Always By Your Side

Kabanata 13

We spent the whole afternoon playing and teasing each other. Buong hapon akong nakangiti at masaya kasama si Vernon.

But the fun and happiness has to end.

"I'm excited!" Nakayakap si Tavi sa braso ko habang naglalakad kami papunta sa suite namin.

Inarapan ko si Tavi dahil ang kulit niya. Hindi ba siya nakakaramdam ng pagod?

"You don't really have to do this." I told Alanis na nakasunod lang sa'min ni Tavi.

"Kairi said I can invite my friends. And she wanted to meet you matagal na. It's my birthday gift to her. Meeting her idol."

Pagkatapos akong kulitin at inisin ni Vernon ay biglang dumating sina Tavi at Alanis. Alanis invited us sa birthday ng pinsan niya which is today. Her cousin's birthday party started kanina pa at hinahanap na si Alanis.

Her phone keeps on ringing na hindi naman pinapansin ni Alanis because she's busy staring like a lovesick fool to my cousin, who is unaware of her girlfriend's stare.

"Don't worry about the expenses, Kairi got it covered." Dagdag ni Alanis nang lumingon sakanya si Tavi at ngumiti.

I stopped when Tavi held my arm tightly. Nagtago din ito sa likod ko.

Tumingin ako sa babaeng paparating.

She's gorgeous, tall and sexy. Damn. Halatang favorite ni Lord. Her aura tho, just like Alanis'.

I get it. Meeting more young Salvaticis in one night flabbergasts me, but I am Astrid Avila, I'll recover quickly and act like they're not someone important.

"Alanis! Where have you been? Kanina ka pa hinahanap ni Kairi," The gray eyed gorgeous woman stopped in her tracks when she saw me. "Am I dreaming?"

I tilted my head to the side and examine her. Do I know her? She looks familiar. Oh.

"Kyan Moretti."

Napangiti ito nang banggitin ko ang pangalan niya. She's a famous actress.

"Kahiya, Addy. Patago muna here sa likod mo. 'Di pa ko pretty, mare, tapos makikita ko na isa sa mga pinsan ng bebe ko. Teka lang naman diba?" Bulong ng isang tao mula sa likod ko.

"Where's your girlfriend?" Kyan asks Alanis. The latter chuckled and pointed me, specifically to the girl behind my back.

"Hala! Wait mga, 'te! 'Di pa me ready!" I mentally face-palm. Nakakahiya.

Sina Alanis, Kyan at Vernon ay tumawa sa sagot ni Tavi. Mas lalo itong nagtago sa likod ko na akala mo talaga hindi nakikita.

Mabuti sana ay maliit ito at hindi ko kasing tangkad kaso hindi! Alam ko na kitang-kita siya sa pwesto niya.

"Stop hiding, Ryss." Tavi's girlfriend said.

Hinila ko si Tavi papunta sa harap ko. Her girlfriend's cousin wants to meet her tapos tataguan.

"Oh, kaya naman pala patay na patay ka." Kyan teased Alanis na ngumiti lang sa pinsan. "Hi! Don't be shy. I don't bite, honey."

"This is Kyan Salvatici." Pagpapakilala nito sa pinsan na nakangiti sa'min.

"Our generation uses Moretti as our last name to avoid unwanted attention." Explain ni Kyan.

"You are?" Tanong ni Kyan sa taong katabi ni Alanis.

"Vernon Ventura."

Natigilan si Kyan at nakita ko ang naguguluhang tingin nito kay Alanis. Alanis became serious at nakikipagtitigan kay Kyan, their eyes are silently communicating.