Nights Like This

CHAPTER 24

I slipped my car keys inside of my bag kasabay ng pag sarado ko ng pinto ng kotse ko. Wearing my white dress and nude stilettos, naglakad ako papasok sa loob ng restaurant that Mom chose. I know that I am late and that's because from the office, I had to go home to change my clothes kasi ayaw ko naman na pumunta rito na naka office attire looking like I've been working 24 hours. Technically, hindi naman but it feels like it.

Makikipag plastikan na lang din ako, mas okay naman na maganda at presentable ako because I just know na if I show up there like that, I know that I will be the topic of Tita Betty's comments.

"Exuse me. I have reservations under Calista Serrano," ani ko. Saglit kong tiningan ang phone ko dahil may text si Mommy asking kung nasaan na ako. I just didn't bother replying because ilang segundo na lang naman magkikita kita na kami.

The guys smiled and gave me a small nod. "This way po, Maam."

One of the staffs at the restaurant ushered me to the private room that my Mom reserved for us at dahil the door didn't create any noise nang buksan, they didn't notice na I am already here and I could already see na they didn't tell me something. They didn't inform me na Gabriel will join us in this dinner.

Now I know how this night will go. Ngayon pa lang yata kailangan ko na ng alak na magpapakalma sa akin dahil nag iinit na agad ang ulo ko and I feel like ditching them but of course, that would cause a problem so I'd rather just sit there and pretend that I am with them.

"Camila! There you are!" Tita Betty rose up from her seat while she spreads her arms to welcome me. "Wow! Look at you!"

"Hi, Tita! You look gorgeous as ever!" bati ko sa kanya while I took her hug for a few seconds lang and hugged Mommy din.

"Camila," nakangiting tawag ni Gabriel sa akin.

"Gab, Hi!" Lumapit ako sa kanya saka nakipag beso. Hindi ko sana gusto kaso yung dalawa, naka tingin na sa akin.

Gabriel pulled the chair beside him para maka upo ako because that's the only chair na available oout of four. Hindi ko alam kung sinasadya talaga nila or if that's just a pure coincidence. I looked at my Mom and Tita Betty and they're lovingly looking at the both of us so I just grabbed the glass of water because I feel like I am getting dehydrated.

Hinawakan ko yung menu at inangat because I just want to order and eat because I am starving and just get over this dinnner. I looked at the menu and a spicy chicken pasta would be nice. Sabi kasi ni Vance na he eats spicy foods to release stress so I'll try baka naman tama sya't mabawasan yung stress na mayroon ako ngayon.

"We already ordered something for you Camila," nakangiting sabi ni Mommy when she noticed that I am holding the menu. "I ordered something that you'll like."

Oh. Okay.

I smiled at my mom and nod then mouthed her with thanks.

"So? Kumusta hija? Kumusta kayo sa office?" tanong ni Tita Betty na kumuha ng atensyon ko. Her, aking kung kumusta na ba is the start of all her questions and comments.

"It looks like you're aging forward Camila ha, I'm afraid na baka mamaya mgka wrinkles ka!" natatawang sabi nya.

She's smiling at me and looking forward to a conversation with me like the conversation at my Dad's party didn't happen kung saan hinarang ko lahat ng pag push nya sa akin at sa anak nya. I might do the same thing again tonight until it sinks in to them that what they're plotting will never gonna happen.

"Oh. We're really good po, Tita. Sobrang busy lang sa work ngayon but it's manageable po," sagot ko.

"Nbanggit sa akin ni Mommy mo na you are really willing to squeeze in this dinner kahit sobrang busy mo because you misses me too. Thank you hija, I really appreciate it," sabi ni Tita and she pats my hand.

Kinagat ko yung labi ko to fight the urge na not to raise my eyebrows. I looked at my Mom but she's just nonchalant about it like she told the truth and not the other way around.

