Samuel & Olivia

VEINTIDOS

Athena at Sebastian

♔ Samuel

“Livi, I’ve extended our stay here… we both need a break” told her when we reached her room after the Ball… I’m sitting on the sofa with my feet up on the coffee table with only my socks on… I’ve loosen my ties and opened some buttons of my inner shirts.

She looked at me with big shocked eyes… then she smiled at me

“I was going to ask you about it too, I wanted to visit my friend and housemate before going home” sabi niya, Thank God! I am saved from her wrath…

“Can I go visit her?” nakangiti niyang tanong, parang nagpapaalam na bata...

“You know your way around here? habol niya pang tanong. What the! Is she really planning to leave me alone…

“You, planning to leave me alone here?” tanong kung may tampo

“You, embarrassed to be seen with me? dagdag ko pa… tiningnan ko siya ng nagtatampo, nginusuan lang ako… Hahalikan ko na talaga ang babaeng to.

“Boss, it’s not that… I just thought you have other plans already” pag aalo niya sa akin, tumabi na rin siya kinauupuan ko at humilig sa balikat ko, dinaan pa ako sa paglalambing.

“I don’t have other plans than to spend this time with you, I was hoping you will show me around” hinalikan ko ang tuktok ng ulo niya saka inihilig din ang ulo ko sa kanya.

“Hmmm? If you want me to show you around, it would not be on some integrated resorts or other tourist spots. Are you Ok with that?” tanong niya, will she show me where she healed herself from the a**hole me. I hope I won’t see the hurt in eyes, it always reminds me how badly I treated her and we are both moving forward from it. We are doing better now than the first time we saw each other after she got back.

“Wherever you’ll take me My Love, I’ll go with you as long as we are together” lambing ko sa kanya

“Mr. Aguila, I am Olivia not My Love… baka mamaya yun ang itawag mo sa akin sa harap ng kaibigan ko magulat pa yun. Boss pa naman kita” malumanay pero masungit niyang sabi

“But! You are My Love” hirit ko pa rin

“Boss, stop it already… or you want me to leave you alone here?” sungit na naman niya, umaalis na rin siya sa pagkahilig sa balikat ko

“Please don’t move, let's stay like this for a while”

“Livi, I’ll call you Livi, is that Ok with you”

“Ok Boss… Thanks Boss” she heaved a sigh, put her feet up on the sofa and curled up beside me. I badly wanted to enclose her in my arms and hug her all night but I can’t succumb to the temptation, as I know for myself I won’t be content with just that. I still need to learn how to do that without me ravishing her. She was silent beside me… a minute or two I could hear a gentle breathing, she fell asleep.

God! I just want to curl up with her and sleep too. I don’t have the strength to go to my room…

Woke up with something heavy on my chest, I'm lying on my back on the sofa… slowly opened my eyes and I could see a head... Oh God! I feel asleep too and now My Love is literally on top of me. Luckily I woke up before her, I can imagine how she’ll go hysterical if she woke up before me. The clock showed almost three in the morning. I slept for almost an hour. I slowly slid up off the sofa, careful not to wake up the beauty on top of me, success! Carried her to her bed, what a beautiful sight… pressed my lips on hers for a minute, she was dead asleep… went out of her room before I do something I’ll regret later.

Our extra days were spent with her friend, Athena and her fiancé Sebastian… they are fun to be with. She showed me their HDB Flat and Athena is all packed to go back home for their wedding by the end of the year. We went hiking on some lush green parks, the elevated walkway of Kent Ridge is wonderful. We ate at some famous but super cheap hawker centers, they serve delicious local food.

We crossed the main island and visited the last remaining villages or “kampongs” in the north-east coast. It was once a granite mining hub, today remains as an abandoned granite quarry, rich in forests and grasslands. This is unusual for a tourist but I am enjoying it… para akong bumalik sa kabataan ko sa Hacienda Valmonte simple things enticed happiness.

