Chapter 3: FIRST DATE GONE WRONG

”By the power vested in me, I now declare you, husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,” the priest announced.

I can’t help not to shed a tear because one of my best friends is now married. Tungsten unveil her and the most beautiful bride smile. I can see that Callie is really happy to tie a knot with Tungsten. He held her face and slowly kissed her on the lips. Nagpalakpakan kaming lahat. Megan and Levy cheered for our best friend. Umiling lang ako at dumako ang mga mata sa lalaking naging ka-partner ko kanina. He waved a bit and smirked. Tumango lang ako atsaka tinuon ang pansin sa kaibigan.

Marahan naman akong siniko ni Levy na nasa kanan ko. “Mukhang may magde-date na pagkatapos nito, ah.”

Hindi ako umimik. I don’t want to jump on a situation that I am not certain. Noong naglalakad kami sa aisle ay kinausap niya lang ako sandali kung magkaka-ano-ano kami ni Callie since ngayon niya lang daw ako nakita. So I answered him. Isa pa, hindi naman siya nag-aya sa akin na makipagdate. Ang assuming ko naman masyado kong gano’n.

Tinawag ang mga kaibigan ni Tungsten para sa picture taking. Pagkatapos noon ay kami naman. Magkakatabi kaming apat kasama ang ibang kamag-anak na babae ni Callie. After that we proceeded to the reception area. Since the wedding held here in Tagaytay, at ilang kilometro mula rito sa simbahan ay ang Anya Resort kung nasaan doon gaganapin ang reception. Palabas na kami nang bigla akong lapitan ni Neon. Levy and Megan smiled playfully. Umirap ako.

“Uh . . . let’s go to the hotel together?” aniya.

“I have my car with me, I’m okay. Thank you.”

He bit his lower lip. Kumunot naman ang noo ko dahil halata sa kanyang mukha ang pagkamangha.

“You’re so formal.”

Ngumiti ako. “What do you want me to do then? Talk to you in a rude way? That’s too awful, Mr. Vladimir.”

Natatawa siyang tinaas ang dalawang kamay. “Okay, I surrender. I don’t want to argue with you anymore.”

I chuckled and ran my fingers through my hair. “Thank you. Now, shall we go to the hotel? Separately?”

“We shall.”

Sabay kaming pumunta sa parking lot. May ibang nakatingin sa amin at mahahalata mong nang-uusisa. I even saw Madeline and Charm, my batch mates in high school. Siguro ay kung ano-anu na naman ang iniisip nila. They would think that this man beside me is my boyfriend or worst fiancé since I am a private person and I don’t share any information on my social media accounts. He opened the car door for me. Natigilan pa ‘ko. I looked at him at ngumiti lang siya sa akin. Iminuwestra niyang pumasok ako sa loob.

I cleared my throat and went inside. He closed the door and knock on my window. I sighed before I rolled the window down.

“Drive safely,” aniya.

Tumango lang ako at binigyan siya ng kaunting ngiti. I don’t know why but all I could feel was awkwardness. I roared the engine to live and drove away. I bit my lower lip and parked my car. Inayos ko muna ang sarili ko bago lumabas. Tumaas ang kilay ko nang may humintong kulay itim na Jaguar XF sa tabi ng kotse ko. Hindi na ‘ko nagulat pa nang lumabas si Neon doon. He smiled and walked towards my direction. He offered his arms for me and my forehead creased.

“We’re no longer on the wedding ceremony, Mr. Vladimir.”

“Is it wrong to be a gentleman to you, Miss Melody?”

“Well, I just hope that you would apply that so called ‘gentleman’ of yours to the woman out there who really needs your help,” wika ko at tinuro ang isang babae na paika-ikang naglalakad.

He chuckled a bit and looked down. Napansin kong tumiim ang kanyang bagang at pinuntahan ang babae. I smirked and tossed my car key inside my pouch. Tumakbo ako papunta sa loob at agad kong hinanap ang dalawang kaibigan.

“Melly, here!” sigaw ni Megan habang nakataas ang kamay.

Agad akong naglakad papunta sa kung nasaan sila pero may tumawag sa akin sa isang table kaya huminto muna ako saglit. I paused. It was the table of our Callie’s cousins. Naroon din sina Madeline at Charm. Madeline smiled at me while Charm drunk her glass of water. Huminga ako ng malalim. Mukhang alam ko na kung bakit nila ako tinawag.

“How are you, Melody?” a girl who has an ash gray hair asked. Hindi ko na matandaan kung sino ito kaya naman ngumiti na lamang ako.

“I’m fine. How about you, guys?”

“Were good, actually it was very nice to see you again!” nakangiting wika ng babaeng may mahabang buhok.

Ngumiti lang ako. “I supposed that you didn’t call me just to know if I am okay, right? May nasagap ba kayong balita kaya niyo ‘ko tinawag?”

