Want You To Want Me (TFHNM)

Chapter Thirty Two

"Joseph!"

Kahit siksikan ang mga tao ay lumapit si Joseph sakin.

"Whoa." sabi nito nang nakalampas sa dami at siksikan ng mga tao. "Wow!" Pinasadahan ako nito ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa.

"I've been eyeing this beautiful girl and it took me long before I recognized you!" He chuckled a bit and I did too. Here goes Joseph Santiago Jr., nagiging bolero na naman.

I cleared my throat as I speak. "Business world, huh? I wonder why I did not expect to see you here." sabi ko.

Hindi man lang sumagi sa isipan ko na maaari kong makita si Joseph ditto. I sure should be familiar with business traditions.

Nakatayo lang kami sa gitna ng maraming tao. Tumingin ako sa paligid at hindi ko na Makita si Keannu. Oh well.

"Well.." He chuckled once again. He looks so mesmerized with me. I can't blame him since from how I looked good right now. "Who's with you?" tanong nito.

"Uh... " hindi ko na nasagot ang tanong niya dahil biglang tumugtog ang malakas at masiglang musika. Nagsimula na din mag-indakan ang tao sa paligid namin. Oh, so we're in the middle of the dancefloor.

"Let's get out of here!" sigaw nito. Hindi ko iyon masyadong marinig kaya naman inilapit ko ditto ang mukha ko.

"What?!" sigaw ko pabalik, natatawa-tawa.

He laughed, fascinated with our current state, as he leaned closer and placed his hand on my elbow. Guiding me away from that crowd, and I moved along.

"Now we won't need to shout." he chuckled again. Nasa isang parte kami na halos garden na sa dami ng tanim na bulaklak at sa double porch swing na naroon.

Hindi naman kami sobrang layo sa mga tao pero mas mataas ang lugar niyon kaya kita ko ang mga bisita na nagsasaya.

"Para sa 70th birthday party, this one is so teenage like." I said. Nakatayo lang siya sa tabi ko. Narinig ko ang mahina niyang tawa habang ako naman ay nakangiti ng Malaki.

Totoo. Hindi puro thunders ang tao ditto kahit seventy years old na si Don Cardinal. What makes the party alive and young is the dancefloor and the amount of youngsters present.

"Well.. he sure is young at heart."

Napalingon ako kay Joseph dahil sa uri ng pagbabago ng boses nito. I caught him looking at me, slightly smiling.

"You know the host personally?" Bumaling ako muli sa mga bisita pagkatapos kong itanong iyon.

"Kinda."

"Kinda?" I chuckled again, he can be humble at times, huh. Hindi ko na lang pinansin iyon at nagkibit na lang ng balikat.

"Well, he sure is famous. For owning the most famous airline in Asia. Who wouldn't knew him. He--"

Natigilan ako. Asian Blues. Asian Blue Airlines.

"Joseph..."

A mixture of disbelief and fascination is present in my voice, Lalo na sa reaksyon ng mukha ko. A sight of my date files flashing through my memories. How can I not remember that when I heard his company name?

He chuckled and boyishly scratched the back of his head when I finally figured it out. He looks ashamed or something but that does not justify my reaction right now.

"Don Cardinal... He is kinda, uhm, my dad." pagkukumpirma niya.

Nanlaki ang mata ko. I knew it! Naalala ko ang file niya. Yung file ng mga lalaking nai-date ko. CEO sya ng Asian Blues! I knew it! Kaya naman pala!