"By the way, you look gorgeous Kath. Party goer na party goer ang dating!" I heard Jane's comment about her outfit.
Hindi lang pala sa suot niya malalamang party goer siya, ang lakas niya rin mag-inom. Legit pala talaga 'yun nung sinabi niyang hindi siya low tol, akala ko brag lang.
"Matunaw yan?" I heard Veryx's chuckle. Nakangisi na silang tatlo sa akin, nakita siguro nilang pinapanood ko si Katherine kahit nandito kami sa tapat ng couch namin at nakatayo lang.
"Wala pa din bang progress sa inyo, dude?" Hero asked.
"Men, I'm not on a rush, kakakilala pa lang namin." I then sipped on my beer.
"Kailan ka pa kikilos, Dy? Kapag may karibal ka na?" I suddenly remembered the guy named Christian, 'yung nakasalubong namin sa gate ng village.
Fuck, why do I feel furious inside?
"Nako, dami pa man ding lalaki dito, baka makabingwit 'yan bahala ka." Veryx smirked at me.
I know they were just trying to scare the hell out of me so I can confess to her already and actually, it worked.
At nag-sayaw pa nga raw sa ibaba, napakagaling talaga.
From up here, I had full access to how some heads turn twice when she walks by. Indeed, she is a head turner. But I know better what is the difference between the stare of love or like, than the stares of lust.
Tahimik kong minumura sa utak ko 'yung bawat lalaking nagbabalak lumapit sa kanya pero pinipigilan ng mga kaibigan naming babae. Mabuti na lang talaga pinapalayo nila.
"Your girlfriends deserve some rewards." I told them, they are watching their girls, too.
"Oh yeah? Ang gagaling magbantay sa babe mo." Hero chuckled.
"Hindi ko siya babe, dude." I shook my head before sipping on my bottle.
"Correction, hindi mo 'pa' siya babe, pare." Patrick said. Natawa na lang ako bago uminom ulit. Pangatlong bote ko na yata 'to pero wala pa rin. Ayos lang naman, magma-maneho pa ako pauwi kaya hindi ako dapat magpakalasing.
"Jane dared us." She held on his temple, her other hand is on the wall supporting her weight. Dahil sa posisyon ng mga braso niya, tumaas tuloy 'yung damit niya.
Lintik, naka-croptop na nga tumaas pa raw.
Agad kong binalot sa kanya 'yung jacket ko nang patalikod. Natakpan hanggang sa dulo ng skirt niya kaya legs niya lang ang kita, umiwas kaagad ako ng tingin.
"Have a good night." I was about to leave but stiffened when she winked at me before smiling.
"I love you." I'm not sure if I heard it right because it was just a whisper but my heart didn't bother, kinilig pa rin ako.
The next day, I went to work early to cook. I let my assistant go to the party scheduled for today since I was still sleepy. I changed my top when I went inside my office, it had some stains and sweat marks. I had some time to chat with her since I have free hours.
hei_katherine: i remember you sent me home
Ayun lang? 'Yun na 'yung naaalala niya? How about the 'I love you'? She forgot about that? Drunken mistake?
Or maybe.. I'm just hearing things. My heart flinched.
Five days before the charity ball at The Walters' Tagaytay, I had a meeting with them about the setting. I already talked to my people about that so I just showed them the stage design. I'm happy that they were satisfied.
"Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Walters, pleasure to have business with you." I politely said as I shook their hands.
I was leaning my back on my swivel chair after they left when my phone rang. I immediately answered it.
"Yes mom?" I asked her.
She said, "Darling, your suit is already here."
"Okay mom, I'll be there for dinner." I smiled even though she clearly won't see it.
"Okay, stay safe, darling." She made a kiss sound before ending the call.
Luckily, I did not got stuck into traffic so I came home before dinner starts. Naghahain na si mommy at tinutulungan naman siya ni Deila, she immediately hugged me.
"Papa, I heard Mr. Alfredo's only granddaughter is invited again at the ball." Dad said while all of us were eating.
The late Mr. Alfredo Flores? He was lolo's good friend and business partner. I silently prayed that he rest in peace when I heard his name.
"She has always been invited ever since Alfredo died, but she never showed up." Lolo Ferdie said.
I once saw his granddaughter when we attended his and his wife's wake, but she never showed up to anyone, too. Likod lang niya ang nakita ko at halos lahat ng naroon ay uhaw malaman kung sino siya.
"Well, it's been almost two years. Sana naman ay makapunta na siya." Mom made a sad face.
I went home with my suit after dinner. The next days were the busiest. Malaki ang event ng mga Walters kaya malaki rin ang bilang ng mga dadalo.
"Okay everybody, let's start preparing now." I clapped my hands to call their attention.
