Pilipinas kahit ano pa ang mangyari. Reason nya? Hindi ko alam. She never told me the reason why she left.

"It's now part of my job, how can a journalist not attend to this event to see a hot piece of meat? Nakakahulog panty daw ang pagmumukha nya, so I just had to fly back here to confirm because ipapakilala na sa publiko si Christian at kailangan ko talaga na ma-interview sya para sa promotion ko." Saad nito.

"Saan mo nakuha yan?" I giggled.

"I have connections sweetie." She said plainly.

It's nice that I had the chance to catch up with her about her life and travels. Matagal din kami nag-usap pero kailangan nya daw umalis at magikot-ikot para mang-interview ng mga sikat na tao dito. She's always been a busy body when it comes to her work. Nalaman ko din na engaged na rin sya sa isang sikat na basketball player.

Napag-isipan ko na maglibot-libot muna dito sa resort. Na-iilang na din kasi ako sa mga lalake na nakatingin sa akin. Pakiramdam ko kasi onting-onti nila akong hinuhubaran sa mga titig nila and that's just so wrong.

Gabing-gabi na din kaya naman ay puro mga young adults na lang ang nag pa-party. Marami ng mga tipsy sa dance floor at yung iba naman ay kung anu-anong kababalaghan ang nangyayari.

I found myself near the pool area. Umupo ako sa isang steel chair, mas gusto ko dito because there's less people here and less noise. I straightly drank my champagne.

"Hi!" Bati ng isang lalake.