Quiet. The dinner hall is so quiet. Only the clinking of the utensils can be heard. I sighed and glance at mom and dad. Both of them don't seem to mind the silence at all. Ako lang yata ang naiilang at parang hindi makahinga sa nakakasakal na katahimikan. Nakagat ko ang labi ng maaalala kung gaano ka-iba ang pamilya ni Acel sa kung ano'ng klaseng pamilya mayroon ako.
This was the first time na nagkasabay-sabay ulit kaming kumain mula noong umuwi ako pero parang wala lang naman sa kanila. Natapos ang pagkain namin ng lunch nang ganoon na lang. Walang kahit ano'ng palitan ng kahit na ano'ng salita.
After eating lunch, both of them left for a business meeting. I didn't ask further about it. Inihanda ko na lang ang sarili dahil may pupuntahan din naman ako. Ngayon naka-schedule ang meeting ko with the weeding organizer na kinuha ni Tita Annabel and mom.
Tita Annabel was supposed to come with me since she volunteered yesterday when I told her that mom can't go with me but then she had an emergency that she needs to attend to. Though Acel offered to take me in the resto where the meeting was set, I declined his offer since I know na busy siya sa trabaho. Wala naman akong ginagawa at kakausapin ko lang naman iyong wedding organizer, wala namang mahirap sa gagawin ko doon. Iyong payment and schedule pa lang naman ang nasabing pag-uusapan doon sabi ni Tita Annabel sa akin.
I wore a white long sleeves polo and a black trouser pants. I paired it with a pale cream wedges. I put my hair in a messy bun, a few strands were on the side of my face as I applied a light make up on my face. I stood in front of the mirror to check myself out. I decided to open the three buttons of the long sleeves shirt. I rolled up the sleeves up until in the middle part of my arms to add some style. I put my cards, phones, and keys on my small white hand bag before I left the house.
Wala pa iyong wedding organizer noong dumating ako sa resto na napag-usapan namin sa phone. I checked the time and I'm a little early than the set time for this meeting. I only ordered a cup of tea while I sat there quietly and wait.
Nangunot ang aking noo ng makita ko ang isang pamilyar na mukha. Is that. . .my father's secretary? She's standing at the door of the resto like she's waiting for someone. I watch her closely as I sip on my tea. Mayamaya ay may tumigil na isang itim na van sa harap niya. The door in the back seat opened and a muscled guy wearing an all black outfit came out. Mukhang body guard ng kung sino. Nag-usap silang dalawa saglit noong secretary ni dad bago bumaling iyong lalaking bumaba sa loob ng sasakyan at mukhang may kinakausap doon. Naaninag ko mula sa aking distansiya ang isang lalaki na naka-suot ng suit at may mamahaling relo sa kaliwang bisig. May sinabi siya doon sa lalaking nasa labas ng sasakyan. My eyes widen in shock when I saw the guy grip on the collar of my dad's secretary. Napatayo ako at akmang lalapit doon pero agad din naman iyong binitawan ng lalaki. Pakiramdam ko ay nagbanta pa muna siya bago tuluyan na sumakay muli sa sasakyan at umalis.
Natulala ako saglit sa nangyari. Bago pa man ako makalapit ay mabilis nang humakbang paalis ang babaeng secretary ni dad na mukhang takot na takot dahil sa nangyari.
What the hell was that? Is she being abused or something?
“Ms. Rivera. . .”
Nagugulat akong napabaling sa may harapan ko.
“Hi, my name is Lisa. I'm the wedding organizer that Mrs. Dior and Rivera contacted for your wedding.” Ngumiti siya.
Tumango ako. “Y-yeah, hi. . .” Muli akong lumingon sa may labas ng resto.
Tumingin din si Lisa at sinundan ang tinitingnan ko. “May. . .problema ba? Are you not comfortable in here? We can-”
Umiling ako agad. “No, it's fine!” Tanggi ko. “It's okay, I'm sorry. May naalala lang ako.”
