Perfect Pieces

02

"Hi! I'm Keziah but you can call me Ziah if you want."

I turned to the pretty girl and smiled at her. She looked very angelic, and her voice also sounded like an angel. Like she can't hurt anyone or anything.

"I'm Lani," sabi ko ulit kahit sinabi ko na iyon kanina.

"Your dress is nice," she complimented and eyed me. Instead of making me happy, that made me uncomfortable.

"Kuya picked it for me." I slightly smiled at umatras konti hanggang sa maabot ko na si kuya at naitago ang kanang kamay ko sa likod niyang nanginginig na.

"Anyway, excuse us. Enjoy the party." senator and the Luan guy tapped kuya at the back before they walked away.

I blew a breath and held my chest. "Ohmygod. I think I had been holding my breath for too long."

"Don't let their presence affect you," he smiled at hinila ako papunta dun sa may tables.

Kuya sat with his friends that I knew kasi napupunta rin ang mga ito sa bahay minsan kaya nakaginsan ko nang nakikita sila na sumusulpot nalang sa bahay at kumakain nung binibake ni mama na cookies. We were laughing because they were all making jokes about each other.

"Santiago." we all turned our head to... oh. Luan. He was standing at kuya's back and he had the same emotionless face. I also noticed that dito sa frat nila, they call each other their surnames.

"Lavigne," kuya answered back. "Need something?"

"Yes," he shortly answered and threw me a short glance before glancing back at kuya. "Follow me" he gestured and didn't even wait for kuya to answer before turning back.

"Stay with them, okay?" he whispered on my ear before tinanguan 'yung mga kaibigan niya at sumunod.

"Same old Lavigne. Always expecting people to follow him around," kuya Theo said and sighed kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya.

"He isn't the president of this frat for nothing." kuya Alexis chuckled lightly. "And who even dares to not follow him?"

My mouth slightly parted. He's the what?! President?!

"Your brother didn't tell you?" tumawa saglit si kuya Theo nung napansing gukat 'yung mukha ko at umiling ako. "Might as well not cross your path with him, Lani." inakbayan niya ako and tapped my back.

Well, our paths just crossed earlier. It's a little too late, isn't it? I mean, what could go wrong... right? As if they would order someone to unalive me just because we crossed paths.

Now I'm scared.

Pagkatapos nung party nila habang naghihintay ako sa labas kasi nasa loob pa si kuya, nakatingin lang ako sa stars and the moon above me. I tried to reach for it and admire it from afar. The cold breeze was hugging my skin that it made me shiver and made goosebumps all over my body.

"You shouldn't be here... alone" may narinig akong boses sa tabi ko. Ngayong magka tabi na kami, I can see our height differences. I'm wearing heels and yet, he's still very tall.

"Why? Would someone kill me here?" I asked.

"If so, aren't you scared?" Luan asked me back.

"I asked first." I leered. "But no, I'm not scared. I'm not afraid of dying... but I'm scared to leave my loved ones behind... afraid of not... not waking up again," I chuckled because I didn't made sense. Hindi raw takot mamatay pero takot na hindi na gumising.

And we fell into silence. Comfortable silence.

"Let's go, Lani." I heard kuya walking towards me at nung nalapit na siya ay nilagyan niya nung jacket ang balikat ko. Tinanguan niya lang si Luan bago niya ako hinila papunta sa sasakyan.

Inuwi ako ni kuya sa bahay at nagbihis na agad ako bago naligo because I felt so sticky and after that, I did my skincare at umakyat sa rooftop ng bahay. I got the remote and pressed the button para matanggal 'yung roof sa taas so I can see the sky.

I opened my i********: and posted my photos na kinuha ni kuya kanina sa event at nakuha ko rin ang iba sa photos ng media kanina. Natawa pa ako sa comment ng mga kapatid ko.

KSantiago: I'm going to kill Apollo.

santiagoarch: Bring me with you.

ApolloSantiago: Ang sasama talaga ng ugali niyo. (ps. joke kuya hehehehe muwa muwa)

KSantiago: still would kill you. but please tell me you brought a jacket with you, Apollo.

ApolloSantiago: Sikretong malupet, pwedeng pabulong.

Natawa nalang ako and liked their comments. My kuyas are protective. They don't stop me from wearing what I like to wear but they always make sure that one of them brings a jacket or something to cover me up once it gets hot or cold.

And an idea popped on my mind. I'm going to stalk Luan on his social media accounts. Hindi naman ako nahirapan sa pagsearch sa kaniya kasi naka follow naman si kuya Apollo sa kaniya.

luan

1 post 209k followers 0 following

Star and Moon. Medical Student.

