Dancing with Fire

CHAPTER 3 - Experience is the Best Adviser

CHAPTER 3

The situation brought back memories with her sister.

"Ate Audi, masaya ka ba sa buhay mo ngayon?"

Si Audrina ay walong taon ang tanda kay Alessandra kaya't unlike other siblings na laging nagbabangayan, bihira lang sila mag-away at kung mangyari man yun ay tungkol naman sa napakaseryosong mga bagay.

"Oo naman... Bakit mo ba natanong?" Sagot ni Audrina habang nagbabasa ng libro tungkol sa motherhood and breastfeeding.

"Liar." Kontra naman nito sa kanyang ate. "He made you marry Stefan against your will."

"Sandra," subok na pangangatwiran nito. "Alam naman nating kailangan ni Papa yung Sorenson deal."

"Yun na nga eh, ginamit ka niya para makuha ang gusto niya. Ate, why are you sooooo kind to just give way? Pwede ba maging dragon ka naman paminsan-minsan!!"

"Ikaw talaga." At pinisil ang ilong ng bunso.

"Seriously. Kahit hindi mo sinasabi, alam kong nasaktan ka noong mga panahong yon." She said while trying to hide her sadness. "Te, nag-usap pala kami ni Kuya Ian kanina." Bulong ni Sandra.

"N-Nagkita kayo?" Nabigla naman ang kanyang ate.

"Tinawagan niya ako at pinuntahan sa eskwelahan. We had lunch actually. Kinakamusta ka niya saken."

"Talaga?" She nervously flipped the pages of her maternity book. "Anong sabi mo?"

"Hmmm... Na you're okay and happy. Sabi niya na it's good to know daw." She said. "Pinabibigay nga pala niya sayo. Sabi niya, he understands." Iniabot niya ang isang maliit na kahon. When Audrina opened it, it was a locket. Audi was aghast to see the necklace.

"My God. Ito yung locket na nawala ko sa White Plains."

"I know you loved him, witness ako doon kaya nga nagulat ako nang pumayag ka sa kagustuhan ni Papa. Naalaala ko pa nga ang mga pagtakas niyo sa gabi. I was always your cover." Tumawa naman ang ate niya dito.

"I remember that." Pagbubuntong-hininga nito.

"Te, may tanong ako." She said hesitantly, touching her sister's belly, "Mahal mo ba si kuya Stefan?"

She caressed her belly and smiled. "Believe me or not, I love him." She pinched Sandra's chin gently, "So much. I had loved Ian, but that doesn't mean I cannot love Stefan as much as I loved him before. Ian will always remain as a beautiful memory to me. Someday, he'll find his other half that will make him the happiest."

"So are you telling me to let Papa decide who I'm going to marry?"

"Of course not!" She squeaked. "Siyempre, hindi lahat ay magiging ganoon ang kalalabasan. Sinuwerte lang na minahal ko si Ian, at ganun rin siya saken. Sands... Hindi naman lahat ng happily ever after ay dahil sa prince charmings... It can be in any other forms, a sort of dreams or goals, anything. But for me, I am already living my happily ever after, with an addition of a little angel." Caressing her eighth month belly lovingly. "Lagi mong ilagay sa isip mo na walang pwedeng magdikta sayo kung sino ang gugustuhin mo, lalung-lalo na sa kung sino ang mamahalin mo."

And then, she finally added. "May mga bagay na hindi natuturo at napipilit."

*****************

Last night was a terrible night for Alessandra.

And the next day is just another common day. Eskwelahan, bahay at kwarto. Nasa third year college na si Alessandra sa kursong Geology sa isang sikat na University belt. Naging masaya naman ang school life niya because she found friends that don't look at what she had, pero meron ring ibang nakikipagkaibigan sa kanya just because of her family's name. That is a normal thing for a rich businessman's daughter. Noong una ay nahihirapan siyang mag-adjust, but she found a way to overcome the situation.

IGNORE THE IGNORANTS.

"Sandra!!!" tawag sa kanya ng kaklaseng si Philip. Napailing naman ito sa tawag ng kaibigan. Si Philip ay naging kaklase niya sa isang subject at kumukuha ng kursong Business Management. May itsura ito at marami ring nagkakagusto sa batch nila.

Sa katunayan ay matagal na itong nanliligaw sa kanya.

"Please don't pester me this time." Tuloy pa rin sa paglalakad si Sandra.

"I won't stop until you say yes."

Natawa naman ito sa sinabi ni Philip pero pinigilan niya ang sarili. "You're just wasting your time Phil."

"Every second that I spend with you is not a waste of my time." Ngiti naman nitong sabi kay Sandra.

"Phil..." Tumigil ito sa paglalakad at hinawakan ang kamay nito. "If I do feel something for you, then I wouldn't make you wait any longer. I don't think a relationship is one of my priorities right now."

"O dahil hindi ka pa naka-move on kay Aaron."

Si Aaron ang una at huling boyfriend ni Sandra. High school crush ni Sandra si Aaron kaya it was a dream come true noong niligawan siya nito but unfortunately, they broke up during their first year in college. Nag-migrate ang pamilya nito sa United Kingdom and they thought ahead that their long-distance relationship will not work, so instead na umabot sa puntong masasaktan nilang pareho ang isa't-isa ay inunahan na nila ito with a painful remedy.

BREAKING UP.

Aaron was the first man whom Sandra fell in love with, that's why it wasn't easy for her to cut ties with him both physically and emotionally. To make it more effective, even their communication must be halted. They never talked again since the day Aaron went abroad.

Hindi naman umimik si Sandra sa sinabi ng binata at napansin naman nito ang biglang pag-iba ng timpla nito sa paksang 'Aaron'. Agad namang humingi ng dispensa si Philip at hinigpitan ang hawak sa kamay ni Sandra.

"Just one chance. I'll make it up to you. I'll make you happy."

Sandra exhaled. "You are a good catch. I'm sure maraming magkakagusto-"

"Huwag ka nang magpakonsensiya Sandra." His smile didn't conceal the sadness in his eyes.

"Phil, kung pwede lang na I'll fall for you right here and now, I'll wish for it a hundred times, I swear." Pagkasabi niya nito ay napangisi naman si Philip.

"Kaya nga mahal kita eh. Ni hindi mo ako inaaway, pinapaasa lang."

"....."

"Biro lang." Agad namang pagbawi ni Philip. "So... Can we have lunch? You know, as friends."

"Of course." Ngiti naman ng dalaga.