Her Unveiled Love

Dinner Meeting

[Via's POV]

Kahit na hindi ako focused sa pagkuha ng exam ay maaga pa rin akong natapos. Pagkapasa ko ng papel ay agad kong napansin si Krae na nasa labas na at mukhang hinihintay ako.

"Usap tayo?" Banayad niyang yaya na magkasalubong ang mga kilay. Tumango ako at sumunod naman siya sa akin sa paglalakad.

"Saan tayo gusto mong mag-usap?" Tanong niya.

"Ngayon. Let's just talk 'til we arrive in the parking lot."

Mula sa room ay malayo ang parking lot, mga nasa lima hanggang pitong minutong lakad kaya naman sapat na panahon na iyun para makapag-usap kami.

"We have a lot to talk about, Vi. We can just sit in one of the benches perhaps?"

Agad akong umiling. "There's an urgent dinner meeting tonight. Your family and mine. Magkikita rin naman tayo roon."

I glanced at him and he nodded while pursing his lips. "First of all, I'm sorry." Panimula niya.

"Hindi agad kita kinompronta dahil hindi pa naman sigurado kung tayo nga ang ipakakasal. My Father is torn to choose between the Changs and the Cortezes. That's the reason why he wanted me to see the potential brides myself."

"And you met the heiress of the Changs?"

"No, I didn't bother to. The first time I saw your picture, I knew you'd be the perfect bride."I scoffed because of his statement.

"It's not just a bride you're looking for but a wife. I may look beautiful as a bride because of the white long dress and the veil, but what about after the wedding, Krae? You're not going to spend your entire life with me just because of a picture."

"That's why I came to see you here, spent time with you. Sinabi ko sa sarili ko na parehos man na asul ang ating mga mata pero siguro pusong-bato ka gaya sa mga naririnig kong istorya. Baka kako maganda ka lang at wala sayo ang hinahanap ko sa isang babae." Hindi ko maiwasang mapatitig sa kanya habang naglalakad.

"Tama ka nga, so why did you decided not to meet with the Chang–"

"But all the time we spent together, the conversations we had and all the bruises that I got." Krae chuckled before continuing. "You're more than just your electric blue eyes, Via."

Agad akong umiwas ng tingin at napatigil sa paglalakad. Humugot ako ng malalim na hininga para pakalmahin ang sarili nang biglang makarinig ng malakas na pagkabog sa dibdib ko.

"I don't care about the Chang heiress, Via. I don't care about anyone now 'cause like I've said before, you're the only beautiful thing this world has to offer."

Ramdam kong lumapit siya sa akin at naramdaman ko ang init ng kanyang palad sa braso ko. Gusto kong umiwas, lumayo, at tumakbo pero sobrang okupado ang isip ko dahil sa kanyang mga sinabi. Hindi rin matahimik ang puso ko sa lakas ng pintig.

"You don't know who I am, you don't know the secrets I've been hiding but give me a chance, Vi. Let's get to know each other more, please. Don't run away from the engagement yet. I like you so much, Via, and I don't think I'll ever marry if it's not you."

Hindi ako makapagsalita. Hanggang sa makarating na kami sa parking lot ay wala pa rin akong imik.

Nananatili akong nakatulala hanggang sa pinagbuksan niya ako ng pinto sa sasakyan ko kung saan hinihintay din ako ng driver.

"I'm sorry if my words shocked you but at least you knew. Let's continue this talk later... maybe after dinner we can have some time together... alone." Banayad siyang ngumiti sa akin bago nagsimulang maglakad papunta sa kanyang sasakyan.

Pumasok na ako at nang simulan na ng driver ang sasakyan ay sumulyap muna ako sa gawi niya. Nakahalukipkip siya habang seryosong pinapanood ang pag-alis namin. Nginitian niya ako nang mapansin ang mga tingin ko sa kanya pero mabilis akong umiwas.

.

Bumaba ako sa hagdan matapos kong makapag-ayos. Napaawang ang labi ko nung makita si Krae sa landing ng staircase. He's wearing a casual dark blue suit and a tie that perfectly matches his eyes. With his long hair having gelled, he looks effortlessly dashing.

