First Glance

Chapter 15

Chapter 15 

"Pantay ba?"

"Put it a little bit in the left,"

"Dito?"

"Yeah, nice."

I wiped the sweat in my forehead. Damn, ang hirap mag-ayos ng banderitas, kung alam ko lang e'di sana si Jara na mismo ang pinag-ayos ko kahit para sa kaniya 'to. Kunwari na lang na sorpresa siya tutal para naman siyang tanga. Charot.

"The food is here na daw?"

Umirap ako at lumabas ng gate. Conyo talaga ng lalaking 'yon kaasar. I paid the delivery guy. Nagpadeliver lang ako ng mga pagkain dahil baka maghospital pa sila kapag ako nagluto. I just ordered the food that Jara loves, kunwari mabait akong Ate.

Nandito kami ngayon sa bahay namin sa Bulacan, kung saan ako lumaki at lumandi. Weeks had already passed since he started courting me. Gusto ko nga sanang sabihin na kami na lang agad pero naisip ko ang mga pinagdaanan at iniyak ko bago siya dumating noon. It take me a lot of courage para hindi maging marupok. Naka-uniporme pa man din siya ng pang-piloto no'n. 

Last week ay may flight siya papuntang Europe at wala siyang ginawa doon kung hindi mag-send sa akin ng mga pictures. Iniinggit ata ako!

"Is this you?" Niko asked.

"Hoy! Huwag mo nga tingnan 'yan!" 

I look at my picture. Sa labas iyon ng mall at para akong gusgusin dahil kumakain ako ng ice cream tapos ang baho ko pa tingnan. Dios ko naman.

"Why? It's cute naman ah!"

My conyo bibe.

"Whatever."

I arranged the food on the long table that he prepared. So parang magiging buffet ay vibes ng lola mo. I looked around to see if everything was okay na. The theme of the birthday is rose gold and silver, for aesthetic purposes dahil maarte ang Jara na 'yon.

Kanino pa ba magmamana, e'di sa Ate.

Nagpaalam muna ako kay Niko na magbibihis lang. Sama daw siya sabi pa ni gago. Pwede naman pero depende. Joke. Ayoko naman magsabog sa bahay namin baka mamaya lumitaw si Mama. Kaunti lang naman ang pupunta. Si Lucy at Drew tapos kaming pamilya at iba pang mga plastik na kamag-anak. I wore a nude basic top, skinny jeans and partner it my black sandals with chunky heels. 

Mabilis ako pumanik sa baba ng makareceive ng text kay Tito na malapit na daw siya. Naabutan kong nag-uusap na sina Niko at Drew, siguro ay kadarating lang din nila ni Lucy. Hindi nga ako nagkamali, naabutan ko siyang kumukuha ng litrato doon.

"Malapit na daw sila!"

Minutes after, dumating din sila. I smiled when I saw Jara smile with so much joy. That's my goal since then, I want her to be happy. The party started when her bestfriend came at ang iba pa naming kamag-anak. Pinakilala ko sa kanila si Nikolo at mukhang nahiya si loko. I laughed.

Nang masiguradong maayos naman ang lahat. Inaya ko ng kumain si Niko dahil siya ang kanina ko pa katulong mag-ayos ng party, kaya kumuha ako ng dessert doon sa buffet.

"Sus… ganyan na ganyan si Camile noon ng pinakilala niya 'yung Tatay nila pero tingnan mo nga ang nangyari… iniwan din siya,"

"Kaya nga, 'yang mga ganiyan hindi nagtatagal 'yan. Kawawa naman,"

Camile…

Si Mama…

I composed myself.

Ayokong sirain ang kaarawan ng kapatid ko.

I turned my head to kung nasaan si Niko. He's looking at me, he seems to have heard what those bitches are gossiping. I walked confidently, unbothered. I made myself feel comfortable as I crouched down to sit. 

"Don't worry." I felt him looking at me. "I promise myself that I only believe in what you say. Hindi ko hahayaang maloko nila ako dahil sa mga sinasabi nila, okay?"

He chortled.

"Like what I've said. No need to rush, Jamie. If you still haven't trusted me, I'll earn that in every way."

I rolled my eyes.

The celebration resumed. Eight o'clock in the evening when Niko and I decided to go home. I waved at them. Sinuot ko na ang seatbelt at humikab. My eyes felt so heavy but I'm trying my best to keep awake dahil hindi naman magandang iwanan na gising si Niko.

"You can sleep, Jamie. I can manage…"

"Hindi naman ako inaantok masyado…"

But I just felt myself dozing off to sleep.

I woke up around six in the morning because of my alarm. I have a schedule for today so I get my ass up and do my routines. Around eight, I arrived at the shoot. Nagpasalamat ako kay Lie sa pagsabay sa akin papunta dito. Hindi na ako nagdala ng sasakyan dahil wala akong sa mood magdrive.

The shoot went well. I delivered some pizzas and pastas from yellow cab for our lunch, so I can treat them. We sat in our tent that they specially built for the crews dahil sa sobrang tirik ng araw.

I posted a pic on Instagram. It's a picture of mine from a swimwear brand that we shooted in Batangas before because they launched it yesterday. A lot of my co-models congratulated me and I said my thank you's to them while enjoying my pizza.

nikobernardo: hey beautiful 

I chuckled. I saw the crews looking at me with playful eyes. I laughed at sinabing kumain na lang sila. I bit my lip.

alonzojamie: hiii

nikobernardo: did you eat already?

I go to the camera and take a selfie of myself eating the pizza and I send it to him.

alonzojamie: currently eating!

nikobernardo: only pizza?

We just chatted and he asked me where I am right now and what time I will finish here until it's time to go back so I bid my goodbye. I can talk to him all day but I need to work, I miss already. 

Around seven thirty when we finished. Sabi ni Lie na pwede naman daw ako sumabay ulit sa kaniya kaya pumayag ako. I never thought of that, kailangan ko nga pala ng sasakyan pag-uuwi ako, sana dinala ko na lang 'yung sasakyan ko. Nakakahiya kay Lie.

As soon as we headed to the parking lot, I saw him, leaning at his black Mercedez while casually wearing a white tee and pants. What a sight!

"Mukhang may sundo ka naman pala, Ms. Alonzo…"

I smiled at Lie and she nodded at nauna ng umalis.

I walk towards him.

"Surprise?"

I looked around and swiftly stole a kiss.

"Let's go-"

He cut me off by pulling me towards him as he continued my kiss.

And it's another day of making out in a damn public place.