Everything With You

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

He's back.

I was packing my things while my mind is busy wandering around. That post...is the first post he made after 5 long years. And I couldn't help but to be curious. Where did he landed? Dito ba? Sa Pilipinas? Are we breathing the same air now? Good God! I didn't even know that he left the country. Literal na wala na akong nasagap na balita sa kanya simula ng araw na iyon sa Cafe.

Several door bells made me brought back to my own senses. I stood up and immediately went to the door. Nang buksan ay ang nakangising mukha nila Erin, Olivia, at Shane ang bumungad sa akin.

"We're ready to go! How 'bout you?" Erin said. Erin is a half-american and half-filipina, but her Filipina blood isn't that obvious when it comes to her appearance. She's white-skinned, have a blond hair, and a brown eyes. Her body is also skinny-sexy!

I opened the door widely to gesture them to come in. "I'm just starting to pack my things," I said.

"What? We eventually separated for about two hours already and yet you're not done?" Liv commented while coming in and goes straight to my bed where I was packing my clothes.

"I'm not like you who packed so well and fast, Olivia." I replied before going back in sitting on the bed and continued packing. Naupo naman sina Erin at Shane sa isang sofa di kalayuan sa kama ko.

"Well, since si Olivia ang magaling sa pagpa-pack ng gamit, why don't you let her do it?" Shane suggested which I totally answered with a roll eyes and glare.

"Oh come on! If Olivia touch my things, I swear I would be left with nothing but a shameful pieces of clothes. I remembered the last time she brought me clothes at the company, I almost resigned." I said, before turning my gaze at Olivia whose now looking at me like she's gonna throw a fit on me in no time. Nginisihan ko naman ito para lalong maasar.

"I won't help even if Av asks for it, duh. Mahal ang TF ng nag-iisang Olivia Rivera!" wika naman nito na sinundan ng paghawi ng mahaba at makapal nitong buhok. Olivia is so beautiful, lalo na ang buhok nya. Isa iyon sa pansinin, dagdag pa ang height nitong pang-miss universe na. But unlike Erin, Olivia is a morena type of girl, and sa aming apat, I think she's the most sought after.

"I can handle my clothes well anyway." I said.

Shane, on the other hand laughed together with Erin. "Much better if you won't let Olivia touch your things at all, Av." She seconded na mas nagpa-irita kay Olivia. Sa aming apat, I can tell that Erin is the most talented. She's a theater actress and a very wonderful singer. Nung nagpaulan ata si Lord ng talent, sya ang inabutan sa labas at naulanan.

"I know that very much," I answered.

"Alm nyo kayo talaga parang hindi mga kaibigan." Olivia yelled before ravishing the clothes I was packing. "Ano 'tong mga dala mo, Avery? bakit puro ang hahaba ng mga 'to?" sita nito. Agad ko namang inagaw ang hawak 'nyang pajama ko.

"That's a pajama, malamang mahaba. For night," I reasoned.

"For night only? Eh bakit parang wala man lang kahit isang shorts sa mga pina-pack mo? Seryoso? Beach ba ang pupuntahan natin or pajama party?"

Erin and Shane laughed again.

"Just don't mind my things, Olivia! This is what I prefer the most," I just said then continued while Olivia just sighed heavily while shaking her head in disapproval and disappointment.

WE ARRIVED exactly 7 o'clock in the evening at Palawan Airport. Kanya-kanya kaming dala ng gamit hanggang sa makalabas ng Arrival. Agad naman naming nakita sina Trina---Secretary ni Mr. Jones---na nag-aabang kasama ang isang puting van. Trina immediately smiled after seeing us.

"Finally, you are all here. Kanina pa kayo hinihintay ni Mr. Jones sa Hotel," Ms. Trina said.

I also smiled. "If I may ask, ano 'bang meron at may biglaang pa-ganito si Mr. Jones?" Di ko napigilang tanong habang inaabot sa driver at helper ang mga gamit ko upang mailagay sa compartment.

"Mr. Jones long time friend is here in the Philippines, and they are planning to start a business together, If I'm not mistaken, dito sa Palawan nila gustong magsimula. And Mr. Jones said that you might excel and take part in the planning. Malaki ang tiwala sayo ni Sir kaya ni-request ka nya personally," sagot naman ni Ms. Trina habang nakangiti ng matamis sa akin.