- You are happy because of that pretty EA of yours, bulong na utak ko,

- Well hindi ko itatanggi, she is happiness for me… always been always be.

On our last day, I invited the engaged couple for a night in our Hotel. Paid for their accommodations and we splurge on some celebrity chefs' restaurants the Hotel is boasting about, as my way of thanking them both for putting up with us.

“Olivia, to be sure you are attending my wedding… I made you my maid of honor” balita sa kanya ni Athena, during our dinner at the celebrity chef resto. She looked so lovely tonight she dressed up a little, the sage color cap sleeved sheath dress with bateau neckline just above her knee is more conservative than the one she wore during the Ball.

- That olive color A-line gown has a very provocative sweetheart V-neckline balancing it with an oversized chiffon cuff long sleeves… Sexy and Alluring, my friend can't help but twitch!, ansakit sa p*son Tang na! But I can see envy in the eyes of some colleagues. Lucky me!

“I am telling you this early so you will have no excuse not to go” habol pa nito

“Oh, I have no plans to skip your wedding Dear” sagot ni Livi sa kanya

“So, Boss in advance too… I am telling you already I’ll be on leave after Christmas for a week or two the bride would need me there” baling niya sa akin

“Hey, Boss you can come too” imbita naman ni Athena sa akin…

“Thea, he may have other plans already” bulong ni Sebastian sa kanya

“It’s OK, I’ll try to make time” sabat ko sa kanila

“There it’s settled then, I’ll see you both in our wedding” napa palakpak si Athena… she’s a little bit feisty but soft too, I can see they’re both so in love. - I’m still wishing I could be that with Livi but not now, I don’t want to be doing it halfheartedly.

After Dinner, we went to a lounge bar at the SkyPark… it is bitter sweet, reality check we are going back the next day. Overjoyed… ecstatic is an understatement on how I feel spending time with Livi. God! I don’t know why I am letting myself get close to her again… but I can’t let her go… I can’t imagine life without her and it is scaring me, really scaring me.

