Hooked By His Twin

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 “I don’t know that Hollywood actor that you were implying, hija. But, one thing is for sure—you missed him much.” Her mom said habang nag-seserve ng nachos sa dalawang platito.

Napatawa ng malakas si Ava. Her mom’s is like her sister lang ‘pag nagkakausap sila ng matagal. Nabitiwan pa niya ang lapis na hawak dahil sa sobrang kilig.

“Talaga, My? Am I that obvious?” She giggled when a husky voice from behind suddenly talked.

“Absolutely, you were too obvious, Ava.” Pabiglang saad ni Drake na nasa kitchen na pala at matamang nakikinig sa pinag-uusapan ng mag-ina.

Ava blushed nang tingnan niya ng dahan-dahan si Drake sa kinatatayuan nito. Gusto niyang tumakbo sa hiya!

Jesus! Narinig niya ang sinabi ko! Nakakahiya!

She yelled to herself ang hoping that she’d melt right then. Ava stared at her mom again with a big eyes—natatawa ang mommy Stella niya.

“Please seat down, hijo. We’re happy to see you again.” Bati ni Stella sa binatang titig na titig sa nakatalikod nasi Ava na noon ay nagkunwaring may-ginagawa sa mesa.

“Thank you, tita Stella. I didn’t mean to snooped—wala kasing sumagot ng tawag ko when I was in the living room. Busy pala tong si Ava talking about ‘me’.” He said and teased Ava by his last word. Habang ‘di kumibo si Ava sa kinauupuan nito.

Natawa naman si Stella at planong bigyan ang dalawa ng privacy. She placed two plates of nachos on the table just beside Ava.

“Have some snack, hijo. Titingnan ko lang ang garden ko, alright?” Sabi nito at saka lumabas ng kitchen.

“Hi! Busy?” Umupo si Drake sa katabing silya ni Ava.

Ava smelled his manly perfume. She wanted to hug him tight kanina pa ng sunduin siya nito but she was quiet timid to do the first move.

“Ah, yeah. I’m sketching my final design malapit na kasi ang finals namin.” She shyly said at nginitian ito sa huli. Lumapit pang bahagya si Drake sa kanya na ikinailang niya.

“So, you missed me?” Nakangiting saad nito in a very confident way.

“Hmp!” Inirapan niya ang over confident na binata. Pero totoong-totoo naman na na-miss niya ito. Sabagay kahit ‘di niya aminin, he heard it already.

“You know what? I guess, you’ll get a low grade for your upcoming finals.” Tahasan wika ni Drake habang napatingin namang bigla rito ang dalaga, amusingly.

“What did you say? Hey, I’m the top student in my class, ‘no! I’m not like the girl you used to know—independent na ako ngayon.” Inirapan niya ito matapos bigyan ng matalim na tingin. She couldn’t believe how pessimist he was! Hindi tuloy nagsi-sink in ang mga ideas niya sa ginagawang sketch.

“Tingnan mo nga ‘o. Hindi kana nakakaisip ng idea ‘no? Are you thinking about somebody?” He continuously teased her like he used to before na titigilan lamang niya kapag naiiyak na ang kababatang si Ava.

“Oh my! You’re so silly as before, Drake. Sino naman pagkakaabalahan ko e wala nga akong boyfriend!” Naiinis na saad ng dalaga at nagpasyang i-akyak nalang sa kwarto ang mga paraphernalia niya.

“ME, of course. Your official boyfriend is now back! So, may pagkakaabalahan ka ng isipin..” Saka ngumiti at ipinagyayabang ang magkabilang dimples.

Tumayo si Ava sa kinauupuan bitbit ang mga gamit. She wore a high waisted denim shorts and a mini white t-shirt kaya kitang-kita ang long legs niya. She got curves at pwedeng pang-model ang height. Palagin ngang may kumukuha sa kanya to be the cover model but she rejected their offers dahil gusto niyang mag-focus sa course niya.

Her long wavy hazel hair swayed nang tumalikod siya sa binata. While Drake seriously studied Ava’s figure. Malayong-malayo ito sa ‘chubby’ girl noon. She seemed a fair grown woman kahit pa nineteen lamang ang dalaga.

Ava’s dad was a Filipino-Greek by blood and she resembled most of his dad’s Greek physical appearance. Ava’s hazel eyes impeccably suited to her natural Hazel hair.

“Alam mo, nakapunta ka lang ng Paris—ang hangin mo na. Makaalis na nga!” Sabi ng dalaga saka lumabas ng kitchen at patungong living room. Sinundan siya ni Drake na pangiti-ngiti pa noon at wala ‘atang balak na tumigil.

“Why? Isn’t it true? Or should I say, I’ll be your future husband-to-be?”

Ava stopped ascending upstairs when she heard Drake’s statement and stared at those gray eyes of Drake. He knew about their parent’s agreement!

“Y-you..knew?”

“Of course..” Lumapit ito sa dalaga na papaakyat na ng hagdan. To her surprised, he held her hand and planted a soft kiss right before she can react.