Grabe, he has a lot of followers pero ni isa ay wala siyang finafollow. And he's famous. Hindi na ako magtataka kung makakakita ako ng fan edits dito sa social media accounts or fangirls.

His one and only post was his graduation photo nung college siguro. He wasn't smiling on the photo and instead has his emotionless face. God, he looked very intimidating just because of it.

"Oh f**k," I muttered underneath my breath when I liked his photo. "Jesus Christ"

I was panicking because his post was almost a year ago! For heaven's sake, nalike ko pa talaga! Sa lahat lahat ng mga tao na malike ko ang photo from months ago, bakit sa kaniya pa?!

luan sent you a message.

I sighed and massaged my temple before opening the message.

luan: stalking me?

lassantiago: maybe? got curious.

luan: might as well ask me in person.

lassantiago: are u asking me out?

Nakagat ko nalang ang kuko ko dahil sa paghihintay sa kaniyang reply. I can see that he is typing pero nawawala ito kaya ay mukha na akong tanga dito na tumatayo tapos nauupo nanaman. Joke lang naman 'yon pero baka totohanin niya!

luan: yes.

lassantiago: huh?! joke lang e!

luan: well. I'm not joking. I'm asking you out. Are you free tomorrow?

I bit my lower lip and checked my schedule for tomorrow. Ang nakalagay lang naman don ay flower the plants of mom's garden lang naman kaya napaisip rin ako. It's just a friendly date and it won't hurt me.

lassantiago: yes, I am.

luan: great. 4 pm at quickeats.

And I only replied okay before blowing a breath. That's when all came rushing back to me that he was a Lavigne. I should not trust him, but I JUST AGREED TO EAT WITH HIM TOMORROW!

Oh gods, I'm going nuts.

Natulog nalang ako at pagka gising ko kinabukasan, bumaba na ako sa kusina kasi naaamoy ko 'yung luto ni mama kaya nagutom ako. I was sure I dreamed of something, but I forgot about it pagka gising ko kaya isinawalang bahala ko nalang iyon.

"Good morning!" I kissed the cheeks of my mom and dad.

"You look... weird," my mom said and cupped my cheeks while checking out my face.

"Is something wrong?" I hear the worry from my dad's voice. Umiling ako.

My mom's eyes widened. "Because of a guy?!" she immediately asked kaya ay nanlaki rin ang mga mata ko. Bakit alam niya kaagad?

"Because of a what?!" dad hissed.

I sighed at naupo sa tabi ni daddy. "This guy... I was stalking his account last night because I was curious! But then... I accidentally liked his photo and then things went south and the next thing I knew... he was asking me out and then I suddenly agreed!" I ranted and pulled my hair out of frustration.

I heard dad sigh. "It's okay if you go out with a guy, anak. Hindi naman bawal 'yon at walang pumipigil sayo dito... but who's the guy?" he asked me.

"Lavigne," 'yun palang sinabi ko pero natahimik ang buong kusina kaya mas lalo lang akong nafrustrate.

"Who?" my mom asked me at naglagay ng kanin sa aking plato.

"Luan," maikli kong sagot and pursed my lip.

"Just... just please be careful, okay?" paalala ni daddy sa akin. "Call us or your brothers if you need help" he smiled and patted my head.

Kaya heto ako ngayon, finding a decent dress to wear for tonight. Sa huli, I found a sage green square neck top na tinatali sa likod that I found on H&M and white fitted skirt tsaka sapatos so my feet won't hurt. I just put my hair up in a high ponytail and straightened it and drove to the restaurant that Luan said.

"Hi ma'am, any reservations?" a lady asked me when I reached the door. I looked at her name tag and smiled.

"Uh... actually ate Nova, can I ask if there's a reservation from Luan Lavigne?" I asked her and I noticed how her smile widened when I mentioned her name.

We were always taught by our parents to call the waitresses by their first names because... it's respectful? They also taught us to clean our mess after so it would lessen their work because they had a whole day of work, and a little help won't hurt them.

"Oh!" her eyes widened. "Are you miss Lani Santiago?" she asked, and I nodded. Luan probably said that to her already.

"Yeah," tumango ako.

"This way, ma'am." she smiled and lead me inside. She led me to the terrace of the restaurant that has a great view of the city.

Hinilig ko ang ulo ko ng konti nung makita ko si Luan na nakaupo ron sa table while his fingers were playing on his lower lip. Parang alam niya nung may paparating because he turned his head towards me at hinilig rin ng konti 'yung ulo niya. Pagkalapit ko ay tumayo siya at pinahila ako nung upuan and thanked ate Nova before sitting on his chair in front of me.

