In The Arms Of An Angel (ON HOLD)

CHAPTER 69

"...Engr. Teodoro Mendoza is a well known civil engineer in Italy who came back to the Philippines for good..."

Those words kept repeating in her head as she run towards the main entrance of the hotel where she last saw the elder man go. She was still fervently praying to be able to see him even after knowing full well that he would have long been gone by now.

She stopped by the door and gazed out at the parking lot hoping to at least see even a glimpse of her father again whom she has been longing to see for the past fifteen years. Tears threatened to spill from her eyes upon confirmation that he already left. Hopelessness filled her heart as her eyes scanned the whole lobby to check for any sign of her father but instead her eyes found a pair of hazel eyes that she was also missing just a few minutes ago. She instantly felt an urge to run to him for comfort but then she noticed a beautiful and sophisticated woman beside him and when she looked down she also saw how the woman has her hands possessively wrapped around RJ's bicep. Her heart sank.

"Ano naman ang laban ko sa ganung klaseng babae?" Was her thought when Val caught up with her followed by a very worried Uno.

Uno immediately asked her if she's okay and that question was the last straw. She threw a glance at RJ and his companion before bursting into tears. Uno pulled her close to his chest to comfort her and she just let him, too emotional to resist. Val urged her to return to their hotel room so she can rest and just like a lost puppy, Dei just allowed her friends to guide her to the elevator without a word.

When they reached their room, she went to her bed and laid down on it haphazardly. She felt emotionally and physically drained. She closed her eyes and tried to block out all the negative thoughts from her mind to numb her feelings.

She heard Val thank Uno and escort him to the door before closing it. Then silence. She slowly opened her eyes and found her best friend sitting on the side of her own bed just staring at her with a look of utter concern on her face.

"Medyo okay ka na ba, bes? Gusto mo ba ng tubig or gusto mong kumain? Tatawag ako ng room service." Val asked and she shook her head no. Val just nodded and stayed quiet. After a few moments, Dei broke the silence with a question.

"Val, bakit ganun? Ang tagal kong hinintay na balikan kami ni Tatay pero di sya dumating. Fifteen years akong naghintay. Ngayon malalaman ko na nakabalik na sya pero di pa rin nya kami hinanap. Di ba dapat magalit ako? Bakit pagkarinig ko pa lang sa pangalan nya kanina nabuhay na agad yung pag-asa sa dibdib ko na magkakasama na kami uli? Dapat galit at tampo ang nararamdaman ko ngayon hindi panghihinayang na di ko sya nakausap, di ba?" She asked her friend bitterly.

"Normal lang na ganyan ang maramdaman mo, bes. Syempre mahal mo si Tito Teddy at ama mo pa rin sya kaya mas nananaig pa rin syo yung pagkasabik sa kanya kaysa sa galit." Val answered. She sighed.

"Eh bakit kay RJ parang ganun din ang naramdaman ko? Galit dapat ako sa kanya ngayon dahil sa behavior nya kahapon. Kaya nga ako pumayag na magbakasyon tayo dito para lumayo sa kanya at makapag-isip. Pero kanina nang magtama ang mata namin sa lobby parang gusto kong tumakbo papunta sa kanya para sa kanya kumuha ng comfort ng di ko maabutan si Tatay sa parking. Parang bigla ko nakalimutan yung tampo ko sa kanya...kaso may kasama syang magandang babae." She confided to Val. Her best friend snorted.

"Maganda ba yun? Mukha kaya syang mangga! Sige, sexy sya pero mukha namang produkto lang ng science ang figure nya di tulad natin na likas lang na pinagpala." Her friend answered loyally that made her chuckle despite herself.

"Grabe sya! Ang harsh mo dun, bes!" She tearfully commented to which Val just shrugged off and arched her eyebrows defiantly.

"Girl, totoo naman na di hamak na mas maganda at mabait ka dun sa lintang yun! Mukha syang maldita. And with regards to RJ, you have feelings for him kaya ganun ang naging reaction mo pagkakita sa kanya. And I can tell that he reciprocates your feelings din naman kahit papaano. Maaring naguguluhan lang sya dahil sa mga ipinagtapat mo sa kanya kahapon. Pero di mo ba nakita kung paano tinanggal ni Sir RJ yung kamay ni ate girl nung makita ka nya? And yung pag-aalala sa mukha nya nung makita ka nyang umiyak?" Val asked. Hope sprang from her chest but she dismissed that instantly.

"Val, wag mo akong paasahin. Alam mo namang funny ako...funniwalain. Sino ba naman ako kumpara kay ate girl na mukhang accomplished na at sosyal! Mas bagay sila ni RJ. Mukha ding dati na silang may relasyon base sa closeness nila so kailangan ko na lang tanggapin na lotlot ako kay ate girl..." She reasoned with a pout.

"Lotlot agad di pa nga nagsisimula ang boxing? Round one pa lang. Hindi ka dapat paapekto. Cheer up! You are a beautiful and successful woman as well in your own right! Ipakita mo kay Sir RJ na di ka affected kahit isang batalyon ng girls ang maglambitin sa biceps nya! Yung problem mo kay Tito Teddy pagbalik na natin sa Manila isipin. Ngayon ang priority natin ay ang mag-enjoy at ipakita kay RJ kung ano ang mamimiss nya pag yung manggang yun ang pinili nya." Val declared before she stood up and rummaged through her duffel bag. Val squealed when she found what she was looking for and then threw the small package to a bewildered Dei.

"Bikini?! Anong gagawin ko dito?!!" She asked Val incredulously who exhaled exasperatedly.

"Malamang isusuot! Alangan namang kainin mo?! Babalik tayo sa beach mamaya na suot mo yan at ipapakita natin sa RJ na yan na mas sexy at maappeal ka kesa sa manggang yun! Tignan lang natin kung di lumuwa ang mata nya pag nakita ka!" Val ranted as Dei opened the package to see a very skimpy pair of black bikini top and bottom. She made a face at Val.

"Val, I did not come here para makipagcompete with anyone. Hindi ako contestant sa bikini open so bakit kailangan kong isuot 'to?" She argued.

"Bes, believe me when I say that you are in for a competition kung tama ang basa ko sa personality ng manggang yun. She wants RJ and you should not give him up without a fight!" Val said emphatically.

"Bes, nakakalimutan mo yatang walang kami ni RJ. Friendship lang ang inoffer nya sa akin at sabi lang nya he likes me so walang kailangang ipaglaban!" She deadpanned.

"Akala mo lang wala pero meron! So tumayo ka na dyan at may misyon tayo! Maligo sa banyo at pagkatapos palalabasin natin ang inner dyosa mo. Sir RJ will never know what hit him when he sees you!"