Her Inevitable Fall

KABANATA 32

Uncomfortable and guilty. Those are the feelings I'm currently drowned into. I didn't expect that at this same time I'll be gone with my thoughts with Thyrone and be lost in this personal predicament.

Yes, I was guilty of not telling the glamor team of my real relationship with Thyrone. E, hindi ko naman ini-expect na malalaman ni Tita Alleine 'yon. Sino ba ang nag-open up 'non? Si Oreo ba? Or maybe nalaman nung binisita nina Dennisse si Tita sa room 'nya after our quick encounter at Thyrone's room.

Now, for sure Tita is disappointed of me. Hindi ko lang rin malaman na kahit naramdaman niya ang pag-deny ko sa relationship namin ng anak nito ay nagawa pa rin akong igiya sa pinaka malapit na upuan sa table nila ni Tito.

We joined the party some minutes ago. At napansin ko na lahat ng bumati kay Tita sa nadadaanan namin ay naglalaan s'ya ng effort para ipakilala ako bilang girlfriend ng anak nito. Ngayon halos lahat ng business partners and relatives nila ay kilala na kung sino ako. Kanina ko pa nga rin nakikita ang nangingiting titig ni Oreo sa akin. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa pa ito sa sitwasyon ko.

Matapos kong maupo sa designated na upuan at iwan ni Tita akala ko pwede ng huminga ng maayos at may oras ako para mag-isip ng mabuti. But it wasn't the case. Oreo specifically and effortless sit beside me and ones in a while talk to me about personal things pero umaalis rin sa lamesa para makausap ang mga ilang kakilala na nasa party rin. Nung nagpaalam ito kanina I felt relieved but our conversation hunted me 'till now. Kaya wala ako sa sarili habang naka-upo but my eyes kept on roaming around the room, searching for Thyrone. Pero mula pa kanina ay hindi ko ito mahanap. Where could he be? Both of his parents are already here and the program already started the moment we arrived. Ang organizer ng party including the master of ceremony rolled the program in quorum.

"Are you ashamed of Thyrone Abellanosa, Bella?" Oreo's question repeatedly runs in my head. It was one of his questions earlier.

"Of course not!" I assured him.

Sobrang sakit sa puso maging sa utak ng tanong ni Oreo dagdag pa na parang sirang plakang paulit-ulit ang tanong na iyon sa aking isipan. Kahit na pilit kong iniwawasto sa pag-iisip nito ang tungkol dito, I don't think I persuade him enough to believe me. Anong ulit man ang sabihin ko that Thyrone is the best man any woman can have, Oreo seemed in doubt of me and my intention. Ano ba ang dapat gawin sa sitwasyon na ganito? Nariyan pa si Tita. For sure she'll tell Tito of what I did. How embarrassing?

Mula ng mabati ko si Tito hindi na ako tumayo sa aking kinatatayuan. I felt tired and all I want to do is to rest at home but the party just started. There be more hours to go before I can ask Tita and Tito's permission to leave. Hindi ko na nagawa ang unang plano ko to leave after saying my greetings to Tito because I felt guilty that I disappoint Tita earlier.

"What a beautiful video presentation! Nakakakilig!" patuloy na pagsasalita ng master of ceremony sa lahat.

Katatapos lang i-flash ang video presentation ng taon-taong larawan ng mag-asawa. Mula ng magnobyo pa ang mga ito, nang ikinsal, nang nagbubuntis si Tita, at ang mga latest na pictures ng mag-asawa during vacation in local and international places.

The old couples seated at my neighboring table were delighted at the pictures shown. Kilig na kilig ang ginang sa tabi ng asawa nito. Kung 'di lang ako bothered right now for sure I'll be feeling the same feelings too