It took 10 seconds para ma-process sa isip ni Patience and sinabi ni Luke. Sister? Sister! Para siyang tinanggalan ng tinik sa narinig.
"Hi! Nice to meet you," bati ni Blanca at inilahad ang kamay sa kanya.
She gladly accepted it. "The pleasure is mine." She smiled. "Birthday mo ba? I'm sorry I didn't brought a gift, hindi kasi sinabi ni Luke kung ano ang okasyon," she continued.
Umiling si Blanca. "No, welcome party ko lang ito. I wanted to celebrate para sa pagdating dito sa Pilipinas after 7 years." Paliwanag nito.
"I'll leave you both to chat. Kakausapin ko lang si Blaze, ladies." Paalam ni Luke.
Sabay na umalis ang dalawang binata at naiwan silang dalawa doon na nakatayo.
"Halika, upo tayo." Hinila ni Blanca si Patience paupo sa bakanteng mesa kung saan sila naka-assign.
"Alam mo, you look oddly familiar. Have we meet before?" tanong ni Patience.
"I don't know. Maybe you've seen me in one of my magazines. I'm a model in Paris." Sagot ni Blanca.
"Maybe, but--"
"Are you and Luke dating?" Blanca cut her off.
Nagulat si Patience sa pagiging straight-forward ng kausap. "Yes, pero hindi kami. Friendly date lang." she answered.
"Huh. So hindi kayo ni Luke. I think Kuya likes you, I saw they way he looks at you, the same way Luke does." Blanca stated.
"No, never. Blaze is my boss." tanggi niya.
"I know you like him too. Napansin kong lumiwanag mukha mo, no'ng sinabi ni Luke na kapatid ko si Kuya." She bluntly said.
Ngumiti lang si Patience. She liked Blanca's bluntness. "I noticed na hindi maalis ang tingin mo kay Luke. Kahit ngayon na nag-uusap tayo, nakatingin ka sa kanya." Patience said.
She feels like she won in this conversation, nang magblush si Blanca. Her whole face is covered in red. "Am i that obvious?" Blanca admitted.
Kung kanina ay desidido na siyang si Luke ang susubukan niyang mahalin, ngayon ay nagbago na ng tuluyan isip niya. She'd be sefish kung ipagpapatuloy niya pa ito. She have to consider Luke's feelings, magiging unfair siya lalo na't alam niya sa sarili niyang kaibigan lang ang turing niya dito. Magiging unfair din siya sa mga taong nagmamahal kay Luke. "Don't worry. Friend lang talaga kami ni Luke. I don't feel anything for him at all." She reassured her.
"I know. Anyway, you said boss mo si Blaze. You're an engineer too?" tanong nito.
"No, architect actually."
Naputol ang pag-uusap nila nang nagsimula na tumugtog ang mga musician sa stage.
(Press play in the media section. "Mirrors - Boyce Avenue". Thankie Loves!)
"Oh, I like this song." Blanca said.
Nagsimula ng nagsitayo ang mga bisita at kumuha ng mga kaparehas para sumayaw sa gitna. Blanca smiled shyly at her nang may pumunta sa harapan nila na lalaki.
"Care to dance?" She looked up to see it was Blaze.
She placed her hand on his and stood up. "Sure." She obliged.
They walked in the center of the dance floor. She raised her hands and placed both of them on his shoulder, while his hand was on her back and he pulled her closer.
"You're the most beautiful woman in this room." He whispered.
She smiled. "I think your sister is the most beautiful woman tonight," she disagreed.
"My sister doesn't count. Ang daming lalaking nakatingin sa atin, I bet they're jealous you're in my arms right now." He starred at her with longing. "Because I was, when Luke's hand was on your waist when you entered." He admitted.
They were both swaying in sync with the music. She can feel her breath is faster than normal and her heart is beating like crazy. The night is cold yet she feels hot all of the sudden.
Dito niya narealize kung gaano ka-iba ang nararamdam niya pagkasama Blaze and she liked it.
He placed his hand on her cheek. "I like you Patience," he confessed.
He can feel her body stiffened. Nang ikwento ni Luke sa kanya ang pagkamatay ng ama ni Louisa, somehow he knew mahihirapan siya kay Patience.
Instead of answering, Patience stopped dancing and excused herself. "I'm just going to the restroom."
Naiwan si Blaze sa gitna. Nakatingin parin kay Patience, while she was walking away. Isang buntong-hininga ang pinakawalan niya bago bumalik sa kinauupuan ng kapatid.
"Are you okay?" Blanca asked pagkaupo niya.
"Yeah," matipid niyang sagot.
"I like her, you know." Blanca said.
Me too, he wanted to say. "Patience?"
"Yeah. Magaan ang loob ko sa kanya and kahit kakakilala palang namin, alam na namin mga sekreto ng isa't-isa." She said and smiled.
"Really? Like what?" He curiously asked.
She rolled her eyes. "That's why it's called a secret Blaze. It supposed to be one."
"What are you doing here all alone. You're supposed to be dancing, this is your party." He said.
She smiled, but there's still sadness in her face. "A lot asked. Pero 'yong gusto kong makasayaw, didn't. So, I'm here waiting."
"Blanca. I don't who that is, I'm glad I don't, because I'm gonna kill him for being so blind and not noticing you. But don't get so frowny just because of a guy." He gave his best advice.
"Ugh, I don't want to talk to you about boys." Nawala ang tingin ni Blanca sa kapatid and fixated of someone. Napatingin doon si Blaze and he didn't like what he's seeing.
Patience is whispering something on Lukes' ear, at dali-daling isinuot ni Luke ang coat ni Patience. "Aalis na yata sila." Komento ni Blanca. Sabay na tumayo ang magkapatid at naglakad patungo sa dalawa. "Patience!" Tawag ni Blanca.
Napalingon ang dalawa kanila. "O, Blanca, kailangan ko ng umalis. I'm sorry." Paalam ni Patience.
"Why?" Tanong ni Blaze. This is the only time that he liked a woman and actually confessed to her, then the initial reaction he received is running away. Is he that bad?
Hindi pinansin ni Patience ang tanong ni Blaze at humarap kay Blanca. "I really have to go, dinala sa hospital ang anak ko. Sabi ko kay Luke maiwan nalang siya. Nakakahiya naman sayo kung kaming dalawa aalis--"
"I rather go with you. It's an emergency." Sagot ni Luke.
"Oh my God, is she okay? Sure, okay lang na umalis na kayo. It's an emergency." Humalik sa pisngi ni Patience si Blanca bago tuluyang umalis ang dalawa at naiwan ang magkapatid sa party.
"I didn't know she has a child. I hope she's okay." Wika ni Blanca bago naglakad palayo.
Naiwang nakatayo doon si Blaze. Feeling worst of himself. He couldn't do anything and iniwasan siya ni Patience. He wanted to go too. Pero he will feel like an intruder, he's not welcome. Alam naman niyang hindi ito pababayaan ni Luke, but he'd rather be there himself.
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Authors' Note:
Hey Sweeties,
Another update. I got a little bit busy these past few days because of my training. But no worries, this week I'm all free. I'll update another chapter or two before the week ends. I'll try, so bear with me.
Anyway comment and vote! I love you all!
-Ally
Uploaded: 03/03/15
All Rights Reserved
2014©AllyHPerkins
BINABASA MO ANG
My Other Half
De TodoPatience was the happiest bride of all, until the tragedy happened and ruined everything. 6 years later, her heart is still close and broken. Until, she meet the arrogant, rich and handsome boss, Blaze. Is she willing to open her heart and love agai...
