Chapter 10: Hard Night

SHE'S alone in the balcony outside the party venue, enjoying her Cristal Rosè champagne while having the beautiful view of the night sky and the hotel garden.

It's her father's birthday and he choose to celebrate it with the company in Clara Amore Hotel and Resorts.

"Solo flight?" isang tinig mula sa likuran niya.

Hindi niya ito nilingon dahil alam naman niya kung sino ito at isa pa, hindi pa niya nakakalimutan ang ginawa nito kay Dave kahapon. She hates how he made him feel so bad because of his attitude problem.

He stands beside her in the opposite way and leans on the balcony just like her with his bended elbow supporting him from his back while holding a drink in a rock glass.

Nanatili siyang tahimik. Naramdaman niya na bumuntong-hininga ito, "So you're just going to ignore me because I didn't shake his hand?" napataas ang dalawa nitong kilay habang nakatingin sa kanya. "Do you really expect me to be nice in all your boyfriends?" he said with sarcasm.

"After what you did yesterday?! Do you also expect from me to be proud of your rudeness?" she said giving back the same amount of sarcasm.

His lips press down making a line, rolled his eyes and lets out a harsh sigh.

"Seriously? Why do you have to do that?!" inis niyang hinarap ito, "You could've pretended to be a little nicer you know? He didn't do anything wrong to you so why did you have to treat him like that?" her eyebrow furrows.

Bahagyang napaawang ang mga labi nito pero biglang sumimangot ang mukha habang nakatingin sa kanya. "Dati naman hindi ka nagagalit kahit anong gawin kong trato sa mga nagiging boyfriend mo... but just now you're making it a big deal?" he scoffs and shook his head."You know what? It's so easy to fake a smile but when I saw him kissed you... well to tell you honestly I managed to be nicer because he has no idea how I wanted to punch him in the face," his eyes are in mix of anger and pain. Even his voice sounds hurt too, "Don't you know how painful it is for me?" his jaw clenched trying to hold the emotion that is about to burst.

Napabuntong-hininga siya, she feels hurt too knowing how he feels. Of course, she cares for him but what does he want her to do? She's in love with Dave and it's so hard for her not to show it because she really does. It's not a game anymore.

"I am the only guy who can kiss you on your cheeks until he became your boyfriend!" hinanakit na sabi nito, "How can you let him do that?! And really in front of me?!" Napakagat ito sa ibang labi at halatang nagpipigil ng inis nang maalala ang tagpong iyon.

"He doesn't know how you feel," mahina niyang sabi nang mapayuko trying not to add more fuel into his fire.

'He's gonna freak out when he found out we kiss on lips too.' Napakagat siya sa labi at nangamba.

"He even called you Love for Christ’s sake! Sino ba siya sa akala niya?! Eh kakakilala mo pa lang sa kanya! Does he even know you well like I do?!" napatigil ito sa pagsisintemyento nang mapatingin ito sa kanya at nakitang napapakagat nalang siya ng labi habang nakayuko.

Napahawak ito sa bibig at nanlaki ang mga mata.

'Did I think it out loud?' Dahan-dahan siya nag-angat ng tingin only to see him about to explode in anger.

"Damn it! So, he kissed you on the lips too??! What else?! What else did you give him huh?!" halos lumuwa ang mga mata at salubong na kilay itong napatitig sa kanya. He lets out a frustrated laugh in the air. He knows that she never let anyone kiss her on the lips, not even him. Dave was her first real kiss.

"Unbelievable..." napapailing-iling itong napakapit sa ulo. "Damn it Honey!" na para bang hindi ito makapaniwalang pumayag siyang mangyari yun.

"Justin, will you calm down?!" stress na sabi niya nang magpabalik-balik ito sa paglalakad at diretyong tinungga ang laman ng rock glass na bahagyang nakapagpahinto dito dahil marahil sa tapang ng lasa nang lunukin nito ang alcohol at marahas na napabuga ng hangin. Binato nito kung saan ang baso sa sobrang inis.

Lumapit ito sa kanya at hinawakan siya sa magkabilang balikat at punong-puno ng hinanakit ang mga mata nitong tinitigan siya.

"Bakit?!" medyo mariin ang pagkakahawak nito sa kanya na unti-unting nagdudulot ng munting kirot sa braso niya. "Tell me?! What does he have that I don't?!!" bahagyang tumaas din ang boses nito at nagtatagis ang mga bagang. "Tell me?!"

