QUEEN SERIES #4: THE DRAMA QUEEN [COMPLETE]

CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

Felina Claudia Elizabeth Fernandez

I cannot believe that somebody like Mason would send me flowers. Ngayon pa? I heard that he is now part of the Philippine Basketball Association. Hindi man ako mahilig sa basketball, naririnig ko pa rin ang pangalan niya sa larangang kanyang napili. I know he is not short of beautiful women running after him kaya bakit niya naisipang 'parang' liligawan ako? Something doesn't add up.

"That Mason---isn't he the guy who bullied you in college? The one I almost punched for insulting you while you were taking a walk in España?"

Gosh, naalala niya! That was one of my painful memories. Hindi nga lang basta painful. Pinaka-embarassing moment na nangyari sa buhay ko. Isipin mo iyon? May nakakita na ibang tao nang nilait-lait ako ng crush ko.

"Yes. Siya nga."

Napatiim-bagang siya. Then, he released the hand brake and put his car in the drive mode. Hindi na siya nagsalita pa.

Nagseselos ba siya? Kinilig ako nang slight. Mapapangiti na sana ako kaso bigla siyang nagsalita ng kung ano. Nabasag ang pantasya ko.

"I'm right after all. If you remember, I told you one time that boys like him, when they do realize in adulthood the wrongs they've done in their adolescence, they learn to make amends naman. Siguro nga na-realize niyang mali talaga siya noon. Good for him."

Ano'ng pinagsasabi nito? Si Mason naka-realize ng kamalian niya noon? Si Mason na hambog? Si Mason na walang sense of humility? Si Mason na ubod ng arrogance?

"Gusto mong umikot-ikot muna tayo? Have you been to Aguinaldo's shrine in Kawit?" pag-iba niya ng usapan.

"Not yet, kaso---medyo madilim na. Baka hanapin na ako sa amin."

He looked at me like I said something out of this world. Then, he smiled.

"You're already twenty-three, Felina. Soon, you'll be twenty-four."

Nahiya ako nang slight. True. Hindi na ako dapat nagpapadikta pa sa parents ko. But then again, maisip ko lang ang galit na galit na mukha ni Mom, nag-aalala na ako. I know I should act my age na, pero paano ako magiging independent kung hanggang ngayon ay jobless pa rin? It has been more than a year since I graduated. But in the span of twelve to fourteen months, I only had part-time jobs. Most of them came from Dad's recommendation pa. I should be thankful na hanggang ngayon ay well-supported pa rin ako ng parents ko.

Hindi na ako sumagot sa sinabi niya. Siguro naisip niyang na-offend ako dahil bigla na naman niya akong binalingan tapos nag-apologize pa siya sa akin.

"It's okay. I was not offended."

He smiled at me. And the simple smile meant to just show me his gratitude for my being understanding, turned out so sexy for me. Na-turn on ako. Kainis! Kailangan kong ibaling sa labas ng bintana ang paningin para hindi ako ma-carried away. Though I missed our intimate moments, my mind was telling me to behave or else...

"I was --- offered a job as a life coach of a huge firm in Ohio. Kasama sa perks na ibibigay nila ay ang free relocation expenses not just for me but for the family I will bring with me," bigla na lang niyang naikuwento.

Family. Is he going to propose? Lumakas na naman ang kabog ng puso ko. Kanina sa bahay, parang nagpapalipad-hangin na siya. Ako raw ang magde-decorate no'ng bago niyang bungalow. Kasama ba ito sa plano niyang marriage proposal? Shit! Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko kung sakali. Baka mahimatay ako sa excitement!

Teka. Should I be excited? Hindi ba dapat nagpapakipot naman ako nang kaunti? Saka, iyong sinabi ni Dad. Binobola lang daw ako ni JT dahil nagkatampuhan sila ng pintor na siyang girlfriend niya raw talaga. Baka ginagamit lang ako para pagselosin iyon. Ayon din kay Mom, guys like JT don't fall for girls like me.