All Over Again

CHAPTER 29: Celebration

Venice's POV

We left Batangas right after lunch -- para raw busog kami at hindi na kami patigil-tigil sa kung saan saan para lang bumili ng mangunguya.Magaling rin ang logic nyang si Jerwin paminsan-minsan eh. We dropped off Sheena and Anthony sa mga bahay-bahay nila, and finally, binaba na rin ako ni Jerwin sa bahay ko.. 1:35 PM na kami nakarating sa bahay. Hindi na bumaba si Jerwin this time.. Gusto nya na rin daw kasi umuwi, makanakaw man lang ng konti pang tulog..

Hello na lang daw kay mommy..

I dragged my suitcase papasok at pagbukas na pagbukas ko ng pinto, sumalubong kagad ang nanay ko..

"Venice, nandito ka na?"

Ako: Yep.. Hello, mother.

Mom: Kamusta ang beach? Bakit parang di ka naman umitim?

Ako: Next time, mom, pag nag-beach ako, I'll make sure I'll turn golden brown.

Mom: Golden Brown? Ano ka, itlog? Ay oo nga pala, kanina pa tumatawag si Nicole.

Napatigil akong bigla.. O_O

Si cousin-in-law tumatawag

BAKIT?! O_O

May balak nanaman syang ikulong kaming dalawa?!?!

Ako: Bakit daw?

Mom: Tatawag na lang daw ulit sya mamaya.

Ako: Well, I'm going to take a nap. So, good luck na lang sa kanya.

Umakyat ng ko ng hagdan papunta sa kwarto ko -- pahirapan pang kaladkarin ung maleta. When I finally reached my room, iniwan ko na yung pagkabigat-bigat na maleta sa may pinto at nag-collapse sa kama ko. Bahala na si Nicole sa buhay nya. Na-low batt na ko sa pagbilad sa araw, sa traffic, at sa pagsaway kay Sheena at Anton. No energy na para magpaka-paranoid pa dahel sa tumatawag sa'kin ang troublemaker nyang sarili..

Now, off to dreamland..

A Couple of hours later...

"Venice! Venice! Venice!!!!! Why is it so hard to wake you up?!?"

-_____-

Sino ba 'tong istorbo sa beauty sleep ko?!? -__-

I felt somebody bounce up and down my bed. Feel na feel ang panggising sa'kin.. -___- Tumilapon sana sya sa sahig. -_-! Finally, dahil nahihilo na ko kakatalon nya, I opened one eye para sabihing lumayas sya dahil natutulog ako---

O___O

OoO

Napaupo akong bigla.

Is this a dream? a nightmare?!

O___O

Ako: Nicole!?! What are you doing here?!?

Nicole: Your mom let me in. I was calling your cellphone, but you're not answering. So I called your house phone, your mom said you're sleeping. I took the initiative to drop by and wake you up.

Ako: Oh bat why? T-T

Nicole: Are you awake now?

Gising na ko. Gising na gising. T^T

Tumayo bigla si Nicole, and grabbed a black dress bag na nakasabit dun sa hook sa likod nung door ko.

Bitbit nya?

Dahil I don't remember owning a dress bag at solid black pa..

Ako: Oh.... Is that a dead person? Did you kill somebody, Nicole? -__-

Nicole: *natawa* Of course not. If I'm gonna kill somebody, I'd just burn the corpse. I won't chop it all up and put it in a perfectly good dress bag.

Parang pinag-isipan nya na talaga dati yun.. -___-Binuksan nya ung zipper nung bag and nilabas ang isang ivory-colored cocktail dress. It has a black pleated sash just below the bust na natatali sa likod, and black halter straps na tinatali rin sa likod. It also has a trimming of black lace dun sa edges nung skirt.

It's cute. Simple, but cute.

Ako: What's that?

Nicole: This is one my mother's latest creations. It's not even released to the market yet.

Ako: You're giving it to me?

Nicole: Of course! My mom tailored this one especially for you.. It fits me, so I think it should fit you too.

Ako: Especially for me? T^T

An expensive, signature-branded cocktail dress made especially for me....

There must be a catch. -__-

Nicole: Yep! You're wearing this tonight!

I knew IT! -_-

Ako: Tonight? What's going on tonight?

Nicole: Oh, you don't have to know.

Don't have to know?!? Eh ako 'tong kinikidnap mo?!? →_→

Nicole: Just go take a shower..

Sinabit niya ulit yung dress sa likod ng door.

Nicole: Your mom was cooking something that smells really good when I arrived, so I'll be downstairs while you shower. Holler at me when you're out. I'll come back here and create a masterpiece out of you. Ciao!

After saying all that, lumabas na ng kwarto ko si Nicole. I stared open-mouthed at her, and then at the door, and thennn at the dress.

What's going on?!?

Nag-dive ung kamay ko sa ilalim nung unan and grabbed my phone. I dialled Jerwin's number para mag-demand ng information.. mag-demand na iuwi nya na yung pinsan niya pero iwan na yung dress at kung pwede lang noh, mag-demand na sagutin niya yung phone. -_-

Anak ng tokwa.

