Arabella's Game

Chapter 10: Meet And Greet

Manila, Phiippines

As they head off to Manila, pagdating pa lamang nila sa hotel may sumalubong sa kanila sa hallway, isang babae in her mid fifty’s. “Arabella!”

“Tita,” saka nagyakapan ang dalawa.

“I’m so glad you’re back,” pangiting sinabi nito. Saka bumaling kay Curtis, “Thanks for coming son,” she looks so happy with teary eyes. “Oh sya, magbihis na kayo. Eto ang susi. Get dressed, and we’ll see you in the hall,”

They’re prepared for the party. She’s waering a Korean kimono inspired tube top a-lined bronze dress and 3inches heeled nude colored pumps. Nilagyan niya lang ng kaunting make up ang sarili, wearing layered ethnic necklace, bangles, saka single braided ang maitim na buhok. He was wearing a deep blue stripped tuxedo and a blue jeans and Vans slip on shoe. Rugged pa rin ang dating ni Curtis. He never wanted to be formal.

“You look good, lady,” puna ni Curtis.

“You too, mister,” sabay kindat.

“So, shall we?” sabay abot ng kamay nito.

Pagbaba nila ng floor, tumungo na sila sa dinning hall. Handan ang lahat, nandoon na ang ma bisita. Curtis’ Mom and Dad are in their finest suits. It was Curtis’ sisters who welcomed them and guide them in.

“Hi baby sis,” saka nagbeso sila ni Jeda. She’s waering a pink tube maternity cut flowy cocktail. Nagsasalamin talaga ang kulay ng damit nito sa kanyang pagkamasayahin. She never missed to match her dress with a pink Mary Jane. “Oh dear, this is Ate Beatriz and Ate Ciara,” pagpakilala niya sa mga nakatatandang kapatid. “Ate, this is Adie,”

“Yes, I know her, Jeda,” naka ngiting tugon ng may masayahing mukha na babae, mga 5’2 ang taas, fair complexion, maninipis at mapuplang labi, almond-shaped eyes like Curtis’s na nangingintab na kulay tsokolate. Hinuhubog ng kanyang pulang sequined tube top cocktail dress matched with white pumps and white headbond. “Hi, I’m Ciara Jade, but call me Ate Ciara. With Ate dapat ha,” she emphaised ‘ate’ saka hinila si Arabella. “And by the way I like your necklace” nagtinginan sina Jeda at Curtis na para bang nagsasagutan.

“And, I’m Beatriz Lavinia, pinaka ate nina CS. They call me Ate Bea and better that you should too,” sabat pa nito habang mataray na sumasabay sa kanilang paglakad patungo sa table. She was quite tall, parang model. She’s with a white halter dress, A-lined skirt hand painted with tropical colors. She’s wearing a tropical green peep-toe and a tropical designed mini head dress.

The three of them are walking towards the table. Nakasunod sa likod nila sina Jeda at Curtis.

“Bunsoy, you either tell Kuya or tell Clarisse to clear everything up,” simula ni Jeda.

“Ate, I don’t want to face either of them,”

“Ganun? So Kuya will be taking Adie on Prof. Jimenez’s birthday,”

“It will never happen,” he gave her a sharp look.

“That’s why you should do your part, kid,” saka tumabi siya kay Ciara. It was Ciara and Bea seating on Adie’s both sides. Walang choice si Curtis kundi umupo sa tapat ni Adie. His sisters seem to enjoy Arabella’s company. Iba talaga ang dating ng babaeng to, she has the attitude that would make every person she meet likes her. She has the charm for that. She has her human pheromone. He enjoys watching her talking and giggling with his sisters.

Maya’t-maya nag-umpisa na ang selebrasyon. His father took his mom for a dance. They we’re in the dance floor swaying with one of the songs from the movie The Wedding Singer, Grow Old With You. (A/N: see the multimedia on the sidebar and click play ---->)

They were swaying with eye to eye like promising their wedding vows ones more. Arabella envied the couple, how would it be having Nico around, she asked herself. Will they be as sweet and as lasting as her Tita Melinda and Tito Gregory?

“Let’s take over the dance floor,” casual na anyaya sa kanya ni Curtis. That brings her back to her senses. She’s with Curtis right now. He asked her to dance? What a… He’ll never do that.

