Chapter 04

"These are my friends," Maverick said, introducing her to all of his friends whom she didn't bother to remember their names.

Para saan pa? She's sure, at the first place, that Maverick doesn't have any intention of introducing her to his friends. It just happened that he was caught up with this situation, leaving him no choice but to do it.

"And this is, Vanelope, Easton's wife. Gavin's wife, Morgan and Jorge, Caius'." He added, introducing the three girls sitting at the separate couch from the boys.

He then turned to her, "this is my wife, Gianna Emilia." He introduced her to them.

"Hello," she greeted his friends, trying hard to look genuine with her smile. "I preferred to be called Gian," she said.

And she was surprised when one of the girls suddenly jumped to hug her, iyong Jorge.

"Careful, baby..." a guy spoke, iyong Caius ata na asawa nitong si Jorge.

Jorge giggles as she rubs her big tummy. "I'm sorry. I'm just happy to finally meet her." Sagot nito.

"You already met her in their wedding baby," her husband answered again.

"I know but we weren't introduced like this," Jorge said, pouting.

Ang cute niya. She mentally commented.

Gusto n'ya sanang sumabat at sisihin si Maverick kung bakit hindi niya nalapitan ang mga ito nung kasal nila ngunit mas pinili na lamang n'ya ang manahimik at ngumiti na lamang sa mga ito.

"Bond with the girls," bulong na utos naman ni Maverick sa kanya.

Nilingon n'ya ito at inirapan. "You don't have to tell me," she answered back. She then turned to face Jorge and guided it to its seat.

"I'm glad to meet you, girls." She greeted the other two when they sat beside them. Nanlaki naman ang mata n'ya nang mapansing malaki rin ang tiyan ng isa sa mga ito, iyong Morgan ata. "You're pregnant too?"

Morgan nodded. "Yes. Four months," sagot nito.

Bumaling naman siya kay Jorge at tinanung ito kung ilang buwan na ang tiyan nito.

"Almost seven months," sagot rin nito.

"Oh, you're nearing," she commented. "How about you?" She turned to Vanelope.

"I already have a kid, a two year-old daughter." It answered.

"Wow...you look young to have a two-year-old," she commented.

Vanelope and Jorge look younger than her, maybe a year or two. Morgan is about her age.

"I got pregnant when I'm twenty two. Jorge and I are 25 now." It answered again.

She nodded and said, "Oh, I see." She suddenly felt envious of how they were already settled at their age. While her, almost turning 26 and still a follower of her father's orders and commands.

"How about you, when are you planning to have a kid?" Jorge asked.

Napangisi naman siya ng hilaw, hindi alam kung paano n'ya sasagutin ang tanong nito. "Hmm... we... we haven't talk about it yet. We wanted to take things slowly, but surely, we'll get there," she answered, the safest words she could said.

Gusto sanang niyang sabihin na wala siyang planong magkaanak kay Maverick ngunit ayaw n'ya namang tanungin pa siya ng mga ito ng bakit. Baka mamaya ay mabuko pa sila na dahil lang sa negosyo ang pagpapakasal nila.

Their marriage wasn't publicized. It was just made for few people that close to both of the families and the reasoned of the marriage wasn't announced. Ang alam ng mga ito ay totoo silang magkasintahan at hindi lamang nila ipinaalam sa lahat, knowing how her father would react.

Jorge smiled sweetly and held her hand. "Of course," ani nito. "But you know what, Maverick will surely be a good father." Sabi pa nito tapos ay nginitian na naman siya ng matamis. "Hanggang ngayon ay hindi pa rin ako makapaniwala na meron palang ikaw sa buhay n'ya. He never mentioned you kaya sobra na-shock kami nung sinabi niyang mag papakasal na siya."

Gusto naman niyang mapa-irip sa sinabi nito.

Huh! Sigurado ba 'to? Kahit nga maging mabuting tao parang hindi, e. Maging mabuting tatay pa kaya. Baka maging katulad lamang ito ng Daddy nya. She mentally said to herself.

