Chapter 3
“What?” I heard Kuya John said from the other line.
“Hello to you, too." I said sarcastically.
"Sorry Ash, I'm just having bad time today. Anyway, why did you call?"
"Kuya, can I ask a tiny little favour?" Malambing kong saad dito.
"Favor?" Kahit di ko ito nakikita, alam kong nakakunot ang noo nito.
"Yeah, maliit lang naman."
"And that is?"
"Can you accompany JC tomorrow?"
"Are you being serious right now? No!" Mabilis nitong tutol.
"Kuya please. Hindi ko naman to hihingin kung di kinakailangan eh.” I said in a low voice. Yun bang tipong, nakakaawa. Konting push pa at bibigay din ito.
"Why don't you just ask your sisters?" Suhestyon nito.
Of course he'll ask that. "I did, but they all have important meetings to attend to."
“But I’ll be having a dinner with Berna.” Turan nito kaya napasimangot ako.
Hay naku. Bernadette na naman. Kahit kaylan talaga, kontrabida ito sa buhay ko.
“Kuya naman eh. Ngayon na nga lang ako humingi na favor ayaw mo pa. Nakakapagtampo ka na talaga.” I made sure that my voice cracked a little to my drama more convincing.
I heard him sigh. “Come on Ash. Wag ka namang ganyan.” Mukhang umeepekto na sa kanya ang drama ko. I silently praised muself. Ashley, you're so great talaga.
“Fine. Ganyan ka naman eh. Di ka na naawa do’n sa tao. Kung wala nga lang akong kailangang i-rush na trabaho pupunta ako do’n. Kawawa naman ang bestfriend ko. Wala na ngang ibang kapamilya dito, di pa ako makakapunta. All I’m asking lang naman is be my representative. I’ll try to catch up naman eh.” Pinalungkot ko ang boses ko para makonsensya sya. Knowing kuya, he hates seeing anyone from his family sad.
"Ashley, stop being stubborn." He said out of frustration.
"I'm not being stubborn. You're just being selfish." I said before hanging up the phone. One. Two. Three. I counted when my phone rang again. Ueas, I knew it. I was jumping like crazy before I picked up and answer hks call.
"What?"
“Haisst. Ikaw talagang babae ka. O sige na..” Sa wakas ay pagsang-ayon nya.
Napatili tuloy ako.
Binggo! Dapat ata idagdag ko na ang pag-arte sa talent ko.
“Really? Thanks kuya. Thank you so much. Love lots. Bye.” Then I hanged up. Para hindi na nya mabawi ang sagot nya.
Dinner pala ah. Sorry Bernadette, magdinner ka mag-isa. Yes. I think it’s working. Matawagan nga ang mga kapatid ko. We need to celebrate. I can smell victory.
JC’s POV
Thirty minutes na lang magsisimula na ang show. Kanina ko pa hinihintay si Ashley pero ni anino nito, di ko pa nakikita. San na kaya ang babaeng ‘yon? Pag sya talaga di pumunta, lagot sya sakin.
“JC, we’ll be starting after 30 minutes. So get ready ok?” Sabi ni Chuck- Organizer ng show.
“Sure Chuck. Sunod na lang ako.”
“Hurry up ok?” pahabol pa nito.
“I will.”
Maya maya pa’y may natanaw akong sasakyan. Nagpark eto malapit sa sasakyan ko. I was expecting that it was Ashley pero lalake ang bumaba roon.
I thought it was her. Minsan kasi papalit palit yon ng sasakyan. Halos 1 month lang ang tinatagal ng kotse nya dahil mabilis syang magsawa.
Pero teka. Is that John? Medyo madilim sa part na ‘yon kaya di ko masyadong maaninag ang mukha nya. No, it’s impossible. Ano naman ang gagawin no’n dito? Muli kong linibot ang tingin ko sa paligid to check if there's any sign of her. Nagsisimula na akong mag-alala. Late lang yon lagi pero she always makes sure na ipapaalam nya sakin.