We were silent at first and we were just staring at each other. He was actually wearing formal clothes that matched my color. He was wearing this sage green button up polo with black coat and slacks.

"Sorry I'm late," sabi ko sabay na pag sabi niya ng,

"I ordered steak for you not to wait long."

My mouth parted nung sabay pa talaga kaming magsalita.

"You don't have a girlfriend, don't you?" I asked him kasi ayaw kong may nanghihila nalang ng buhok ko kung saan kapag naglalakad ako. And I don't want issue! Sa lahat lahat ng pwede maissue sa akin ay cheating pa! Just no way! I wasn't raised to be a proud mistress or a cheater!

"I wouldn't bother asking you out if I have," he answered me. "And what makes you think I have one?" he asked but I didn't answer and just shrugged.

I was... surprised when he said that he doesn't have a girlfriend because he was attractive. Just no way he doesn't have one. He had rough features which didn't surprise me because he's a Lavigne. He's a spitting image of his father but younger.

"You? Boyfriend?" he asked.

I chuckled and shook my head. "None."

I will have a boyfriend when I'm ready and not when I'm lonely. And besides, I'm happy and contented with my life.

"Do you have siblings?" I asked him because my mom asked kung sinong Lavigne, so I assumed he has siblings.

Tumango siya. "I have an older brother and a younger brother," he answered.

"Oh, middle child?" he nodded again at my question.

"Only sister of Santiago?" he asked at alam ko na na si kuya Apollo ang tinatawag niyang Apollo.

"Yeah, youngest actually." I leered. It's fun to be the youngest but my older brothers were so protective of me! Minsan tinutukso ko sila that they wanted me away from boys like them.

"You must be loved and treasured so much." he barely said like it was a whisper kaya ay napatingin ako sa kaniya.

My whole life, I was pampered with love and affection. Lahat naman kami. I was very thankful that I had the most loving parents and family kasi hindi lahat may ganon. I actually had an... enemy way back in middle school and high school. I learned that he bullies everyone on the school except for his friends because he didn't know how to show... love and instead he bullies his schoolmates.

From that day on, hindi ko na siya pinapatulan sa pang aaway niya and instead, I befriended him but ilag siya masyado until he transferred to the States at hindi ko na siya nakita pa ulit.

"Yeah, we were blockmates ever since first year of med school," he answered when I asked kung blockmates ba sila ni kuya. "But me and your brother doesn't get along that much. We had different perspectives that's why we don't get along especially with ideas, but we didn't have an argument except for debates inside the room."

I hummed and drank the wine from the glass.

"You? What's your course?"

"Legal Management. I really don't know why I got Legal Management in the first place because I knew that I won't proceed to law school in the future. The justice system is f****d up and so am I so... it's a no for me."

"You're not f****d up." he chuckled lightly and chewed the steak. "What do you want to do, then?"

"I have always wanted to be a firefighter just like my parents when they were younger. Whenever I hear the call inside their firehouse, it also gives me the adrenaline to go with them, but I can't because I was... maybe 8 at that time," I chuckled. "I wanted to help people in ways that I know I can excel. The ways that I know that I can do my job great."

"You know what I think?" he suddenly said, and I raised my brow. "I think you'll be a great firefighter someday." he shrugged.

I smiled widely. "How would you know that? Are you a time traveler and went to the future then came back here and told me what you saw?"

"You wouldn't know." the side of his lips curled up.

We were just talking about things except for personal stuff. I actually was thankful for it because it will be awkward if we talk about a certain topic that both of us gets uncomfortable in answering.

It was actually... good. Better friendly date than I had expected... oh baka iba lang talaga ang pananaw ko sa kaniya because of his surname. Not to judge but he belongs to a family that we always see on tv being involved with issues.

Ang kasalanan ng ama ay hindi naman kasalanan ng anak diba? Pero hindi naman namumunga ang mangga ng saging. Whatever, kung ano anong logic tong naiisip ko that doesn't make sense at all.

"What are you doing?" he asked me an raised a brow when he saw getting my wallet to pay for my food.

"Paying?" patanong kong saad. Mas gusto kong ako ang nanlilibre kesa ako 'yung nililibre. Of course, gusto kong nalilibre ng mga kapatid ko but hindi naman 'yon kasali.

"Put that away," umiling siya and my brows furrowed.

"No. I don't want you paying for my food," I argued.

"I won't be paying for our food at my own restaurant," he casually said, and my mouth parted.