"Let me g-go... you're hurting me!" d***g niya. Nakita niyang nangingilid ang mga luha sa mga mata nito at nang bitiwan siya ay marahas na napahilamos nalang ng mga palad sa mukha.

"Aaaarrgh Damn it!!" Napasipa ito sa hangin nang talikuran siya at marahas na napabuga ng hangin. Ilang beses itong huminga ng malalim bago muli siyang hinarap pero pinili nitong panatilihin ang distansiya sa pagitan nila, "Hindi kita maintindihan! I'm just here! I'm waiting for you! Why can't it be me?! Huh?! Why Honey?! W-why? You know how much I love you..." resentment filled his voice, "I-I only want you... bakit ang manhid mo?" it sounded almost like a cry as his voice trembles.

Suddenly tears starts to fall from her eyes. It breaks her heart to see him breaking down because of her, "I'm s-sorry..." nanginginig na tinig niyang sambit, that she started to sobs, "Justin... I'm s-so sorry." Napatakip siya sa bibig niya habang nagsimulang humikbi.

Biglang lumambot ang reaksyon nito nang makita ang mga luha sa mata niya.

Muli itong lumapit and this time he hugs her tightly. He feels defeated and broken, "I'm so sorry baby." He rubs her back making her cry louder, "Please don't cry... nabigla lang ako." Binitawan siya nito at masuyong hinawakan sa pisngi, "Please..." he said pleadingly with his tears flowing down on his own cheeks but he tries to fake a smile, "Nabigla lang ako... sorry." He kissed her in the forehead, "I didn't mean to shout at you... sorry baby... please don't cry," paulit-ulit nitong pakiusap habang hinaplos-haplos ang mga pisngi niya upang mapatahan siya.

Yumakap siya sa baywang nito ng mahigpit at isiniksik ang ulo sa dibdib nito.

Ayaw niyang mawala ang bestfriend niya kaya hindi niya na napigilang mapahagulgol.

Ayaw niya itong masaktan pero hindi niya kayang suklian ang pagmamahal nito sa kanya. She just can't let that friendship get ruin.

"I don't want to lose you. You are the best bestfriend I've ever had. I didn't mean to hurt you but I can't lie to you."

Nang tumahan na siya ay masuyo nitong pinunasan ang mga luha niya.

Panandalian silang natahimik na nakatingin sa isa't isa habang yakap-yakap pa rin siya nito.

He leans his forehead on hers while still holding her face, "It's not really your fault... I love you but it's never your obligation to return that love to me," bahagya itong lumayo upang magtama ang mga mata nila. He looks at her with a solid sadness in his eyes.

"As long as your happy I can take it... and I'll be fine." he smiles but it's a painful one and it pains her too, "What I hate the most is seeing you cry because of me. That hurts even worse."

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"SED?" nagulat pa siya nang makilala kung sino ang lalaking nasa dessert section na nakasuot ng white semi-formal long sleeve polo at black slacks.

Napataas naman ang kilay nito at agad na napangiting sinalubong siya ng fist bump.

"Look who's here?!" tinapik nito ang balikat niya.

"Wow! Did you do all these?" manghang pinagmasdan niya ang napakagandang dessert section.

"Of course Not! I have a team," sabay turo sa tatlong taong nakatayo sa likuran ng dessert buffet at napansin niya ang isang pamilyar na mukha.

"Sandy, right?" nginitian niya ito.

"Good evening," medyo nahihiyang bati nito sa kanya.

"Yeah, schoolmate natin siya and part time staff sa Cafe Mi Amore," paliwanag ni Sedrick.

"I know her, she's Honey's friend," nakangiting wika niya.

Biglang ngumiti ito ng makahulugan sa kanya at napailing-iling, "By the way did she invites you here to meet her family?" biglang tanong ni Sedrick habang inaayos ang ilang garnish na sa palagay nito ay kailangan pang ipwesto ng mas maganda.

Napataas ang dalawa niyang kilay, "What do you mean? Is this her family's party?" gumuhit ang labis na pagtataka sa mukha niya.

Napakuno't ang noo nito at napagsiklot ang braso, "You mean hindi siya ang nag-invite sayo dito? And hindi mo alam na sila ang may pa-party? Akala ko pa naman ipapakilala ka na niya sa kanila," halatang gulat na tanong nito.