“Hi Jace.” I heard the guy said.
Am I dreaming? Oh my god. Si John nga! Pakiramdam ko ay biglang huminto ang mundo. Can you blame me? Look at him, he is so handsome. And he happens to be the guy that I always dreamed of.
Natauhan lang ako when he snapped his fingers in front of my face. “Jace, are you alright?” Tila nag-aalalang tanong nito.
“Yeah, of course.” Shucks naman. That was so embarrassing. Baka makahalata sya. Ok lang na mahalata nya ang kagandahan ko, pero no-no ang malaman na gusto ko sya.
“Great. Let’s go inside.” Hinawakan nya ang siko ko.
Oh please, don’t touch me. I wanted to tell him. Baka mamatay ako sa kilig. “Hinihintay ko pa kasi si Ash. Asan na ba ang babaeng yon?”
“She can’t come.” Bigla nitong sabi.
“What?” And she didn’t even bother to call me? Nakakapagtampo ah.
“Nagkaroon kasi bigla ng emergency. Pinaparush na ng agent nya ang librong sinusulat nya and she’s in a middle of an important meeting right now.” He explained.
“Mas importante pa kesa sakin?” I said with a sad tone.
“Of course not. Don’t even think that way ok.” He held my hand. Halos pigilin ko na ang paghinga ko. Di na to kinekeri ng beauty ko. “You know Ashley. The last thing she will do is to disappoint you. Kaya nga nakiusap sya na samahan kita ngayon cause she’s worried about you.”
Ano daw? Sasamahan nya ako ngayon?
“So? Let’s go inside?” Bago pa man ako makapag-reacg, inalalayan nya na ako papasok sa hall kung saan gaganapin ang fashion show.
“Oh by the way,” huminto sya at tumingin sa akin. “You look beautiful tonight.” With matching smile pa.
Ha? Wait lang ah. Ipaprocess muna ng utak ko. Slow ata ang pick-up ko ngayon. Did he just say I look beautiful tonight? Shet, nakakakilig.
“Tonight lang?” Nagbiro na lang ako para di mahalata ang pagka-tense ko dahil sa presensya nya.
He laughed. Holy cow. Bat ba pati tawa nya ang sexy. “Fine. Let me correct my statement.” He stared at me and said, “You look beautiful, as always.”
Shet! Ang ganda ko! Dapat pala nirecord ko yon. Minsan nya lang sasabihin yon ah. “Hmp. Bolero.”
“Well, Miss Palma, I beg to disagree. Para sabihin ko sayo, ako na ang pinaka-honest na taong makikilala mo in your entire life.” Hinawakan nya ang chin ko. “When I say you’re beautiful, I mean it.”
Naman! Syempre alam ko na maganda ako. Nagpi-fishing lang naman ako para sabihin nya uli. Di naman kaylangang hawakan pa ako at makipagtitigan to the highest level. Pinapakilig nya naman ako masyado.
“Oo na lang.” I need to breath. Baka mamaya tuluyan na akong himatayin. Buti na lang I saw Chuck signaled me to go to the backstage. Makakalayo ako dito pansamantala. “Hey. I have to go. Kaylangan ko pa kasing magretouch. Will you be fine here?”
“Don’t worry. I’ll be fine.” He assured me.
“Be good, ok.” I smiled sweetly to him. I was about to leave pero hinawakan nya ang kamay ko. "Bakit?” Takang tanong ko.
He kissed my forehead and said, ”Good luck.”
Ramdam ko na bahagya akong pinamulahan ng mukha. Grabe. Lalong bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko don ah. Sa noo pa lang yon ah, what more kung sa..... nevermid. “Thanks.” Sabi ko saka nagmamadaling umalis.
I swear, pag nakita ko talaga si Ashley, lagot sya sakin. I'll wring her neck for setting me up like this.
