The next day, I was back to reality. I got up early to go to work, sa D'La Vegas Main Office muna dahil pinapatawag ako ni Dad. We just had a board meeting with some other executives before adjourning. Pagkatapos ng meeting, pinatawag ako ni Daddy sa office niya kaya doon ako dumiretso.
"Good morning, sir." I greeted him as I closed the door.
"Dylan anak, Mr. Yuson Walters gave it to me last week, it's for you." He handed me an envelope, it had my name at the back of it. I opened it and saw a card.
"Invitation?" He nodded.
"Bakit pangalan ko lang? You guys are not invited?" I'm confused, we usually got one invitation from Mr. Walters, for our family.
"He wants you to cater for their charity ball, son. He personally asked me if I can convince you." He just smirked.
"Okay, I will tell my people to set me on an appointment with Mr. Walters." I just nodded at him before closing the envelope.
"Pauwi ka na ba? Georgina Ruiz is on her way now." He said, referring to the designer of Deila's debut gown. Sa kanya na rin kami magpapagawa ng sa amin, she's a famous fashion designer.
"Yes dad." He just nodded at me before letting me leave. Hindi kami magkasabay na uuwi dahil dala ko ang kotse ko at kasama niya ang driver niya, kaya nauna na ako.
As I stepped my foot in the parking lot, my phone rang.
"What is it, little girl?" I asked Deila as I answered her call.
"Where are you now, Kuya? Papunta na si Ms. Georgina dito and you're still not here!" She sounded strict, I almost thought she's older than me.
"Mauuna pa nga yata ako diyan kaysa kay Georgina." I chuckled, I swear I can hear Deila's 'grrr'.
"You better make sure, kuya. Kapag umabsent ka, wala akong party tingnan mo." Natawa naman ako.
Nang blackmail pa nga raw, matapang.
"Oh yeah? Then I won't go, less gastos, baby." I was stifling a smile as I sat on the driver's seat and put my things on the front seat.
"Kuya!" Now, she's really pissed already.
"I'm going to drive now, see you in a bit." I smirked.
"Okay, drive safe." She followed it with a cute 'hmp' before ending the call. I shook my head when I remembered her pissed voice.
I drove my way to our house before stepping out. Iniwan ko na muna 'yung gamit ko sa loob ng kotse dahil puro pang-trabaho lang naman 'yon. Deila probably heard my car approaching so she was running her way out to meet me in the front door.
"You came! Thanks, you're the best!" She hugged me. I chuckled when I noticed that she have gotten taller, or maybe matagal-tagal na rin mula ng masukat ko 'yung height niya sa akin. Malapit na 'yung tangkad niya sa balikat ko. She grew up so fast, I didn't even notice it.
"Of course, anything for you." I kissed the top of her head before the two of us went inside. Hinila niya ako hanggang sa living room kung nasaan sila mommy at ang mga lolo at lola namin. I kissed their cheeks first before excusing myself, wala pa naman si Georgina kaya umakyat muna ako sa kwarto ko.
It has been years since the last time I slept in my room. Bumukod ako sa kanila para matutong mamuhay mag-isa, I'm already 24 years old at that time so I know I can do it. And besides, this room still brings me a lot of good old memories, and even bad ones.
Naupo ako sa kama ko saka pinagmasdan ang buong kwarto. Wala pa ring pinagbago, katulad pa rin ng ayos noong umalis ako dito. Pinapalinisan lang nila mommy pero hindi pinapagalaw lahat.
I stood up and went to my cabinet. Nandoon pa rin ang mga damit ko but now I'm not so sure if those could still fit on me. 'Yung iba dito ay noong teenager pa ako.
I was about to close the door of the cabinet when my eyes caught a velvet box at the bottom of my folded clothes. Hindi rin pala ito ginagalaw nila mommy?
Kinuha ko iyon at binuksan nang maupo na ako ulit sa kama. It was a golden necklace with a huge heart pendant. Bumalik sa akin lahat ng alaala ng nangyari, hindi ko na naman napigilan.
"Please give this to my daughter," the voice of the man who saved me, and tried to save David, filled my ears.
"I-I'm sorry." My voice broke when I remembered the man.
I'm sorry if you died there because of me. I'm sorry if I couldn't find your daughter, if I couldn't give this to her. I'm sorry that she lost her father because of me, because of my pleading. I'm sorry if I was selfish, if I was desperate at that time.
All my life, I've been blaming myself for their deaths. Hindi dapat sila nawala kung hindi ko iniwan si David sa loob ng eroplano, at kung hindi ako nagmakaawa sa iba na tulungan nila ako. I didn't know what to do that time, I was just a kid. I just don't want to lose my twin, I just wanted to save him back there. Pero nawala rin siya sa akin, sa amin. And worse, may nadamay pang ibang buhay.
