Something More

Chapter 025

"Thanks for tonight. Nag-enjoy ako, promise." sabi ko and unfastened my belt. Jared jumped off the car and agad-agad na pumunta sa labas ng car window ko to open the door for me. I smiled at him. What a gentleman talaga.

"Thanks." I said and nung nakalabas na ako, I placed my arms on his neck. "Ito talagang boyfriend ko, ang sweet-sweet at napaka-gentleman."

Napangiti siya at namula, then he looked away. Ganun pa rin si Jared, hindi pa rin madaldal. But that's one of the things I like about him. I stared at his eyes and naalala ko tuloy yung panaginip ko kagabi.. you know? Nag-propose daw siya sa akin. I'm relieved talaga na panaginip lang yun.

"At ano namang iniisip ng babe ko?" he asked me, grinning.

"Facebook ka, magtatanong ng 'what's on your mind?' Hala, Jared." I joked and he laughed naman. I let go of him and waved good bye. Jared waved back and sumakay na sa kotse, then he tried to smile at me. I just watched him go and I was left alone in this darkness.

Kahit kami na, I never kissed Jared. Hindi naman sa ayoko siyang halikan, pero I don't think I'm ready yet. And besides.. I feel nervous kasi minsan if I'll do some sweet gestures with Jared. May hesitation, may doubt.. I don't know. Pero good thing Jared's patient, hindi siya nagpupumilit. Ngingiti lang siya and will nod silently. Kahit he wants to kiss me, he'll just stare in my eyes instead. Yung nakakatunaw.

Hay, I feel like a bad person.

I chose a mini black dress and killer heels. Hindi naman sa naging fashionista na ako, it's just that I learned how to dress nicely na. Hindi na ako yung manang mag-damit, I learned to grow up na kasi. Hehe. At saka minsan lang naman ako nag-susuot ng ganitong damit, sa mga formal or special occasions lang. You know?

At saka naglagay na rin ako ng make-up. I tell you, marami na talagang nagbago sa akin. I don't wear my glasses anymore, contact lens na lang ako. But I know I'm still me, ganun pa rin si Audrey. 

Papunta na ako sa Lifeguard Bar (*fictional). Hindi kasi sasama si Jared eh, may business trip siya sa Zamboanga for a week. Eh may kotse naman ako kaya ito na, mag-isa na lang pupunta doon sa reunion party. I parked my car and pumunta na sa loob ng bar. Hmm, marami-rami na rin ang mga tao at party party na sila dito.

I looked around the crowd and looked for someone. Then.. I saw a guy na nakatalikod sa akin. I don't know pero.. ugh, is that him? And why am I even expecting?

"X-xander..?"

Lumapit pa ako sa kanya and held his shoulder. Wait, bakit ko ba siya nilapitan? Ano, tatakbo na lang kaya ako? Then biglang lumingon yung lalake, and gotcha, hindi pala si Xander. Ano ba? Bakit ko ba kasi siya iniisip?

"May problema ba Miss?" he asked me.

I shook my head. "W-wala. Sorry, wrong person pala."

Tapos lumakad na ako palayo kasi nakakahiya eh. Hinahanap ko si Marielle, nasaan na kasi siya? Ang daming tao dito, as in crowded talaga. Hay, eh wala pa nga akong nakikitang kilala ko dito eh. Saka si Marielle lang naman friend ko dito no. Habang naglalakad ako sa party party people ay biglang may naglagay ng kamay sa mga mata ko. Nakakagulat ah, pero alam ko kung sino 'to eh. Halata sa kamay, ang lambot, kaka-lotion lang.

"Marielle, alam ko yang lotion mo," I told her. She chuckled from behind and bumitaw na. Lumingon ako sa kanya to face her, then there she is smiling at me.

"Best friend talaga kita ah." she said and grinned. Tapos nun ni-lead niya ako doon sa isang empty table and doon na kami. She ordered some juice kasi hindi naman kami umiinom ng alcoholic beverages, then she stared at me with that smirking face. "Oh, kamusta na?" 

"Anong kamusta na?" I asked her back.

"Ikaw. Si Jared. Kayo." she answered and nilagay yung right fist niya sa chin niya and smiled at me.

"Hey, what do you mean?" tanong ko pa. Eh ang labo kasi niya eh.

"Ms. Audrey Michelle Tan, what I mean is kung nag-propose na ba sa'yo si Mr. Jared Arthur Villafuerte. I mean, that guy has been loving you for like.. seven years already? Papaabutin mo pa ba ng 100 years? Poor guy."

"Marielle, hindi pa kasi ako handa eh. You know those things make me.. uncomfortable. Just the thought of kissing Jared nga bothers me."

She took a deep breath then stared at my eyes. "Tapatin mo nga ako Audrey, mahal mo ba talaga si Jared?"

I nodded. "Mahal ko siya, that's what my mind tells me."

She rubbed her forehead. "Naku, sabi na nga eh. Hindi mo siya mahal. If only your mind tells you that.. then you really don't love him. Please, tell me the truth. You can trust me naman eh."

I sighed in defeat. "Okay, okay. I am not really in love with Jared. Pero madali lang naman siyang mahalin eh, and he's such a good guy. I don't deserve his love nga eh.. nakaka-guilty, I feel like a bad person."

"Edi nabunyag din ang katotohanan.." Marielle said. "Pero best, habang maaga pa lang, 'wag mo nang lokohin ang sarili mo and huwag mo na ring paasahin si Jared. Masasaktan pa siya ng wagas sa huli eh."

"O-okay.." I nodded. 

There was a moment of silence then dumating na yung drink namin. I took a few sips from it, then finally Marielle took a deep breath again. She clears her throat and I swallowed.

"Last question.. are you still in love with X-xander?" 

Okay. So here comes the hardest question of all. Yung bagay na ayokong sagutin, kahit na alam na alam ko ang sagot dito sa tanong na ito. "Marielle.. come on, that's past already. I'm over him, o-okay?"

"Weh, talaga lang ah.. I noticed you a while ago looking for someone." she said.

"I was looking for you."

"Then bakit mo tinapik yung lalakeng nakatalikod doon? That means you're looking for a guy."

"Okay, fine. I'm looking for him, pero I don't love him anymore, okay?"

Sumuko na rin finally si Marielle and nagparty-party na kami doon. Then napagod na ako and uuwi na me. Ehehe, wala lang. So ayun, okay lang naman kay Marielle kaya off I go na.

Lumabas na ako ng Bar and doon sa labas nun ay may five steps stairs pababa. Gets niyo ba? Basta parang ganun. Pababa na sana ako when suddenly pagkababa ko doon sa third step ay natapilok ako.

Oops.. oh no. I closed my eyes and prepared myself for the pain. But, in my surprise.. someone caught me. I opened my eyes and he was there, holding me in his chest.

Alexander Joseph Martinez, the guy I am falling in love with.