Chapter 30: The Other Woman
(Venice's POV)
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It's a party. It's a rich-people, business-socializing party.
It's not an impromptu marriage ceremony, but somehow, I still feel like I should run away.
The room they rented is HUGE! Not that I should be surprised... Ang daming tao eh.. People, na sabi ni Jerwin, are important to his career: sponsors, composers, producers, directors, marketing agents, musicians, artists.. every kind of important people in the entertainment industry, nandito... There are even a couple of newspaper photographers and writers walking around..
Why? Because it's Jerwin Santos' Surprise Engagement Party.
Apparently, being invited to a Santos' social event is like being invited sa Malacañang...
"So, are you surprised?? :D"
I turned to look at Nicole na nakaupo sa other side ko (syempre, si Jerwin ung nakaupo dun sa kabila).. She looks ecstatic to be able to keep something like this a secret.
Ako:Oh yes. I'm very, VERY surprised.
Jerwin and I already made the quick greeting to most of the people present nung pumasok kami. Napapagod na nga ako about halfway through the introductions and hand-shaking and salutations.. Buti na lang, maupo na raw kami kaseh magsisimula nang i-serve ung dinner.
And by "serve ng dinner", hinde sya buffet. Talagang appetizer, soup, salad, main course, dessert ang dating nya -- formal dinner ba..
Nasa main course na kami ngayon.. At sa totoo lang.. no wonder payat ang mayayaman, abah, eh sinoh ba naman mabubusog sa kakapiranggot na entree na toh?!?
I looked around the table.. Kausap ni Nicole si Jean.. Kausap ni Jerwin si Dustin (a long-time family friend na kaedad lang nya)..
Wala man lang nag-rereklamo sa kanila, kaya tahimik ko na ring kinain ung nasa harap ko.. T-T
Jean:Ate Venice, have you talked to Grams yet?
Ako:Grams? o_O
Jean:Yup, si lola! Ang tagal-tagal nya nang tinatanong kung kelan ka nya makikilala.. :D
Nicole:She's the one sitting between my mom and Tito Ray over there..
Sinundan ko ung tingin ni Nicole dun sa kabilang table.. There is a pleasant, old woman na nakaupo at kausap si Tita Lina (mom ni Nicole, aka designer ng dress na suot ko).
Ako:Ung kausap ng mom mo?
Nicole:Yep, that's Grams.
Grams looks good even for her age, which I assume is pretty old, considering ung mga edad ng mga apo nya. Halatang maganda sya nung bata.. She looks approachable though. Hindi ung mga tipong panakot na lola.. :D
Jerwin:I'll bring you to her after we eat if you want.
Ako:That'd be nice.
Jean:By the way, how come may isa pang vacant seat dito sa table natin? o_O
Dustin:I invited someone.
Nicole:And?
Dustin:She's on her way.
Jean:Ooohhh.. "She"?? May girlfriend ka na, kuya? :D
Dustin:Oh she's just a friend. Though..(tumingin kay Jerwin)I hope you remember her, Jerwin.
Jerwin:Oh? I know her?
They started talking about taking a vacation sa summer, maybe sa Boracay daw.. or bakit hindi na lang daw sa Bahamas.. or Italy.. or Florida.. Oh di vah.. ang usapan nila.. parang isang sakayan lang ng bus ang mga pupuntahan.. :D
Nakikinig lang ako.. Nilalasap ang bawat subo ko ng maliit na steak.. They try to include me sa conversation, syempre, sasagot ako.. pero.. nakaka-OP kaseh.. I've never been to New York or Greece or Rome or Mexico.. Ang pinakamalayo ko na ngang napuntahan eh Subic -- partida, field trip namen nung 3rd year high school. ;D
We finished the main course, and kinukuha na nung mga waiter ung mga plates. I took my glass of water, and started to drink slowly nang biglang humirit si Nicole..
Nicole:Oh, by the way, Venice, when are you going to give me a nephew? :D
NAGTULOOOOYYY-TULOOOYYYY sa wind pipe ko ung tubig. O.O
In other words, I started choking -- big time.
Jerwin started striking my back -- ung ginagawa ng mga tao pag may nag-cchoke. -__- *cough*
Jerwin:Nicole!
Nicole:What? I'm just asking!
Jean:Kuya, you're blushing! ;D
Nicole:*gasp*You two! Don't tell me you've been trying to--
Jerwin:NICK!
Nicole:Kidding. :D
Nag-rrecede na ung mga ubo ko, and I'm starting to feel myself being able to breathe again. Jerwin is still gently hitting my back, while glaring at his cousin and his sister.
"What a fun table we have here..."
PAK
Ako:Aw! What the hell?
Napalakas ung palo ni Jerwin sa likod ko, and then he froze. Actually, I noticed the WHOLE table froze. I looked at all of them.. They're staring at the person who spoke behind me.
The color drained from Jerwin's face.
I slowly turned para tignan kung sinoh ba ung nakapagpatulala sa kanilang lahat..
O.O
Oh.. That's why..
I could almost feel my heart stopping when I saw the girl standing lusciously behind me.
Jerwin:Geena....