“And, I knew you loved me and still love me now. Am I right, Ava?” At that moment, he wasn’t teasing her or playing childish stuffs. It was cordially realistic!

“Ba’t ba ang ‘hangin’ mo, Drake Monte Mayor?” Sabi ni Ava sa mahinang boses. Sa pagkakataon niyon ay bistado na siya sa kanyang nararamdaman para rito.

Drake stepped forward to meet her face.

“No, I’m not Ava Mondragon—I’m just a proud man. Why? Kasi I fell in love with you for such quiet a long time. I’ve waited for the right moment to confess everything—and to see you again. Miss na miss na miss kita, you know that?” Drake heartily confessed his true feeling towards her childhood friend that he hid for many years.

Without any word, she threw her project materials on the floor and hugged him tight. Her heart sang with joy and Drake was in the midst of bliss knowing that they felt mutual feeling ever since.

“Do you think, because of my feelings to you—I’ll get a low grade sa finals?” Sabi nito while savoring that moment when she was in his arms, not as a childhood friend—but a childhood sweetheart like her mommy Stella said.

“Silly! Because of me, you’ll be inspired to strive harder.” Sagot ng binata at bahagyan pinisil ang magkabilang pisngi niya.

“Ang ‘hangin’ mo pa rin, Drake!”

And they laughed together knowing, that would be the start of their official affair at alam nilang ikatutuwa ito ng mga magulang nila.

From then, they’d been together every day pwera nalang kung may business trip si Drake na pupuntahan at si Ava naman kung may mga designs na kaylangang tapusin.

They’ve been together for six years. Sharing dreams to each other and patiently waited for their wedding day to come. Pinagsabay nila ang trabaho at bonggang wedding plans. Both of their parents wanted to have the ‘wedding of the year’. Unfortunately, Ava’s father would never witness her daughter’s wedding day. He died five years ago when she was at twenty. Tanggap na nina Ava at mommy Stella niya na nasa langit na si Edric Mondragon and certainly happy for his daughter—natupad ang nais nito para sa anak.

Isang linggo nalang—kasal na nina Ava at Drake. But that day, Drake called her and asked permission to go out together with his friends and colleagues for one last time as a bachelor.

“You don’t need to ask permission, babe. Just go on and have fun. I’m still here at the office naman—I’ll call my driver kung uuwi na ako so don’t mind fetching me out.” Ava asserted while doing some blueprint for the next big project na gagawin niya.

“Are you sure you’re okay? Please be honest..Hindi ako pupunta dun if you won’t allow—pupuntahan nalang kita diyan. It’s late and yet you’re still working.” Nag-aalalang saad ng nobyong si Drake sa kabilang linya. Ever since ay napaka-workaholic ni Ava sa trabaho, simula ng mamatay ang ama nito ay puspusan ang pagtatrabaho nito sa sariling kompanya.

Her mommy Stella was the CEO after her dad died. Actually, gusto na ng mommy niya siya na ang maging bagong CEO but she didn’t accept her mom’s notion. If she did that, it simply means, i-gi-give up niya ang pagiging interior designer which was her most passion.

“Drake, I’m fine. Go ahead. I’ll call Mang Nestor later. Uuwi na rin ako coz it’s getting late.” Sagot niya at nag-uumpisa ng i-shut down ang laptop niya. Kukunti nalang sila sa office, ang iba ay nag-o-OT pa.

“Alright, just take care when you’ll get home. I love you! I’m looking forward to say ‘I do’ to you..”

Ava smiled sa narinig—as always, Drake’s sweetness melt her stress dahil sa trabaho.

“And so am I, Drake. Go ahead now, bago pa magbago ang isip ko ang lock you up forever in my room.” She teased him and laughed.

“Oh, I’d rather choose that, babe..” Ani naman ni Drake na noon ay nagbibihis na for his night out with friends. Out of his knowing, his friends prepared a ‘stag’ party for him.

At the party…

            “Are you ready for the big surprise?” Pasigaw ni Clayton, ang isa sa mga pinagkakatiwalaan niya sa kaniyang kompanya at isang matalik na kaibigan.

            “No bullshits, Clayton!” Pasigaw ni Drake while drinking his beer at papuntang dance floor. Halos ‘di na sila magkarinigan dahil sa lakas ng tugtog.

            “Just follow me, pare! C’mon, dun tayo sa 1st class private room, our friends are already setting up the ‘big surprise’!” Saad ni Clayton na ‘di masyadong narinig ni Drake na kasunod nito.

            “What surprise?” Ulit nito dahil ‘di masyadong narinig ang sinabi nito kanina.

            “Here we are!” Sabi ni Clayton but before they could enter the room, lumabas ang isa pang kaibigan nilang si Blaire.

            “Drake, pare..Condolence este—Congratulations!” Biro ni Blaire sa umasim na mukha ni Drake. Kahit kaylan si Blaire talaga ang pinaka-pilyo sa grupo kaya ‘di niya gusto ang nakitang blindfold sa kamay nito.

“Relax, pare! Just enjoy your night..” Dagdag pa ni Blaire saka pilyong kumindat sa kaibigang si Clayton na pumasok na sa loob.