SEE YOU

Chapter 7

I was invited to a party and now here I am. In my royal blue dress with a glass of wine in my hand. I looked around to see everyone chit-chatting with other businessmen and women. I may be a business woman but I hate parties. Let me rephrase that, I don't like socializing. Introvert kasi ako at napilitan lang akong umattend dito. After saying a few hello's earlier and my greetings ay naiwan na ako mag-isa. Wala naman akong issue kung mag-isa lang ako dito. I like being alone anyways. And to be alone means,

"Gusto ko nang umuwi." I mouthed silently to myself. Pero wala pang isang oras mula nang makarating ako. Inilibot ko ang paningin ko sa paligid hoping na may lamesa sa corner na walang nag o-occupy pero bumagsak ang balikat ko nang wala akong mahanap.

Parties are so boring. Kung extrovert ako siguro enjoyable siya...though depende parin 'yon sa tao. Pero kasi para sa'kin parties are events na talagang nakaka drain nang battery ko.

I got bored so I went outside and the cold breeze from the sea greeted me. Now this is peace. Thankfully yung event ay located malapit sa dagat. The sun was about to set and the sky is bidding its farewell with a splash of reddish orange and pinkish hues. There were no waves from the ocean, it was calm. The reflection of the sunset by the water was like a diamond that sparkles, so pure and beautiful. I didn't realize na hawak ko pala ang isang bote nang wine. Mukha siguro akong lasinggera sa paningin ng iba kanina.

I was pouring myself a wine when I heard some noise behind me. I looked upon to see a man dressed in a dark green tuxedo who is now on the floor. He's soaking wet and yet he looks happy.

"Who are you?" I asked. He smiled and stood up as if he didn't trip. He came near me but I distanced myself. I don't like assertive men. To be exact I hate it. They think they can be dominant by using force.

"Hey..." He smells like wine and he looks drunk. I should go. I don't have to waste my time on people like that, like him. Nakakailang hakbang na ako palayo when,

"Hey miss wait!" I heard him yell and I heard another sound. The sound of falling...again.

I looked back to see him on the floor. I sighed, this man is too drunk huh?

"Are you always this clumsy?" I asked. He smiled at himself, now he doesn't have the intention to get up. Pinagpagan niya yung tuxedo niya pero nanatili siyang nakaupo.

He touched his chin as if he was thinking...as if he can think straight at this moment. I rolled my eyes. Why am I conversing with a drunk man? wala akong mapapala d'yan.

"No, no I am not. I was only clumsy when my eyes started to land on your highness." What? napangiwi ako sa mga pinagsasasabi niya. Like, yuck! is he trying to hit on me? Did he just pause just so he can think of a pick up line? A corny one at that?

"p*****t ka ba?" I finally asked. I was trying not to but well, I had the urge to. Nakakairita. He shookt his head and scoffed. His hair is a mess...no...he is.

"Tss, nope. Nagandahan kasi ako sa'yo kaya every time I see you literal na nahuhulog ako." He replied. He was still sitting there like a mindless person but he kept on smiling. Every time he does that his dimples keep showing.

'What about his dimples now Joreign? What about it? Pag kukuwestiyon ko sa sarili ko. Ugh! such a distraction. Naalala ko kasi si Jungwon nang Enhypen. Tsk! anyways balik tayo sa kinakaharap kong lasing.

"Ahh so, what you're trying to say is that lasing ka kaya ang lampa mo?" Pang-gagatong ko sa sinabi niya. I have a knack for teasing drunk men, more like being sarcastic. And a little bit sadistic I admit.

"Hindi ako lasing miss, kasi kung lasing ako edi sana hindi ko kausap 'yang diwata sa harap ko diba?" napatawa na lang ako sa mga sinasabi niya. Lasing nga talaga siya. He was saying such useless words. As if naman mauuto mo 'ko.

"Yahh tingnan mo kaya oh, hic! yung ang ganda nang paglubog nang araw tapos may diwata pa akong nakikita sa harap ko hic!" Tinuro turo pa niya yung araw na parang bata na gusto itong abutin.

"Hah, lasing ka nga...wala ka na sa katinuan." Pag bulong ko sa sarili ko. Iginawi ko ang tingin ko sa tinuturo niyang araw. Papalubog na nga ito, ano mang saglit ay maglalaho na ang araw.

"Mas maganda dito kaysa sa loob." dugtong pa niya at wala sa sariling tumango tango.

Napaisip naman ako, kung aalis ako dito...sa'n ako pupunta? kung babalik naman ako sa loob papatayin naman ako sa sobrang boring. Napa buntong hininga ako sabay kuha nang upuan at doon ay tahimik na umupo. I was sipping the wine I have while watching the sun vanish from the horizon.

I looked over him who was still on the floor, there is a safe distance between us. Kaya naman medyo ni-relax ko ang na-tense kong katawan kanina. I shouldn't think too much, I don't have my pills with me.