I looked at Tita and sweetly smiled at her. "Of course Tita I miss you and I'll miss you again kapag nag Europe trip na naman kayo ni Tito," sabi ko sa kanya.

"Don't worry, I'll shop you really bags and shoes when I'm there para pag uwi ko, we can spend time together. Let's travel! We can do that naman, Gabriel 'no?" ani Tita saka itinuon ang pansin sya sa anak nya. "I could snatch Camila from work like for a week and we'll just travel?"

Natigilan ako sa kinauupuan ko beacause that's just not how this conversation should be leading. Ang sabi ko mami- miss ko lang. wala akong sinasabi na I cwould want to spend a long time with her.

"Of course Mommy," sagot ni Gabriel. Mabilis ko syang nilingon because I badly wanna have a violent reaction pero hindi ko magagawa because my Mom's eyes are like guards na daig pa na maka bantay.

I just smiled while mentally masking the flame that's burning inside me while I watch Tita Betty who's satisfied with all that's happening.

"Eh kayong dalawa? How are you both?" Mommy fished out. Naka ngiti pa sya sa amin na para bang binibigyan kaagad ng malice na magkatabi kami ni Gabriel ng upuan.

"We're fine po, Tita. Unlike before, I often see her in the office these days dahil lagi kaming nagkikita sa meeting rooms. Don't worry Tita, I am taking good care of her and I treat her really well," confident na sabi ni Gabriel. Naramdaman ko ang pag stretch ng kamay ni Gabriel sa likod ng sandalan ko and it makes it look like inaakbayan nya ako.

So, I leaned forward para hindi nya magawa yung gusto nya.

Buti na lang na hindi pa dumarating yung pagkain kasi kung nasaktong kumakain kami at sinabi nya iyon, maluluwa ko talaga yung kinakain ko. That's how he take care of me? Like he's really pushing his intentions on me to the point na I am getting really uncomfortable?

That I have to work extra hard because I wanna prove people not just in the office but literally to every person that I got in to the company because of my skills and my hard work not because I have a privelege and connetions lalong lalo na because I am flirting with the Vice President of the company.

Akala ko nung una wala lang na wala naman kasi akong pake because it's not true but it's too late when I realized that the reason because I am so competitive and I take pride in my work is because I have to constantly prove myself and be the best so I could inavalidate all those kind of rumors.

"Here's your orders Maam and Sir," singit ng server sa usapan namin kaya saglit na natigil yun and I'm thankful about the timing kasi pakiramdam ko isang kalabit na lang sa akin, sasabog ako at mag w- walk out ako.

Akala ko kakalma na ako dahil may pagkain na sa harap ko at hindi na sasabay sa init ng ulo at stress ko yung gutom ko but i am so apalled to see na vongole pasta ang nilapag sa harap ko. I looked at their food baka naman kasi nagkamali lang ng lapag yung waiter because that could happen but as I looked at their food, I just confirmed na para nga sa akin itong pasta because they all got their favorites.

"Let's eat first. I know we all had a long day and we're starving so let's enjoy the food first," sabi ni Tita Betty.

Hindi ko ginalaw yung pagkain ko and I just stared at it as is naman na mabubusog ako o mauubos ko iyon kapag tinitigan ko.

"Why are you not eating, Camila?" tanong ni Mommy na naka kunot ang noo sa akin.

"Did you order this, Mom?" tanong ko sa kanya.

Sobrang pagpipigil ang ginagawa ko sa boses ko so the hard feelings that I am feeling wouldn't slip. I gritted my teeth as I wait for her to answer.

"Of course!" cool na sagot nya. She swirled her pasta on her fork saka nag angat ng tingin sa akin. "I know that you'll like that so I ordered you that. Is there a problem?"

Huminga ako ng malalim saka pinakawalan ang mabingat na pag hinga. "I am allergic to clams, Mommy."

