All Over Again

CHAPTER 33: Hiram

Venice's POV

I found a comfortable-looking loveseat dun sa labas nung dance hall. I'm so glad. T^T Nyahaha Pinatong ko yung mga tumitibok-t***k kong legs dun sa upuan and bent down to massage my calves. Buti na lang nakatakas ako unnoticed.. Naaliw kasi si Nicole dun sa kinukwento nung kung sino mang manong yun, at si Jean naman, kausap si Grams. I took the opportunity to sneak out of the party, and eto na nga. buti na lang may loveseat sa labas nung Banquet Hall.

Ang taas-taas naman kasi ng heels! Masakit sa paa! Eto yung mga tipo ng shoes na dapat lagi kang may katabi para mag-sway ka man side to side, may hahawak syo.. Ayun lang naman ang papel ni Jerwin kaya ako tumatabi sa kanya..

Jerwin...

It was really awkward seeing him and Geena together. Lalo na nung nakahawak si Geena sa arm nya.. They were looking so intently at each other. I wonder kung anong pinag-uusapan nila. Haayyyy. I feel like the other woman..

Ako: Kabet. Isa akong KABET!

"Oh here you are."

O.O

*cough!*

*cough!!*

I'm choking on my own oxygen. O.O

Eto naman kasing si Jerwin, kung kelan nag-eemote ako sa pagiging kabet ko, tsaka naman sya lumabas ng pinto! Eh kamusta nga naman ang airways ko!? Nagulat tuloy! -__-

Jerwin: What are you doing??

I took a few deep breaths.. Bumabalik na ang abilities ng lungs kong huminga.. *inhale* *exhale* *inhale* Lumapit sa'kin si Jerwin..

PAK!

Hinampas ko yung tyan-s***h-abs niya -- nakatayo kasi si Kuya, hindi ko tuloy mabatukan..

Jerwin: Aray! What?!?

Ako: Adik ka! Bakit ka ba nanggugulat!?

Jerwin: Kasalanan ko bang magugulatin ka?!?

Tinaas niya yung mga paa ko, and sat down dun sa inuupuan kanina ng aking tired legs. He placed my legs on his lap naman, kaya di na ko nag-reklamo..

Ako: Bakit ka ba nandito?

Jerwin: Kasi bigla kang nawala dun sa loob.

Ako: *gasp*

I poked his arm.

Ako: Na-miss mo na kagad ako? Uyyyy, iba na yan..

Jerwin: You crazy? I was just worried na baka tumakbo ka na pauwi.. Ano na lang ang sasabihin ko sa mga tao pag bigla kang nag-poof?

Ako: You know, you could have just said, "Yes, of course, Venice. I can't stand being away from you."

Jerwin: That's just creepy. -__- And besides, bakit ba nakataas ang paa mo sa silya?

Ako: Eh sa nag-rerebolusyon na sila eh! Masakit kaya sa paa yung heels na yan!

Jerwin: Is that why you went out? Para lang mataas mo yung paa mo?

Ako: Well.. I was kinda avoiding talking to other people..

Jerwin started to massage my calves gently. He's doing such a good job na lalo ko na tuloy ayaw tumayo.

Jerwin: Why are you avoiding them?

Ako: Kasi naman.. They'd ask me questions like, "Where did you two meet?", "What did you do for your first date?" and "When's the wedding?" Ay jusko! It's a miracle na hindi nga ako kumaripas ng takbo. *sigh* Kaya eto, lumabas na lang muna ako.. Baka makahalata na sila pag every time na tinatanong nila ako ng ganon, iniiba ko yung topic!

Jerwin: You can just tell them we met at the music hall. It's the truth.

Ako: Uh-huh.. and I didn't know who you were and incidentally, you somehow ended up bringing me to your house the same night coz I was wasted. Good story.

Jerwin: Well, you didn't have to tell them about the latter part. Geez.

Ako: And how do I answer questions about our "first date"? We haven't even had a single date!

Jerwin: Ohhhh.. Is this your way of asking me to go on a date with you?

Ako: Lasing ka ba? -__- Bakit naman kita yayayain?? Ka-date-date ka ba!?

Jerwin: Ahsuz, nagpakipot ka pa. All you have to say is, "Jerwin, will you go out with me?"

Ako: Ewww.. Kilabutan ka nga. O_O

Napalingon kaming bigla nang bumukas ung pinto nung dance hall namin. Halos tinapon pa nga ni Jerwin yung mga paa ko dun sa sahig.