"You're early," I said almost breathless without breaking our stares until I finally got down from the stairs.

His dark eyes are expressive and it didn't hide the hint of amusement as he looked at me. I'm wearing a red fitted shirt with notched cap sleeve and a wing collar that compliments my pearl necklace.

A window pane design pencil skirt for the bottom and red stilettoes. My hair is tied into a neat clean bun. I look like a model from the 80's but I prefer that way, to look conservative, prim and proper.

"I have nothing else to do."

"What about your Father?"

"He's on his way with my Mom." Tumango ako bago siya tinalikuran.

I need to check on Shine, Maji, and Nei to evaluate their outfit for tonight's dinner.

"Didiretso ka na sa main house?" Hindi ko maiwasang mapataas ng kilay dahil alam niya ang tungkol sa main house.

"Sa bahay nina Tita Mavis. I need to check on Shine. Wala akong tiwala sa kanya sa pagpili ng susuotin."

Nakasunod lang ang dalawang bodyguards ko kasama si Krae habang naglalakad kami papunta sa bahay nina Tita Mavis at Tito Adrian.

Their house is just two blocks away from us. All the houses inside the village are exactly the same. Two-storey modern-style house with a huge balcony. The wall is almost made up of thick and durable glass and outside, each house must have a fountain and the design varies on the owner's preference.

The fountain must be kept clean at all times since it is believed to bring prosperity and peace to the household. The size of the house can also vary depending on the number of household members but the design is exactly the same.

Gates must be painted in black and the white for the outside wall of the house, ang pintura sa loob ay kahit ano rin depende sa gusto ng nakatira.

Hindi pa kami lubusang nakakalapit sa bahay ay bumukas na ang gate at tumambad sa amin ang mga nakahilerang bodyguards ni Tita Mavis. Tita Mavis has the most bodyguards because she is practically the head of the family. I also have a couple ones but most of them are trying to stay hidden lalo na dahil nasa college pa ako.

"It's a dinner meeting, not bar-hopping. Magpalit ka!" My voice thundered across the dressing room. The designers and some of the maids were startled because of my sudden appearance. Agad na napairap si Shine nang magtama ang mga mata namin.

"Palitan niyo yan." Ulit ko at natatarantang sinunod naman nila ang utos ko. Hindi ako papayagan na magsuot si Shine ng red sheath dress with semi sweetheart neckline.

"What's that?" Bago pa nila mapasuot ang panibagong dress kay Shine ay natigilan sila nang pigilan ko.

Inayos ng designer ang damit para matingnan ko muna nang maayos ang kabuuan nito.

It's a freaking black fitted dress with an asymmetrical neckline, it has beads all over it and a few glitters.

"You're not going to prom." Iling ko.

"But I love it, ate!" Kontra ni Shine pero umiling lang ako.

"Patingin ako ng iba," malamig na utos habang nakahawak sa sariling baba.

"Bilis!"

I frustratedly sighed and turn around, took a few steps, trying to calm myself down. Nagtama ang mga mata namin ni Krae pero mabilis lang iyun dahil humarap na muli ako kina Shine.

Apat na dress ang kanilang pinakita at suot na iyun ng mga mannequin. Nanliit ang mga mata ko bago pinasadahan ng tingin ang mga designer team ni Shine. Napayuko sila sa ginawa ko at ramdam ko ang takot nang magsimula akong maglakad papalapit sa mga mannequin.

Walang nag-ingay, kahit ang paghinga nila ay hindi ko marinig. Ang tanging gumagawa lang ng ingay ay ang bawat yapak ng suot kong stilettoes.

"What concept of dresses did you gave your designer team, Shine?" I asked her but she didn't answered. Naiinis na iniwas lang niya ang kanyang tingin kaya kumibit-balikat lang ako.

"Pakikuha ang second option outfit ko." Utos ko sa aking bodyguard. Bahagya itong yumuko bago umalis na.