All Over Again

CHAPTER 31: Song For Someone

Venice's POV

Well.. this is awkward...

Our once cheerful little table ay biglang napaligiran ng oh-so-tensed na atmosphere. -__-

Nicole: What the heeeyyyllll are you doing here?!?

Geena: Why, I'm here for Jerwin's engagement party. And hello to you too, Nicole.

Jean: Who invited you?!?!?

Dustin: I did.

Dustin stood up and led Geena to the empty chair na nandun sa gitna niya tsaka ni Jean. I bet kung hindi lang nakakalat ang mga paparazzis around, and siguro kasi baka madumihan yung mga dresses nila, pinaghahampas na sana nina Nicole at Jean si Dustin ng silya. Ang toxic ng tingin! O_O

I glanced at Jerwin, and I felt a tiny prick in my chest.

He's staring wide-eyed at Geena.

Geena: So.. You're Venice?

*gulp*

Ako: Y-Yes. Hello.

Geena: I've never seen you before. What agency or station do you work for? Or are you a recording artist too?

Jean: Venice is not in the industry.

Nicole: She's a student.

Geena: A student?

Bakit parang tunog sa'kin ng conversation nila eh: student = alien? -___- All of a sudden, Jerwin threw his napkin on the table and pushed back his chair.

Ako: Where are you going?

Jerwin: You're done eating, right? C'mon, let's go to Grams' table.

But... But.. may dessert pa... At chocolate cake ung nilalabas nila... T^T

Pinatong ko na rin yung napkin ko dun sa table, and slowly stood up. Sinundan ko si Jerwin papunta dun sa table ng mga elders -- a couple of tables away from ours. Jerwin and I stopped behind the old woman, who immediately turned to look at the both of us.

Jerwin: Grams.

Grams: Jerwin. Oh, so you finally bring your fiancée here.

*gulp*

Ngayon na natitigan ko si lola---may pagka-intimidating pala sya.. O___O Her face, kahit na mukha na syang 70? 80?, is a portrait of sophisticated beauty. Ang ganda siguro ni lola nung bata siya. Regal beauty--at may kung anong aura pa sya na nag-ddemand ng full attention. She's wearing a maroon dress with diamond earrings hanging from her ears, and diamond necklace around her neck. Mayaman din sa rings ang hands ni lola.

Jerwin: You have always said better late than never. Anyway, Grams, this is Venice.. Venice, this is the "head" of the Santos family, Mrs. Gretchen Santos.

Venice: Good evening po.

Grams: Good evening. Come here, sit down, let's talk.

Eh?!? Kailangan pa ba yan? T^T

I sat down on the empty chair na inuupuan kanina ni Tito Ray -- he's on the other table talking to some other business people.

Grams: So, tell me, Venice, what do your parents do?

Ako: My mom was working as a nurse in the US.

Grams: "Was"?

Ako: She's been staying here for about a year and a half now but she's flying back to the US next week.

Grams: And your father?

Ako: He died when I was young.

Grams: I see.

I feel like I'm being interrogated. Kulang na lang, yung maliit na spotlight..

Grams: And how about you? What do you do for a living?

Jerwin: Grams, Venice is focusing on her studies.

Grams: Oh, is she now? Then, have you modeled before? Did some acting?

Ako: I.. uh.. Wala po akong ganong experience....

Grams: Hmm..*sips from her teacup* A Santos engaged to a nobody.. I never thought I'd see this day come..

Tita Merryl: Suegra, Venice has an incredible voice.

Grams: Hm? Does she now?

O.O

Napatingin ako bigla kay Jerwin, nanlalaki ang mga mata sa na-ffeel kong mangyayari. O__O I know this feeling of terror. I knew this was coming!

Ako: HMMM?!?!? O.O

Jerwin just shrugged -- at daig pa ang clown sa laki ng ngiti nya! O_o Kung di lang ako napapaligiran ng angkan niya, sinalpak ko na yung uneaten cake dun sa mesa sa face nya -- tignan ko lang kung maka-bungisngis pa siya.