Salbahe -__-

Tapos sasabihin nyang i-ddate ko raw sya?!?

"Oh my gosh, Jerwin, there you are!"

It's Nicole. Parang haggard si ate.. Kanina pa nya siguro hina-hunting si Jerwin.

Jerwin: Yo, cousin!

Nicole: Don't "yo, cousin" me! Mr. Perez has been looking for you! Get your butt inside!

Ako: Mr. Perez?

Jerwin: He's a topnotch music producer. He probably wants to talk about a new album or something.

Tumayo na si Jerwin. Waahhh ang massage ko!! T^T and straightened his tux, then he turned to look at me.

Jerwin: Let's go.

Ako: I'll stay here muna..

Jerwin: You sure?

Ako: Don't worry. Hindi ako kakaripas ng takbo pauwi.

Jerwin: With those heels, ha! Good luck na lang kung makatakbo ka.

Nicole: Jerwin.

Jerwin: Okay, okay! I'm coming.

Pumasok na ulit si Nicole sa loob -- kinakaladkad ung pinsan nyang wanted. ;P Kakataas ko pa lang ulit nung paa ko dun sa upuan, nang bigla nanamang bumukas ung door. Eh di syempre, lumipad nanaman ang feet ko pababa sa floor.

Anak ng tokwa! Bakit ba hindi na lang sila manahimik sa loob?!?

"Venice."

O_O

Oh crap. Pumasok na pala dapat ako. Geena closed the door behind her and walked over to where I was sitting.

Geena: Mind if I join you?

Ako: Uh, no..?

Umupo si ate sa tabi ko..

I fought the urge to shrink dun sa opposite side nung couch. We were both looking at the wall in front of us. Bakit naman sa dinami-dami ng taong lalabas, eto pa? T-T

Geena: I don't think I've properly introduced myself. My name is Georgina.

Ako: Oh, I know.

Geena: Well, of course you do. I've graced billboards, magazine covers, and advertisements in more times than I can count.

Confidence ba itoh o arrogance? -__-

Geena: But, tell me..

Bigla syang tumingin sa'kin. Halos mapatalon ako sa takot. O_O

Geena: Have you ever heard about me from Jerwin?

Ako: Uh.. He mentioned you once--or twice.

Geena: I see. Then you must have a very vague knowledge of our relationship. Talking about relationships isn't Jerwin's forte.

Ako: Relationship?

Yung "Friends with benefits" thing niyo? Ay naku ate, si Nicole ang nag-tsismis sa'kin nun. At hindi "Vague" ang pagkaka-kwento ni cousin-in-law.

Geena: Jerwin and I have this special bond. We were sort-of going out, you see.. But I was focusing on my career. Having a boyfriend would have been a distraction.

Ako: Oh...

Di ko getz... -___-

Geena: Jerwin courted me. He asked me to be his girlfriend so many times, it was--shall I say, impressive? I turned him down repeatedly. But, he didn't date other girls; he didn't look at other girls. He only had eyes for me.

I see.. Martyr si Kuya---o baka near-sighted.

Geena: I acknowledged this fact. He wanted me, and I wanted him. But I didn't want to commit, because, like I said, I don't want to be bothered by a relationship. That's why....

Tumingin ako kay Geena. She's staring at me. Her eyes are practically burning through me. Dangerous ang toxicity level ng stare ni Ate. O_O

Geena: We settled for something more than friends, but less than a relationship. We were lovers. We had secret meetings, careful so our activities wouldn't leak to the press. We had private, sensual nights in hotels out of town, out of the country. Do you understand what I'm saying?

Ako: You were sleeping with each other.

Napa-blink si Geena, and my hand flew to my mouth. I totally did not plan to say that out loud, at ganun pa ka-straight. O_O I mean, I know she's trying to tell me na may mga kalokohan sila ni Jerwin--at naughty-naughty na kalokohan pa and I already know naman ang mga perverted actions nila bago niya pa sinabi sa'kin pero naman, brain! Di mo man lang inisip na umarte na kunwari in denial ka! o kaya contemplative! o surprised man lang! Ayan, si ate tuloy ang nagulat.

Geena: You knew everything?

Ako: Well.. kinda...

Geena: And still--you're marrying him..

BOINK !! Ate, hindi kasal. Engaged lang. Wag mo naman sabihin na ikakasal na kami. Napangiti na lang ako. Di ko alam kung pano pa ko hihirit eh..

Geena: How much did Mrs. Santos pay you?

Ako: Eh?!?!

Ay, wag raw pala ganon ang sagot, sabi ni Grams.

