The Runaway Bride

Chapter 3 - A Little Family Reunion

“Diane? Hija? Kararating lang ng kotse ng Mommy mo..” Said by Manang from the other side of the door
I sat up from my bed and glanced at my left to see Scarloe fully awake while she’s playing with her hands out of her eyes




“I’ll be down stairs, Manang” I said and smiled at Scarloe who was obviously mused by it and giggled .. brushing her small hands unto my nose.. pinching it lightly





“I’m a bad person, Baby.. don’t be like me when you grow up okay?” I said while Scarloe just stared at me as if understanding a thing of what I said.. then she broke into a smile




“Come, let’s meet your lola”




I carried her unto my arms and opened my room’s door .




I was on the stairs, making my way down the living room.. when I saw Darren, my little brother with his strollers, he gazes up and was entirely surprise of my appearance




“Mommy! Mommy!! Look! Ate Diane’s here with baby Scarloe” He said while he excitedly pulled our Mom to the front door, while I laid Scarloe on the Crib right beside the Aquarium




Then a woman about in her late 40’s emerged into our front door and smiled at me. It was Mom




“Hija, Diane… I missed you!” She said while she gave me a beso(lips-cheek kiss)



“Nag away na naman ba kayo ni Tyler?”





“I’m not in the mood to talk about it Mom” I said as I sat on our couch and reached out for a remote






I heard my mom sighed and glanced at Darren



“Darren, Work with your homeworks on your room”


“But Mom! I wanted to play and spend time with Scarloe” He said while he was standing next to the crib


“No buts! Or else no fieldtrip for next week”
“Ugh! Yes Mom” His head was held down while he carried his strollers up to his room





  Then my Mom turned her direction on me once again, staring at me straight in the eyes and finally sat beside me


“Diane, dear.. you know how your Dad would react about this..” She said in the most tender tone a mother would say



 “I know,Mom. I just need time to think about stuffs, you know what a party girl I was before and marriage is sure something im scared of” I reason out and lied to my mom.. looking away from her


“Diane..” She said while she held one of my hands and squeezed it
“I’m your mom and  I know kung kailan ka nagsisinungaling” She stared straight to my eyes as if analyzing my expression and emotion at that very moment



“But whatever it is, I know you’re a big girl now Diane.. I know kaya mo yan!” she then held my face on her soft motherly gesture and said..
 “just remember, that I’ll always be here for you..”





A tear involuntarily fell on my eyes and strolled down my cheek. I held my head high just so It would stop me from crying out more then I forced my self into a smile
“Thanks, Mom!”




I gave her a huge embrace and she hugged me back in return “Shh.. its okay,Baby”
She said while she tapped my back




“Oh! by the way..” She added breaking the hug between us and then grabbed her Black leather Chloe bag and held out something from inside



“Here” and then handled me a wedding invitation




“Gerard’s wedding?” I asked while I eyed the white booklet with dove and flowery mushy lines in front of it while It was bind together by a purple lace





“Yeah, it would be in two weeks ”


Buti pa sila, ikakasal na.. samantalang ako I thought as I took a long deep breath




“Teka, where’s Iñigo, Mom?”


“He’s been out practicing lately. Masyado na siyang engross sa practice halos wala nang rest when he came fresh from Buenos Aires.. wala na tuloy siyang time sa girlfriend niya”


“Wait—What?! Girlfriend? Baka you mean, Ma.. yung mga ka-fling niya?”


“No, girlfriend talaga, Diane.. I even met her once. She’s actually really pretty—prettier than those cheap women na nakikita kong kasama ng kapatid mo”



“Impossible, Mom! He doesn’t do Girlfriend thing. I know Iñigo” I said as I rolled my eyes and placed Gerard’s wedding invitation on the center table



“Trust me, iba kung tumingin si Iñigo kay Nina.. the way he kissed her on her cheeks and the way he smiled at her—iba! And I know Iñigo better than you do, ako yata ang nag ire sa kaniya” My mother uttered with a complete authority as she held her arms on top of her chest



I chuckled a little saying “Mom! You’re reading too much of Nicholas Sparks’ works!”
“How’d you know that?!” She said while her eyes became wider. This “bagets” side of my mom is why I love and would never trade her for anyone else



“Darren and I had skype session every once in awhile..”



