decoding the boys ✔️

59 | not anymore

Second time ko sa Gutierez mansion pero hindi ko alam kung bakit sobrang kinakabahan pa rin ako ngayon. Racel said it was an intimate party so there wouldn't be much people. Pero sobrang kumakabog pa rin talaga ang dibdib ko. Dahil siguro ito sa plano niyang ipakilala na kami as official?

Hoshet. Alam ko naman na pabor sa 'kin ang parents niya pero 'di ko pa rin mapigilan ang kabahan. I was fidgeting and my palms were cold and clammy.

Be still, my heart!

Racel squeezed my hand and laughed at the sight of my face. "Why are you so nervous?"

I bit my lip. "What if they changed their mind about me?"

"Don't be absurd. Mom's been gushing about you since she met you with your parents."

Tumaas ang mga kilay ko. "Really?"

He nodded. "Yeah, so relax. You got me."

The quiet happiness dancing beneath his eyes calmed me down. He was right, of course. I should relax. There was nothing wrong with two people in love and I was sure his parents were the type to support that kung wala naman kaming gagawing mali o masama.

Huminga ako nang malalim. "Let's go."

Binuksan niya ang pinto ng mansyon at sabay kaming pumasok. Naririnig ko na mula sa hall pa lang ang malakas na ugong ng music mula sa backyard nila. Over the reverberating EDM song, his phone pinged, and Racel briefly stopped in his steps to check.

Kumunot agad ang noo niya sa nabasa at mukhang nagbago ang timpla ng mood. A frown made its way onto his face.

"Something wrong?" I asked.

He shook his head, typed a quick reply, and pocketed his phone right away.

"Some pesky person."

I cocked my head to the side. "Sino?"

He pursed his lips. "Don't worry about it," sabay hawak ulit sa kamay ko.

Just then, a thought flitted into my head.

"Nga pala, nandito ba si Giselle?"

"I asked her to come pero hindi daw siya sigurado. Probably not. She's not in Manila yet, I think."

My smile dropped a little. "'Di bale. Next time na lang pala."

"You have plenty of time. Maybe you can meet one of these days."

"You think she's mad at me?"

"Giz? What would she get mad at you?"

"Dahil kay Kuya?"

He pondered about it for a second. "I don't think so. I know Giselle. She's not the type to hold displaced grudges and besides, I don't think she hates your brother even now. Quite the contrary, I'd say."

Natigilan ako sa sinabi niyang 'yon. "Seriously? After all this time?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "Ewan ko ba do'n. But maybe that's what really happens when you fall in love. Kahit saktan ka, ayos lang. Mahal mo pa rin."

Natawa ako. "Wow. Racel Gutierez, humuhugot?" I teased.

His mouth broadened into a grin. "Ikaw kasi, e."

He led me further inside, past the living room and into the backyard where the party was waiting for him. Racel was saying the truth when he said they'd only be inviting family and a few friends dahil hindi nga gaanong marami ang tao doon. Every face was familiar as I'd seen them all before in different occassions.

His parents were by the food table, kinakausap sina Vianne at Claui na kumukuha ng pagkain. Nandoon naman sa medyo malayong table mula doon sina Justin, Marco, Christelle at iilan pa sa mga teammates niya. It was just nine p.m. but they were drinking. Namumula na ang pisngi ng iba sa kanila. Marco, in particular, looked tipsy already.