You are a Part of Me

18.

            "Someday when you leave me, I bet these memories follow you around."—Taylor Swift, Wildest Dreams

            "HAVE you seen my eyeglasses?" tanong ni Exequiel kay Blaire na kasalukuyang may kausap sa phone habang hawak-hawak ang isang basong Whiskey. Nakaayos na silang dalawa para sa opening ng restaurant ni Blaire.

            Blaire raised her finger to tell Exequiel to wait for a minute at may aasikasuhin lang siya saglit. Nakangiting tumango naman sa kanya si Exequiel bago sumalampak sa couch na malapit sa kanya at tiningnan lang siya. Tumaas naman ang kilay ni Blaire dahil doon pero kinindatan lang siya ni Exequiel.

            Baliw, isip ni Blaire.

            "Namali ako ng lagay. I'm really so sorry, Blaire," rinig ni Blaire na umiiyak pa ring sabi ni Reneth sa kanya mula sa kabilang linya.

            "Okay. I know," mahinahong sagot ni Blaire.

            Tumawag kasi si Zandro sa kanya at sinabi nitong umiiyak si Reneth dahil nagkamali raw ito ng pagkaayos sa Table 31 ng seating arrangement kaya nagkulang ng dalawang upuan. Zandro was able to fix the problem pero hindi raw tumatahan si Reneth dahil madi-disappoint daw si Blaire kapag nalaman niya ang nangyari.

            Blaire could just add another table, if necessary. Wala pa naman siyang natatandaang pinagalitan niya dahil lang sa problemang madali lang namang solusyunan. Hormones talaga ng buntis, isip ni Blaire.

            "Reneth, please, calm down," pakiusap ni Blaire kay Reneth dahil sinisinok na si Reneth. "The problem's fix now alright? Ba't ka ba umiiyak?"

            "Hindi ka galit?" naiiyak at sinisinok na tanong ni Reneth.

            Blaire chuckled and said, "Of course not. Parang 'yun lang eh. Stop crying because you're already starting to get the hiccups. Ikaw rin, kapag natuluyan 'yang sinok mo, baka nasinok mo na anak ninyo."

            "Gago!" asar na sagot ni Reneth at tumawa si Reneth.

            A few more reassuring words at tumahan naman na sa wakas si Reneth kaya binaba na ni Blaire ang tawag at liningon na niya si Exequiel, who's smiling widely at her, habang nakasandal sa couch at ang braso nito'y nakadantay pa sa sinasandalan nito.

            "What?" tanong ni Blaire.

            "You look so beautiful tonight, Wife," puri ni Exequiel.

            Blaire's wearing a daffodil-colored dress whose length reaches the floor, even when she's already wearing a pair of 5-inch silver stilettos. The slit starts from 10 inches above her knees down to the floor.

            Bagay sa kanya ang shade of yellow na suot-suot niya dahil kitang-kita ang kaputian niya.

            There's nothing much going on on the top of the dress. There are no crystals nor blings. It's just a plain daffodil-colored dress with a slit and a halter neckline that highlights Blaire's toned shoulders, collarbones, and long neck.

            She also paired the dress with the necklace that Exequiel also bought for her, and she wore her hair in a simple ponytail.

            "Thank you," nakangiting pasalamat ni Blaire kay Exequiel.

            "So, have you seen my eyeglasses?" tanong ulit ni Exequiel kay Blaire habang tumatayo mula sa pagkakaupo sa couch.

            "Oh! Right! They're in my bag from last night. You forgot," nakangiting sagot ni Blaire.