"Malaki lang ba ang tiwala? O baka naman malaki rin kasi ang pagmamahal ni Mr. Jones?" Olivia side-commented na agad 'kong nilingon upang bigyan ng masamang tingin. Nag-patay malisya lang naman ito bago tumulong sa pagka-karga ng mga gamit namin.

"Hmm, maybe both?" sakay naman ni Ms. Trina kay Olivia kaya nabalik dito ang tingin ko ngunit nakapasok na ito sa loob ng Van. Wala naman na akong nagawa kung hindi ang mapailing at agad na sumunod sa loob.

ARRIVING at the Hotel, Ms. Trina assisted us towards our own villa to stay in. Magkaka-hiwalay kaming apat, halatang properly reserved ni Mr. Jones. Just thinking about it, I wonder kung magkano ang lalabas na gastos sa bulsa ng amo namin.

"Now, I'm sure we're all starving so let's go to the main dining hall. Naroon na rin sina Mr. Jones. Let's go, girls?" Ms. Trina invited.

"Uhm, can I stay for a minute, Ms. Trina? Susunod na lang po ako sa inyo,"

"Why? Is there something you need?"

"Huh? Uhm, nope. I just---"

"Baka magpapaganda para kay Mr. Jones, Ms. Trina!" rinig 'kong pang-aasar ni Olivia kaya tinignan ko agad ito ng masama.

"Oh, gano'n ba, Avery? Okay. That's not a problem. You can stay, but don't be too long, ha? Baka mabagot si Mr. Jones kasi di ka pa nakikita," pang-aasar din ni Ms. Trina kaya naman napapikit na lamang ako sa inis.

"Ugh, stop! Fine, sasabay na ako sa inyo." I said bago nauna nang maglakad sa kanilang apat. I even heard them all laughing behind my back. Ugh. I hope they'll be civil and professional kapag kaharap na namin si Mr. Jones at ang iba nitong kasama, kung hindi, naku, nakakahiya!

"That's the dining hall. Come on," Ms. Trina said kaya naman sabay-sabay kaming pumasok duon. Ms. Trina continued walking towards the long table placed at the corner. Mula sa malayo ay kitang-kita si Mr. Jones na nakaupo sa sentrong upuan, nakasuot ito ng itim na polo shirt na pinarisan ng puting formal shorts. Sa paligid naman nito ay isang lalaking nakasuot ng americana coats, black well-flattened pants, and a pair of branded shoes. While looking at the man's back, I am sure that the man has a good body built and maybe in the age of late twenties or early thirties. Maybe, he's the investor.

"Good evening, Mr. Jones! They have arrived," Ms. Trina said to caught Mr. Jones attention. Agad naman itong napatingin sa amin---especially sa gawi ko. His eyes made contact with mine so I let out a small smile.

"Perfect. Let us all sit now, and Trina please asked the waiters to serve the foods. Oh, and Avery, please sit next to me." He said, then he stands up, walked his way towards the empty seat beside him, and pulled it for me. My eyes widened, while I hear some giggled from the behind.

Oh, geez.

I was reluctant, but I don't want to embarass Mr. Jones in front of his friend, so I smiled and nodded. "Thank you, Sir." I said before walking towards the sit he wanted me to---which is actually in front of his friend, whose still silent.

Tinignan ko si Mr. Jones bago tuluyang umupo sa upuan. Nananatili akong nakatungo dahil sa hiya at kaba, hanggang sa makabalik si Mr. Jones sa upuan nito. Nagbilang pa ako ng tatlong segundo bago kalmadong inangat ang aking paningin----ngunit hindi ko akalain na mas lalo pala iyong magwawala dahil sa pares ng mga mata na natagpuan 'kong nakatitig sa akin.

Kung literal lang na nahuhulog ang panga, I swear, kanina pa hulog ang sakin.

What the heck is happening?

Is it really him in front of me?

Hindi ba ako nag-i-ilusyon lang?

"Oh, meet my friend and our new investor, Mr. Rencis Valencia. He's a pilot and an upcoming successful businessman," Mr. Jones introduced that confirmed the fact that he is not just an illusion of mine.

Rencis is really in front of me.

He looked so very different.

And I almost cried to know that he's now a pilot.

The man I love...is in front of me, looking so successful ever.