"Kuya?" Deila knocked on my door. I immediately closed the velvet box and put it in my pocket.
I stood up and opened my door. There, I saw Deila's innocent eyes, worried about me. Naiintindihan na niya ngayon 'yung nangyari sa akin kaya siguro iniisip niya na umiiyak na naman ako sa kwarto.
"Are you okay?" She carefully asked.
"Of course, of course, baby." I smiled at her.
It was a genuine one, she has always been my happy pill ever since then. Ever since I got better and I have coped up from what happened, I did all of my best to take care of Deila. I can't lose another sibling, hindi ko na kaya.
"Nasa baba na si Daddy, he's looking for you." She used her thumb to point at the stairs.
"Okay, let's go." I closed the door of my room before going downstairs with her.
"Son, you're here." Mom went to me as I stepped inside the living room. My brows furrowed when I sensed something coming. Don't tell me..
"Son, you already met Georgina, right?" Dad said. Sinasabi ko na nga ba.
"Dad, I know where this is going." I sighed heavily when I sat on the couch.
Mabuti na lang talaga at wala pa si Georgina dahil paniguradong maiipit ako sa ganitong sitwasyon. Palagi na lang silang ganiyan, introducing some girls to me so I could date one of them.
I don't even need a woman in my life, well.. except for Katherine.
"Son, you're turning 28 this year." Dad pointed out.
We've always been like this, they've always wanted me to date someone. Since I didn't go to a regular school when I was a kid, and I was too focused on my catering services, I never got the time to date anyone. May mga natipuhan naman ako but they're way out of my league.
"Dad, how many times do I have to tell you that-"
"That I don't need a love life right now. I can grow old on my own, I can take care of myself. Sooner or later, I will be the one to take care of you guys and I can do that alone." Deila mocked my words and my actions. Palagi ko na kasing sinasabi 'yun sa kanila, kaya siguro nakabisado na niya.
Loko talaga tong batang 'to.
"Dylan honey, you're not getting any younger." Mom gently held on to my arms like it would help her convince me.
"I know, mom, that's a given." Sumasakit na ang ulo ko sa mga kaganapan.
"Won't you give me and your mom a grandson? Or a granddaughter?" Dad asked, para kong nabilaukan kahit wala namang laman bibig ko.
Apo talaga kaagad ang gusto! Ganun ba kadaling gumawa ng bata? Jusko!
"Honey, Georgina is a decent woman. She's popular and earns good money for a living. Princess told me she's kind and warm-hearted, don't you like her for that?" She glanced at Deila when she mentioned 'Princess', because she is.
Kind and warm-hearted? Oh yeah, that's way too far from what I have heard, and what I have witnessed.
I already met Georgina before. There was a party that I catered last last year, I guess? She was there, we had a common friend and actually, we had a small conversation together. I could've been attracted to her if not for the scene she made that night. Sinigawan niya 'yung caterer ko dahil daw natalsikan 'yung gown niya nang may nakabunggo sa tao ko at natapon 'yung mga champagne sa tray. She must've had no idea that I was the owner of the services so nagulat siya nang lumapit ako. She walked out because of shame and after that, I never met her again.
"I already have someone I like right now." I told them in a serious tone. Lahat sila nagulat sa sinabi ko, pati 'yung mga helpers namin sa bahay napatingin sa akin nang marinig 'yun. Their shocked faces turned into an excited ones.
"Omg! You never told me that!" Deila argued with me.
"Kailan lang naman to and besides, it's not even that deep." What a liar!
"Who is she? Do I know her? Have we seen her before-" mom stopped as I shook my head and gestured to her with my waving hand.
"Why don't you invite her for dinner?" Dad suggested.
"Dad, that'll be too fast, I just met her this year." I massaged the bridge of my nose, stressed about their reaction to my sudden confession.
"I want to meet her!" Deila sulked.
"Well, you can and you guys will, but in one condition." I looked at each of them. They excitedly raised their brows at me, waiting for what I was about to say.
"Stop making me meet other girls, I can date anytime if I want to, just let me handle that." I made myself sound serious and formal.
"Okay, okay, we won't." Mom answered, fighting the urge to scream her excitement out.
"Ma'am, sir, nandito na po si Ms. Georgina." Ate Isay, a helper, entered the living room.
Maya-maya lang, nasa living room na siya at may kasamang isang gay. They handshake with us before all of us sat on the living room to talk.