Ako: Excuse me?

Geena: Mrs. Santos arranged this, didn't she? Jerwin had a little slip of the tongue earlier. An arranged marriage. It's the only logical explanation for everything.

Ako: Ay! Ano ba?!?-- -___- Nagtatagalog ka ba?

Geena: I understand it.

Ako: Buti naman. Wag ka na nga masyadong serious dyan, Ate. Alam mo, Jerwin and I, masaya naman kami eh. S-Siguro nga, arranged lang ng mga nanay namin 'to..

Mga loka-lokang nanay.. -__-

Ako: --But we're making the most out of it. If it works out, then great. If not, then, oh well, di vaahhh?

Tumayo akong bigla. Thiz iz it! Time to escape!

Ako: Ayy pumasok na nga tayo. Baka hinahanap na tayo sa loob. Nauuhaw na rin ako. Nandun ka sa may punchbowl kanina di ba? Masarap ba yung punch? Ayy matikman na nga lang!

Mabilis akong naglakad papunta dun sa pinto.. Ayoko nang patagalin pa ang alone moments ko with Geena. Nakaka-stress sa heart at sa brain ! Kakahawak ko pa lang dun sa door handle, nang biglang tumayo si Geena. Ako naman si stupid, tumingin pa talaga. Eh sabi na ngang time to escape, titingin ka pa!

Geena: Venice.

Pumasok ka na! Pumasok ka na lang! Dedmahin mo!

Venice: Yes?

Ano pa ang silbi ng brain kung hindi ka rin naman makikinig? -__-

Geena: I'll be leaving now. I'll see you around, though.

Ako: Ah.. ha..ha.. Okay..

She stepped towards me.. Na-frozen na ko dun sa harap nung pinto unable to move sakali man maisipian nyang sampalin ako or whatever. But Geena stopped just a foot away from me.. Nakaka-intimidate ang aura ni ate.. NAKAKATAAS NG BALAHIBO.. O_O

Geena: And by the way, I know Jerwin. The only reason he agreed to this engagement is because I wasn't around. He needed a spare tire to keep him entertained. I just loaned him to you.

So ano ako? Spare tire na clown?! Entertainer niya?! At kelan pa nahihiram ang lalaki?!? Ano yan, may library card ba yan?!

-__-

Geena: So don't get too comfortable with him.. Coz I'm here now. And I'm taking him back.

*gulp*

After saying that, Geena sashayed off pass me to the main lobby. I followed her with my eyes hanggang sa mawala na sya dun sa corner.. It was only then na na-realize kong I was holding my breath.

Whooohh!

Ako: *bulong sa sarili ko* Baahhh.. ang taray....

"Veni--"

BAM!

Bumukas bigla yung pinto at syempre ako tong nakatayo dun mismo sa harap, pagbukas niya diretso kagad sa mukha ko.

X__X

Kanina pa namumuro tong si Jerwin.

Jerwin: Oh my god! Are you okay?!?

PAK!

Jerwin: Aw!

Binatukan ko nga siya. Yung isang kamay ko, naka-cover sa ilong ko. Masakit pala pag bumubukas sa mukha mo ang pinto. T^T

Ako: Bakit ba di ka muna kumakatok?!?

Jerwin: Coz I was already inside! It's usually the people outside the room who knocks! Bakit ka kasi dyan nakatayo?!

Napatingin sya sa mukha ko.. Suddenly, his eyes got wide. O_o

Ako: What?

Jerwin: Your nose is bleeding! O_O

Ako: WHAT?!?!? WHERE?!?!? WHAT?!?!

Ang make-up ko! Ang dress ko! Ang nose ko!

Jerwin: pft. BWAHAHAHAHA Just kidding! Just kidding! You should've seen your face!

PAK!

Ako: Let's go inside.

Jerwin: Yes, ma'am. T-T

I opened the door and walked in, followed by Jerwin, na nakahawak sa ulo nyang binatukan ko. Oh di vah, tahimik na sya ngayon.. Parang batang nasigawan. Geena's face flashed in my mind. I glimpsed at Jerwin, who suddenly perked up and dragged me to the dance floor. The DJ just started spinning "Something Stupid" by Robbie Williams and Nicole Kidman.

Jerwin: I love this song! Let's dance!

Oh di ba.. Bi-polar..

He spun me in his arms and we spent most of the night in the dance floor, dancing, laughing and picking on the oldies' sense of style. It suddenly felt like we really were celebrating our engagement. How can someone not get "Too comfortable" with him?