Nights Like This

CHAPTER 12

"Saan ka galing?" tanong agad ni Kuya Conrad as pulled the chair when I got back. Everybody's attention is now focused on me. I tried to breath slowly to stabilize my heart that's still pounding.

"Dyan lang kuya," I answered. My mind's still not on the present. It's still left on the dark hallway of the restaurant. I can still feel Vance's hand on my back like it's permanently tattoooed there.

"Don't ever-" I cut his words because I already know what he's about to say. Lagi naman nyang sinasabi iyon tuwing may event.

"Yes. I won't try to escape or hide this time. I just talked to someone that I know," I explained to him. Kuya sllightly flinched when I saiid that. I guess hindi pa rin sya sanay to see the other side of me. The Camila that he knows woulddn't cut his sentence and talk like that.

Welcome to the other side of me, my brother. Nahuli nya na rin naman ko so I don't think I should play sweet and nice in front of him. Fritz knows but that boy doesn't care about what I am doing with my life

My brother stared at me like he's convincing himself to believe me. He should. Because wala talaga akong balak na tumaakas ngayong gabi. I don't plan to piss my father and make him summon me to his study. The last time that I was summoned in his study was back when I was in college. Mommy came to the dorm super early in the morning but I wasn't there. I was passed out in one of my friend's house. There, I was summoned on that same day. I just reasoned out that I was doing our thesis. Also, it doesn't help that my brother knows the thing that I do behind them. Fritz knows about it too but that boy doesn't really care about what I do with my life. Si Kuya Conrad lang talaga yung laging sinisilip kung ano yung ginagawa ko sa buhay ko.

"Mayor!" somebody called my brother's name kaya nawala sa akin ang atensyon nya. He pulled his stare sa akin and stood up to go with the person that called him.

"Where's Camila?" rinig kong tanong ni Mommy. Nakita ko sya sa likod ni Ate Emilia. Her eyes roamed on the table hanggang sa magkatinginan kami. I don't know if she's cheking if tumakas na naaman ba ako she's really just looking for me.

"I'm here Mom," I answered and even raised my hand to prove that I am really here and didn't try to hide from everyone.

"Girls, come with me. Your Tita Betty wants to see you," sabi nya sa akin at kay Ate Emilia. I held my breath to stop myself na huminga ng malalim and also to stop my eyes from rolling.

I smiled at her and rose from my seat. Before walking to the Titas I reminded myself that I must refrain myself from speaking whatever and just nod and smile to whatever the're gonna comment with my life again. I just have to swallow it like it is a bitter medicine.

We spotted Tita Betty with her husband Tito Alfredo. Believe it or not, they're Gabriel's parents. That's one of the reason why he feels like he's entitled to my life because he's close with my parrents and our parents are basically besties. I stretched my lips to form a smile.

"Hi Tita! Tito!" masiglang bati ko sa kanya. I leaned on the married coupke para makipag beso beso sa kanila. It looks like silang dalawa lang ang um- attend because if Gabriel did, kanina pa laang he'll be all over the place already like he's the one running for office kung maaka present ng sarili nya. "Wow Tita! You look younger the last time I saw you! You are aging backwards po ah! You look like you're younger than me!"

Nanlaki ang mata ni Tita and she happily touched her face like she's happy with the compliment. "Really? Oh my!" she extended her arms to me and held my hand and pats it. "Hay, what should I do to have a daughter like you?" she said and then looked at my mother. They looked at each other like they're speaking to each other on their minds.

I maintained my smiling face kahit na I really want to get out of here and run anywhere. I know that stares. I know where this conversation is heading.

"I'm sure po Tita na you will have a daughter in law that's better than me," sabi ko sa kanya. I wanna add na that daughter in law that she wants is not me and will never be me. There's no way in this lifetime or in every llifetime that I'd marry Gabriel. I can't even consider the possibility of it. Nah. Kahit ppilitin pa nila ako, there's no way that will do it.

Tita Betty's hand stopped from patting mine and mukhang nabigla sya sinabi ko. Clearly, she didn't get the response that she wants. I don't want her or my parents to give the idea that I am on the same page with them because I'll never be.

I'd never marry for money, for connection, or for any reason besides for love. Cliche man na pakinggan but I am like that. If I were to consider marriage, gusto kong sa taong gugustuhin kong maksama sa habang buhay ang taong iyon.

"How's you and my son?" tanong nya sa akin. She was clearly became off with my previous answer but she continued too smile at me like what I am doing.

"We're good po. We sometimes see each other at the company po and don't worry Tita, we're maintaining a very healthy relationship as a employee and employer," I galdly told her even though his son doesn't know how to take 'no' as as an answer and doesn't know how to respect the boundaries that the other people is setting.

I kept the smile on my face like I am not blocking them from suggesting marriage between me and Gabriel because it wiill never happen. They could push us all they want but they will never see me in a wedding dress. Especially when it's with Gabriel.

Hindi naman sa ayaw kong magpa kasal. It's just I don't think I'd be able to marry someone. I enjoying my life alone. All my life, I had to follow everything that my parents wants and it's suffocating me. I felt like I had a leash on my neck. That's why noong college, I chose a school that's literally far from our house para wala silang choice but to let me use dorm. Living in a dorm made me have that sense of freedom na para bang hawak ko na ang buhay ko so I went all in. I go to clubs and do whatever that I want. Secretly. I don't think that they'd expect their sweet daughter to be doing the oppossite.