Nanlaki ang mata ni Mommy at hindi lang sya kundi silang tatlo ay sabay sabay na nanlaki ang ata sa akin at nagtinginan pa sila. I controlled my breathing kasi ang sama sama na ng loob ko.

How could my own mother forget about my allergies that almost killed me when I was a child like it's nothing samantalang ako, tandang tanda ko pa na she don't eat white rice kahit na ang tagal tagal ko ng hindi naka tira sa bahay namin.

"Isn't prawns your allergy? I know it's prawns that's why hindi tayo nagluluto ng anything with prawns because you can't eat it," sabi pa nya, naka kunot pa rin ang noo at naka hawak sa fork nya.

I closed my fist under the table to stop my hands from shaking too much. Ilang segundo pa naramdaman ko na pag dampi ng mainit na palad sa kamay ko that I ended up shaking din dahil it's Gabriel's hands. I don't want his comfort.

"It's Kuya Conrad's Mom," seryosong sabi ko and my Mom's eyes and mouth circled.

It's true when she said na banned and prawns sa bahay dati because Kuya can't eat it kahit na gustong gusto ko ng prawns before. But when it comes to the clams, walang ban. They'd still have it kahit na alam nilang allergic ako roon pero okay lang. Naging okay nalang kasi nasanay naman na ako.

"Oh. Oh my! I'm sorry darling!" natatarantang sabi ni Mommy.

Nag tawag si Tita ng server at nagmamadali silang tanggalin yung vongole pasta sa harap ko na pag kinain ko ay paniguradong hindi aabutin ng ilang minuto, namumula na ako at hindi na ako maka hinga at baka ika admit ko pa sa hospital pag nagkataon.

"Sorry, Camila. I forgot about your allergies! We'll just replace your food. What do you want to eat?" tanong nya sa akin. She sounds like it's already okay and wala na dahil wala naman na yung pasta sa harap ko and hindi na sobrang big deal because papalitan naman na yung food ko.

"Please order me anything without clams, Mom. I'll just go to the rest room. Excused me po," tumayo ako sa kinauupuan ko saka lumakad papunta sa comfort room.

I just have to get out of there para maka hinga naman ako kahit paano. Para akong ma su- suffocate sa loob. Instead of going to the comfort room, dumiretso ako sa labas kung saan may open area and it's windy enough para liparin ang buhok ko.

Hindi ko alam kung nagiging super emotional lang ba ako o nagiging petty lang ako or what pero hindi ko alam. Naghahalo halo na lahat sa akin.

I don't know if this is about my unfondness to Tita Betty, the inis that I have for Gabriel or tampo kay Mommy. But then again, ano pa nga ba ang aasahan ko sa Mommy ko na pinipilit ako sa mga bagay na gusto nyang mangyari without even consulting me kahit na this is my own life and I am freaking adult now.

Gusto ko na lang umuwi kay Coco. Buti pa si Coco na walang ibang ginawa but to wag her tails kapag binubuksan ko na yung pinto ko at tanggalin lahat ng stress ko na nakuha ko sa umaga.

"Camila." Lumingon ako sa tumawag sa akin and it's Gabriel.

"Why did you leave them there? Bakit mo ako sinundan?" tanong ko sa kanya.

I looked at Gabriel and he looked at me with such tenderness at mukha syang nag aalala sa akin but I don't buy it.

"I'm just checking if you're fine. You don't look like you are," aniya. He stepped closer to me so I took a step backwards para hindi sya tuluyang maka lapit sa akin.

"There. You already have my answer kaya please, iwan mo muna ako kahit sandali kasi gusto ko lang na huminga even just for a while kasi pakiramdam ko kaunti na lang talaga, mapuputol na yung thread ng sanity ko. Don't worry hindi ako aalis. Hihinga langa ako," sabi ko.

Tumingin sa akin si Gabriel na para bang tinitimbang nya ako. He looks hesitant pero he just sighed aand gave in. Iniwan nya ako roon while I take my time to calm mysef and enjoy the cold breeze of air.