"Can I ask for your name?" I didn't look at him but instead I got him my business card. I threw it in his direction. I may hate socializing but I always prepare business cards. And you call that marketing.

"What's this?" He reached for the card.

"Read and you'll know my name." I answered. He was eyeeing the card I gave him. Hindi na siguro niya mabasa nang ayos. Nagpigil naman ako nang tawa, mukha siyang siomai na namumula sa pagka-lasing tapos idagdag mo pa na naniningkit yung mata niya d'on sa card na binigay ko. Masarap pag-tripan ang mga lasing hehe.

"If you are able to read that I'll give you my number." I challenged, as I turned to him. It was too late to take it back, I didn't think of what I just said. Ugh!

He looked at me and I met his eyes. For a moment, he just stared at the card.

"Hah! easy your name is..." He looked at the card again. Sumisingkit na yung mata niya at may pag nguso pa siyang nalalaman. Parang puwet nang manok.

"Jubilyn." Napa-nganga ako. What the hell? Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata pero parang mas sumaya pa siya sa reaksyon ko. Ngumiti-ngiti na naman siya na parang shunga. My gosh. He just changed my name in an instant!

I inhaled and breathed deeply and slowly. 'Lasing 'yan wag mong patulan' pagpapaalala ko sa sarili ko. 'Eh napatulan mo na eh, ba't mo kasi binigay 'yong card mo?' pananagot nang isipan ko. I run my fingers through my hair due to this quite frustrating feeling. Am I tipsy? Isang bote palang nang wine ang naiinom ko ah?

Fine, pagbigyan, ako yung nang-aasar sa kaniya pero bakit parang ako ang naasar? Jubilyn ba naman daw? Ang ganda kaya ng pangalan ko! Tapos mamaliin niya lang? Napahinto ako, tama! He is wrong!

Agad akong napangiti kasi, natalo siya sa challenge ko. I didn't have to give him my number. I smirked at the thought of winning. Pero napaisip ako, 'okay lang bang manalo kung yung kalaban mo lasing? isn't that cheating?'

"HAHA Jubilyn man pala ang ngalan naman ng diwata HAHAHA!" at aba tumawa pa ng malakas. I gritted my teeth and gave him a death stare pero hindi nagpatinag at humawak pa sa tiyan niya. Para siyang kinakatay sa kakatawa. Anong nakakatawa kung Jubilyn nga ang pangalan ko? Inis kong ibinaba ang hawak kong baso. Delikado na, baka maibato ko sakan'ya nang wala sa oras.

"Hah! ang lakas ng trip mo ah! oh sige anong pangalan mo!?" nakakabwisit ha. He reached for his pocket and gave me a business card too. I reached for it and read the information in it.

"J&V huh?" I whispered. He clapped and he got my attention with that. So, this drunk man is an architect.

"Now, read that and say my name." Ano ako utusan?

I looked at the card again and chuckled as I gave a playful smirk. Hah i'll beat you at your own game too!

"Tiboy." I said. And this time siya naman ang pinanlakihan ako ng mata. I can't help but let out a laugh. I haven't laughed like this for a while. Bigla niyang kinuha sa akin yung business card na binigay niya at pinaningkitan ito. Napa-atras naman ako sa biglaan niyang pag-lapit.

"The hell? did the wine mess up the print?" He said to himself. Lalo akong tumawa. Basa kasi yung business card na binigay niya sa akin, siguro gawa na rin nung wine na natapon niya kanina. Pero ang seryoso niya ha HAHAHA.

Napahinto ang pagtawa ko nang biglang mag ring yung phone ko. It was my secretary, it's time to go. May appointments pa kasing nag-aabang sa'kin kaya saglit lang 'tong pag punta ko sa party.

I stood up straight and lent him my hand, he caught it and kissed my forehand. Nagtaasan naman ang balahibo ko sa ginawa niya. Nagulat ako, I was only offering him a hand shake bruh. Bahagyang bumilis yung paghinga ko kaya I was slowing it down. Why didn't I bring my pills? I was too off guard.

"You leavin'?" He asked as he let go of my hand. I only nodded in response.

He stood up straight and smiled pinagpagan pa niya yung damit niya...ulit.

"Then, it was nice meeting you Miss Joreign Solem Meraki." he said my name. My full name.

So ano? All this time straight pala 'yong pag-iisip niya? Sana 'di na lang siya nag architect, actor dapat ang pinursue niya.

Anyways, mukha namang ito ang una at huli naming pagkikita kaya ngumiti ako.

"It was nice meeting you too, Sir Timothee Aubine." We both bid goodbye and I headed straight to where the car was parked. My secretary kindly opened the door for me to get in.

"Did you have fun?" my secretary asked me. He knew that I dislike attending parties. But today was different. It was a new experience, I won't say it's boring but I couldn't say I enjoyed it too well.

"It was fine." I replied as I got in the car.