Napakuno't din tuloy ang noo niya, "No. It's my mom's friend birthday. They invite her to play piano."

"Ah ok. I see... but do you know that the birthday celebrant is her father?" muli nitong tanong matapos mapatango-tango na halatang napapaisip pa din kung bakit hindi niya alam ang tungkol sa bagay na yun.

Biglang lumakas ang kabog ng dibdib niya, "I didn't know. Honey never talks about her family."

Napangiwe naman ang kaharap niya. "Really? That's her father," sabay turo nito sa isang me edad na lalaking tutok na tutok ang atensyon sa mama niya na kasalukuyang tumutugtog ng piano.

Hindi niya alam pero parang nagsisikip ang dibdib niya. Biglang otomatikong nagpalinga-linga siya sa paligid at masugid na hinanap ang kanyang nobya.

"Bro is there something wrong?" tanong ni Sedrick nang makita ang pangamba sa anyo niya.

"Did you see Honey?"

Napatulala nalang sa kanya si Sedrick dahil para siyang biglang nagpanic, "Teka... parang nakita ko siya kanina palabas ng ballroom. Wait ok ka lang ba? Anong problema?" unti-unti na rin itong nahawa sa kanya.

"I need to find her," he said in a low desperate tone.

"Ah ayun siya oh!" agad siyang napabaling kay Sandy at nasundan nalang niya ang direksyong tinuturo nito.

Akmang lalakad sana siya ngunit nakita niyang may kasama ito. Mula sa pag-aalala biglang napalitan ng kirot ang dibdib niya.

'So, she didn't invite me because she's with him?'

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HABANG naglalakad sila ni Justin pabalik sa loob ng ballroom, she heard something familiar. The piano piece, she knows it but couldn't remember where she heard it.

Agad din namang napahinto si Justin nang huminto siya.

"What's wrong?" napakuno't ang noo nito.

"I know that song," seryosong sabi niya.

Napataas ang dalawa nitong kilay, "That's my mom's friend. She's a well-known pianist abroad. If you're familiar with Lin the pianist?"

Napaisip siya malamang dun nga niya napakinggan. Mabilis siyang lumakad muli papasok ng ballroom.

Tila may kung anong antisipasyon siyang nadama... gusto niya itong makita at nang makapasok sila sa loob halos sa gitna na siya napahinto habang titig na titig sa babaeng tumutugtog sa stage.

There something about it... about her. It's not just a familiar song, she feels like she knew the song deeply.

Nang matapos ito ay nagpalakpakan ang mga tao.

Agad na pumanik ng entablado ang papa niya and for the first time nakita niya itong nakangiti. It's not the President's smile but just a simple smile of a happy man.

"Let's take a seat," inalalayan siya ni Justin sa bewang pero pinigilan niya ito.

Malakas ang kutob niyang may mangyayaring hindi maganda.

"Wait," nanghihina niyang sabi na bakas ang pag-aalala sa mukha.

"This night is indeed the best night in a long time, I can tell this is really a happy birthday for me today."

She had never seen her dad smile like that. A genuine smile but she couldn't feel happy for him.

"For sure some of you are asking what is it making this day so happy? Well just to let you know that tonight I'm celebrating this special day with someone I've never thought would be back in my life."

She can barely breathe. The agony is killing her little by little.

"For the woman who happened to be my first love... you have no idea how happy I am," dahan-dahan itong bumaling sa me edad na babaeng kaninang tumutugtog ng piano.

Ngumiti naman ang babae.

"Thank you for giving me a chance to love you again and make you happy," while those words are full of love, her heart is being crushed so hard that she wantd to scream because of so much pain inside her chest.

'How could he do that?! Those words... those words belong to you mom!'

She covered her mouth trying to conceal her weep.

"So, before this wonderful night ends, Miss Lin, I will not let you get away this time without asking you... will you marry me?" may mga humiyaw ng yes ang isagot nito.

Her father kneels on one knee in front of her and offers an engagement ring.

Everyone is waiting for her reply.

"Yes, I will marry you," it's like a bomb drop to where she stands.

The deafening crowd made her knees weak. They look perfect... perfectly painful for her.

She almost fell on her feet when Justin catches her in his arms and became her life support at that moment. She silently weeps on his chest for she badly needs it. She's going to lose something that she never had.

A family.

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HINDI siya sigurado kung gaano siyang katagal napako sa kinatatayuan niya. Ang bilis ng mga pangyayari. Hindi niya alam kung anong uunahin iproseso sa kanyang utak.