Hindi sila nakapagsalita. Madeline cleared her throat. Napatingin tuloy ako sa kanya. “W-well, we’re just concern about you, Mel. A lot of people said that you don’t have a boyfriend until now, pero noong nakita ka namin ni Charm kanina kasama si Neon Vladimir ay nagulohan kami.”

“You’re not concern anymore; the best word would be curious. You’re just too curious of my whereabouts. Ano naman sa inyo kung wala akong boyfriend?” I gave them my sweetest smile.

Aalis na sana ako pero natigilan dahil sa binitawang salita ni Charm. I had to control my emotions or else I will ruin Callie’s wedding, at hindi ko naman gustong mangyari iyon. I need to remind myself that these people are like Leveria’s students. Immature and don’t know much about life so I had to extend my patience and understand that their cognitive development is still on the concrete operational stage.

“Ang taas taas kasi ng standards kaya hanggang ngayon wala pa ring boyfriend, o baka naman hanggang ngayon hindi ka pa rin nakaka-move on? Hinihintay pa rin na baka bumalik sa ‘yo? Come on, Melody! Baka nga may asawa’t anak na ‘yon, eh. Kawawa ka naman. Tatanda ka talagang dalaga niyan.”

I turned around and smirked. “Better off single with high standards than in a relationship settling for less.”

I flipped my hair and walked out. I sighed and gathered myself because I never expect that she would say that! Ang kapal naman ng mukha niyang sabihin iyon when in fact it was just her mere speculations! Lumiko ako at naglakad papunta sa kung saan ang banyo. Mabuti naman at mabilis ko lang nahanap dahil malapit lang sa kung nasaan ang table namin.

I went inside and thank God that no one’s inside! Sa inis ko’y nahampas ko ang tiles ng lababo at napahinga ng malalim. I want to control myself but I can’t help not to shed a tear. Damn it! Kahit ano’ng pigil ko ay naiinis pa rin ako. I remember what that girl said and I can’t help not to get hurt. Oo, aaminin ko. He was the reason why I don’t want to date men. He was the first man that I love but he was the one who broke my young and innocent heart. But despite what he did to me, I still love him. It’s been sixteen years and I am still in love with him.

“Melly?” Agad kong pinahid ang luha nang marinig ang boses ni Levy.

Tumingin ako sa salamin at inayos ang sarili. Naghugas ako ng kamay at tumikhim.

“H-hey, Lev! Bakit?” I asked trying to sound okay.

“Can we come in, please?” si Megan.

I looked down and let them in. My tears were streaming down on my cheeks. The door opened and I felt their embrace. I tried to composed myself, but no matter how I hard I stop, my tears were traitor! Kaya hinayaan ko na lang. Megan and Levy didn’t say a word. They just let me cry and I am thankful because they are always here for me. Silang tatlo lang ang pinagkakatiwalaan ko aside sa mga magulang ko. Sa kanila ko lang ipinapakita ang mga kahinaan ko.

Nang maging maayos ang aking pakiramdam ay marahan namang inayos ni Megan ang buhok ko nang tahimik. Levy fixed my face and put on some powder.

“Are you okay now?” si Megan.

Tumango ako at huminga ng malalim. “I . . . I didn’t know that it still hurts. I am not supposed to feel this but I can’t help myself not to get hurt.”

Levy heaved a deep breath. “That’s the reason why I am pushing you to date men, Melody. Huwag mo namang i-sarado ang puso mo dahil lang sa lalaking ‘yon.”

“Levy is right, Melly. Maybe you should free yourself from the past. Divert your attention to other guys.”

Hindi ako nagsalita. Nanatili muna kami ng ilang minuto sa loob ng banyo. I was still thinking if I should entertain their suggestions. I tried before. I tried to date men, but it was a waste of time. Mabilis akong mawalan ng gana sa kanila. They’re far different from. . . I sighed and shook my head. But as what Levy said, “Wala namang mawawala sa ‘yo kung susubukan mo, ‘di ba? If you don’t like him after the date, then don’t let him see you the second time.”

I pursed my lips and roamed my eyes around the reception hall. Hindi ko na mahanap si Neon kaya hinayaan ko na lamang. Megan was being called by the masters of ceremony because she would sing for the newly-weds, silang dalawa ni Silver. Pagkatapos nilang kumanta ay nagpalakpakan kami.

Pagkatapos niyon ay tumayo ang bagong kasal dahil may hinanda pala silang performance para sa aming lahat. Inalalayan ni Tungsten si Callie na maupo kung nasaan ang piano habang siya naman ang may hawak ng mikropono. Callie is a good singer and a performer. Hindi nga lang siya palaging tumutugtog kasi nga mahiyain pero may sarili na siyang recording company. She produces great artists and performers. Ang alam ko dahil sa isang charity event kaya sila nagkakilalang dalawa. Tungsten eventually invested on Infinite Door Records and the rest was history.

