Weh? Di nga? You're a GIRL?!

31. Grand Ball 1

Grand Ball 1

M.M.'s POV

"And voila! My girls are done!" Lumabas kami ni LJ ng room at agad sinalubong ng compliment ni ate Stacy.

"It's all thanks to you." I said with a smile. She proudly put her hand on her chest and smiled at us. "Aww, it's because you girls are natural beauties that's why. It wasn't so hard for me to fix you two."

LJ went near ate Stacy and gave her a gentle hug, "Thank you so much, Stacy unnie. We really appreciate your work."

"And you're welcome. I'll be so proud to be your stylist once you get married to him." I know whose she's talking about that made LJ's expression down. LJ gave a fake smile, and I knew about that since she's too obvious.

"Ehem, uhh, it's turning seven in the evening. I think LJ and I should go. We wouldn't want to be late, do we?" Stacy nodded and guided us both through the door.

Kinuha nya yung car keys at bag nya at inalalayan kami palabas ng hotel room. Sakto naman ang pag bukas ng pinto dahil nasa labas na yung mga room keeper. Sa bahay ko kasi kami uuwi ngayon. Nag pasalamat si ate Stacy sa mga staffs at agad din kami dumiretso sa elevator.

Sya kasi ang mag hahatid sa amin papunta sa university. Say naman kasi ni Gemar na hindi pupunta sa grand ball at may business meeting ang parents nya sa Canada, reason para isama sya. Mukhang ipapakilala sya sa mga girls na anak ng business partners ng parents nya. Tsk, kawawang bata. Pero mukhang makaka-survive naman sya dun, he likes girls naman eh.

Nakalabas na kami sa elevator at diretso sa lobby. May inasikaso sandali sa information desk si ate Stacy kaya naiwan kami sandali ni LJ. May nakikita din kaming iilang batchmates namin na dito din nag stay sa hotel. Yung iba ay may mga kasamang partners nila na hindi din taga school namin.

Oh diba? Saya nila ngayon.

Napansin ko naman na down pa rin ang expression ni LJ kaya kinausap ko sya. "Get over with that comment."

Napapitlag sya at lumingon sa akin, tulala din kasi sya sa malayo. "What do you mean?"

"As if I didn't know you, alam ko naman na naalala mo sya nung sinabi sayo ni ate Stacy yun kanina eeh."

She chuckled bitterly, "Halata ba talaga?"

I nodded seriously, "I know you guys, I know when something is bothering you. You can't keep secrets from me, even if it's the deepest thing you've got."

"You're so creepy." I chuckled at her remark. "I'm used to that comment, bebe girl."

"Throwback." Napalingon kami at nakita si ate Stacy na pabalik na sa amin. "LJ is still the bebe girl I knew." Napatawa naman kami ni LJ sa sinabi ni ate Stacy.

"Oh stop with that, I'm all grown up to be called 'bebe girl' you know." LJ reasoned.

"Oo na. Tara na nga, girls. Baka ma-late pa tayo sa ball. Patayin pa ako ng mga pinsan nyo." And we left the hotel lobby with a happy smile.

------

"This is it, girls. Good luck." We thanked ate Stacy one last time at pinagbuksan kami ng guard ng pinto ng kotse.

The university was totally decorated with lots of wonderful lights na iisipin mo, ay para kang nanonood ng maraming alitaptap.

"This is so beautiful, M." LJ said as she looked around with a very amused expression.

Lumingon ako sa may gate at nakitang may pumasok na twelve sports car, all painted with black. At alam ko na kung sino ang may ari ng mga kotse na yun. "Is that Exo?"

Tumango ako kay LJ. "Yep. They're all rich dahil mga business men and woman ang mga parents nila."

"Bakit di pa natin sila lapitan?" Tanong nya sa akin.

"Later na. Hindi pa nga natin alam kung nasaan yung iba nating mga pinsan eh. Malamang nag babangasan na sila ng kanya-kanyang mukha dahil matagal kumilos yung isa." Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa at tumawa.