"Mister and Mrs. Dela Vega I am so sorry but I can't make Deila's gown, I'm going to Paris next week to run some errands. I'm not sure how long I will stay there but I already recommend you to Ferdy Williams here. You know him, of course, right?" The man bowed a little to my parents.
I know him, he's the most famous fashion designer in the country as of now. I've been to different formal parties and none of those missed Williams' creations. He's in demand nowadays so I'm a bit surprised to see him here since it's not that easy to have an appointment with him.
I don't have anything to say so I just listened to them. Williams told us that he'll come again next time with his people to get out body measurements. The two of them left after that, I even saw Georgina's awkward glance at me.
The next day, I had to attend a 60th birthday party with my catering services. I went home late after helping my people wrap up. I felt so tired I easily dozed off to sleep.
I woke up earlier than usual. Since I still had plenty of time before I go to work, I decided to try cooking Bicol Express. YouTube actually helped, I followed the steps from the video but added some ingredients of my own choice.
I put them on five different lunch boxes, also some rice, before placing each of it on my clear tote bags. Well, it's basically for me, Deila, mom and dad, and Katherine. I remember I once asked her if she could be my taster so I reserved some for her.
"Babe, bakit ka tumakbo-Oh, Hi!" I looked at the person behind her and saw a woman. She introduced herself as Katherine's best friend and 'babe'. I somehow felt cringed when she called me Mr. Disney, si Katherine lang dapat ang natawag sakin 'non!
Umalis na rin ako 'non para makakain na sila. I went home to give Deila her's, excited na excited ang bata.
"Omg! Mas masarap pa 'to kaysa sa Bicol Express sa Cafeteria namin!" She exclaimed after her first bite.
Hinatid ko na muna siya dahil papasok na rin naman siya sa school, she's on her 12th grade now. I kissed the top of her head first before letting her leave the car. Kumaway muna siya sa akin bago ako tuluyang umalis at dumiretso na sa trabaho.
"Good morning, mom, breakfast?" I raised my arm to show her the clear tote bag. Her eyes immediately shined before she went to me.
"Thanks, honey." She gave me a small hug.
Dinala ko na din kay daddy 'yung kanya kasama si mommy. Pati sa pagluluto ko, nagawa pa rin nilang isingit 'yung usapin tungkol sa apo. I stepped out from his room after excusing myself.
Saktong kakalapag ko lang ng gamit ko sa lamesa nang mag-beep ang phone ko.
hei_katherine: thanks for these, masarap as I expected :)
My lips immediately formed into a smile. Simple words from her can easily make me happy, how can she even do that?
"Sir, appointment with Mr. Takahashi in 5 minutes." My secretary reminded me. Mr. Takahashi is our branch manager in Shibuya. He's currently in the Philippines so he dropped by here because I have to ask him for some updates.
I had an appointment with Mr. Walters the next day, we signed the contract with our assistants.. Nag-food tasting kami sa sumunod na araw at pinapili ko ang asawa niya ng color scheme to be used for the tables' and chairs clothes. I was lucky enough I have my assistant on my catering services so siya ang pinapunta ko sa party na ica-cater namin sa parehong araw.
Deila asked me to go to the mall with her for the same old reason. Hapon na at narito pa rin kami, ang dami ko ng bitbit na bags pero may hinahanap pa rin daw siya. I gathered all the handles of the bags on one hand when I heard my phone beeped.
From: Hero
Dude, Queenie invited Kath for the party tonight.
Hindi niya alam kung saan ang the usual natin,
pasundo na lang, pare. Thank us later!
I checked the date today after receiving his message. Oo nga pala, birthday ni Ysa ngayon. Muntik ko ng makalimutan! This will be our first hang out with Katherine, new part of the gang, I guess?
Madilim na rin nang mahatid ko si Deila sa bahay bago ako nagpaalam para umuwi na. I took a warm shower and dressed myself with something semi-casual. Sinuot ko rin 'yung silver chain necklace ni David, kailan ba hindi?
Mula ng mawala siya, kapag suot-suot ko 'to, pakiramdam ko kasama ko pa rin siya. Kaya kahit matanda na ako at ilang taon na ang nakalipas, hindi ko pa rin 'to nilalayo sa akin.
To: Katherine
Pinapasundo ka nila Queenie, nandito na ako sa baba.
Napakunot kaagad ang noo ko nang makita ang suot niya. She looks different and.. hot. Maganda naman talaga siya pero mas maganda siya kung naka long sleeved turtle neck at pants siya, that's more presentable.
Hindi na lang ako nag komento tungkol sa suot niya. She have every right to wear what she desires, no one can stop her from doing so. And besides, sa club ang punta namin at hindi sa simbahan. I decided to just keep an eye on her in case someone disrespects her because of her clothes.