And about their wedding, sino ba naman ang gustong ipaalam na ipapakasal ka sa taong hindi mo naman kilala.

"Siguro naman." Sagot na lang n'ya sa unang sinabi nito. "We opted to make our relationship exclusive for both of us only. Hindi pa kasi payag ang daddy ko sa amin noon," sagot n'ya sa huling sinabi nito.

The girls nodded. "We understand," Morgan said.

"But Gian, he'll surely do. He babysits my daughter whenever my husband and I are out of town," Vanelope butted it, ibinabalik ang usapan tungkol sa anak.

"He offers to babysit my baby as well, although it hasn't been born yet," Morgan said as well.

Tumango lang naman siya sa mga ito at tumango, wanting to dismiss the topic. And they did, they went on different topics as the time passed, jumping from one topic to another.

"You know what, we should meet often from now on. Kasi 'yang mga 'yan, panay ang pagkikita ng mga iyan, dapat ay tayo rin," Jorge said.

Agad namang sumang-ayon si Vanelope—she found out that the two are best friends and Van, her nickname, is Jorge's sister-in-law. Morgan nodded as well with a smile. Hindi ito ganong nagsasalita at panay lamang ang tango at ngiti, hindi tulod ng mag best friend na panay ang daldal.

"I should get going," one of the guys said.

It stood and put both of its hands inside of his jean's pocket. She recognized him as Alexus, a famous actor. Hindi n'ya alam na may kaibigan pa lang artista itong si Maverick.

"Ako din. May duty pa ako sa ospital bukas," another one said, iyong, Aydan ata.

Medical staff? She mentally commented.

"Mabuti pa, umuwi na kayong lahat. Lalo na kayong tatlo, maawa kayo sa mga buntis n'yong asawa," Maverick said, pointing at Caius, Easton and Gavin.

Natatawang na iling naman ang tatlo tapos ay sabay-sabay na tumayo para lapitan ang kanilang mga asawa.

"Stay for the night, Connor." Maverick said, pero tinaasan lang ito ng kilay noong Connor.

"I can still drive," alma naman nito.

Caius shook his head. "Nah. You're drunk, you will surely race all the cars you'll pass by on the road. Dito ka na lang matulog," he said.

"Grabe naman kayo sa akin." Natatawang ring sagot nito.

"Just listen to us. Doon ka na sa guest room matulog," Maverick said. Connor shrugged and walked to their guest room. Siguro ay natantong wala siyang laban sa mga kaibigan.

"We will go ahead now. See you again next time," Jorge told her, kissing her on the cheeks.

"Just give me a beep," she said, smiling widely.

Vanelope and Morgan kissed on her too, while the boys bid their goodbyes on both of her and Maverick. Pagka-alis ng mga ito ay nag ligpit pa sila ang mga pinag kainan at inuman nila.

"What is your friends' profession?" she asked as she collected the empty cans of beer.

"Why are you suddenly interested?" Maverick asked instead.

Napa-irap naman siya. "I just want to know. Pwede bang sumagot ka na lang?" she spat.

Maverick arched his brow on her and shrugged. "We are all engineers but not all of us pursued that. Caius worked as a professor in a university but he had to let go of his teaching profession and manage his own company. Easton is a lawyer, Aydan took medicine after graduating engineering, he's now a fellow doctor in the hospital his family has a share. Grant's an actor, you surely know him. And Connor, he's a racer, while Gavin's a pilot then I obviously stayed in the profession," sagot nito.

Tumango naman siya at hindi na nag komento, iyon lang naman ang gusto niyang malaman kaya n'ya ito kinausap. Nag patuloy na lamang sila sa pagliligpit at nang matapos ay nag diretso na siya sa kwarto nila, nag bihis at naunang nahiga habang nag diretso naman sa banyo si Maverick pagkatapos n'ya.