The formal gathering went well, Ara got to meet new people, and people she knew already, it was nice catching up with old friends and such.
"Let's get you home?," bulong ni Chase sa tenga ni Ara habang nakaupo sila sa isang table.
Tumango naman ng marahan si Ara bilang sagot.
"Uhm, we'll go ahead, where's tito and tita?," paalam ni Chase sa kambal, ang tinutukoy ata nito ay ang mga magulang nila.
"Umuwi na, kailangan na nilang magpahinga ng maaga eh," ani Ten.
Tumango-tango naman si Chase.
"It's fine Chase, ipapaabot nalang namin kila Ate," sabat naman ni Five sa usapan.
"Alright, thanks for tonight," huling paalam ni Chase sa mga kaibigang naroon.
Ara and Chare exited the venue after some time, di nagtagal ay nasa loob na ang dalawa sa sasakyan ni Chase.
"Thanks for tonight," pagpapasalamat ni Ara na naging pamatay ng katahimikang bumabalot.
"No problem, I had fun with you," sagot naman ni Chase.
Marahan na tumawa si Ara sa naging sagot ng kasama before looking at the window again.
Tumingin ng kaunti si Chase sa dalagang nasa tabi.
She looked pretty, nothing has changed, her perfectly shaped nose, her lips, her eyes that were busy lingering with the moving cars and the street lights.
Umiling ng kaunti si Chase bago tumingin ulit sa kalsada.
Sht. Focus, Chase, please. Pagmamakaawa ng isip nito sa sarili.
He indeed needs to focus.
This is getting hard minute by minute, it's like he was setting his own bait.
Screw it.
Habang nagiisip ng kung ano ano si Chase ay nakarating na sila sa condo ni Ara.
"Thanks," ani Ara noong nakalabas na.
"Are you sure you don't want me to accompany you to your unit?," tanong ni Chase, umiling naman ito bilang tugon.
"Okay, but text me when you get there, please? For my peace of mind," pagbabakasakali ni Chase.
"Sige, mag-ingat ka pauwi,"
Nagpaalam na ito at hinintay naman ni Chase na makapasok si Ara sa loob ng building bago umalis.
Ilang minutong nakalipas ay nagtext si Ara gaya ng usapan nila.
***
Ara enters her unit and thinks thoroughly the first time he dropped her to her unit.
She remembers that Chase said he was going to his unit anyways, pero bakit sa kabilang direksyon siya dumaan?
Una itong gumambala sakanya noong pumunta siya sa condo unit ni Chase.
Hindi na lamang niya ito tinanong noon dahil may sakit ito at ayaw niyang umabala pa.
Chase: I'm home.
Binasa iyon ni Ara bago magreply.
Reply: okay, good night. Thanks again.
She replied before stepping to her bathroom to take a shower before going to bed.
***
It will be days until the charity ball of the Asuncions in a private island in Cebu.
Everyone is busy thinking of their gowns and such.
They don't have a problem with their plane tickets because Hermes will cater the guests with the planes from their airlines to Cebu.
Jo also went to Autumn to check on her gown, she received a picture from her secretary and she liked it.
Ilang mga araw na rin ang nakalipas at hindi na siya ang naghahandle ng construction, Yra arrived later after that day of the Perez's gathering.
Kaya hindi niya na nakikita si Chase, it's also because she was just in the condo, if not then in her father's house or in the hospital to check up on patients even though she's on leave.
She has a few weeks to spare, so she might as well spend it to the fullest.
Oddly, Chase doesn't text her that much, siguro'y busy din ito, pati, bakit naman siya nageexpect ng text?
I think you're going crazy Ara, anito sa sarili.
Umiling ng marahas si Ara.
It's a lazy day for her, nasa condo unit niya lamang ito and it's already 11am.
Maybe she'll roam around the metro after taking a shower.
Baka bibisitahin niya na rin ang kanyang gown pati na rin si Autumn na matagal niya na naging kaibigan.
An hour after she found herself driving to Autumn's shop nearby.
Lumago ang business ni Autumn pero dahil naging matalik na kaibigan niya na ito, ay si Autumn mismo ang gumagawa ng kanyang mga gowns imbes na mga trabahante nito.
She pushed the door of Autumn's shop which is now five times bigger than before she first met her.
"Ara! Bakit hindi ka nagsabi na pupunta ka rito?", halata ang gulat sa boses nito.
"I just passed by, wala rin naman akong magawa eh, I wanna check on my gown?," ani Ara.
Ngumiti naman si Autumn at tumango.
"Of course, halika,"
Dinala siya nito sa likuran ng office.
At naroon ang kanyang champagne colored gown, hindi ito masyadong malaki dahil ayaw rin ni Ara. It looks nice. The minimal glitter designs made it pop out even more.
"So as you requested, it's a simple shaped gown with minimal designs, I imagine you wearing this with your great taste in jewelry? You'll surely pop out!," ani Autumn.
"Nako, binola mo pa ako," biro ni Ara sabay tawa nilang dalawa.
"Do you want to fit it? Hindi pa ito tapos pero final touches lang din naman, pwede na itong makuha first thing in the morning tomorrow," Autumn explains.
"Yes sure, baka si Jo ang kukuha nito kung busy ako bukas," ani Ara.
"Alright, I'll assist you, halika na, pumunta na tayo sa fitting room,"
Ilang sandali lamang ang nakalipas at nasuot na ni Ara ang gown.
Indeed, she looked stunning, it compliments her skin tone, Autumn really never disappoints with her masterpieces.
"You look down right stunning!," Autumn compliments in awe.
Ara smiled sweetly as an answer and looked back again to the mirror.
***
Pagkatapos ng fitting ay nagusap ng saglit si Ara at Autumn.
"Alright, I'll go ahead, thank you for the beautiful creation, as always," paalam ni Ara.
"Sus, sige, I hope to see you soon," ani Autumn.
Aalis na sana si Ara noong narinig nilang may bumukas ng pinto ng shop.
Sabay na lumingon si Ara at niluwa ito si Brie.
Halata ang pagkagulat sa mukha ni Brie noong nakita ito si Ara.
"Ate Ara?", gulat niyang sabi.
"Brie!", masayang tugon ni Ara.
Nagulat naman ito noong tinakbo siya ni Brie upang yakapin.
"Ate it's been so long!,"
"Kaya nga eh,"
"Can we catch up please? After I fit my gown, please please," ani Brie, ngumisi naman si Ara kahit na halata ang pagiging nature sa mukha ni Brie, parang dati parin ito.
"Of course, I'll wait for you then,"
BINABASA MO ANG
1st Thorn: End Of Conversation (TTGN Book 3)
Teen Fiction[UNEDITED] A battle between heart and mind, wishing you had another chance, if destiny gave you a one, what will you follow? What will you do? --- [THIS IS THE START OF THE 10 THORNS SERIES] By: LaykaxReid (Layka Akmad) All Rights Reserved. ©2019-2...
