Heartstrings [Kiefer Ravena & Alyssa Valdez] - Book 2

Chapter 24

KIEFER'S POV

I went home first before going to the Party. I have to go without Alyssa because she's busy. Luckily, most of our friends from the Company will join us. I arrived at the Party a few minutes ago with Trinca and Von. My Dad's friends waved at us so I excused myself first to go to their table.

"Good evening!" They said and I sat next to Dad.

We talked about how the business was going, all of them were astonished by the progress. After a short talk I went to the table where Von and Trinca are sitted.

"Sayang wala si Alyssa, pagkakaguluhan yun dito." Von sadly said while gazing at the crowd.

"Oo nga, busy kasi. Alam niyo naman." I said while taking a sit.

Drinks were being served, delicious foods and the setting is great. Halatang pinaghandaan nila Dad 'to, we do have this Party every year at ngayon lang hindi umattend si Alyssa due to other commitments. Miss ko na siya.

I got startled when someone spoke, "Are you okay?" Trinca placed her hand on top of mine to show some concern. I smiled then she pulled her hand back. "Gusto mo sumayaw? Ikaw Von? Tayong tatlo? Hahaha!" She said while staring at the dance floor.

"Kayo nalang, kakain ako." Yan si Von, puro pagkain din ang nasa isip. "Ayusin niyo pagsayaw ha? Kundi susumbong ko kayo kay Baldo! Joke! Hahaha!"

I stood up from my chair and offered my hand to her, ngumiti siya at at tumayo din sa kanyang kinauupuan. We walked to the dance floor and started slow dancing to a good music. While we danced I caught her staring at me, "What?" I asked because she was smiling na parang nanalo sa lotto.

"Alyssa would kill me if ever. Hey! Walang malisya, sayaw lang 'to." She laughed, ang saya pa ng itsura niya habang tumatawa. First time akong makakasayaw ng iba, si Alyssa kasi kasayaw ko lagi.

"Ofcourse."

We continue dancing to the slow but gentle music. Hindi ko namalayan na unti na pala kaming nagkakalapit sa isa't isa. I can feel her breath na sobrang init. Her hands slowly transferring to the back of my neck. Awkward but I felt something different, my heart starting to beat fast and I can also hear hers. My eyes ended up locked into her when she stared at me. Ang ganda niya, I cannot endure how beautiful she is right now. God, ibang trinca ang nakikita ko.

Alyssa.

I looked away when I remembered Alyssa. Come on! May Asawa ka na at siya lang ang maganda sa paningin mo! People were busy dancing so no one noticed. "Sorry, ang awkward." I said.

"I-It's f-fine." Stuttering, hindi ko alam kung nandidiri ba siya o gulat sa pagtitig ko sa kanya.

After dancing both of us went to get some food then we went back to our table and started eating. There was silence except Von talking to Camille in his cellphone. I cannot help but stare at her while she eats, her black above-the-knee dress suits her really well. Marunong siya magdala ng damit kahit papano, maski iba naming kasama tumititig sa kanya. She stands out tonight, no doubt.

Kumuha ako ng Wine at sabay kaming tatlo na uminom, we did not go back to the dance floor because its already crowded. So far all I see now is happy faces, mga galing trabaho pa yan.

"Kiefer, do you want to go outside and unwind? Crowded dito eh." She asked.

"Uhm... Von, labas muna kami. Pahangin lang." Paalam ko at pumayag naman.

Lumakad kaming dalawa palabas at pumunta sa open garden at doon ay may table at dalawang upuan. Pagkaupo namin ay nilanghap ko ang simoy ng hangin. Nabawasan din ang stress dala ng Party sa loob, malakas ang kalabog ng music at rinig namin ang boses ng mga tao, kami naman dito ay tahimik lang na tumitigin sa ulap.

"I didn't mean what happened earlier." Kabado kong sabi. Hinihintay ko siyang sumagot pero nginitian niya lang ako. Nagustuhan niya ba yun?

"Wala yun." Sabi niya habang ngumingiti parin.

She really has a good smile, and her eyes are beautiful. Babaeng may ganda na hindi mo inakala.

I don't what to say anymore, wala ako sa mood magsalita ngayon. Tahimik lang akong nakatingin sa paligid, "Bored ka talaga." Sabi niya sakin. Oo, bored talaga ako kasi wala si Alyssa. "Do you want to go home?"

"Sana kaso kakasimula palang." I answered while looking at the people inside, right now they are partying. Hindi ito ordinaryo o formal gathering lang, people are allowed to party here and sina Dad ang may plano niyan lagi. "Well, pagod din ako. Tara na, hatid na kita sa inyo."

Pumasok kami sa loob para magpaalam kina Dad na uuwi na, sinabi ko naman na babawi ako sa susunod. Dumiretso kami sa parking lot tapos sumakay sa kotse at nagdrive pauwi.

Pagdating ko sa tapat ng bahay ni Trinca ay bigla niya ako hinalikan sa pisngi, nakaramdam ako ng init galing sa kanyang labi na tila malambot. Hindi ako humarap, baka kasi magkasalubong mukha namin. Ramdam kong pumupula ang aking pisngi at buti napigilan ko pa. Ano ba! May Asawa ka!

"Para san yun?" Tanong ko muna bago siya bumaba.

"Thanks." Yan lang ang sabi niya at tumango ako, "I'll go, see you." Bumaba na siya ng kotse at pagdating niya sa harap ay kumaway pa sakin at nakangiti. Kumaway din ako at hinintay siyang pumasok sa loob ng kanyang bahay.

Hindi mo mahahalatang pagod siya, ang ganda niya tignan kahit malayuan pa. Nahuhumaling ba ako? Mali, hindi 'to pwede. Nandyan si Alyssa, siya lang ang babaeng magpapabaliw sakin. Subalit, ang lakas din ng aura ni Trinca, anyone would fall for her. What the heck are you saying! Sinuntok ko ang manubela, kanina pa ako ganito simula nung matitigan ko siya sa dance floor kanina. Hindi pwede, hindi pwedeng mahulog ako dito. Umalis agad ako sa kanila at seryosong nagdrive pauwi.

I can't understand myself, siya parin ang nasa isip ko habang pauwi na at hindi si Alyssa. Yung buong sistema sa utak ko parang gusto akong ibalik sa bahay nila Trinca, sinasabi ata na kulang pa ang pinagsamahan niyo ngayong araw.

Kailangan kong labanan, pinokus ko ang sarili sa pagdrive pauwi.