Take a Shot

CHAPTER 10

Pagkapasok sa opisina hindi mapigilan ni Hendrina ang magtatalon sa tuwa. She put her both hands in her face and feel how hot it is. She is so happy to be invited to dinner. Ang malala ay crush pa niya ang nag-alok. Hendrina never knew that having a crush is a delightful feeling. Sa tingin niya ay parehas sila ng nararamdaman ng kaibigan kapag kaharap ang crush.

Sa 26 years niyang nabubuhay she felt like this was the first time her life had some trill and color. When her heart beat turns to normal she get her phone and open her email. There it goes, Friel's email has a lot of attachment. It was the photo she took earlier in the morning when she was in bed with Allen. Hiyang hiya siya noong tumawag ito at pinatayan agad niya ito ng telepono. Nasa harapan pa naman siya ni Allen, sanay siya na ng nakaloud speaker sa call pero buti na lang at di niya na-on. Puro kabaliwan pa naman ang sinabi ng kaibigan.

Hendrina is so excited for tomorrow's dinner that she can't stop thinking how she will spend the time with Allen. Itinigil na niya ang pagdi-daydream kasi kanina pa siyang mukhang baliw na ngumingiti ng mag-isa. Since wala na siyang event na aayusin sa araw na iyon ay binalak na lang niyang bumisita sa bahay ng mga magulang. Pamula kasi ng bumukod siya ng bahay ay bumibisita nalang siya kada linggo or kapag may libre siyang oras mula sa trabaho.

She made sure that her club was locked properly. There were no guards on duty since that was the only time they got to sleep, and came back in the afternoon to clean up and be ready again for the night. Sure naman siya na safe ang club because there are bunch of cctv's everywhere. It was a long drive and she arrived almost lunch time so it just perfect. Grabe din kasi ang traffic na tinamasa niya. Pagka-park ng sasakyan ay pinagbuksan siya ng pinto ng kanilang kasambahay.

"Magandang tanghali Mam Hendrina."

"Magandang tanghali din Manang Tinay. Nasaan po sina Mommy?" Magalang na tanong niya sa matanda at nagmano dito. Si Manang Tinay ay matagal ng naninilbihan sa pamilya niya. Sobrang close niya dito dahil isa ito sa mga nagpalaki sa kaniya.

"Ay pagpalain ka ng Diyos Iha. Ang iyong mga magulang ay nasa sala kasama si Mark." Her eyes went wide at the news.

"Oh my!!! Kailan pa po siya dumating?" Surpresang tanong niya.

"Aba ay kanina lang din ba. Ay saan ba galing ang batang iyon ang tagal ko ng hindi nakikita at pasulpot sulpot na lamang?"

"Hahahahaha manang talaga! Trabaho po ni Mark ang lumibot sa iba't ibang parte ng bansa, kaya palagi siyang wala."

"Ganoon ba ay halika na sa loob. Nako miss na miss ka na namin. Napapadalang naman ang pagdalaw mo dito eh." Nagtatampong sabi nito sa kaniya.

She giggled and hug her. "Hayaan mo manang dadalasan ko na po ang pag-uwi. Busy lang po sa trabaho eh."

They both walked inside their mansion. The mansion is so big and cozy. The walls are painted white that makes their house very bright. In the living room she sees the back of her parents and a lean man talking. The living room is spacious and there is a chandelier above. There is a 75 inch television, a big couch that is so soft to sit on, and plants in the corner. She excitedly walked to them, especially that Mark is here.

"HELLO EVERYONE! GOSH IT'S BEEN SO LONG." She said that catch the attention of her parents and her boy best friend Mark. Nang malapitan ang magulang ay humalik at yumakap siya. She also to the same to Mark that looks happy to see her.

"My love bakit hindi ka nagsabi na bibisita ka. Nakapagpahanda sana kami ng paboruto mong pagkain para kang si Mark bigla na lang din dumating." She and Mark laugh at what her mom says. Her mom Diana still look beautiful and graceful. You wouldn't even know that she is in her 50's if you just look at her.

"Ayos lang Mommy kung anong pagkain ang nasa mesa. Atsaka di na surprise ang uwi ko kung sasabihin ko."