Nasa event's hall na kami sa hotel ng Walters isang araw bago ang event. We had to decorate the hall early because we will cook a lot of food tomorrow. All of us went home late at night after finishing the whole place.
"Good morning, sir." Chef Esguerra greeted me when I went to our kitchen early in the morning.
"Good morning, chef. Let's begin?" He nodded at me while smirking.
The dirty kitchen of my 3D's Treats became busy. We arrived at the venue almost two hours before the party started. My people and I became so busy that we didn't even notice the time passing by, some guests had already arrived.
"Wow, man, she looks beautiful, ngayon ko lang siya nakita rito." I overheard two guys talking. My brows immediately furrowed and I became curious who they were talking about, so I followed their gazes.
There, I saw a woman in her black long gown, who had just entered the two doorways of the hall. She looked elegant and stunning, hindi pa siya nakangiti niyan ah.
Shot, tinamaan na naman ulit ako.
How come she's here? It's the first time I saw her here.
"Kuya!" I was cut off from staring when Deila called me, they just got here.
"D-Deila." Oh men, I was breathless from staring at Katherine!
"Are you okay?" Deila tilted her head a little to the right.
"Yes, yes, of course. Nasaan sila?" I held her back before the two of us walk our path to our table
"Dad's talking with Mr. Walters, Mom is.. here, right!" She gestured to our mother who is now on her way to us.
"You two look beautiful." I kissed mom's cheek which made her smile.
"Well, you look downright handsome, Mister. Siguro ay maganda ang mama mo." She playfully smirked. Natawa naman kami pareho ni Deila.
"Sure, she is." The three of us chuckled.
"Excuse me Sir, pinapatawag po kayo ni Mr. Walters." A hotel staff approached us.
I kissed their cheeks first before leaving. I saw my father, Mr. and Mrs. Walters, talking at the back stage. Lumapit ako doon.
"Good evening, Mr. and Mrs. Walters." I bowed a little to them.
"Dylan, I am more than satisfied with your services, I hope this is not the last?" He offered me his hand, I accepted it in an instant.
"My pleasure, Sir." I formed my lips into a thin smile.
"Honey, she's here." Mrs. Walters nudged her husband while gesturing something.
"Wow, what a beautiful lady." Mr. Walters commented. I followed their gazes and there, I saw Katherine nodding while a woman, I think she was the secretary of Mr. Alfredo, kept on talking.
Pinag-usapan na nilang tatlo si Katherine, curious din si Daddy tungkol sa kanya.
"If you'll excuse me, I'll just help my staff." I excused myself and stepped out of their conversation.
In just a few minutes, the party started. I let my assistant handle the catering since I personally am invited to this event. Tinitingnan tingnan ko rin naman sila upang kamustahin.
They held a bidding, some are paintings and others are sculptures. Lahat maganda at magaling ang pagkakagawa.
"Fifteen thousand pesos." My eyes immediately followed the voice where it came from, I was right when I thought that it was familiar.
Wow, daming pera.
She got the painting for seventy thousand pesos. Man, that's a lot of money but I think it's worth it for the painting.
"For everyone's information, Ms. Katherine Flores here is the one and only grandchild of the late Mr. Alfredo Flores, may he rest in peace."
Flores, her surname is Flores, how come I didn't notice that? All this time, siya pala 'yung babae sa burol na ayaw magpakita. I've always wanted to meet her but she distanced herself from others, hindi rin siya nagpapakilala.
What a mischievous fate.
When the late dinner starts, I helped my staffs in serving. Ako ang kumukuha ng pandagdag sa mga pagkain kapag paubos na. I even greeted some guests when they saw me at the catering corner.
I ate after everyone got their food. I sat beside Deila who waited for me. Nagkwentuhan lang kami kasama ang mga nasa table. Nang matapos ang hapunan, hindi muna kaagad tinuloy 'yung program. The emcees gave us free time to roam around and talk with each other. I just stayed with Deila to give her company.
My eyes caught Katherine when she stood up to greet the Walters. Mula sa malayo, parang nakikita ko siyang natataranta pa. I just watched her have her conversation with them, she looks a bit uncomfortable.
"Kuya!" I was cut off from staring at her when Deila lightly hit my arm. I hummed as an answer to her.
"Why are you staring at Ms. Flores?" She teased, raising her brows up and down.
"She's a friend of mine." I glanced at Katherine.
"Wow, you don't stare like that for a friend." She tilted her head a little to the right before pointing at her chin, like she was thinking.
"I'm not staring at her." I chuckled as I shook my head.
"Well, I just asked you 'why are you staring at Ms. Flores?' And you answered me with a 'she's a friend of mine.' So basically, you admitted that you were staring at her." She even used some hand gestures as she pointed that out.
