Chapter 3

"We'll be having dinner later--"

Our eyes immediately met as he slowly opened the door wider, I pressed my lips together, forming a small smile before two paper bags suddenly appeared hanging on his right hand.

"We'll be having dinner, seven thirty. Inez won't answer any of my calls so I came by to deliver these myself," he said before placing the bags on the floor. I remain on my bed with my legs crossed as my laptop is in front of me. "Mom picked these herself earlier."

My forehead creased. "You were together?" I asked and he shook his head.

"No. She just told someone to deliver these. They'll arrive later pa," he said and I slowly nodded my head before turning back to my laptop screen. "May I know where my assistant is?"

What if you may not? "She's grabbing drinks at a bar," I said before turning to him once again.

He nodded his head before turning around. "Don't be late," he said before leaving, closing the door shut as I heard another familiar voice speaking from behind the door. 

"Yes, Sir-- kaloka!" Inez said, exclaiming before closing the door from behind. She holds two bottles in separate hands as she raises them in the air. "Ang tagal ng service nila, ah? Nagalit pa talaga 'yong staff sa 'kin kasi baka lalandiin ko lang siya! I mean excuse me? My standards is higher than your height mister ML addict! Gosh, ano ba ginagawa ni Sir dito, ha?"

Ever since yesterday, we became closer. I chuckled before shaking my head, turning to my laptop. "Ayaw mo daw sumagot, siya na lang 'yong naghatid ng damit--"

"Hoy ka!" she exclaimed, causing me to turn to her, creasing my forehead. "Ginayuma mo si Sir 'no? "

I laughed because of her nonsense. "Pinagsasabi mo?"

"Una sa kasal n'yo, Mamsh, mukhang anghel! Tapos kanina snack, dinalhan tayo pastries na wala naman talaga 'yong pakialam, ah! Tapos ngayon siya na mismo nag hatid-- oh God baka kukunin na ako ni Lord nito!" she said, walking towards me before placing the Soju bottle on my folding table as she sits farther in front of me.

"Baka naisipang magbago na?" I asked, reaching for the Soju and she immediately shake her head.

"No, hindi, hindi. Kinausap ako kanina sa plane, same pa rin, e. Baka sa 'yo lang? Shocks! First time in forever, Madame!" she said, exclaiming as she gestured her hand to me. I laughed with her before I took a sip of the drink. 

***

I lock the door as the cool afternoon beach air crashes onto my skin, I can feel the shiver rising as my fitting dress only covers up half of my legs and zero percent of my arms! 

I turn around to the beach, taking each step careful. I look down to my feet and there my balance steadied. Binigyan pa ako ni Mrs. Luciano ng fitting na black dress with heels pa, ah, nakalimutan yata na nasa beach ang reception at hindi bar.

Nagsimula na kaagad ako maglakad nang makarinig ako ng malakas na tugtog sa direksyon kung saan alam ko matatagpuan 'yong hall, I try to take each step in the sand slowly and steady, trying not to fall as I can feel my feet starting to shake as I find myself getting closer to the venue.

I try to keep my pace steady with my chest starting to pound, nangangalay na ang paa ko at nasa gitna na ako ng kadiliman. I'm halfway from the Villa to the venue. Wala naman si Inez kasi kailangan n'yang mag-una doon. I stopped for a moment and took deep breaths, I turned to the beach to see having fairy lights around the trees being the only source of light. Maganda 'yon, may mga tao din na nasa cottages nila, nakikita ko 'yon pero may kalayuan mula sa mga Villa.

Muli akong nagsimulang mag lakad at ngayon hindi na gaano kahirap, dahan dahan kong minamadali ang paglakad habang nakikita ko ang papasok-labas ng mga staff sa hall.

I felt my lips forming a smile as my pace fastened, I tried to keep up but suddenly my feet caught something and the next thing I knew someone was holding me. They caught me. My eyes were wide open as we stood there steadily, my breaths went deeper once again before I heard the person letting out a chuckle with unfamiliarity.

"Ma'am, advice lang ho, next time 'wag ho kayo mag heels pag nasa beach ho kayo--"

"Sir, thank you. I can handle it na," another voice said. I felt my heart beat rising once again before the grip from my waist and arm loosened and a familiar male figure appeared on my left, he held onto my right arm before he lifted me up, helping me with my balance.

"Sige ho, mauna na ho ako," the first man said but I didn't manage to say anything. My eyes remain down to the ground as my feet is still shaking. Medyo masakit na ngayon, baka nasprain ko ng slight or hindi ko alam.

"Why didn't you tell Inez that you don't know how to wear heels--"

My forehead creased as I managed to finally stand up. I felt my right foot out of balance until he slowly lets go of me causing me to almost fall once again, I quickly grabbed onto his arm as he shifted to my front. Seryoso ang kan'yang mukha at salubong ang kilay, nakahawak ang isang kamay sa braso ko habang mahigpit kong hinawakan ang kan'yang isang braso. "Marunong ako, okay? Ikaw kaya sand tapos heels."

His eyes immediately shifted to mine, my eyes then automatically looked up to him, meeting his gaze before his forehead creased. "Ikaw marunong ako hindi. Can you walk?"

