Everything With You

Chapter 4

Chapter 4

"Good evening, Mr. Valencia!"

Everyone around us greeted the new investor, nakangiti ang bawat isa, habang ako...nananatiling nakatulala.

"Good evening, ladies." He spoke, that totally made my heart frenzy. That voice...I miss that voice. I haven't heard it for how many years, and after hearing it now, I think I'm gonna cry.

"Any greetings for Mr. Valencia, Avery?" Mr. Jones said that brought me back to my senses. Napatingin ako sa mga kasama namin at napansin na ako na lang pala ang hindi bumabati. I was so astonished to the point that I didn't know what to do earlier.

I cleared my throat first before giving off a small smile. "Good evening, Mr. V—Valencia." I said, trying my best to sound fine and to not embarass myself by my trembling tone.

The man in front of me released a small smirk at me while still staring. He slowly nodded, "Good evening, Miss...what's your name again?" He asked, which I think is kind of insulting.

Nakalimutan nya nga ba talaga ang pangalan ko? O sinasadya nya lang na hindi maalala?

"Avery. Avery Villarama." I answered.

He nodded again. "Oh, Villarama..." He said.

Ilang segundo 'ring namutawi ang katahimikan hanggang sa basagin iyon ng mga papalapit na waiters bitbit ang mga pagkaing pinahanda ni Mr. Jones. Karamihan duon ay sea food dishes, habang may iilan na meat foods.

Mr. Jones took the plate of shrimp and started putting some on my plates. Umayos naman ako ng upo at akmang pipigilan ito dahil allergic ako sa sea foods, nang magtama ang tingin naming dalawa ni Rencis---or I might call, Mr. Valencia.

He stared at me for a moment then went down to the pieces of shrimp on my plate. I remembered, long ago, whenever we have a party thrown and sea foods are being served, he always remind everyone that I am allergic to it, then he's always the one to eat it for me.

I wonder what will happen now? Would he...or would he not?

"Mr. Jones, sorry but Avery is allergic to shrimps, generally in sea foods. I think steak will be good for her to dine tonight," The voice of Olivia registered which caught Mr. Jones attention.

Nang ilipat ko ang tingin sa reaksyon nito ay halata ang pagkagulat at pagsisisi roon.

"Is that so, Av?" He asked.

Medyo nagulat pa ako sa nickname na tinawag nya sakin. This is the first time he called me as "Av".

I gulped before nodding. "Yes, Mr. Jones."

"Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't know," He apologized before taking the plate away and replaced it with an empty one. "Here, uhm, what do you prefer? Steak? Just name something you want,"

"Ako na 'pong bahala, Mr. Jones."

"Stop calling me Mr. Jones. Just call me Anthony, our age is not that far anyway, and hearing you call me by my surname is suffocating. Parang hindi akma, lalo na kung sayo manggagaling." wika nito, dahilan para maghari ang mapang-asar na tili nina Trina, Erin, at Shane, habang si Olivia ay nakatingin lamang sa akin ng seryoso, tapos ay lilipat ang mga mata sa taong nasa harapan ko.

Everyone is busy teasing us when the person in front of me cleared his throat. Napunta ang atensyon ng lahat sa kanya, maging ang kay Mr. Jones—err, Anthony pala.

"What is it, Mr. Valencia?" Mr. Jones asked.

"You two...are you a couple?" He asked in a very flat tone anyone could ever give. Hindi ko alam kung curious ba syang malaman, o napipilitan lang ba sya dahil gusto nya lang makisali sa usapan? Oh goodness. Ang hirap hirap pa 'ding basahin nitong lalaking 'to!

Mr. Jones miraculous laugh caught our attentions. Lahat kami ay napatingin dito at pare-parehong naghihintay ng sagot.

"Uhm, I don't have an answer to that yet. Maybe wait for a few...more," He said, that again, ignited a teasing tone from the rest. Habang ang lalaki sa harapan ko ay nanatili lamang na tahimik habang tumatango.

