Kabanata 34
Small Talk
Muli kong tinignan ang sarili sa malaking salamin bago tuluyang lumabas dito sa hotel room. I'm wearing a yellow tulle dress with my hair curled and tied up into a ponytail. Lumabas na ako at bumungad sa akin si Chester na inaasahan kong nandito na.
"Hello, gorgeous." Bati niya. "Shall we?"
Tumamgo ako at kumapit na sa braso niya. Sumakay kami sa elevator. Maya-maya pa ay nakarating na kami sa event hall na may bongga pang entrance. May red carpet doon at maraming photographers. Huminto naman kami sa gitna. Halos hindi na ako makadilat sa bawat flash na pinapakawalan ng mga camera. Saglit lang din kaming ininterview bago pumasok sa hall.
"Are you alright?" Chester asked softly. Tumango ako at ngumiti. Nag-aadjust pa ang mata ko sa liwanag. Naghanap naman ako ng kahit ano na may kulay green para ma-relax ang mga mata ko.
He handed me a glass of champagne. Tinanggap ko naman.
"Thanks."
Naglakad kami at naghanap ng kakilala. Though, may mga nakakausap kaming mga famous personalities on the way. Nasaan kaya si Val ngayon? Dapat nga ay siya talaga ang date ko, pero ang bakla, nag-iinarte.
"I suppose you already met him." He pointed the man near us. "Engr. Vonriego."
Napalunok naman ako. I forgot that he's an engineer now. Well, I did some research because I'm so curious. In three years, I've never heard anything about him. His cousins never talked to me after his car accident. Rian said he'll inform me, but nothing came.
He stayed in New York, based on the article online on some website about rich bachelors in the country. Published 'yon last January this year. Ang sabi pa do'n ay unti-unting tumataas ang career niya sa pagiging engineer. He's making his own name. They even featured his businesses in this country and in Italy! At a young age, he managed to have big businesses like what they've mentioned—gasoline stations and fast food chains.
Who wouldn't be amazed? He came from a very wealthy family. They own a billion-dollar company! That's why everyone's eyes are at him and at his cousins too! I heard that his uncles and dad graduated from Harvard. One of the Ivy League schools! Sinong hindi bibilib doon?
"They play dirty, you know?" Sabi ni Chester nang makaupo kami sa table na para sa amin.
"Ha?" Kumunot ang noo ko.
"Are you even wondering why they're so wealthy?" Nakatingin parin siya kay Elijah. That somewhat makes me feel nervous. Ewan ko ba. "But still... Chairman V is a very hard working man and so as his children."
Wala sa sariling tinungga ko ang champagne na bagong serve lang sa amin. I agree, Chester. They really do play dirty. Sa stage ko ibinaling ang atensyon. Nabasa ko rin na bumili siya ng isang mansyon sa Italy. Napailing na lang ako. Buhay niya 'yon, hindi naman importante ang opinyon ko.
Nagpatuloy ang party at dumating na nga ang sandaling magkakalapit ulit kami. We're a meter apart and looking at each other's eyes. His eyes are just blank, emotionless. Galit ba siya? O wala na ba siyang nararamdaman para sa akin. No—I don't care, para saan pa? My heart's going to explode any moment now. But somehow, I'm hoping inside that he's happy now and I missed him so much.
Yes I did let go of him, but my love for him stayed. My heart never let him go. He's always in it.
"Hi.." My voice almost cracked. It's overwhelming, this, standing in front of him.
"Hello, Ashley." He said monotonously.
A faint smile appeared on my lips. "How are you?" I gulped.
BINABASA MO ANG
Elijah (Vonriego Series 2)
Dragoste[COMPLETED] Elijah, the coolest in Vonriego family, known for his antics. Ashley, is not your typical girl, she's the valedictorian-slash-dancer of Stevenson DC. He's rich, she's not. He loves to party, she's always in her apartment. Pero nang dahil...
