Learning How To Love Again

Still Lucky

“Little tricks make you weak.”

Nasa event area na kami and parami na ng parami ang mga tao. Nakakapagtaka lang because women's wearing white and men's wearing black suit.

Akala ko kasi na si Coleen lang yung nakawhite. Well, siguro it's a theme but why does Louis' Mom wants me to wear blue?

"Lalaiinnee!!" Napalingon ako sa kanan ko ganun din si Louis.
"Kayo talagang dalawa, kahit saan kayo ilagay, ang iingay ninyo." Biro ko kina Annie and Ellise.

"Ang ganda mo talaga.." Daldal ni Annie.
"Ahem! Ah.. Happy birthday Sir Louis." Siniko ni Elisse si Annie habang binati si Louis.

"Ah-yyyieee, Happy birthday Sir Louis." Bati rin ni Annie.
"Thanks to the both of you and sorry we have to sit in our designated places. The party's about to start." Sagot naman ni Louis.

Annie mouthed "andamot". Louis let his small laughs at hinila niya ako.

Nakakatawa naman talaga 'tong dalawang babaeng 'to .

"See you later guys!" Sigaw ko sa kanila. Hindi ko na nakikita ang reaksyon ng dalawa dahil nakatalikod na kami sa kanila.

"Ako lang ba naka blue dito? Parang iba yata kulay ng suot ko sa kulay ng suot ng mga girls dito?" I confessed.
"Because you're special." He said as he pulled the chair out and helped me in.

He always never failed to make me blush. Sa edad kong 'to nagbablush parin ako sa mga maliliit na biro niya. I don't know. It's just like that.

"Hahaha you're blushing." Ani niya.
"Huh? Hindi ah." I denied.
"I can see it in your ears. It's getting red." Sabi niya. Hindi parin ako nakalusot kahit na may make-up ako.
"Whatever." Inirapan ko lang siya. Hahaha

Umupo na siya at sa hindi kalayuan ay nakita ko ang parents ni Louis na papunta sa table namin.

Wow! Ma'am Lemery is a perfect creation. She's so gorgeous with her dazzling blue dress.

"Hi iha and my handsome son. " Bati ni Ma'am Lemery. Bakit ba ang bait niya sa akin? Bumeso kasi siya sa akin at kay Louis.

"Hi Ma'am Lemery, you're gorgeous as ever." Pagpuri ko sa kanya habang tiningnan siya mula paa hanggang sa mukha niya.

"Oh, thank you iha but can you cut the "Ma'am" off. I would love if you'll call me Tita or Mom." Sabi niya habang naka-smile sa akin.

Lumingon ako kay Louis na nakatingin sa amin at binigyan niya ako ng napakalokong smile. Wow! Gustong-gusto niya talaga ang mga nangyayari ha?

"A-ahm. Sige po. Tita." Nakakahiya, parang sasabog na ako sa init.
"Okay. Let's take our seat now." Sabi niya kaya umupo na ako.
Inalalayan naman siya ni Sir Leonard sa pag-upo.

Ay, wait... Tito na rin ba dapat itawag ko kay Sir Leonard?

"Look who's here." I shifted my eyes to the one who's Tita Lemery's talking about.

"Hi Mom, Dad, and Oh Louis, the birthday boy." Isa-isa niya silang bineso.

"Well, malilimutan ko ba ang babaeng madalas bukambibig ng kuya ko? Hays. Lalaine right?" Tanong niya kaya napatango nalang ako at ngumiti.

"Nice meeting you my dear future sister in law." Sabi niya at hinalikan ako sa pisngi.

Ang sweet naman pala ni Lily eh.

"Nice meeting you too Lily." Sabi ko lang. Hindi naman maalis-alis ang mga ngiti sa mga labi ko. Hindi ko kasi feel ang pagiging iba sa kanila. They are showing good traits to me.

Nasa gitna, sa tapat ng stage ang aming table kaya, di hamak na mas mapapansin talaga kami.

I can't believe na aabot ako sa point na ganito na, I'm sharing the same table with one of the most prestigious family in this city. Kasi, I just came in their company to work and to share my knowledge without asking this to happen but it still happened.

I didn't even get to think na magkakaboyfriend ako dito. Na sasaya pa pala ang puso ko in a way na babalik ulit ako sa isang relationship. Na susugal ulit ako. Na babalik ulit ang feeling na minsan ay naramdaman ng puso ko noon at ang mas maganda pa ay naging sobra-sobra pa ang saya na naramdaman ko ngayon. That's why I'm so thankful to Louis. He soften my heart that started to become stone.

"Good evening Ladies and Gentlemen! Tonight, we'll celebrate the natal day of our very own CEO of MONTE CAR COMPANY, Mr. Louis Monte!" The spotlight switched to us from the master of ceremony as the people put their hands together for my boyfriend while he stood up. I assume na tinitingnan kami ng lahat ng tao.

He smiled to the crowd and then he pour the wine in a glass.
Bago pa siya tumalikod ay kinindatan niya ako kaya nakarinig ako ng mga tili, may mga bulungan din na nagaganap and higit sa lahat ay nakita ko si Jasmine na nagkasalubong ang dalawang kilay.

Umakyat na siya sa stage para magbigay ng kanyang speech.

"To my beautiful Mom who looks so perfect with her dazzling dress, thank you." Dinagdagan pa ng isang spotlight para ifocus kay Tita Lemery.

"To my ever supportive Dad who trusted me in my entire journey until I got this position, I salute you." Nasa Dad niya naman ang spotlight and kitang-kita ang proud niyang Daddy na ngumingiti.

"To my "makulit na sister" who's always asking and bragging about when I was going to have children dahil handa na daw siyang paiyakin mga future pamangkin niya," Nagtawanan ang mga tao sa sinabi ni Louis.

"Thank you for encouraging me always to stay positive specially when I have hard times in the company." She smiled with the purest smile at him.

"And, of course. To my one and only Lalaine." He stopped and look at me where the spotlight is all over me.

Nagtitilian ang iba, ang iba nama'y nagpalakpakan at syempre mawawala ba dyan ang nagbubulungan? Hindi kasi lahat ng tao sa company gusto yung relationship namin.

I don't know what should I react but I just smiled at him.

"I have a lot of things that I've realized since you've came into my life. I know it sounds gay but I don't know what else to say. All I know is that I'm so thankful. I love you with all my heart." He winked at me.
Tili, palakpakan at bulungan. Parang unti-unti na akong nasasanay sa mga reaction ng mga tao.

Pero hindi pa ako sanay sa reaction ni Jasmine. Kitang-kita ko ang nagliliyab na galit and I'm afraid baka may gawin na naman siya. Ganyan ako ka weak 'pag siya ang kalaban ko.

"And of course I am thankful to you guys because you accepted our invitations to witness my birthday celebration. Thanks for being the hands and feet of the company.
I hope you'll enjoy the foods and drinks." Nag-standing ovation kaming lahat at pumalakpak.

"Cheers to everything we have, from the very beginning to the future." Louis raised the glass of wine so ganun din kaming mga nanunuod sa kanya. Then ininom namin sabay-sabay ang kanya-kanya naming wine.

Bumaba na siya sa stage at pumunta sa aming table.

He hugged his dad, he kissed his mom in the cheeks as well as her sister then he kissed me in the forehead. Umupo na kami and we started savoring the foods and drinks.

I'm still lucky even if someone's not happy about our relationship, about my relationship with Louis and his family.

I hope everything will be okay and happiness will last forever.