Di nanaman sinasagot ang tawag ko. rawr. One of these days, may gagawin akong ringtone sa cellphone nun -- a ringtone he won't be able to ignore. bam.

I looked at the dress again. Sigh. Let's get this done and over with. T^T

Jerwin's POV

I looked at my watch. 6:24 PM.. Jean woke me up from my nap to stand here in this hotel's entrance waiting for who knows what. And I'm wearing an ivory-colored tux. Who wears a tux para lang maghintay sa pinto? -___-

Sigh..

Jean and my parents went inside the hotel already. Ang bilin lang sa'kin, tumayo lang ako dito sa pinto and wait. Wait for what? I'll know daw. Well, I've been waiting here for almost 15 minutes.. and I don't even know what to do kapag dumating na ung hinihintay ko. People are looking at me a couple of passerbys asked for a photo .. Some would whisper amongst themselves..

Nakaka-paranoid na. -__-

Iikot na sana ako para hanapin ung magaling kong pamilyang nang-iwan, when a car stopped in front of the main door.

Nicole's car.

Nicole...

May family reunion ba today na nakalimutan ko?

O__O

Crap.

Nicole got out of the car, and threw her keys to the waiting valet. She immediately saw me--I'm sure dahil nag-sstand out naman ako sa lahat ng tao sa paligid ko and ran to give me a hug.

Nicole: Cousin! Hello! My, my, you look nice.

Me: You don't look too shabby yourself.

Nicole always looks good. Well, I guess that's why she became a model. Right now, she's wearing a body-fitting, short dark blue dress with crystals beaded on the shoulder straps. Her hair is straightened to perfection with a small silver clip on one side. She looks so prim and proper -- it's just not right.

Me: Ok. What's the occasion? Is Grams coming?

Nicole just laughed, and then turned to look behind her. I just realized that her car is still there, and someone else is stepping out.

Me: Venice... O_O

I took a deep breath and completely forgot to exhale.

Nicole: I'll go inside first. Take care of my masterpiece? Hasta luego, primo!

Halos di ko na napansin na naglakad papasok nung hotel si Nicole. I was too preoccupied watching Venice as she cautiously walks toward me. She's wearing an ivory-colored dress that falls just above her knees. Her hair is in loose curls, cascading a few inches past her shoulders. Her make-up is soft and flawless -- everything about her looks flawless. She looks breathtakingly beautiful.

Me: You look....... Wow..

Venice: *smiles* Wow is good. Wow is a compliment... right?

Me: Yes!!! *ahem* I mean.. yes..

Venice: So what's the occasion?

I blinked. Nagising ulit bigla lahat nung maliliit na neurons sa utak ko, and they're all screaming, "Stop ogling at her!" I complied to their command.

Me: Nicole didn't tell you?

Venice: Nope. She just appeared out of nowhere sa kwarto ko.. made me take a shower, ate pretty much half ng merienda ko and then tada!

She took a quick spin -- as quick as her peep-toe, high-heeled shoes would allow her -- and allowed me to see every inch of her regal form.

Venice: Naging instant Barbie nya ko.

Me: At least you're not blond. No one would know you just became my cousin's Barbie. Well, anyway, truth be told. I don't know what going on either..

Napatingin ako sa paligid.. Ano na mangyayari ngayon? Just then, one of the hotel employees seemed to have noticed my looking around, kasi lumapit siya sa'min.

Hotel Emp: Good evening poh, Mr. Jerwin, Ms. Venice. Please follow me to the banquet hall.

Venice: Banquet hall? Anong meron?

The employee didn't answer, so I just shrugged. Somehow, everything here feels like it's been planned.

Me: Well, señorita, shall we go?

I offered her my arm, and she reluctantly took it. We followed the hotel employee papunta dun sa "Banquet hall" daw.

Venice: We just got back, and may kung anong mystery na kagad na bumubulaga sa'kin. T-T

Me: It'll be okay. I'll be here.

Venice looked up at me, trying to ponder what I just said. Mukhang on the verge of panic na sya sa mga nangyayari. Fear of the unknown, eh. Siguro kung di ko lang hawak ung kamay nya, kanina pa kumaripas ng takbo 'to.

Venice: Okay.. Just.. Whatever might be waiting for us in there.. Don't leave me alone, okay?

Me: Okay.

Venice: Promise?

Me: I promise.

Our guide stopped in front a double-door room. The doors are closed and there's not one sound coming from inside. Venice and I glanced at each other. She's starting look more and more anxious.

Venice: You think we'll be murdered in there? Oh my god, I hope they're not setting us up for an impromptu marriage ceremony. O.O

Me: Of course they're not!

Right?!? O__O

Hotel Emp: Well, here you go.

I felt Venice clutch my arm tighter. Our guide knocked on the door three times.. I was kinda waiting for him to say, "Open Sesame!" -- but, well, one can hope. We just stood there for a few seconds wondering what going on.. Should we run while we still have a chance? All of a sudden, the doors burst wide open -- revealing a crowd lauding in front of us.

"SURPRIISEEEEE!!!!"