AUGUST JAMESON CHAVEZ

CHAPTER 8

Maraming tao sa mansyon namin. Kasama ko si Daniel habang kinukumusta ang mga panauhin ni Lola.

"You look great, Chelseah," nakangiti na wika ni Mrs. Sophie Del Fuego, one of the richest people here in the Philippines.

Kilalang-kilala ang buong pamilya ng Del Fuego dahil malaki silang pamilya. They owned airlines, book publishing companies, hospitals and many more. Mahilig silang bumili ng mga kompanya.

"Thank you, Mrs. Del Fuego," magalang na tugon ko. "you too."

"Thank you," tugon niya bago lumapit sa'min ni Daniel. "anyway, I'm just going to ask you something."

"What is it?"

Nahihiya siyang ngumiti. "Well… you know, I have two sons. The other one is happy with Belle, his long time girlfriend and while the other looks like doesn't have a time to date."

Natigilan ako pero marahan na natawa. "Mrs. Del Fuego, are you asking me to date one of your Son?" I asked in a grinning way.

"Tita, is that Zack that you referring?" nanunuyang tanong din ni Daniel.

"Yes. I've been looking for a decent woman for him but he doesn't like every woman I introduce to him."

"Tita, baka po may girlfriend na. Hindi lang sinasabi." pabiro pa rin nag boses ni Daniel.

Nagkibit ng balikat ang Ginang. "That is I don't know," tugon niya. "he's already twenty-five and taking med school at UST."

Kasama niya ang dalawang anak na sila Severiano Del Fuego at Zackarious Del Fuego. Seve is popular because of his looks. Lalo na't dahil siya ang magma-manage ng business nila. Habang si Zack, ang panganay na anak ay nag-aaral ng medisina.

He is a well known med student. Matalino raw at palaging number one sa Unibersidad niya. Just like Seve, Zack is handsome too. They're look like a twins, mas mature nga lang tingnan si Zack dahil panganay siya.

"Tita, I think mas focused muna siya sa career niya ngayon," sagot ko. "he's still young and taking meds. Siguro po ay ayaw lang muna niya. Maybe, after he became a doctor, do'n siya magka-girlfriend o kaya magkabalak na mag-settle down."

"Chelseah, ang pa layo no'n kung ganoon," natawa siya na napailing.

"Your son's are both handsome but I'll say no to them," magalang sabi ko. "actually, I'm waiting for someone."

Nanlaki ang mga mata niya. "Really? That is good."

"Yes, po. So, it's a no, Tita. Ayaw ko pong pakawalan ang engineering student na hinihintay ko."

"No, it's fine. I'm just asking. Anyway, thank you."

"Enjoy the party, Mrs. Del Fuego."

Nang makaalis ang Ginang ay isang hampas ang natamo ko kay Daniel.

"Bakit?"

"Gaga ka talaga!" bulaslas niya. "hindi mo sa'kin sinabi na may jowa ka pa lang engineering student?"

"Gaga ka rin. Hindi ko pa jowa. Nililigawan ko pa lang."

"Ay," parang nadismaya siya. "bakit? Ikaw ang nanliligaw? Really, Ellise Chelseah Bennett?"

"Yep, ako ang nanliligaw," sabi ko. "is that a problem?"

"Wala naman. Gwapong engineer ba 'yan?"

"Mala-Australian ang ka-gwapuhan."

"f*****g s**t, Bennett," asik niya sa'kin. "ang swerte mo kung ganoon! Pakilala mo 'ko o kaya baka naman may kaibigan siya. Bigay mo na sa'kin."

Natawa ako. "I actually haven't met his friends yet."

"Jusko, Chelseah! Hindi pwedeng ikaw lang masaya sa love life, dapat ako rin."

"Free yourself first."

"Kay Trevis na lang ako," pangungulit pa niya. "gwapong future chemist doctor 'yon, 'di ba? Matagal ko nang crush 'yon, eh. Is he coming here? Come on, Chel and set me a date with him."

Humalakhak ako bago umiling. "Nope, I can't," sagot ko. "may fiancée na 'yon."

Now, he really looks disappointed. "Ano ba 'yan! Bakit lahat ng gwapo taken na?"

"Marami pa naman d'yan."

"Just tell me about this engineering student na lang."

"Very smart, intelligent, captain varsity ng UP Diliman at malaki ang prinsipyo sa buhay."

