NO CHOICE /r18

THE PARTY

"Alex, asan ka na? Are you ready?" aligagang tanong ni Jack sa kabilang linya.

"Not yet. I'm still here with Old Pab. Are you on your way na ba? If so, susunod nalang ako." sagot ni Alex sa kaibigan.

"Nauna na sila Anton and Ryan. I want to hitch ride with you nalang kasi baka di nako makapag drive pauwi pag nalasing ako mamaya.Ok lang naman, di ba? Unless, may iba kang plano na ihi-hitch or iuuwi mamaya!" ani Jack sabay tawa.

"Foul! Kung meron man, bakit ko pa iuuwi ng Manila. Wala bang hotel sa Tagaytay? hahaha. Give me 20 mins. I need to get free from Old Pab first. Lam mo na." sabi ni Alex.

"Ok no prob bro. I'll wait for you nalang sa office.  May tinatapos rin naman akong papers na pepermahan but almost done na. Madadaanan mo rin naman ako dito so sayo na ako sasama."

"Sige bro, no problem. I'll ring you once I'm there. Sige na. Got to go."

It's Friday and they were invited to attend the engagement party of their friend Paulo Ramirez at Dawns in Tagaytay. Paulo was also their classmate back in their college days at Ford University. This engagement party ay para na ring reunion nilang magkakaibigan after they graduated from college. Yung iba kasi nilang tropa nasa abroad na din at yung iba'y umuwi ng Pinas para lang sa okasyong ito.

"Bro, I'm here na sa tapat. I parked here at the entrance of your building now." tawag ni Alex kay Jack sa kanyang cellphone.

"Pababa na ng elevator bro." sagot naman ni Jack.

Jack Gomez was Alex's childhood and closest friend. He came from a family of bankers and his parents were successful business owners of restaurants and convenience stores around the country din. They grew up and did almost everything together. Both of them were only sons, so para na rin silang magkapatid. Pareho rin silang tagapagmana ng mga negosyo ng pamilya nila. 

Aside from Jack, he also has two other friends. 

Anton Jover is the son of a businessman who owns chains of hotels and motels around the country.

Then, there is Ryan Fernandez, a car enthusiast, and racer. Their family owns a car company and car accessory shops in the country din.

What things the four of them have in common?

Looks,

Sports,

Money,

Fame,

Luxury,

and of course

Girls and fun!!!

When Jack got in the car, they left the city right away. It was past 4:30 pm already.

Tagaytay is almost 2 hours away from the city but with Alex's Volvo XC40, malamang makakarating sila sa oras na nakasaad sa invitation.

"Na kilala mo na ba ang fiancee ni Paulo?" tanong ni Alex kay Jack.

"Not yet, but I heard, Assumptionista din nong high school. I also heard na most of his fiancee's guests daw are also her classmates nung high school kasi sa US na nag college ang babae. So it's like reunion din nila. Galing no! Yung mga guests ni Pau, halos mga lalaki while yung guests naman ng fiancee nya, puro babae. Aside sa family nila, of course." pagkukwento ni Jack kay Alex.

"All right! I'm excited. It means we are in for a treat!" malisyosong ngiti ni Alex.

"Hey bro. I know what's in your mind! gago! Hahaha!!! Are you done with that starlet Lalaine na ba? Eh, Three days ago lang yun ah." 

"Gago, sinong Lalaine?" tanong ni Alex

"Yung chicks na starlet at model ng JW na ayaw kang pakawalan sa District?" sagot ni Jack

"Leila kasi yun. Hahaha. We're done. I had her so tapos na. She wasn't mine to keep and I have no plans of keeping her too. You know I don't do relationships." sabi ni Alex

"I know, but bro, you know that someday,  you'll get there," Jack warned.

"I know. Don't worry, I'll cross the bridge when I get there. For now, same old drill tayo. Fun lang and chill..."

"Ikaw na lang. Hahaha. Count me out muna sa mga plano mo, bro. Seryoso na ako ngayon mag jowa hunting. Pinepressure na ako nila dad eh." ani Jack.

"Hahahaha. Don't give me that bullshit Jack. Iisa lang bituka nating apat nila Anton at Ryan. So spare me your lousy drama. Not me. and not you! Di bagay sayo." tawang sabi ni Alex sa kaibigan kayat napa kibit balikat nalang ito.

After almost an hour, Ryan called Jack. "Huy! asan na kayo? We are here na. Daming chicks pare. Pucha, di matatapos ang gabi magti take home ako ng isa dito." gigil na sabi ni Anton sa kabilang linya.

"Hahaha, gago. Make sure muna di ka susuka sa kalasingan mamaya. Malapit na pero isi secret ko muna kay Alex ang sinabi mo baka makipag karerahan pa sa mga bus to sa pagmamadaling makarating dyan. Hahahahah" sagot ni Jack.

"Sige bro, dalian nyo. Daming chicks pero madami ring cats, naglalaway din. Ingat kayo ha."

pagtatapos ng usap nila sa celphone.