They had an after party so we stayed because the day after tomorrow pa naman ang flight ng dalawa papunta sa Paris. I didn’t know that Neon was still here that’s why they are pushing me to date him. Mga walang hiyang kaibigan!

“Why not? I was about to asked her when I ushered her to her car. But I wasn’t able to do that because she drove away,” kwento niya.

“Oh, kita mo na! Go na girl!” Megan cheered.

“Stop pressuring her, Meg. Let her decide on her own,” Callie preached.

“That’s my wife right there!” Tungsten proudly said when he overheard what Callie said.

Umirap ako. “Fine.”

Everyone shouted in glee. Tungsten, Silver and Argon congratulated Neon because it was my first time to agree on a date after so many years. Huling date ko ata ay noong twenty-five ako.

Kinabukasan ay agad akong ti-next ni Neon kung saan kami magkikita. I was on my way to the university when I received his text. Hindi na ‘ko nakapagreply pa dahil agad akong pumunta sa classroom. Today is the start of the second semester. Nasa labas pa lang ako ay panay bati na ang iilang mga estudyante.

“That’s all for today, see you next meeting. Class dismissed.”

Alas sinko nang makatanggap ulit ako ng mensahe galing kay Neon. I rolled my eyes. Ugh! I’m starting to get annoyed. Kanina pa siya text nang text at ako namang tamad magreply ay hindi ko siya nire-reply-an.

Nagmaneho ako papunta sa Taguig at dahil medyo traffic ay alas sais na ‘ko nakarating sa condo unit ko. Alas otso pa lang naman ang usapan namin kaya naligo muna ako. Pagkatapos kong maligo ay nagsuot lang ako ng bath robe atsaka naupo sa study table ko. I read and checked my students output. Nang mapansin kong malapit na mag-alas syete ay nag-ayos na ‘ko. My place is so quiet and I really love it. Despite being alone, I still found it comfortable.

Besides of my house in Batangas, my condo is my solitude and my safe place, too.

Nang matapos akong mag-ayos ay nagpunta na ‘ko sa restaurant kung saan kami magkikita. Gusto niyang sunduin ako pero umayaw na ‘ko kasi kaya ko namang magdrive mag-isa. And besides, alam ko naman ang daan papunta sa Blackbird Makati. Pagdating ko roon ay wala pa siya. I glanced on my watch. It’s okay, 7:54 pa naman. Maaga lang ako masyado.

The waiter ushered me. Naghintay ako saglit at ilang sandail pa’y dumating na nga si Neon. He was holding a bouquet of flowers. Nang makalapit siya ay tumayo ako at binigyan siya ng kaunting ngiti.

“I’m sorry, I’m late.”

“No, it’s okay. Medyo napaaga lang talaga ‘ko.”

He gave me the flowers and smirked. “Oh, were you excited that’s why you’re early?”

I raised my brows. “Excuse me? I am not excited for the date, actually, I am looking forward to end this because my paper works are waiting for me.”

He just laughed and called the waiter. Ekis ‘yon, ah. Ano’ng akala niya sa ‘kin, desperadang makipagdate? Tss.

Pagkatapos niyang mag-order ay nag-usap muna kami habang hinihintay ang pagkain.

“So, you said that your paper works are waiting for you. I assumed that you are a busy person. What’s your job?”

“I’m a professor.”

“A teacher, huh.”

“Yes? Do you have a problem with that?”

“No, no, actually, I am surprised. I thought you’re a model.”

I stared at him blankly. “I am a model . . . to my students.”

Dumating ang pagkain at nagsimula kaming kumain. He started to talk about his business which is chains of malls and hotels. I swear to God I really want to go home because he’s just talking about himself! Pinapamukha niya pa sa akin na marami siyang pera.

“I am planning to established a new project—“

“Wait, Mr. Vladimir. I don’t have any idea about your business. Can we just talk other things?” I cut him off.

He smirked and wipe the corners of his mouth. “So, what do you want us to talk?”

I shrugged. “Anything.”

He sipped on his wine and looked at me straight to my eyes. I wanted to roll my eyes because I could clearly read what is on his mind.

“So, your place or mine—“

“Sabi ko na nga ba may babae ka, eh!”

My lips parted and my eyes widened when a woman came and made a scene. Hindi ako nakapag-react agad dahil sa bilis ng pangyayari. Sinugod niya si Neon at sinabuyan niya ‘ko ng wine! Oh my god!

“You whore! Ikaw pala ang babae ng boyfriend ‘ko, ah!” she screamed and everyone in this hotel looked at me.

I was still surprised and I don’t know what to say! What the fuck is happening?!