His Wedding Planner (MNEBACP's Sequel)

To Where It Truly Belongs

Forty Two: To Where It Truly Belongs

As soon as we got inside the dining area ay agad akong dumiretso sa bakanteng upuan sa tabi ni Keith. Ramdam ko ang pabalik-balik na tingin niya sa akin at kay Ken. Same with Marcus and Terrence. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay nagtataka sila kung bakit kami sabay na pumasok. Can't it be just a coincidence? O paranoid lang talaga ako sa mga inaakto nila? Oh my god, I'm getting worst.

"Okay ka lang?", baling sa akin ni Keith.

Tipid lang akong tumango bilang sagot.

I busied myself staring at Sky, Gab and Cross. Mukhan atang may nakakatawang pinag uusapan ang tatlo.

"Man, shut up!", ani Gab sa dalawa. Mukha atang inaasar siya.

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala sa nangyari kani-kanina lang. I can still feel my heartbeats racing inside my chest. Ni hindi ko nga magawang lumingon sa gawi ni Ken. I can't even think straight right now! Pakiramdam ko ay lumilipad ang isip ko.

"Foods will be served in awhile, guys!", masiglang anunsyo ni Terrence. He's seated beside Ken kaya naman ay pati si Ken nahagip ng tingin ko nang balingan ko si Terrence. Good thing he wasn't paying attention to everyone around him-including me, of course. He's busy fiddling with his phone. Not that I'm curious why or who is he texting with.

"So... Valentine, right?"

Nagulat ako nang bigla akong kinausap ni Nero. Magkatapat lang kami ng upuan.

"Uh, yeah...", hilaw ko siyang nginitian.

"Are you single as of now?"

Natameme naman ako sa diretso niyang tanong.

Paolo, Alec and Ali whistled in chorus.

And before I could even answer his question-Terrence, again, announced that food will be already served. Doon lang ako nakahinga ng maluwag. I feel like I was fortunate enough to be saved by the bell. Nero shyly smiled at me and all I can do is smile awkwardly in return. Mukha atang inasar pa siya ng mga kaibigan niya matapos ang nangyari.

Isa isang nagsipasukan ng dining area ang nga katulong para ilapag sa lamesa ang mga pagkain. I'm really not fond of Italian cuisine but I can identify one.

"May chef kayo, Terrence?", I heard Nadia asked.

"We don't usually have. Just for this night...", Terrence replied.

Narinig kong may binubulong si Keith sa tabi ko kaya ko siya nilingon. "Ayos ka lang?"

"Ha?", aniya saka bahagyang tumikhim. "Oo naman."

She's obviously bothered but Keith is Keith. You cannot force her to tell you something unless she opens up first. Tumango na lang ako at nginitian siya.

Since I'm not familiar with the foods that was served, pinili ko na lang iyong mga pakiramdam ko magugustuhan ko.

"Oh, really? You knew each other? We're on the same circle of friends as well!", rinig kong sabi ni Alec kay Cross.

Sina Gab, Sky, Zig at Paolo ay mukhang may pinag-uusapan din. Looks like most here have already gained new friends. Even Keith is having a little chitchat with Ali.

My phone vibrated twice kaya naman ay kinuha ko agad ito mula sa aking purse. An unfamiliar number just texted. Sino naman kaya ito?

From: +639 176 30***

You're barely touching your food. Is something wrong?

"Sino naman...", I stopped right after it hit me. Hindi ko alam pero bigla na lang bumilis ang tibok ng puso ko. Like I knew who it came from. Wala sa sarili akong napatingin sa gawi ni Ken. Diretso siyang nakatingin sa akin na para bang alam niyang malalaman ko agad na galing sa kanya ang text.