"Bruha ka talaga! You really know how to pick a man."

I just shrugged my shoulders. "I am Bennett."

Mas napuno pa ang aming mansyon habang patagal nang patagal. I was with Daniel the whole time, not until Theo and Celeste came. Ang dalawang magkasintahan ay nakangiti na lumapit sa'kin.

"Thank you for coming," anang ko bago niyakap ang kaibigan. "anyway, I have already set your seat. Kaya nga hinintay ko kayo para hindi kayo makita ng mga magulang niyo."

"Thank you, Chelseah," ma-baritone na wika ni Theo.

Umiling ako. "It's fine. I'm doing this for both of you. I know how hard your situation is. Anyway, dito ang upuan niyo. Malayo."

Sinamahan ko sila sa upuan na reserve ko talaga para sa kanila. I know their family. Ang mga Cohan at Ravonte ay hindi magse-settle sa pinakagilid at dulo ng isang pagtitipon.

They're one of the well known family in our country, ang mga tulad nila'y laging nasa naunahan at kasama ang iba pang kagaya nila. From here, they won't notice Theo and Celeste.

"Chel, thank you," anang ni Celeste na sa tingin ko nakahinga na nang maluwag.

"I told you, it's fine. I just let my Mom, Grandpa and Grandma know that you're here. And don't you worry about that too, hindi sasabihin ng pamilya ko ang tungkol sa inyo."

Ngumuso siya. "We have a gift for Lola Sea."

"Enjoy yourself," sabi ko. "puntahan ko lang sila Mommy."

"Okay."

Hinawakan ko ang braso no Daniel na kanina pa tahimik. When I tilted my head towards him, I saw him looking at Theo. Naka-awang pa ng kaunti ang bibig niya.

"Bruha, pasukan ng lamok 'yang bibig ko."

"Tangina, Chelseah!" mariin na mura niya. "bakit napapalibutan ang kaibigan mo ng mga gwapo?"

"Hey, don't you dare!" banta ko sa kanya. "Theo is only for Celeste."

Ngumuso siya. "Gaga, hindi ko naman aagawin, pero tangina talaga! Si Theodoro 'yan! Celeste is very lucky."

"Swerte rin naman si Theo sa kaibigan ko, ah?" wika ko habang papunta sa pwesto nila Mommy.

"Fiancée n'yan si Farah, 'di ba? I read somewhere in the newspaper and magazine that they're getting married. Anyare? Nag-exchanged partner?"

"Daniel, keep your voice low," suway ko sa kanya. "mahal ni Theo si Celeste. His relationship with Farah is just a consanguineous marriage."

"Ay! That's why you let them sit at the corner of this party?"

Tumango ako. "They love each other, but their parents are kinda a pain in the ass. Especially Celeste's sister."

"Maltida nga 'yon si Farah," sang-ayon niya. "didn't like her when I saw her sometimes sa mga ganitong event."

Nagkibit ako ng balikat. We reached my family's table and they're with Daniel's family. Matagal ng magkakilala ang mga Bennett at Villacorta.

"Chelseah, where have you been?" Tita Danielle asked lovely as she hugged me.

I kissed her cheeks. "I'm with my friends, Tita," nakangiti na sagot ko. "how are you po? Staying at Santa Monica must be very relaxing."

Mahinhin siyang natawa. "I'm good, Chelseah. Ikaw nga dalagang-dalaga na. You were just fifteen when we left, but look at you now! You look incredible."

"You too, Tita. Still young and pretty."

Umupo kami sa hapag. Masaya ang pagdiriwang. Our table filled with laugh not until someone came. Lahat tigilan dahil sa kanila.

"Ang Constancio," bulungan ng iba habang papalapit sa'min ang isang pamilya na hindi naman imbitado.

Joseph Constancio, together with her wife, Ashley, and their only daughter, Kreselle, walked towards us with a plastic smile plastered on their lips. Nagsimulang magbulong-bulungan ang mga tao na naroon.

At nagsisimula na rin akong magalit. My eyes settled on Kreselle, who's looking at me too. She raised her eyebrows and pulled the man closer to her. Doon pumunta ang mga mata ko, sa lalaking kasama niya.

My eyes stung when our gaze met. Parang may bumura sa lalamunan ko at hindi ako makahinga.

Gus.