'This can't be!' his mind filled with fear and frustration.

A sudden flashback plays on his head.

"SON... you look different," hindi niya napansin na kanina pa pala ito nakatayo sa tapat ng pintuan ng kusina dahil sa sobrang abala niyang mag-bake ng cookies.

"Ma, you're here! Can you try my cookies?" Napangiti siya ng makita ito na agad niyang nilapitan upang magmano. Sa wakas may mahihingan na siya ng opinyon kung masarap ba ang cookies o hindi.

Nahihiwagahan nalang itong nakatingin sa kanya habang excited niyang hinatak ito para ipatikim ang cookies na ginawa niya.

"Wow! Special? Kailan ka pa natutong magbake?" she gave him a curious look.

Napakamot naman siya ng ulo habang nangingiti, "Actually I asked Sedrick to teach me. I learned this in their pastry shop."

Kumuha ito at tinikman. Habang ngumunguya ito at ninanamnam ang cookies ay kinakabahang nag-aabang naman siya sa judgement ng lasa.

"Is it good?"

"Why cranberry and white chocolate cookies?" sa halip na sagutin ay tanong ang ibinalik nito sa kanya na tila hindi niya napag handaan.

Panandalian siyang napa-isip, "Ah... I'm giving it to a friend who loves that flavor?" he answers shyly.

"Are you trying to make somebody... fall in love with you?" she grins trying to catch his thought.

Napatawa siya at bahagyang namula, "Mama naman... what gave you that idea? Am I that obvious?" halos mauwi sa bulong na sabi niya dahil sa pagkadyahe.

"I can taste it..." muli itong kumuha ng isa pang cookies at kinain, "...and beside I'm your mother." Tumingin ito sa kanya ng nakakaloko, "I can tell."

Napamulat siya ng mata. His mom looks like can read minds.

"I can't think of anything to give her because I know she has everything... that's why I decided to give her something that I made myself. Since she loves the cookies from Cafe mi Amore," trying to explain why he learns how to bake cookies.

"Awww that's sweet." Hinaplos-haplos nito ang balikat niya, "Sa akin ka talaga nag-mana hindi sa papa mo. So, you're already dating?" nakakaloko itong tumawa.

He knows that his mom is a sweet person while his father is a quiet type but he loves her mom so much no doubt about that.

"Just about to. Do you want to meet her?" parang nahihiya pa niyang tanong.

Nagliwanag ang mga mata nito, "Of course!" Hinawakan nito ang mga kamay niya, "I'm sure she's a nice girl."

"Oh, she's amazing and beautiful." he can't help but to sounded in love.

"But before that..." biglang nagbago ang reaksyon sa mukha nito. "...I should first tell you about me," Naging seryoso ito, "Son, I think it's time for you to meet someone."

Parang alam niya na ang sasabihin nito pero hinayaan niya lang itong magsalita.

"I met him two months ago in London before we settle here. He told me that before your father died, he sent him a message. They had an agreement or more likely a friendly request." Bumuntong-hininga ito at alanganing napangiti, "I don't want to make any steps without you meeting that person."

Naisip niya, ganoon kamahal ng papa niya ang mama niya. He would never let his mom grow old alone.

Naiintindihan niya kahit hindi pa nito masabi ng diretyo. If his dad wants her mom to be happy even with somebody else, then why would he be against it?

"Mom..." he gently squeezes and holds her hands. "You don't have to explain yourself to me. If dad trust that person, who am I to doubt it? The only thing that matters to me is your happiness. I can only promise to take care of you the best way I can but I know I can never give you that kind of happiness. If he could give you that then you go for it."

Napaluha ito, "Thanks son. You have no idea how happy I am."

"Just one question."

"What is it?" napataas ang dalawang kilay nito.

"How's my cookies taste like?" nakalimutan na yata nito yung kanina niya pang hinihintay na sagot.

Mahal na mahal niya ang kanyang mama at wala siyang hindi gagawin at tatanggapin para mapasaya ito.

Napatawa ito. "I'm sorry... It's taste divine." Pinahid niya ang luha nito na dulot ng sobrang kaligayahan at ginawaran ng halik sa noo. "She will love it for sure."

Nanlulumo na lamang siyang napatingin kay Honey. He tries his best to step his feet with a heavy heart towards the girl he loves.