After that, Mr. Jones---or Anthony invited everyone to start eating. Of course, I also get some food for me. Pero syempre, with poise ang pagkain ko. May gwapong nilalang ba naman sa harapan ko, at hindi lang pala basta gwapo, mahal ko din pala 'to, kaya dapat matino ang itsura ko.

I now realized why I wanted to stay in my cabin for a few more minutes earlier to retouch is because there is someone in here, who I want to amaze.

"Masyado ng gabi. Siguro dapat magpahinga na tayong lahat. We'll have a diving escapade tomorrow, so make sure na makakapag-pahinga kayong lahat." Mr. Jones announced, na muli ay nagpa-excite sa lahat. Kahit hindi ako magaling lumangoy, gusto ko pa 'ring sumama sa kanila.

"Thank you po sa pa-dinner, Mr. Jones. See you tomorrow po!" Shane said. Mr. Jones just gave a slight small before his stare dropped on me. Nagulat ako duon kaya hindi ako naka-iwas ng tingin. I was caught off guard!

"Will you go with us tomorrow, Avery?" He asked before taking a consecutive steps to get closer to me. Ang kaibigan naman nito ay naiwan na nakatayo sa likod ng kanina'y inuupuan nito. While Anthony is standing in front of me and almost blocking half of Rencis' body, hindi ko mapigilan ang mga mata ko na tanawin ang binata. He's looking seriously on the wide ocean while his hands are on his pockets. Nakakunot ang noo nito na animo'y may malalim na iniisip.

And while staring at him, duon ko napansin ang grabeng pagma-mature nya. He looked so manly than before. Malinis ang mukha, makapal pa din ang kulay just like before, his hair is in a very decent form, mahahaba ang pilik-mata na animo'y dinaig pa ata ang akin. Nuon ay natatangusan na ako sa ilong nya, ngunit tila mas tumangos iyon ngayon sa paningin ko.

My stare went down to his lips.

It was kissable already before, but It became much more beautiful to look at now. I wonder if he's using anything to take care of it? Lalo na't baka magamit nya iyong panghatak sa mga babae na nakapaligid sa kanya?

"Avery, are you alright?"

Anthony's follow-up question brought me back to my senses and woke me up from eye-raping the man behind him. Takte, Avery! Bakit naman kailangan mo 'pang pagmasdan ang ex mo? Paano kung nahuli ka nya, edi lagot na?!

I looked down a bit as I gulped before looking at Anthony with a genuine small. "Yes, Mr. Jon---I mean, Anthony. What's the purpose of even going here kung hindi naman ako makiki-join sa inyo,"

The man smiled wider after hearing my answer. "That's good to hear! Don't worry, ako ang bahala sayo. I swear that you won't feel scared of the ocean tomorrow. I'll be your life guard," He added.

After hearing his statement, I couldn't help but to think of Rencis. Sinabi nya rin sakin iyon noon. Hindi man parehong-pareho, pareho naman ng nilalaman.

He told me that he will never leave me. He assured me that he'll take care of me. How ironic. Parang noon, ako pa ang takot na takot na iwan nya ako, kasi baka may mahanap sya'ng iba. I was always paranoid, and always jealous whenever he doesn't give me his full attention, but look what I did? Ako pa ang nang-iwan.

Tapos ngayon na nagbalik sya, ako pa ata itong gagawa ng paraan para makipag-balikan. I won't deny the fact that I am still in love with him. Gusto 'kong itama ang mga mali ko noon. Gusto 'kong dugtungan ang storya naming dalawa, pero hindi ko alam kung paano ang gagawin ko.

If I'll say that I still love him, would he believe me?

I think he won't.

" Anthony, mauna na ako sa cabin ko. I am tired of my flight from the US, so I wanted to rest already. Let's just continue tomorrow," napukaw ang atensyon naming lahat ng magpaalam ang binata. Nilingon agad ito ni Anthony at nilapitan upang i-pat ang balikat nito.

"Okay, Mr. Valencia. Rest well tonight,"

"Thanks," He just replied before nodding to everyone as a sign of good bye, but even for a one time, he did not give me a glance. Nagpaalam ito sa lahat, pwera sa akin.

Kaya wala na akong nagawa kung hindi ang sundan na lamang sya ng tingin.