LADY IN RED

LIR 1

Nagising ako dahil sa kalabog ng aking kuwarto. Para bang sisirain na nito ang aking pintoan sa sobrang pagkatok nito. If im not mistaken, it was cynthia my best friend s***h sister by heart not by blood. Talagang umagang umaga heto na naman at paniguradong mag-aaya na naman itong bobitang to. Tamad akong bumangon at umibis ng aking higaan habang ang mga mata ay parang matutulog pa. I opened the door with a messy look and go back straight in my bed. Gustong gusto ko pa talagang matulog. Agad naman itong lumapit at sumalampak agad sa aking kama. Heto na talaga ang nakasanayan namin. She was always welcome here, and so am i on her family. Cynthia had two brother's Calvin and Chad, she was blessed to have her two brother's beside her. Kuya calvin was the eldest and the second is chad and cynthia was the bunso. She'd always tell me that she wanted to have a sister but seemed like the fate isn't that good to make her wish do come true. Fortunately, she met me. At first i wasn't a friendly girl figured in our campus. I'd always prefer to be alone because i was used to it, not until she recognized me.

" Why are you still not getting up Havana Caitlin Arello Monteverde,?! Have you forgotten your dad's charity event today,? " Cynthia's glared at me with disbelief and a shocking face.

I get up hurriedly on what she uttered, talagang nataranta ako bigla ng sabihin nito ang dahilan why did she came here so early.

" Oh my goodness! I-im sorry cyn, nawala talaga sa isip ko na ngayon pala ang charity event ni dad. Mommy didn't bother to wake me up. " I sighed, napuyat kase talaga ako dahil sa inumaga na ako dahil sa andami kong tinapos na research dahil sa malapit na ang exams. I don't want to be confident in any way, so as much as possible i really studied a lot that makes me sick sometimes. Minsan sa kakapuyat ko ay nagkakalagnat na ako. Ewan ko ba bakit mas bet ko ang mag aral kesa ang mag shopping o kahit mag wandering.

" Oh dang! Auntie said that you knew already so she didn't even bother you," Saad nito. Napatampal naman agad ako sa aking noo. Binilisan ko na lang ang pag aayos dahil sa mukhang late na kami. Ayoko pa naman na ma disappoint sina daddy at mommy. This is not the first time that our family held a charity, sa katunayan ay halos buwan buwan kami'ng nagbibigay handog sa mga bata, matanda at sa mga my kapansanan na hindi kayang magpagamot, mag-aral at lalong lalo na sa mga taong kapos sa lahat. Tumatak na kase sa amin lalo na sa akin na everyone deserves to be treated fairly. Walang mayaman walang mahirap dapat.

" Did you just studied late at night are you ? " She don't question me, as if she knew it already, i shrugged and bury my things in my shoulder bag ang get out of my room. Sumunod naman itong nag me make face, alam na alam talaga nito kapag napupuyat ako. Cynthia really know me better.

Matapos kong mag ayos ay agad kami ni Cynthia pumunta sa parking lot. Doon namin nadatnan si mang ben na naghihintay sa amin. Siguro ay kanina pa ito naghihintay, at dahil sa labis na hiya at perwisyo namin sa kanya ay humingi ako ng paumanhin.

" Im sorry mang ben dahil pinaghintay po namin kayo, nakalimutan ko ho kase, "

" Naku madam, wala ho iyon. Tara na po at ihahatid ko na kayo, " anito.

Pumasok na kami agad sa loob ng kotse at habang binabaybay namin ang daan patungo sa kung nasaan ang charity event ni dad, patuloy lamang sa pagkuwento si Cynthia about her new boyfriend. Unfortunately i wasn't relate about her status and lifestyle right now. Cynthia was opposite to me she's a little wilder, i wondered how she can get along and dated another boy after her break up recently. Darren was the longest boyfriend she ever had. Sadly they need to broke up in order for Darren's career not to break. That was cynthia told me, after all wala naman akong ibang alam pa. Basta alam ko lang ay mahal nila ang isa't isa, at the age of sixteen hanggang ngayon. Kaya bakit bigla bigla na lamang itong nakipagdate sa kung sino. My goodness! Magkaedad lamang kami ni cynthia, i was just older only a month's. Ngunit sa kabila niyon ay hindi ko pa naranasan ang umibig o having a crush. Palagi nga nila akong sinasabihan na i should try having a crush or having a boyfriend daw. But for me it was the least i wanted to do in my life. Hindi ko naman kailangan ng boyfriend upang mabuhay. I can manage without it, because absolutely i was surrounded with the love of my family. So why would i try, diba?