After that kumustahan with Tita Betty, niyaya ko na si Ate Emilia to go back to our table. Paano ba naman, when they realized that she can't get anything from me, she changed her target to Ate Emi, asking her what's wrong with her and kung bakit wala pa silang anak ni Kuya.

Like really? Why does people have to nitpick about other's marriage and plans when to concieve or if they really want a child or not? Kung wala silang ambag sa buhay ng tao, they should just shut up. Kating kati na ang dila ko na sagutin si Tita Betty. It's offensive! Ito naman si Ate na may pagka people pleaser din, she just swalllowed and answered everything! Naloloka ako!

"Are you okay, Ate?" I asked her nang maka upo kami sa table namin. I sighed. "You shouldn't have explained yourself to Tita, Ate. You don't owe her any explanation."

"I know that, Cami. Ayaw ko naman na mapa hiya si Mommy sa harap ni Tita Betty if I act up. I also don't want her to assume anything about it and who knows, she might tell other people what she think and people might mistook that as the truth," aniya.

Tumango ako because I understand her. May mga instances nga naman talaga where you're left with no choice but to defend yourself to them.

Dinner is served and hindi ko pa pa rin nakikita ang anino ng Daddy ko. He's probably somewhere in this area talking with his amigos. I also kept on roaming my eyes with hopes on finding Vance but hindi ko sya makita within the area of my vision.

I don't know if umuwi na sya or kung nasaan na sya.

"Sinong hinahanap mo?" bulong ni Ate sa akin.

I looked at her with wide eyes saka umiling sa kanya. "Nothing Ate."

Inikot ko ang mata ko for the last time, baka dumaan sya sa gawi ko or what pero wala talaga.

Daddy went to our table and I gave him a soft peck on the cheeks. "Congratulations on your filing of COC, Daddy."

He nods his head. "And you didn't attend," aniya na para bang may sama ng loob ang tono.

I sweetly smiled at him and threw myself to him saka bahagya syang niyakap. Kailangan ko lang ng charms ko para makalimutan nyang may kasalanan ako sa kanya. "Sorry Dad. I had to attend a very urgent thing at the company so I missed it. I watched the news and saw that you did really great! You could win," I sweety told him. "And because of that, I have a gift for you!"

Kinuha ko sa lamesa yung naka patong na box na regalo ko. I bought a watch for him na tingin ko ay babagay sa mga casual attires nya when he's at the office.

Napanatag na ang loob ko nang makita ko si Daddy na unti unti ng sumisilay ang ngiti sa mga labi nya. They say fathers are a fool for their daughters and I guess that's true. Pag may kasalanan ako, kaunting lambing ko lang kay Daddy okay na sya. No matter how distant we are, he gives me whatever that I want. Bumibigay din sya kaagad. Wag na wag nya lang talaga malalaman yung mga ginagawa ko because I don't think he'll forgive me for that.

As long as hindi mag salita si Kuya, hindi nila malalaman. Speaking of Kuya, he's eyeing me like he's not buying anything. Of course. After seeing the real me, he'll see the difference.

Mom came and she's smiling at the sight that she's seeing. Of course. Minsan nya lang naman kami makikita ni Daddy na ganito. It's either may nagawa akong kasalanan and na disobey ko sya or may ipapabili ako. It's the former this time. On normal days, nah. I'd never do this. I'd rather live my life alone.

"Come on, the media wants to interview us," sabi ni Mommy. Lahat kami ay tumayo para sumunod sa corner kung nasaan yung mga reporter naka pwesto.

Naka hilera kami, my parents being on the center. Dulo kaming dalawa ni Fritz. They were taking photos of us so I had no to stretch my lips again for a smile. They also interviewed my Dad and my brother for the candidacy.

Dahil wala naman sa akin ang focus ng camera at ng media, I roamed my eyes and from a far dahil sumasakit ang mata ko sa lakas ng ilaw at sa flash ng cameras. There, I saw Vance at the distance talking at a man older than him. Seryoso syang nakikiapag discuss sa kausap nya. Hindi pa pala sya umuuwi.

Vancre really looks something else when he looks serious. He has an empty glass in front of him. Naka harap sya sa direction ng kausap nya while his right hand is on the table while his fingers are tapping the table.

And then suddenly, Vance lookes at our direction. He looked straight to my eyes while one of his eyebrows are up.

"We noticed that your daughter is very pretty," rinig kong sabi ng isang reporter from a very famous network.

All the cameras suddenly shifted towards my direction so I pulled my eyes from staring at Vance and looked at the camera in front of me.

I smiled and fixed my posture. "Thank you!"

"Do you have plans of joining showbizness?" naka ngiting tanong nya.

I looked at the camera. "No. I don't have any plans on entering the showbiz po. I am currently happy with what I do in my life," sabi ko.

"Sayang! You are very pretty pa naman," sabi nya. I just shyly smiled and then bowed a little to express my gratitude.

I may got the beauty but I will never have the interest, the attitude and the heart to enter the showbusiness. It's just really not for me.

After the interview, hinayaan naman nila kami agad. Bumalik lang naman kami sa upuan namin and spent the rest of the night faking smiles to people.

Hindi ko na ulit nakita pa si Vance around the area no matter how I look around. I was bored and hoping that I could have a conversation with him pero wala na talaga. He probably went home this time for real.

Hindi ko na sya nakikita pero I can still vividly see him in my head like he's just around. Well, makikita ko rin naman sya sa office bukas.