Meanwhile, Grams motioned for the host to come over, syempre sunod naman si Mr. Host.

Grams: My grandson and his fiancée will be singing a song for everybody.

Oh my golay. I knew it!

Jerwin: Okay, Grams. Listen, and be amazed.

"Okay"?!?!?

Jerwin pulled me from my seat, and almost dragged me papunta dun sa band dun sa sulok na nag-pplay ng kung anong soothing music. Mga gunggong kung gusto nyong mag-soothe ng soul, bigyan nyo ng vodka! vodka lang ang katapat nyan men!

Ako: Why are we doing this?!?

Jerwin: So people won't have any more complaints about you being a "Nobody".

Ako: Who cares about their complaints?! What about my complaints?!

Jerwin: You have any?

Ako: DUh! I'm being pushed into the spotlight again! And I don't like this spotlight! At isa pa, wala naman tayong na-practice na kahit ano!

Jerwin: Hmmm we were able to rehearse "Lucky"..

Ako: Adik ka ba? O__O That was supposed to be for your concert, uh, I dunno, 5000 years ago! Ang announcement of my existence. Kung alam ko lang..

Ako: And besides, you rejected that song, di ba?! Sabi mo, it doesn't "fit" us!

Jerwin: That was then, this is now.

Eh?!?! O__O

He went to the band and borrowed the guitar. I looked over dun sa dancefloor, may dalawang staff na naglalagay na ng tatlong mic stands sa gitna.. Then, Jerwin stepped beside me -- may hawak na syang gitara..

Ako: Ano yan?? Nag-gigitara ka?

Jerwin: Of course. Let's go?

Ako: Why do you always do this to me? T-T

Jerwin: Coz I know you shine best when you're singing.

Ako: What?!?

He took my hand and pulled my hand papunta dun sa gitna nung dance floor. He fixed one of the mic stands para dun sa guitar, then adjusted the other one for him. Masakit man sa loob ko, inayos ko na rin yung mic stand ko. Eh ano pa nga bang magagawa ko? Eh halos lahat ng people naka-tingin na sa'min. T-T Jerwin then nodded to the host to signal we're ready. As if naman... T^T

Mr. Host: Ladies and gentlemen, to show their gratitude for this wonderful surprise, Mr. Jerwin Santos and his fiancée, Venice Zhao, has decided to serenade you with one of their favorite songs. Please give them a warm round of applause.

Favorite song?!? Anong kalokohan yan?!? Before I knew it, Jerwin started plucking the strings of his guitar. He looked at me, and I can almost hear him say, "Aja!" hahaha

[Song: Lucky]

Jerwin: *sings* Do you hear me? I'm talking to you

Across the water across the deep blue ocean

Under the open sky, oh my, baby I'm trying..

Ako: Boy I hear you in my dreams

I feel your whisper across the sea

I keep you with me in my heart

You make it easier when life gets hard..

This isn't so bad. I looked at the people around us. They seem happy, enjoying the song, I guess. Even Grams looks pleased. I glanced back at Jerwin, and almost choked on my words. He's glancing around the room or at least, that's what he's trying to make it look like.. but.. I'm not blind lalo na't ganito pa sya kalapit sa'kin. I looked at the table in front of us.. Yung table na upuan namin. I put a smile on my face, kasi syempre, masaya ung kanta, dapat masaya ang face..

This will be on tomorrow's newspaper, I'm sure...

Jerwin: *sings* And so I'm sailing through the sea

To an island where we'll meet

You'll hear the music fill the air

I'll put a flower in your hair..

Ako: Though the breezes through trees

Move so pretty you're all I see

As the world keeps spinning 'round

You hold me right here, right now..

I saw Jerwin glance at me real quick -- he even smiled. I smiled back... then it was gone. He turned away again. His attention back to her again. Everybody has this look of admiration na parang kinikilig--na parang we're this really talented, promising couple. I bet they just can't see they just don't notice. Jerwin might be singing with me but--he's singing the song for someone else..