Natawa na lang ako, kailan ba ko nanalo sa batang 'to?
"Oh my gosh, do you like her, Kuya?!" She exclaimed. I almost covered her mouth but she did it first, mabuti na lang walang nakarinig sa kanya.
"Shush Deila, baka may makarinig sayo." I placed my index finger in front of my lips, telling her to hush.
She just giggled while whispering 'oh my gosh' continuously. She even lightly hit my arm for like five times before hitting it harder. Bakit ba nananakit 'yung mga babae kapag kinikilig?
"Oh, wait! She's going somewhere!" Deila nudged me to gesture to Katherine who was now on her way to the balcony.
"Baka magpapahangin lang." I looked away when she disappeared from my sight upon entering the balcony.
"You know what, Kuya? Kailangan mo rin magpahangin." I almost fell off my seat when Deila lightly pushed me. She showed me her hand while shooing me away. I just shook my head and fixed my coat before walking my way to the balcony.
There, I saw Katherine watching the night sky. I just watched her face, chuckling because she was still not aware of my presence here.
My brows furrowed when I saw her winked at the sky, so I followed her gaze and saw an airplane passing by. Akala ko nagkataon lang pero hindi pala, kinindatan niya 'yung bawat eroplanong dumaraan.
Nang tumalikod siya sa akin, saka ko lang nakita 'yung style ng damit niya. That was the only time I saw her bare back, it was on full-access since her gown had a long back. I looked away from her back, brows furrowed since I got a little pissed. Kaya pala pinagtitinginan at pinagbubulungan siya kanina.
"You'll get cold here." Nagulat pa siya.
I got a little disappointed when she told me she didn't notice me inside. Samantalang ako pinapanood kita sa loob kanina pa, ang daya.
I removed my coat and offered it to her when I saw her hugging herself from the cold. Medyo nagulat pa siya pero tinanggap niya rin. Niyaya ko na lang siyang pumasok dahil lumalamig na talaga.
And guess what? Such a perfect time to go inside.
"May I have this dance?" I chuckled when she stuttered, paka-cute.
I was hesitant to touch her waist since she left my coat on her seat, mahahawakan ko 'yung likod niya kapag ganon. So I asked for her permission first, natawa pa ako nang nautal na naman siya.
"No, please. I want to dance with you,"
Oh man, I can't help but smile. I didn't see that coming.
Kinailangan ko pang tanungin kung hindi ba niya ako hahawakan dahil hindi pa rin kami nakakasayaw. Para siyang biglang natauhan bago ako tuluyang hinawakan. Hindi siya makatingin sa akin habang sumasayaw kami, natawa naman ako. Is she avoiding my gazes?
"You can breathe." I joked before smiling. Ang ganda niya magulat, panandalian siyang napatitig sa akin habang gulat 'yung mukha. I must've been staring at her while throwing compliments of her beauty so I said it out loud.
"T-Thanks, you look h-handsome tonight, too,"
Aw, just tonight? I don't know if it's just me or she really blushed. Did I just make her blush? What a cutie.
Nagkwentuhan kami tungkol sa nakaraang hang out namin kasama sila Hero. Nabanggit pa niyang halos isang taon na siyang di nakakainom, maybe because she was hospitalized? I remember her taking some tablet medicines back then.
"Ma'am, Sir, look at the camera please,"
The official photographer took some photos of us. We even had a shot when we were staring at each other because her bare back leaned on my chest. When the photographer left, everybody went back to their seats, and so were we.
"Son, you know Mr. Alfredo's granddaughter? I saw you danced with her." Dad asked when I sat on my seat, nandoon na lahat ng kasama namin sa table.
"She's a friend from the village, I met her there." I gave them a small smile.
"Oh, she lives there now? What a coincidence!" Mom happily clasped her hands together. I just chuckled before shaking my head, we're not going to talk about having grandchildren from me again.
"Excuse me, I'll just go to the restroom." Deila stood up and went to the lady's room.
"Son." Mom whispered at me. Wala si Deila kaya nakalapit nang konti sa akin si mommy.
"You two create such a lovely couple." She giggled before sitting back on her seat formally.
Tingin mo din, mom? Kasi ako rin.
I was just paying attention to the program when Deila went back.. pulling Katherine through her wrist.
"Kuya! Look who I met!" She exclaimed. A lot of eyes turned to us when Deila caught their attention, pati 'yung ilang nasa ibang table ay napatingin.
When Deila mentioned about Katherine having my coat, that's the only time I saw it on her arm. Fuck, she's not wearing my coat which means her bare back is revealed once again.
"Oh, Dylan honey, why don't you join her back to her seat?" Mom looked at me.
Surely, I must.
"No, use it for tonight. Your bare back attracts a lot of eyes." Why am I pissed with the thought?