Ang pag-ibig ay kusang dumadating, hindi iyon tina-try or even tinitikman just to know how it feels. I am maybe innocent on that things, but i am aware. Ayokong ipilit lamang ang aking sarili sa mga ganoong bagay upang hindi maiwan. I mean, love takes time and love will find you on the right time. Ang bata ko pa para mag isip ng mga ganoong bagay. Mas uunahin ko ang pamilya ko kesa sa mga walang kabuluhan sa aking buhay. Dad always lecture me about having my own life someday. Alam ko kasing darating ang araw na mamumuhay akong mag-isa. Daddy wants the best for me, he always assured so much things just to make our lives more better and easier. Minsan nga naiisip ko, paano ba ako makaka-survive ng wala sina mom and dad. Paano ko ba talaga haharapin ang bukas kapag wala na sila? Those thoughts made me pitiful. However i trained myself little by little so that i can stand on my own without depending my parents presence.

Napaigtad ako ng bigla akong tampalin sa braso ng kaibigan ko.

" Seems you're out of no where cait, what's wrong? " She asked subconsciously. Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako at ng sabing 'Nothing, im fine'.

Dumating kami sa venue kung saan ini-held ang event, umibis ako ng kotse kasunod ko ay si cynthia. I never expected na maraming guest ngayon. Moreover, iyong iba ay mga naka business suit pa. Iyong iba naman ay mga celebrities, models and actors. Dang!! Sa rami ng charity na isinagawa namin ay hindi ko naranasan na ganito ka rami ang dadalo. For me kase this is an ordinary yet important event every month of our lives, at sa mga lumipas na mga event namin ay pawang mga tauhan lamang nina dad ang mga tao rito at pamilya nina cynthia. Yes, their family has one of the biggest donor we had everytime we held our charity. Si dad kase ang galing humikayat ng mga taong matataas. Kaya hindi na ako magtataka kung ngayon madaming dumalo.

Nagsimula na kaming maglakad ni cyn papunta sa kung nasaan ang tent namin. Mukhang masama kase ang panahon ngayon para bang uulan bigla bigla. Kaya naman ang daddy ay talagang naghanda ng mga tent upang ang mga tao ay merong masisilungan. Napangiti ako bigla sa ideyang iyon ng aking ama. Dad was really great.

Habang palapit ay siya naman ang paglingon ni dad tungo sa aming direksyon. Meron itong mga kausap na mga Negosyante. Hindi alintana ang labis na kaba ng masulyapan kong muli ang lalaking minsang nagpahiya sa akin sa mismong bahay pa namin. As we walked closer to them, the breathe i take was getting heavy. Oh sht! Why is that b*stard was here. My mind mock him in several times.

" Ohhh my!! Girrrl, is that Liam Buenaventura the older of the Buenaventura's Gentleman? " Cynthia Exclaimed in a manner, however i didn't replied to her as if i wasn't interested. But then, sounds great when i heard his name. That bastard was named great but his appearance and attitude seemed to be undeserved. Napahinto kami sa harapan nina dad at sa mga taong kausap nito upang magbigay galang. I greeted everyone but someone isn't belong. Pigil hininga ko naman na huwag sulyapan ang lalaking kanina pa taimtim na nakatingin sa akin. Dad never noticed how i disregard the man beside him. Ayokong maulit ang kahihiyan doon sa bahay kaya nag-ingat na ako. I don't bow my head anymore, Matapos kong batiin ang lahat ay humingi kami ng abiso kay dad na pumunta muna sa aming tent. I need to breathe calmly. Para kasing napakasikip ng aming pagitan kapag kaharap ko ang lalaking aroganteng jyon.

Habang papasok ng tent ay nadatnan ko naman sina mommy na my kausap na isang model na babae, she looks so daring and elegant in her blue fitted dress. Her body says it all. Medyo matanda lamang siya ng siguro isang taon sa kin. Right after we entered our tent mom noticed me, i walk fast and hug her, she kissed me on my forehead and asked me something. Agad naman umalis ang modelong babae at pumunta sa labas ng tent.

