Husband For Rent (Published, Now in Bookstores)

Chapter Thirty-Six

Typo errors are a lot.

Chapter Thirty-Six

"This is embarrassing," Naiiyak na sabi ni Cheska habang kasayaw si Jackson sa gitna. Matapos kasing 'di pagpakita ng 18th roses niyang si Jiro sa party, Jackson offered himself to be the eighteenth instead-and to avoid her humiliation.

"Embarrassing?" Jack replied, smiling. "Why would you?"

"Because my eighteenth rose didn't come," Bigla namang natawa si Cheska, "And then, the irony, ikaw pa ang naging 18th roses ko."

Jack also stifled a light laugh, "And here, you're being rude again. Ni hindi mo nga ako sinali sa mga roses, Cheska. Yan palang, sobrang rude na." He replied as both of them was still dancing.

"Kasi alam kong mag-aaway lang tayo," Sagot naman ni Cheska rito. She was still laughing, "Baka mamaya, magkarambulan." She joked. Yun naman talaga ang rason niya kung bakit hindi niya ito sinali. Instead she made Jack as one of her 18 treasures in her debut.

"But I'm still part of the guys that has been in your life, although just not in good terms," Jack replied jokingly too.

Ilang segundo rin ay naging tahimik naman silang dalawa. Cheska was starting to feel uncomfortable when Jackson was just staring at her intensely.

"Diba kapag sa last dance, usually, boyfriend mo or the person you like?" Jack suddenly asked.

"Y-Yeah.." Cheska could really feel the awkwardness, "Uhm, si Jiro kasi.. college crush ko and wala na kasi akong ibang maisip na sino.."

"By the way, you look beautiful tonight." Jack smiled genuinely at her, "You know, this could be a sign."

"Sign for what?"

"Na baka gusto mo ko kaya ako ginawang last dance ng Diyos para sayo."

"Baliw! You don't like me." Hindi tuloy maiwasan ni Cheska na matawa sa mga biro nito.

"I like you." Biglang sabi naman ni Jack sa kanya kaya naman napatigil siya.

"Ang hilig mo talagang magbiro, ano!" Hinampas niya ang dibdib nito habang natatawa. "We can't be together, Jackson. We can never be, it's not right, baka puro away lang ang gagawin natin, hahaha! I hate you and you hate me!" She giggled.

"Y-Yeah, right." Did she notice something from his eyes after she told those words? "But wait, you didn't let me finish," Natatawa na rin ang lalake sa kanya, "I like teasing you. Balyena!" Jack then stuck his tongue out.

"Ang sama mo talaga!"

---

"I can't believe it, pare. My best friend is going to be a priest." Jackson was having a good time with his friends at the Torres' residence. Inimbita na naman kasi siya ng Mommy nina Chris na si Monique na dumalo sa family gathering ng mga ito. Hindi naman niya iyon pinalampas kasi magkikita-kita na naman sila ng matalik niyang kaibigan na si Chris.

"Mommy."

Napahinto naman si Jack sa pag-inom niya sa wine nang may nagsalita. Then he saw a very familiar figure of a woman-standing next to a guy. The man then wrapped her arms around the woman's waist.

"Finally, my sister has a boyfriend." Nagsalita naman si Chris.

"Uhm, Chris," He wasn't ready to see her-especially having her boyfriend around, "I have to go. Ano.. my client is calling me. Thank you for this, nice to see you again, dude." He smiled as he quickly went out from the house. Kailangan niyang iwasan ito.

---

"To the bride and groom!" Everybody then raised their glasses when the speaker of reception said those words. Sumunod naman kaagad ang mga bisita sa sinabi nito. The bride and groom were laughing heartily in front of everyone.

"Your sister is really happy, I could see it." Cheska said to Jackson while watching Anya and his newly husband having fun at the reception. Katabi niya kasi ito ngayon sa isang table. Anya also invited her to come to the wedding, siya rin daw kasi ang nagdesign sa wedding gown nito.

It was Jackson's sister wedding ceremony. Marami-rami rin ang mga taong nandodoon-especially Jack's parents who were also eyeing them. She could sense that they didn't really like her presence there.

"Kasal na lahat ng apo ko, kasal na silang lahat." Parehas naman silang napatingin ni Jack nang biglang nagsalita si Lola Rose. Hindi nila tuloy maiwasang matawa. Umiiyak kasi ito habang tinatanaw sina Anya. Kasama nila kasi ang dalawang matanda sa iisang table.

"Jack," She whispered, "I have to go the rest room."

"Okay, be careful." Jack smiled as she stood up from her seat.

---

Cheska immediately washed her hands from the faucet after she used the toilet. Kanina pa kasi niya nararamdaman na parang naiihi na siya kaya umalis muna siya doon. And as what she have observed, it was really a good place for a wedding reception.

"Cheska."

Napalingon naman si Cheska nang may tumawag sa kanya. It was Jane. And as what she noticed, medyo malaki-laki na rin ang tiyan nito dahil sa pagbubuntis.

She smiled back, "Jane." She didn't see her coming. But what does she expect? Jane was a family friend to the Asenjo family. Malamang, inimbita rin ito ni Anya. Knowing that she was also an ex-girlfriend of Jack... and soon to be the father of her child.

"I see na inimbita ka rin ni Anya sa wedding niya." Sabi nito sa kanya but she could feel she was just faking it.

"Yeah, I was the one who designed her wedding gown anyway." She replied back. Kung sa tingin nito na magpapatalo siya, puwes hindi. "And my husband is her brother too."

Jane just smiled at her sweetly, "Well then, enjoy it for now, I hope mamaya, sa magiging announcement ko, nandun ka pa." Makahulugang sabi nito. Kumunot naman ang noo ni Cheska sa mga sinabi nito sa kanya, "Enjoy the reception dear."

Now, what is she up to?

---

"Are you okay?" Tanong ni Jack kay Cheska nang makarating na siya ulit sa table nila.

"Uh, I-I'm fine, don't worry." She really isn't fine. What Jane said to her has been now lingering on her mind. Hindi maalis-alis sa isipan niya ang announcement na sinasabi nito. She felt something fishy about it. "Let's just continue our food." She said instead. All of them then focused on their food.

"Everyone."

Natahimik naman ang lahat nang bisita at napatingin sa nakatayong si Jane Buenavista. Jane was wearing an elegant white gown that really suited her pregnant state. Everbody's attention was now at her. Even the attention of the bride and groom was now at her.

"I'm happy, so happy that finally, Anya and Harold finally tie the knot, I knew from the start, you were really meant for each other." Panimula nito sa kanila. Anya mouthed Jane a 'thank you'. Cheska also felt na parang close din ang dalawa. Maybe because Jane was always there.

Every guest really seemed to listen to her speaking, "This will be a really great night for all of us here, Anya's wedding.. and," Her eyes and Jane's then met. And from that instance, she knew there's something bad going to happen.

"I'm also using this opportunity to announce to all of you guys," Jane smiled sweetly at the audience-almost crying, "I'm pregnant with Jack's child-and we're also going to be married soon."

//