I tried to lift up my left foot and felt a slight ache. I stepped back on the ground before I took a step towards his left as I was still holding onto him. He immediately took the hint and backed up a little bit. I try to take another step with my left foot, ignoring the ache. But it was still shaking. "Kaya ko na."

He let go of my arm yet I didn't let go of him, we started to take small steps before my grip on his arm tightened and tightened, and suddenly, he chuckled. "Kaya na 'yan? You're holding onto me as if your life is depending on it."

Inirapan ko siya. "Kaya pero wala akong sinabi hindi kaya na walang hinahawakan--"

He chuckled. "Are you sure? That kaya mo na talaga?"

"Hindi," I immediately said before he sighed.

"Okay," sabi niya at napadilat ako nang kinalas niya ang kamay ko mula sa kaniyang braso ngunit kaagad naman nitong hinawakan ang braso ko, and before I knew it I found myself shouting as he carries me on his arms. Kaagad akong napahawak sa kaniyang leeg habang s'ya ay patawa-tawa lang, marami nang tao nagsi-lingon sa amin ngunit parang wala naman itong pakialam.

"What are you doing?" mabilis kong tanong ngunit mas lumakas lamang ang kaniyang tawa. "Sir--"

His face immediately loosened up, diretso ang kaniyang tingin sa akin bago kumunot ang kaniyang noo. "Sir? 

"E-ewan ko ba sa 'yo, Luciano, put me down!" I said, exclaiming but now hindi na siya tumatawa. "Inis na inis ka parang ikaw 'yong cinacarry, ha?"

"Don't ever call me Sir ever again, alright?" he said, looking directly at my eyes with his eyebrows rising. He's serious. I rolled my eyes and turned to the hall, medyo malapit kami at mas naririnig ko na ang ingay mula sa loob. He suddenly lifts me up more, causing me to tighten my grip even more as my head automatically turns to him. "Don't ever call me Sir ever again, understood?"

"Put me down, oo na, makikita na nila tayo, oh!" I said, shaking my feet ngunit hindi naman siya sumagot. "Hoy, malapit na tayo--"

"Is my name Hoy?" he asked and my forehead creased. His eyebrows rose as he slowly shifted his eyes to mine. "Hoy ba name ko?"

"Ibaba mo muna ako."

"I won't put you down until you address me correctly, Laurella," he said and my forehead creased even more. I see his eyebrows narrowed before I lift and drop my right hand onto his shoulders, causing both of his eyebrows to rise. "What? You don't like your name?"

"Na, Christion!" I whined. "Ang lapit na natin, oh! Baka makita nila tayo!"

He started to laugh again. "Why are you so worried? What are they even going to do about it? Hindi ba dapat ganito ang mag-asawa?"

"Correction: actual lovers. Kaya put me down!" I said, whining as I turned back to the hall before he laughed once again. "Wala ka talagang plano ibaba ako?!"

"Wala," matipid niyang sagot at napapikit lamang ako. "What should I call you ba? Since ayaw mo naman sa Laurella."

"Angel."

"Everyone calls you that," he said and my forehead creased. 

"Kaya nga," I said before he lifts me up higher once more causing me to turn back to him.

"Laurella… Ella, how about that?" he asked and hinamaan ko lang siya ng tingin. Maspalapit na kami ng palapit, I'm life five feet above the ground and it's terrifying! "Okay, Laurella--"

"Ella! Okay na 'yon! So ibaba mo na ako--" I paused as I hear loud cheering from up close and his smile widens. Dahan na dumilat ang mga mata ko habang naririnig ko ang pagbanggit sa aming mga pangalan. 

"Oh, ito na! May pagrand entrance pa talaga ang mag-asawa! Let us all welcome, the newlyweds, current generation Mr. and Mrs. Luciano, everyone!" it was Inez. Her voice echoes like she was speaking from a microphone. Ngayon ay dahan na akong binababa ni Christion habang mahina siyang tumawa. 

"Nice to meet you, Ella," he said, whispering, before I found myself finally on the ground. Nasa gilid ko siya, nakahawak pa rin siya sa braso ko, I can feel his arms on my back as we take small steps closer inside the hall.

***

I roll to the left to see an empty clean bed, wala na naman si Inez dahil inutusan daw. 'Di naman niya sinabi kung saan para sasama sana ako kaya mag-isa akong nagkulong dito sa kwarto. I fidget the remote as the TV screen is in standby, I don't have a movie in mind at halos buong araw puro nood lang ako ng movie.

Nung breakfast ay hindi nagpakita si Christion, n'ong dinner ay halos puro usap lang kami sa mga business partners and close friends ng family nila. At nandoon din naman ang mga Veridiano kaya hindi ako masyadong mag-isa. 

At n'ong lunch naman ay dinalhan lang ako ni Inez dito ng pagkain dahil ang sabi marami na nama'ng tao sa restaurant, may nag rent daw-- before siya umalis. I want to go for a swim pero masyadong mainit sa labas, or wala lang talaga akong kasama at ayaw ko mag mukhang tanga. I wander my eyes around the room and my gaze landed on my bedside table. 

