Choosing You

Chapter 6

"Ma'am, naghihintay na po si sir Jake sa baba." Sabi ng isang maid namin na nasa labas ng kwarto ko.

"Tell him na baba na 'ko in a minute." Tinignan ko ang kabuoan ko sa salamin. I'm wearing a plain black, lacey cocktail dress paired with 6 inches high silver stilettos. I curled my hair pero 'yung sakto lang, giving me a light wavy hair ends. I also put a light makeup on my face which I find it perfect for this kind of event. Ang sabi ni Jake eh birthday celebration ng Papa niya ang pupuntahan namin. Of course, I bought some present for Tito Ed and I hope he would like it.

"Iha, ready ka na ba?" Kumakatok si Daddy sa pinto and I opened it. He was dearly smiling at me the moment he saw me. Since nakaheels ako ay mas dali ko siyang na kiss sa cheek. Halos magkasing tangkad na kami.

"You looked like your mom. You're so beautiful Hannah." I returned his smile and hug him tightly.

"Of course, pero mas maganda pa rin si mommy." Pareho kaming tumawa pero kitang kita ko sa mga mata niya ang lungkot.

"Dad, babalik rin dito si mommy. After ng project niya 'dun sa Paris, makakasama na natin siya. Makakasama mo na siya." His face lightens up and nod at me in agreement. His smile was now reaching his eyes.

"Common, naghihintay ni si Jake sa'yo sa baba." Daddy offered his hand to me but I cling to his arms like he was my partner for this night.

"Okay, let's go." Daddy lead the way at habang pababa na kami sa hagdanan ay unti-unti ko na ring nakikita si Jake. He was sitting in the couch, scanning something on his phone. Daddy called out to him and turned his head to us.

"Wow." Ang tanging sabi niya. He was speechless at natatawa ako sa mukha niya. He was completely caught off guard.

"Hi." I greeted him and he was still standing, just there staring at me.

"Jake, baka naman matunaw ang anak ko sa kakatitig mo." My daddy snapped at him at agad siyang namula. He scratched the back of his neck and become shy like a five-year-old boy.

"Sorry po. I was just surprise. A-ang ganda po ni Hannah." Nahihiyang sabi niya. He was so uptight so I remove my hands from my dad and cling to him.

"Tara na. Ayokong malate sa event."

"Tito, we'll go ahead. Promise, iuuwi ko dito si Hannah by 9pm." My daddy nods at him then turned his head at me.

"Hannah, behave. No wild parties or liquors." Seryosong sabi ni daddy sa akin, earning us two a good laugh.

"Of course dad. Don't worry. I'll be a good girl tonight." I smiled at him and wink.

"Okay, please send my greetings to Ed. May meeting kasi ako sa isang client so I can't go. And please, take care of Hannah. Keep an eye of her and... have fun."

Bago pa man maka 'yes' si Jake ay hinablot ko na siya labas. Nang nakalabas na kami ay huminto si Jake at matamang tinignan ako. He was damn so serious staring at me with his deep brown eyes. Hinawakan niya ang kamay ko at napansin kong ang lamig-lamig nito. He's nervous?

"You're so beautiful Hannah." Shit! Halos magwala ang buong zoo sa tiyan ko! Hindi ko maiwasang magblush sa simpleng salitang sinabi ni Jake sa akin.

"I-ikaw rin. I mean, you're so handsome in your suit." Nahihiya kong sabi. He then kissed my hand and I felt his lips brushed in the back of my hand sending me an electrifying feeling.

"Let's go." Sabi niya at lumakad na kami papunta sa dala niyang red mustang.

--

Pumasok na kami sa bahay ni Jake and it was indeed a huge party. Hawak-hawak ni Jake ang kamay ko para hindi ako mawala. The house was packed with most influential people I've known. Narito rin ang iilang business partners ni Daddy and I just smiled to them whenever nakakasalubong namin sila. May iilang sikat na artista rin akong nakita. Well, its not suprising. Jake's father is rich businessman with huge connection. This is not just a simple party. This party is more like an open door for meeting new potentials for business and the likes.

Nang nakita namin si Tito Ed ay agad kung binigay ang gift na dala-dala ko. Hindi ko rin nakalimutang sabihin ang gustong ipa-abot ni daddy si kanya. Gaya nga ng sabi ni Jake sa akin, pinakilala niya ako sa ibang friends niya at pati na rin sa ibang relatives nila. Halos mapunit na nga ang mukha ko sa kakangiti eh. Syempre, I want to give them a nice impression about me. As Jake's girlfriend.

