Your Place Or Mine? BOOK VERSION (PUBLISHED BY VIVA PSICOM)

Chapter 48: House Blessing

HALEY'S POV

"Are you ready?" Pumasok si Russell sa kwarto.

He's really a head turner even on simple gray polo shirt. The shirt flawlessly fits his chest down to his flat stomach. You can see his biceps flex with simple moves that he does with his arms. He's in jeans and I settle for a simple spaghetti strap mocha dress.

Today is the house blessing.

"Wait lang," and he tried to fix the strap of my sandals.

"Marunong ka bang magkabit niyan?" tanong ko.

Tumawa siya. "Silly. Parang sa belt lang 'yan." And he did it in seconds. Dinaig pa ako. "Let's go," at inalalayan ako sa pagtayo.

He kisses me as we head to the door and that's when Mommy arrived. She's alone. This is what Russell and I wanted. An intimate gathering that only close friends and relatives are invited. And Ralph arrived along with Russell's parents.

"You're blooming, hija!" nakangiting bati ng Mommy ni Russell.

"Hiyang eh," biro ni Ralph.

At nagtawanan sila habang ako naman ay hiyang-hiya. Hindi ko alam kung saan ko ibabaling ang mukha ko.

"Wala pa ba akong apo?" biro naman ng Daddy ni Rusell.

I kissed him at inakbayan ako nito. Tumingin ako kay Russell at hinihintay ko siyang sumagot. "Malapit na," nakangiting sagot nito sa ama.

"Tss," kantyaw ni Ralph. "Ang bagal mo naman."

"Igaya mo ako sa'yo," ganting asar ni Russell.

Natatawang naglakad papasok ang mga parents nila papunta sa table ni Mommy. Then, I saw Jess and Tyler coming.

"Ang ganda house mo my friend!"

She handed me some chinese stuff . Parang sa Feng Shui.

"Ikabit mo 'to sa door ha," sabi nito. "To drive away bad spirits."

Mahilig si Jess sa mga Chinese items. Last new year, she gave me Chinese beads, for good luck naman daw. Ipakakabit ko na agad kay Russell mamaya iyon at baka magtatampo ito kapag hindi ko ginagamit ang mga bigay niya.

Then Russell's soccer team arrives. Dumating na rin ang iba naming mga classmates. Irish came. Some of my cousins from QC came, too. And then there's Micah, in Russell's car, I just noticed. Sabi kasi ni Russell naglayas daw ito and sold her car. That explains why.

Well, seems like everyone's here, except for Hans. He's always late. Pero kahit na late na siya, humahabol pa rin.

Speaking of the devil, I noticed, he's been acting weird lately. He asked me if she can use my place. Kasi may gumagamit daw ng condo niya. Am I missing something? He was in a bad mood then so, I did not dare to ask.

I'm just wondering, who could it be? Napakaselan niya sa gamit at ako pa lang ang nakakapasok sa condo niya lalong-lalo na sa kwarto niya. Aside from Ate Myrna who cleans his place once a week. I smell something fishy. Baka babae ang nakatira sa condo niya.

Nakatingin sa akin si Russell habang kandahaba ang leeg ko na nakaabang sa gate. I'm still expecting two visitors. It's Vince. I know it's impossible but I'm hoping he'd come. Hindi ko na siya nakakausap. I kinda – miss him.

Seth did not promise to come, but who knows. After all the drama, I'm glad nothing's changed between us. Hindi ko siya iniwasan. That's what he feared of. I don't see any reason para gawin 'yon. He's not a threat sa pagsasama namin ni Russell. Wala naman ako nakikitang masama if we can still be friends.