A familiar male figure flashes in my mind, a sentence and a text conversation. I quickly put down the remote and stretched my arm towards the table, reaching for my phone. Hindi ko pa rin na replyan si Lucas, wala naman akong load.

As I got a hold of it I immediately checked the notifications, at wala namang laman. I unlocked it and headed to my messages and there I saw new messages, it was from yesterday. Last night. 

From: Lucas

sent an attachment

Neon lights and a dark background, a familiar figure is in the frame sitting on a couch. His back is rested and his legs are wide open, his face is holding a smile and immediately, I recognized the place.

From: Lucas

ano ba ginawa mo dito

gago

kasal ka na?

ay mali

miko this

uy jackpot

Luciano

I failed to know if I should be chuckling, amused by Lucas' friend's talent of typing perfectly while drunk or furious because of the mixed signals this is giving me. Bakit ako kaagad ang sisihin kung siya naman 'yong unang nakipaghiwalay?

From: Lucas 

sorrt

y

miko uin heb

took mybpjone 

my ohone

phone

Then he texted me at a different hour. He seems to be sober.

From: Lucas

it wasnt my intention to break up with you that time and i apologize for thay pero kasal kaagad?

luciano pa paano? pinagmukha ko pa ang sarili ko na vheater ikaw naman pala yong engaged na?

sent an attachment 

Another screenshot and this time I'm not wearing a white gown yet instead it was the scene yesterday. Christion carrying me with me wearing a black fitted dress and him wearing a white long sleeve polo shirt.

From: Lucas

sent an attachment 

'Mr. Luciano was once spotted with his secret fiance in Valleniva for an exhibition 3 days before the wedding! No one thought she'd be it!' It was at the entrance, nakangisi si Christion habang ako ay nag aalala. Post iyon sa iisang local news network dito sa city. Ganito siya kakilala, pero nandoon ang mukha ko…

From: Lucas

nagkita kayo the same day we broke up

hindi mo ako pinigilan ng ganoon

hindi ka man lang umiyak

kaya pala

galing mong umarte

idol na idol kita

angel napakagago nito

akala ko ako ying gago ilaw pala

ikaw pala

hahahahahahhahahaha

sumagot ka

I stand up from my bed and put on my slippers, I head outside without locking the doors. Malakas na ang hangin pero hindi ko na iyon pinansin. Dumeretso ako sa bar kung saan may nakikita akong lalaki naglilinis, ito lang ang pinaka-malapit mula sa Villa ko.

He immediately noticed my approach and looked up to me, he pressed a small smile before continuing to wipe the tables.

"Kuya, may load po kayo dito?" I asked when I got closer.

"Ay, ma'am, wala po. Wifi po meron, baka gusto ninyo?" he asked with a wide smile and I felt my eyebrows rise.

Kaagad akong tumango bago siya tumalikod. 

"Minsan nawawala po 'yong internet sa madaling umaga, may nagtitinda po ng load pero nasa labas ho ng resort," he said before turning back to me, now holding a piece of paper. 

Parang flier bago siya kaagad lumapit at nilagay iyon sa lamesa na namamagitan sa amin.

"Pag hindi po 'yan gumana, iya'ng nasa baba i-try niyo po, router iyan para mas malakas ang internet ninyo. Pag mahina naman ay try mo na lang iyang mga sumusunod, depende ho iyon sa router kung saan mas malapit sa Villa po ninyo," he said and tumango ako, I read the passwords and names as I slowly reach for it. 

I looked back at him and pressed my lips together, forming a smile. "Thank you, Kuya."

"You're welcome po!" he cheerfully said before I turn around. I quickly noticed the red hues the water is reflecting with cottages being in the way. "Ayon sakto po paglabas ninyo, sunset na. Dito ho magaganda ang mga sunset, kagaya ho ninyo!"

I laughed at his joke before I headed towards the beach. I felt my eyes slowly widen with shiver travelling onto my skin. Red and orange hues with no clouds above. My lips stretched for a wider smile as I walked closer and closer to the beach. 

I stopped my feet and looked down to my phone and immediately went to the camera, I lifted it up to take a picture as more people arrived. I shove my phone into my pockets along with folding the flyer small enough for it to fit. I looked up to the sky and thought, I want to paint this.

Minutes. I was standing there for minutes before a figure appeared behind me, they stood still and suddenly I felt my chest pounding. 

"Angel?" she called, I immediately felt disappointment along with relief before she appeared beside me. I turned to Inez and gave her a small smile. "Sa'n ka galing?"

"I was searching for load, why? Ikaw? Sa'n ka ba galing?" I asked as my eyebrows narrowed. 

She pressed her lips together and shook her head. "Hinahanap ka ni Sir."

My forehead creased before she turned around, I followed her gaze and immediately met familiar eyes. Inez started to walk away before I followed her, I pressed my lips together, forming a small smile as I got closer to Christion.

"Mauna na ako, need ko pa mag beautyrest!" Inez announced and I chuckled.

I stopped my feet in front of Christion with my eyebrows raised. "You were searching for me?"

He nodded once. "I want to invite you to dinner. Now."