If I See You Again

Chapter 26 He Came

Luisa's Pov

Sa bandang unahang mesa ako nakaupo, kasama nina Mom and Dad which is a given dahil may-ari ng hotel. Pati narin sina Steven, Tito Carlos at Tita Estella. Magkatabi nga kaming nakaupo ni Steven. Kung noon ay sanay na sanay akong katabi siya ngayon naman ay awkward. It's no big deal though. Kaya lang siguro ganito ang nararamdaman ko ay dahil hindi parin kami nakakapag-usap. Sa kabilang mesa naman ay sina babe at wifey kasama rin ang mga magulang nila, pati narin sina Nathan at Marco. And the latter really made it huh. Oh what love can do.

'Sacrifice...' ang unang salitang pumasok sa utak ko when I thought of Marco coming over kahit paman napakalayo ng New York from the Philippines. Dumako naman ang mga mata ko sa table kung saan nakaupo ang magkapatid na Ruan at Gino. Sino ba naman kasi ang mag-aakalang magkapatid sila? Kung jologs kung minsan si Ruan si Gino naman ay ubod ng jologs kaya hindi ko agad naisip ang koneksiyon nilang dalawa.

Hindi ko maiwasang isipin ang isa pang taong konektado sa magkapatid. Kumusta na kaya siya ngayon? Is he happy now? Is he living a good life? Siguro masayang-masaya silang namumuhay nina Candice at Kael. I envy him, I am no longer bitter kasi alam ko may nakikinabang na puslit sa ginawa kong pagpaparaya. I just hope my sacrifice paid off. I wonder if he ever did look for me though. At ngayong nagkita kami nina Ruan and Gino, I'm sure the two will tell him about bumping into me. Pero the fact na nandito si Ruan they should have known already, he should have known already kasi nakalapat sa invites na isa sa celebration sa gabing ito ay ang pag graduate ko noon sa Law sa UP. Bakit hindi siya pumunta ngayon? Siguro I no longer really matter to him. Siguro talagang naka focus na siya ngayon sa pagiging family man. Siguro ni minsan hindi na niya ako naaalala. Kunsabagay anong panama ko na iilang buwan niya palang nakilala and at some point napagkamalan pa niyang babaeng bayaran? Kumpara kay Candice na nakasama niya for years noon. Di hamak na mas malalim ang pinagsamahan nila kaysa sa ilang buwan na meron kami ni Lance. And take note isang araw.. hmm... less than a day to be exact pa nga lang kaming naging official.

Fate.... What you do to my lovelife. Kailan ko kaya makikita ang lalaking para talaga sa akin? Ang lalaking mamahalin ko at mamahalin ako ng walang sabit o walang pretense? Fate... ibigay mo na naman siya sa akin oh. I am not getting any younger you know... hay para akong sira..

Naagaw ang atensiyon ko nang tumunog ang microphone mula sa stage. Then I saw my Dad behind the podium all smile while looking intently sa akin. I smiled back at him. Oh how I missed them ni Mom and I am happy to be here to celebrate with them the grand openning of the 5th branch of REC dito sa New York. Somehow may naidulot ding maganda ang ginawa kong paglisan sa Pilipinas. Seeing my Dad's smile and my Mom's twinkling eyes is priceless.

"Friends, thank you so much for coming and celebrating with us this grand openning of REC Hotel. Thank you also for the staffs who made all the preparation, to Steven, you did a great job son. How I wish you and Luisa here would become a couple. So you know your parents, Tita Emerald and I would feel peace the moment we leave this earth. Because, we know you would make a great couple. But hey! Know that I am not trying to pressure you kids." Si Daddy talaga. Pinandilatan ko na ng mata at lahat itinuloy parin. Naku!

"Well, enough of that for I might not be able to enjoy myself fully tonight. If being stared at could kill, I could be a dead meat already with my daughter's killer eyes darted towards me." Anda he chuckled so as the crowd.

"Dad, stop embarassing me please." I murmured to myself. I looked up at my Mom to somehow ask for a rescue but she just shrugged her shoulders. Oh c'mon! Seriously?!

"Moving on, I also want to appreciate my friends from the Philippines for coming over." At nagpalakpakan ang lahat.

He continued when the applauses died down. "Actually, there are a couple of reasons why we are celebrating tonight. Of course first of all is the grand openning. Second, in this place I know only a few knew my daughter before tonight. Most of you might be wondering who is that gorgeous lady beside another gorgeous lady, my lovely wife of course, over there. Well, she's the second reason why we are here tonight. Finally after several years my wife and I got to see her in person, not just through face time and other video calling application there is. Finally we can hug and kiss her like before. She might have grown up to be a fine young lady but to us, she'll remain as our baby. One good reason to celebrate huh? I love you baby." My Dad was emotional already so as the crowd.