“That kid!!”







~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~




“Manang? Nandito na ba sila Mommy?” I jerked right up recognizing that voice and realizing that I fell asleep on the couch so I made my way to the doorstep and immediately hugged Iñigo




“Diane?! Since when?!” He said in a complete surprise




“I’m truly hurt, Iñigo.. you don’t call me Ate anymore” I said in a mock hurt voice as I held my chest pretending it stung my heart




“PFF! You’ll survive without me saying Ate to you anyway.. Where’s mom?”
“At the dirty kitchen, helping the maids for the dinner later” I said





“If you’re here.. im guessing Scarloe’s here too?” He said as he laid his NASCAR jacket on the recliner and sat on the couch..




“Yep. About that, Iñigo…. Ummm..” I said drawing my self nearer to him while I attempted to massage his broad shoulders




He moaned in delight while he cracked his neck as he closed his eyes
I smiled, thinking he must’ve had a long day at practice





Then he took a long sighed and opened his eyes once more to say
“Ate, I know you’re upto something when you’re doing something nice to me.. what is it? Spill!”





“You know me too well, brother!! Yiie!” I pinched his nose and messed with his hair just like old time’s sake





“Umm.. I was thinking about meeting my old friends and hanging out with them just like old times.. can you---“ I didn’t have time to finish what I was about to say for he cut me off saying …




“Babysitting, Scarloe?! Why me?!” He said standing up from the recliner and finally facing me




“Please please please!!” I said while I clasp my hand together, pleading for him
“I’ll do everything.. anything you wanted just please babysit Scarloe for me tonight”




“Anything?” He asked, eyes were full obvious of dominance





“Everything!! Just please!”
“You’re tricky, Diane.. I don’t trust you” He said walking away from me





I immediately grabbed his arms which made him face me once again
 “Kaysa mga babae mo atupagin mo, bantayin mo na lang sarili mong pamangkin! Come on, Igo!! Just this once!!” I said tightening my grip on his arms





He was about to utter something when his phone started buzzing inside his pocket
 “Unknown number? Must’ve been one of those sluts I’ve met on Socialista (a bar on Malate)” I heard him say before finally deciding to pick up his iphone.. walking slowly away from me





“Hello?”  he said sounding so unsure yet somehow try’na sound so protective





He must be expecting a call from someone I thought and took few steps closer to my brother, hoping I’ll hear their conversation





 Iñigo just frowned while he held out his phone .. away from his ear to glare at its screen..




“Is this another prank call?! Say something!! Its not funny!” He shouted
He was about to turn off his phone when I’ve heard someone said “Iñigo.. let’s talk”




it was definitely a feminine voice.. a warm timid female voice on the other side of the phone




“Right” He said while he rolled his eyes
“I’m quite busy right now—“




 Wow! someone's definitely avoiding this girl I thought
I didn’t hear what the female replied that made Iñigo frozen on his spot. I just stood there and watched as his expression became softer now as if trying to analyze a situation




 His brows ceased a little while he uttered
“Meet me tomorrow at 9 a.m here on Santa Ana race track”





A date? I thought
He can’t have a date! He has some babysitting to do




“Yep” Iñigo said to the Female voice on the other line




I chuckled a little thinking of some devilish thing to do that will surely force my brother to babysit Scarloe for days





I took another step closer to Iñigo .. closing the range so that my voice will be heard on the other line
“Who’s that you’re talking to babe?”




I saw Iñigo’s eyes grew wider in shock as he gazed back on my direction




I chuckled but not too loud
“What?” Iñigo said completely forgetting the fact that he still had a phone right next to him




He grunted and  then switch off the power of his phone




“What did you just do, Diane?!” he hissed

My lips just broke into another wide ear-to-ear smile and thought..




Oppsy! Someone’s pissed tonight




~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

(A/N: the setting of the story is based on ANWMA's chapter 15.. yung nag away sila Nina and Iñigo tapos isang buwan silang d naguusap.. that's the part where Nina have to interview Iñigo for an article)