Napangiti siya, “Ayo ko,”

“What?” nabigla yata sa sinagot nito.

“Yeah, you heard it right, Curtie. A-yo-ko. I won’t” saka binigyan ng isang matamis na ngiti.

Napabuntunghininga lang si Curtis, “Oh well, I’m-“

“Hi Sander, everybody’s expecting us to dance,” putol ni Clarisse sa sasabihin sana ni Curtis. Di nila na malayan ang pagdating ni Clarisse. Nakapulupot na ito sa bewang ni Curtis.

Tumayo si Arabella, “Excuse me,” saka humawak sa bisig ni Curtis. “Too bad, everybody’s gonna witness the unexpected,” saka hinila si Curtis patungong dance floor. Naiwan na lang si Clarisse na naka tunganga mag-isa.

Napangiti si Curtis sa inasal ni Arabella. She was one unexpected whirl wind.  But then he’s happy, they’re dancing in the groove of Jason Mraz’s I’m Yours.

“Buti na lang hindi slow dance,” napabulong si Arabella saka unti-unting nagbago ang tugtugin. It's Rihanna’s Only Girl spreading all over the dance floor. It made the young guests hit the dance floor. Sumabay na rin ang mga kapatid ni Curtis. Sina Bea, Ciara, Jeda at pati si Hayden na late ng dumating ay nakisabayan na rin sa tugtugan.

Hayden approached Arabella. He was in his striped dark brown business suit smiling at her. “Finally, I met my wife,”

Napatanga si Curtis at bigla yatang umasim ang mukha lalo na nang hilahin ng Kuya niya papalayo sa kanya si Arabella. Habang magulo ang dance floor, unti-unting nilapitan siya ng Ate Jeda niya. “Nasinghot na yata ni Kuya ang dapat gawin,” saka kumembot at binigyan ng nakakainis na ngiti si Curtis.

“Get him away from her. Aalis na kami,” sabi pa nito sa kapatid habang inaayos ang coat nito.

“She’s your girl, Bunsoy. You find way to take her away from Kuya,”

“No, she’s not my girl, Ate,” papaliwanag niya. “Oh yeah, as if you’re listening,”

“Bahala ka, she’ll be Kuya’s date all night long saka worse pa if he will introduce Adie to our family friends. Ano na lang iisipin nila?”

Curtis dived into the crowd to find Arabella. Napangiti lamang si Jeda dahil alam na alam niya ang magigng reaksyon ng bunsong kapatid.

Palinga-linga si Curtis sa gitna ng dancefloor. Napakarami pa rin ng mga sumasayaw dahil umiinit na ang gabi sa mga tugtuging magpapayugyug buong gabi. “Crap!” napamura si Curtis sa inis. Hinahanap niya pa rin si Arabella sa dami ng tao may nakabanggaan siya. Muntikan nang matumba ang kayang nakabanggaan mabuti na lang at na daluhan niya agad ng tulong. Naalalayan nito ang braso at nahawakan sa baywang. “I’m sorry, miss. Di ko sinasadya,” paghingi niya ng paumanhin dito.

“Yeah, I think I just need your –,” napatanga sakanya ang babaeng nakabangga. “Curtis?!”

“Natalie?” namukhaan niya agad ang babae.

She’s wearing purple tube bubble dress with black belt paired with black stilettos. “You got it right, Curt” sabay biga ng matamis na ngiti. “I never thought you’ll be here. It’s been a long time. Di na kita nakikita sa mga events ng family niyo ah,”

“Yeah, I was busy with m business for a long time. So, what brought you here? I thought you’re working abroad like the other nurses of our batch,”

“I am. I work in US. Umuwi lang ako for vication. Ate Bea invited me since dito na naman ako sa Manila,”

“I see,”

“Why not we take a seat and talk?” anyaya nito.

“But… Oh well, okay,” hindi magawang tanggihan ni Curtis ang anyaya ni Natalie. She’s one of the women he loved before. High school girlfriend niya ito. They split up when they’re on their early years in collage. Saka may mga bagay siyang gustong linawin na si Natalie lamang ang makakapagbigay liwanag.