Habang naglalakad kami to meet new people ay para bang may nakatingin sa akin. Lumingon-lingon ako sa paligin pero wala naman akong nakitang nakatingin sa akin. Maybe its just my imagination? Hindi pa naman ako nakaka-inom and well, bawal din 'yun sa akin coz' I promised my dad that I'll behave tonight.

"Babe, tinatawag ako ni papa. May ipapakilala lang sa akin na iilang investors." Bulong ni Jake sa akin. I just nod and smiled at him. This is just normal for this kind of occasion. Magiging tagapagmana si Jake in the future so it's a must na maging kilala siya ng business partners nila kahit highschool pa lang siya. 

"I'll be quick." Jake kissed my cheek then went to his father with other businessmen. Umupo ako sa bakanteng upuan nang isang waiter ang nag offer sa akin ng isang glass of champagne. Kinuha ko naman ito pero hindi ko muna ininom. I know nagpromise ako pero isang sip lang naman. Hindi naman siguro ito nakakalasing di ba?

So ayun, uminom ako and I end up grabbing another shot. Ang tagal kasi ni Jake. I checked my phone para maaliw naman ako pero wala eh. I'm so fucking bored. My bitches were no where to be found!

Nang dumaan ang isa pang waiter na may dala-dalang champagne ay tinawag ko siya.

"Thanks." I smiled to him at kitang kita ko sa mukha niya ang pamumula. As expected. I winked at him before he walked away at nang iinumin ko na ay may nakita akong isang pigura sa may hagdanan. Hindi ko maaninag ang kanyang mukha dahil sa layo niya but I knew it was a girl. She's just there and was like staring at me so I stood up and went to where she is. Nang malapit na ako sa kanya ay bigla siyang tumakbo papunta sa taas. Kung saan ang rooms nila Jake so sinundan ko siya.

"H-hello?" Mahina kong sabi habang binabaybay ang hallway nila Jake. Alam kong hindi dapat ako naririto kasi hahanapin ako ni Jake si baba but curiousity got into me.

Ah! It reminds me. The day na pumunta ako dito ng may tao rito ng nangbabasag o nakabasag ng kung ano. Sabi ni Jake, it was his cousin but to think of it, did I met her kanina? Hindi ko na maalala. Pero baka siya nga iyon?

Patuloy pa rin ako sa paglalakad ng napadpad ako sa isang pinto. Nasa dulo ito ng hallway at sure na sure ako na hindi ito room ni Jake or ng parents niya. Maybe it's a guess room? Baka nandito 'yung babae? 

Nang pinihit ko ang pinto ay bumukas ito ng kusa and the next thing I knew, I was pinned down and I can't even fucking move!

"W-what the fuck?!" sabi ko ng naramdaman ko na may nakadagan sa akin. Hindi ko maaninag ang mukha niya dahi sa dilim ng paligid but the scent, it was familar. Its smells so sweet like strawberry?

"Who are you?!" Sigaw ko. Babangon na sana ako pero mas hinigipitan niya ang pagdagan sa akin and I can feel the warmness of its body. Mas lalo akong nangamba sa nangyayari. Na baka mali ang desisyo ko. Na mali ang magpadala sa curiosity ko. If I just stayed my ass there, wala ako sa sitwasyong ito. Would Jake help me? Pero paano? Hindi ko man lang siya na contact kanina. What will happen to me?

"Why are you following me?" Bigla siyang nagsalita at kahit man hindi ko pa rin maaninag ang mukha niya ay pamilyar sa akin ang boses niya. 'Tsaka ang scent niya. Parang si...

"Alyxsis?" Hindi siya umimik at ganoon pa rin. Nakadagan sa akin. Gusto kung bumangon pero nakakulong ako sa kanya.  

"Alyxsis? A-ako 'to. Si Hannah." Ulit kong sabi sa kanya. Hindi ko alam pero para bang ang init sa pakiramdam. Damn! Can't she just move away? 

"Your lips... it's so soft." She brushed her finger against my lips and that sends me chills. No, it was an electrifying feeling throughout my body.

"H-hey! Get off –." She cutt me off and surpise me with her soft lips, claiming mine. It tastes like mint and before I knew it, my eyes were closed and I was kissing her back.