Cannot Be

23rd

Chapter 23

After the Limasawa trip, andito ako ngayon sa designer ng family ni Race. His cousin invited me to her 18th birthday.

I'm on good terms with his cousins, but not his parents. They hate having their son a girlfriend who isn't a chinese.

"This looks good on you, ma'am." sabi ng designer. Lahat naman bagay saken. I was born with that.

Hindi na ako nagtagal sa pagpili ng maisusuot, dahil baka dumating yung parents ni Race.

I can't stand a interaction with them, without Race. Busy kasi siya sa business nila.

"Mauna na po ako, thank you." I slightly bowed my head.

Habang nasa elevator ako ay may nakita akong isang pamilyar na mukha.
Hindi ako sure kung siya nga iyon. Pero kamukha talaga e.

Si Skyen! Race's cousin! Tagal ko din siyang di nakitaa!

"Oh, hi! Race's girlfriend." he brightly smiled at me. I'm glad it's not his parents.

"Hi! Race's cousin." I laughed a bit. Patuloy ba naming babanggitin yung pangalan ni Race?

"Go home already. His parents are coming." He whispered at me. Uuwi na nga diba. Kaya nga nasa elevator na e.

"I am, and thankyou. See you later!" I shouted at him as I walk out of the elevator.

There building is actually bigger than ours. Lahat ng connected sa family tree nila ay andito. All of them are holding on of their business.

Chinese people are known for being a business people. Kaya grabe sila maka ano sa akin. Business oriented din naman kami.

And fate isn't good at me. I saw them walking to the entrance, while I'm headed to the exit. His mother was looking at me. Ngumiti ako ng kaunti para hindi masyado nakakahiya.

"You shouldn't come." She whispered at me. Hindi naman siya ang mag invite sa akin. But, I have respect to her pa naman. She's still his mother.

"I was invited by the debutant, ma'am" I smiled at her. Hindi naman sa wala akong respeto. Pero may point naman ako.

Wala silang ibang ginawa kundi ipamukha sa akin na hindi ako karapatdapat. I didn't wait for her reply. Alam ko naman na sasabihin niya lang kung gaano ako ka walang respeto.

--

Mom was watching me prepare for the party. Nasa baba na si Race nag aantay saakin. He's an early bird. Never been late.

"Ma, do I look good?" I asked. Nginitian ko siya ng pacute hehe.

"Ikaw pa ba." my mom looked so proud at me.

She was like always supportive sa akin. Lahat ng gusto kong gawin sa buhay ko andyan siya para iguide ako.

"Tagal mo naman mag prepare, nag aantay boyfriend mo." Sabi niya sa akin. I just smiled shyly. 

Lagi naman ako matagal.

After that, we went to the location. Full of lights, colors and flowers. Lilac.

As we walked in, his cousins greeted me.   I saw Ceo, Zarijel, Skyen again. Sila lang close ko sa kanila e. Except for the debutant.

The debutant was walking down the stairs. Wow. Just wow.

Nasa lahi na siguro nila ang magaganda at pogi. Maganda den naman ako hehe.

"Our debutant, Shanzie! Happy 18th birthday our princess." the mc shouted. She can ba literally a princess.

All I can see are people having 'singkit' eyes. Ako lang ba? Ako lang ba ang malaki mata dito? I mean it's not that big. Just the normal one.

"Is she pretty?" Zarijel asked. Napakunot ang noo ko. Ba't niya naman ako tinatanong ng ganyan. Para mainsecure ako? Hell no.

"Yeah, she is." I answered honestly.

"You both think alike." he said.

Both? Who?

"Who?" I asked.

"My girl." he said and texted someone in his phone while smiling.

Zarijel? Having a girlfriend? The silent one? Omg!

The debutant was busy greeting guests. That's why I don't like having parties. Kailangan mo batiin ang mga bisita. Mas prefer ko matulog nalang maghapon.

"So, you still attended?" Race's mother asked me while smiling. Here we go again.

"Mom." Race warned?

"As I have said ma'am, I was invited by the debutant." I smiled sweetly trying to annoy her.

"How rude." she said and walked away.

I just don't deserve to be treated like that. Alam ko na ayaw nila sa akin. Hindi ba pwede na plastikin nalang nila ako. Kesa sa inaapi api ako.

"Sorry, I love you." he said while hugging me. He always feel guilty about his parent's treatment. I just smiled at him.

I saw Shanzie walking towards us.

"Dale! Are you enjoying the party?" she asked. Should I say the truth? Of course, not.

"Yeah, of course. You look stunning." I smiled at her sweetly. She flipped hair and said...

"I already stole everyone's boyfriend." she joked. She's not that type haha.

She excused herself and greeted other guests.

Ceo was busy on his phone.

Skyen was drinking liquor.

Race is by my side. Playing with my hands.

"We shouldn't have gone here." he said.

"Ano ka ba? Ininvite ako ng pinsan mo. Atleast sa pinsan okay diba." sabi ko habang natawa. Hindi dapat katakutan ang mga ganon.

"Against all odds, huh?" he smiled at me. It should be. I nodded at him and asked to dance with me on the dancefloor.

Ikaw lang by Nobita.

While looking at each others eyes. Holding each others hand.

"I choose you." I said.

"I will always do." he kissed my forehead.