"Ano sabi?" tanong ni Alex kay Jack.

"Yun!"

"Anong yun?"

"Basta, masarap daw sa mata, este ang mga handang pagkain dun. At unli inoman daw. Hahahaha."

* * *

Exactly 7:30 pm when Mylene, Ann, and Doc Ogie arrived at Dawns. Mylene has been here a few times before, pero malaki na ang pinagbago ng place simula nung una nyang punta dito.

They were ushered to go in nang makababa sila ng kotse na pinarada sa parking area.

Pagpasok nila, they were greeted by Celeste herself and her fiance Paulo.

"Oh my God Mylene! You're here! Kelan ka pa dumating? Last I heard you've been throttling the globe for a year na." masayang pagbati ni Celeste sa kanila sabay beso kina Ann at Doc Ogie.

"Been here three days ago pa Cel. I'm staying here in Tagaytay too to get over with my jetlag but I'll be back in Manila after a few days. Perfect timing, di bah? At least, I'm able to attend your party. Congratulations!" sagot ni Mylene habang yumayakap kay Celeste.

"I'm so glad you're here! Sina Doc at Ann ay nakaka chika ko paminsan minsan sa tele, at ang iba pa nating blockmates. Andito rin ang iba. " Celeste has always been bubbly and nice kahit pa noong nasa high school pa sila. Then she added, "By the way, meet my husband to be, Paulo Ramirez. Hon, these are my high school friends, Dr. Ogie Sison, Ms. Ann Mondia and of course "the" Mylene Rivero." pakilala ni Celeste sa fiancee nya.

While shaking hands to each one of them, Paulo asked Mylene. " Are you in anyhow related to the Riveros of the business industry?" 

"Oh well hon, Mylene here is the unica ija of Tito Ramon." agaw na sagot ni Celeste and she was proud to say that.

"Oh my! It's my pleasure to meet you Mylene. My dad is currently dealing business with your father and your brother Mike." sabi ni Paulo.

"The pleasure is mine too Paulo and Congratulations on your engagement. You are one lucky guy to have Cel as your wife to be." and she smiled.

"And I'm lucky too." Paglalambing naman ni Cel kay Paulo.

Their topics circled from their high school lives to Celeste's life in the US at hanggang sa kanilang love story.

Habang nagkukwentuhan sila ay dumating naman ang grupo nila Alex.

"Hey Paulo boy! Congrats! Itatali ka na!Game jka na ba?" biglang sigaw ni Anton at Jack habang lumalakad papalapit kay Paulo na nakatayo pa rin kasama nila Mylene.

"Excuse me ladies, andito na ang magugulong tropa ko." paalam ni Paulo sa kanila. "Come honey, I want you to meet them."

Paulo gently grabbed Celeste from their group to bring her to his friends.

Lumingon silang lahat sa pinanggalingan ng mga boses pero si Mylene ay umirap lang.

Ang aangas ng dating, ani sa sarili at di nya na pinansin.

"Thanks pare! Glad you're all able to make it! Andun ang ibang tropa sa bar." sabi ni Paulo sa mga kaibigan.

"Of course Paulo boy, we won't miss this for anything!" sabay kindat ni Ryan kay Pau na para bang meron silang secret joke.

"Alexander boy. Long time no see pare! Grabe! You're such a busy man! Buti nalang naisingit mo ang party na to sa oras mo.  Kamusta?" tanong ni Pau kay Alex.

"Good as ever Paulo boy! Ganun pa rin.So, pano na yan, nadali ka na! Hahahaha!" angas na sabi ni Alex.

"Yes, yes!!! but walang pinagsisisihan mga pare. By the way guys, meet my misis to be, Celeste. Hon, these are my college tropas." pakilala ni Paulo.

"Hello! I finally meet all of you. Paulo talks a lot about you." masayang wika ni Celeste sa kanila.

"Ooopppsss, whatever it was, 20% lang dyan ang totoo. The rest, panirang puri lang ni Paulo sa amin yan. Good boy kami. Pwera lang sa isa dyan. Hahahahahaha..." sabi ni Ryan habang nakatingin kay Alex kayat napatawa silang lahat.

Napairap muli si Mylene nang pasimpleng lumingon sya sa mga bagong dating na bisita nila Pau at Cel.

Ang hahambog. Ang lalakas ng boses. Ang aangas. Kala mo mga gwapo. Di naman! Hmmmp!  

Sino ba mga yan???

Nahagip naman ng mata ni Alex ang pagtingin ng isang babae sa kanila, and he saw her rolled her eyes on them and smirked in annoyance.

But instead na taasan nya ito ng kilay ang babae at mainis na rin sa pag irap nito sa kanila, he found it really cute. 

Yung parang inis na inis sya kahit na hindi naman sila magkakilala.

And that really perked his interest.

****

Sige Mylene, sagadin mo ang paggiging man hater mo.