" Baby do you want some food? I know you haven't had some breakfast yet, so you two just wait here okay,?" Mom uttered and leave and get us some foods to eat. I nodded and smiled. I wandered my eyes around and found some bed, oh Havana it's time for you to take a snap later. Ani ng isip ko, napangiti ako sandali dahil mukhang meron akong comfort zone dito mamaya kapag magsisimula na ang event. Dang!!

" Girrrl, you aren't listening to me... You know what i've heard a lot about on that great Liam Buenaventura, he is single and ready to mingle daw... Oh ehm gheee, i-i can't imagine who the luckiest girl if ever he wants to be with someday... aaaaaaahhhh," Cynthia shouted in a kilig way. My goodness! What happened to these clumsy little kitten. Darn! I covered my ears because of her out burst. I don't even care about his identity or even how handsome he is. For me manners have advantage than looks. Talagang hangang hanga ito sa lalaking aroganteng iyon ah. She dream to have a Knight in shining armor while it gives her only a nightmare. Tsk.

Napabuntong hininga na lamang ako dahil sa pagiging exaggerated ng aking kaibigan, hanggang sa dumating na si mom na my dala dalang tray ng pagkain. Doon naman tumigil sa kakatili ang aking kaibigan. I smirked on her posture right now. She looks so calm and bright as if she was the well behaved woman in town.

" Thank you mommy, "

" Thank you auntie "

Kumain muna kami upang hindi kami malipasan dahil sa late na nga kaming dumating. After our fast breakfast my bestie wants to wandered around the area. Tinatamad pa sana ako ngunit napakakulit nito at ayaw akong tantanan kaya naman sinamahan ko nalang. Una ay pumunta kami sa kung nasaan inilalagay ang mga gifts and raffles na ino-organize ng mga taohan ni dad. I know everyone already, so it pleas for me to help them. Hanggang sa tumulong na lamang kaming dalawa ni cyn sa mga iba't ibang gawain. Like preparing foods, drinks, clothes, school supplies and anything. Masarap talaga sa pakiramdam na nakakatulong ka kahit sa mga simpleng bagay lang. Ang mga taohan naman ni dad ay nasanay na dahil sa palagi nila akong sinusuway na huwag ng tumulong but it ended up to let me because i never complained about helping them, and it's my pleasure to work with them. Ayokong ituring nila akong iba, hindi man sa purong mabait ako ngunit hindi rin naman ako strikta. Ayoko lang na nagmumukha akong iba sa panananaw nila. My mind always sets to be fair to everyone, i never put in my mind that i was above them. Sabi nga ni daddy and mommy when i was five year old 'Always be humble and kind to everyone, even if everyone does not'

Naglalagay ako ng mga libro isa isa sa mga box upang dalhin sa covered court dahil isasagawa na ang pag bibigay ng mga ito mayamaya. I was about to carry the box that loaded of books when someone suddenly approached and get the box out of my hand. I was stunned and shocked. The arrogant guy who was in a decent suit were going to carry the box full of loaded books? Isn't that shameful? Akalain pa ng iba magpapatulong na nga lang ako, sa isang businessman pa. Darn!

I darted my eyes on his and saw his emotionless yet cold face that focused on me. Tumagal ng ilang minuto ang aming tinginan hanggang sa ako na ang unang bumasag nito.

" I can manage it, no need for you to help m—"

" You're too thin to carry this box full of heavy books. " At the second time around, he never let me finish my sentence, what the! How dare him say that i am thin and to think that i can't manage to carry those box huh?! What a boastful bastard.

" Mr. what ever you are, i just wanted to tell you that i've been doing this for a year now. And I never complained about it even if it's heavy, my willingness to help on our charity event was pure and bliss. So if you'll excuse me, there's a lot of boxes there that needs to bring to the hall now, so if you wanted to help then suit yourself, " Iniwan ko siya with unbothered looks. I am turning irritable right now, how dare he insults me again by saying im thin huh!? Talagang iniinis niya ako ng sobra sobra. He didn't want to help im sure, he only wants to insult me for being not capable. Hmm. Well see