"Ang mabuti pa ang mananghalian na tayo tutal ay nandito na kayo parehas ni Mark. Manang nakahanda na ba ang mga pagkain?" Tanong ni Dad kay Manang. Jerry her dad look so young for his age also. Her parents glow together like they were still teens. Siguro ganyan lang yata kapag tamang tao yung nag-alalaga sayo. She dreamily sighed at the sight of her parents holding hands. They were so in love until now and she is lucky to have both of them.

"Aba opo sir! Ipinapahanda ko na din po ang plato ni Hendrina."

They walk together to the dining room and feast for the food. The lunch was so delicious and fun, especially that Mark has a lot of stories to tell about the place he has been. After the meal she and Mark take a walk to their garden. Isang buwan din silang di nagkita.

"When did you got home from Thailand? Namiss kita ng sobra ni hindi mo man lang ako tinatawagan or sinasagot ang tawag ko. Did you got yourself a girlfriend already huh? Kaya di mo sinasagot kasi may nagseselos na." Pangungulit niya sa binata. Mark is handsome. Papasa nga itong modelo kung gugustuhin nito pero mas gusto nitong siya ang kumukuha ng litrato kaysa siya ang kinukuhanan. He is the personification of tall, dark, and handsome. He is very lean that is perfect for modelling.

Mark is her friend since college. Actually he is one of the boys sa kanilang magkakaibigan but two of them were more closer. He is such a nice man kaya nagkasundo agad silang dalawa. They create their friendship in a very funny and embarrassing situation for her. Mark was her seatmate in one of her subject and the proof have some surprise quiz.

Natataranta at kinakabahan siya kada magbibigay ng tanong ang guro. Hindi naman kasi siya nakinig at nagdoodle lang ng kung ano-ano sa kaniyang notebook. Mark able to see her panic and let her copy his answer. The most funny in it is they both got zero. Na-zero sila kasi komopya lang din lang pala si Mark sa katabi niya. But he copy the answer in a wrong order kasi panay daw ang takip ng panyo ng katabi niya.

From that day forward they were inseparable and became good friends. Ngayon nga lang ay busy na sa kaniya kaniyang career kaya madalang na lang magkita kita.

"Kararating ko lang kahapon. Balak ko nga na surpresahin ka at pumunta sa bahay mo mamaya pagkatapos kong bumisita kina Tita at Tito. Nagdala din kasi ako ng pasalubong. Sa ating dalawa ikaw dapat ang tinatanong ko kung may jowa ka na." He said and mess her hair. She pinched him on his arm, dahil sa ginawa nito. Mark winced because of the pain. She hates it if someone is ruining her hair.

"Ano ba yan sayang! Ang daming magaganda don bakit wala kang inuwi kahit isang chicks. Ang hina mo naman." Hendrina rolled her eyes. "Alam mo daig pa kita. Wala akong boyfriend pero meron na akong crush. Di ba may improvement na ang love life ko. May nakagawa ng kumuha ng interes ko." She proudly said to him and smile widely. She saw him smile a bit and remove his gaze towards her. Itinuon nito ang pansin sa nga orchids ng mommy niya.

"So sino naman yung crush mo? Pasok ba sa sobrang taas mong standards?" Sarkastikong tugon nito.

Napasimangot naman siya sa tanong nito. "Di ko pa nga sure eh, nakilala ko lang siya sa club. Pero sa dinner namin bukas mas makikilala ko pa siya ng lubos. Balitaan na lang kita kapag pasado." May misteryosong ngiti naman ang sumilay sa labi ni Mark. Hindi nalang niya pinansin iyon kasi may pagka weirdo naman din kasi ito eh. Lahat kasi ng kaibigan niya may mga amats.

"Well, mabuti naman na kilalanin mo muna nga. You deserve a good man and everything Hendrina." He pat her head lightly. Her eyes shine in happiness. She likes it if he is doing that feel niya kasi parang kapatid niya si Mark. Wala siyang kapatid kaya he feel a brotherly love from him. "Tara na sa loob manood tayo ng movie." Paanyaya ng matalik na kaibigan. She wrapped her arms to his and cling as they go inside.

"Let's go! I have a lot of movies I haven't watched. Let's watch that together." Masayang turan niya.