"Saan ba yung CR dito? Kelangan ko muna gumamit eh." Sinamahan ko muna si LJ sa CR at hinintay sya sa labas nun.

Sa may bandang garden, nakita ko si Xiumin oppa na mag-isang nakaupo sa may bench. Mag-uumpisa na yung ball pero hindi pa rin sya pumapasok sa loob.

Nag vibrate naman yung cellphone ko sa purse ko at kinuha ko agad yun.

'We're here. Saan ka na?' -Mary

'Lapit na.' -Me

Since hindi pa naman yata lalabas si LJ, pinuntahan ko muna si Xiumin oppa.

He looked startled nung nakita ako, "Hmm... You looked so beautiful tonight, saeng." He gave me a smile.

"Thanks." I sat beside him. "You look so down, okay ka lang oppa?"

Napatingin sya sa akin. Gosh! Ampogi ni kuya Xiumin! Oops, fangirling mode in here.

"Uhh... I guess? Hehe.." I frowned at his answer. Alam ko may something sa kanya kaya sya ganito. "Asows~ Sabihin mo nga, ano ba problema mo?"

"How did you know?" He asked with a shocking expression. I smiled proudly and stood up, going to the tree and touched its bark.

"Simple! I know it if my friend is in trouble."

"I wish you were my sister." He said with a warm smile. I smiled also, but there was a question that was stuck in my mind.

"Why me?" I asked curiously.

"Simple. I always wanted a sister, and I always see it in you. Kung tutuusin, adopted son lang naman talaga ako." I was shocked by his revelation. I never knew na sa tanong ko, mapupunta kami sa ganitong usapan.

"I'm sorry.. I never knew." He only gave a faint smile, telling that it was okay, pero it convinced me also na meron pa syang problema na tinatago.

"I was never treated fairly. Lagi na lang ako pinapagalitan kahit ayos naman ang grades ko. Gusto nila, kontrolado ako lagi. Minsan nakakainis na kasi hindi sila fair sakin, pero pag nilabanan ko naman sila, para naman hindi ko na-appreciate yung ginawa nila para sa akin." I felt pity on him. I wanted to comfort him about it, kasi mahirap talaga yung nangyayari sa kanya ngayon.

"Plus the fact, that they arranged me on a marriage."

Dafuq?!

"The heck?!"

"The time na dapat ako tatawag kay LJ to ask her out pero hindi natuloy, dahil dun yun. My mom called and told me to go over to this certain restaurant and I was surprised when they told me that. I wanted to disagree, pero gaya nga ng sabi ko, it's like a payment to them for taking me in."

I softened. I was proud to say that he is my oppa. He sacrificed his happiness for his family. I suddenly remembered LJ about that.

"Pareho kayo ni LJ."

"How?"

"She was also arranged, pero in a good way. Hindi nya alam na ikakasal pala sya sa tao na pinangakuan nya na papakasalan nya pag laki nila." That brought a smile to his face.

"At least alam nya na mahal nya yung tao."

"Sorry guys, I'm late!"

Napatingin kami sa likod ni Xiumin at nakita si LJ na naglalakad papunta sa amin. Tumayo si Xiumin oppa at lumapit sa kanya. "My beautiful dongsaeng." Niyakap sya ni LJ.

"You look so beautiful tonight. Pareho kayo ni M. Ahh wait, shining shimmering splendid?" Natawa kami sa sinabi nya.

"Hayy nako, tara na nga! Mamaya mahuli pa tayo." Sabi ko. Nilahad naman ni Xiumin oppa ang pareho nyang braso at dun kami humawak ni LJ.

"Bakit kasi ang tataas ng heels nyo eh." Comment ni Xiumin oppa habang naglalakad kami papasok ng ball room. Meron talagang ball room dito sa university namin dahil nag he-held din sila minsan ng mga teachers' party.

"Nakikihabol kasi kami sa mga height ng guys noh." Sabi ni LJ. Xiumin oppa chuckled.

I signed up for our names, after that, we led ourselves inside.