Back in the Metro, back with our routines… meetings, papers to sign, reports to study, decisions to be made and Law school for me. And I can’t be more grateful with Livi for putting up with my sh*ts, I don’t know how she does that… She’s an Angel! And I have been clingy to her, I can’t even go to a meeting without her… never been dependent on anybody but I am turning to be one with her. - Where is the f*cking ruthless Samuel Roman Aguila, that does not need anybody… I am not liking what I am becoming. Sh*t! But, God just thinking of losing her again is killing me, every time I see hurt in her eyes every time the past catches up with us it is like knives piercing my heart too.

~~~~~~~~~~~

♕ Olivia

“What do you think of the “Italian Feast Party Theme” ng Year End Party for this year?” kausap sa amin ni Jude ng minsan sumabay ako sa kanila, minsan dahil palagi nalang ang mamang yun ang kasabay ko kumain.

“That’s better than the Indian last year” sabi ni Gia… kaming tatlo lang magkasama ngayon, bihira na sumabay sa amin si Mrs. Angeles mula ng bumalik siya kay SVA.

“Really, you have Indian last time?, what does that mean? Bollywood?” sabat ko

“Not really, you see it’s a tradition here to themed the Party on the type of food… not like dressing up” paliwanag ni Jude

“Oh! I see, can’t imagine Saree or Anarkali Suit and Sherwani or Bandhgala being worn here just for a Party” natatawa kung sabi sa kanila

“Yeah! No need to dress up… you casual office attire will suffice” sabi ni Gia

“That’s good to hear, no need to spend on some costumes you will only be wearing one time” pag sangayon ko sa kanila

“It will be your first Year End Party, Girl… prepare yourself sometimes they ask for some impromptu talent portion on some newbie” babala sa akin ni Jude

“I doubt they will ask Oli for that, takot lang nila kay Boss” sabi naman ni Gia… so dapat ko palang ipagpasalamat na EA ako ng Boss walang mamimilit sa akin, Good to hear.

After the Business Summit in Singapore, we are back in our busy fixed program meetings, reports, assisting the man even in his Law school. I am blessed that I know my way around him, maybe because I’ve seen how he works on two different worlds. But I think I am spoiling him, he is extra needy of me sometimes. Buti na lang mabait minsan hindi nakakalimutang magpasalamat. - Pag nagiging monster na siya, tinatawag ko siyang Roman Magsasaka and it always changes his mood, minsan galit... minsan natatawa nalang…

Nakikita ko ang kagustuhan niyang manatili kaming magkaibigan na lang… pero hindi niya pa rin maiwasan maging extra sweet or minsan possessive of me. Minsan gusto mo ng umasa… nakaka confuse pero hindi ko nalang binibigyan ng kahulugan ang mga ginagawa niya.

- Nakakatakot umasa sa wala, kahit na hindi mo mapigilan humanga at kiligin sa mga gestures niya. He never forgets to greet me in the morning, sweet nothings messages whenever he is in good mood. Hindi rin nawawala ang mga paglalambing niya... mga nakaw na halik, mga yakap, ang paghiga niya sa kandungan ko pag nagpapatulong siya sa review ng Law school. Nakaka sanayan na namin ang magkwentuhan sa gabi bago matulog, sabi niya pa hindi siya makatulog pag hindi niya ako nakakausap… Kainis di ba! Paasa!

*Year End Party

“I’ll pick you up and we will go together to the Year End Party” bilin ni Boss last night. Kaya heto ako ngayon nag aantay sa sundo ko… Nak ng tinapa!… ka gwapong nilalang, black fitted long sleeve shirt paired with gray khakis and a chukka shoes. - Tulo laway girl… sino ba hindi eh yung long sleeve niya bakat ang six pack abs niya, Letse!

Pinitik niya noo ko…

“Stop gawking on me” anas niya, pero siya ganun din ang tingin sa akin

“Yabang mo din talaga minsan Boss” napa Tsss na lang siya sa palusot ko.

“Putang alindog yan” rinig kung bulong niya… sabay talikod para maunang lumakad, may alindog pala ako ha! Sarap asarin kaya lang baka hindi makapag pigil masungaban ako ng nakaka windang na halik. Naakit naman agad sa lace sleeveless asymmetric neckline top paired with skinny cropped pants ko, ngayon lang naman ako nagpakita ng konting skin.

“Sabi ko nga mag ja-jacket na” bulong ko pero, hinatak niya na ang kamay ko, bago sumakay ng sasakyan niyang BMW 3 Series. Masuyo niya akong hinalikan sa noo

“You’re so pretty and lovely tonight My Love” ang sweet na naman ng mama

“You look good too, Boss” ramdam ko ang pag ngiti niya habang nakalapat ang mga labi sa noo ko

Masaya kaming dumating sa Party kaya lang may pa surprise ang mag asawang Aguila, bisita nila ang pamilya ng amiga ni SVA with their stunning supermodel daughter na matagal na palang nirereto kay Samuel. Wala naman akong karapatan sa kanya so all I can do is walk away and sit with my friends and enjoy the night… The Party is grand and wonderful. It would be a waste if I’ll sulk.

Italian Feast Party, yes it is… pasta overload Lemon and Garlic Prawn Spaghetti, Tuna Pesto in olive oil for health conscious. Beef Lasagna, Chicken and Mushroom Ravioli and Mixed seafood on fresh tomato, garlic and basil for those who want to indulge. For meat lovers there is Carpaccio typically served as an appetizer, Porchetta a boneless pork roast, Arrosticini are grilled meat on skewers and the el famoso Ossobuco. And of course pizza in different flavors. For dessert there is Tiramisù, Cannoli, Panna cotta and Gelato instead of just ordinary ice cream. What a feast it is!

~~~~~~~~~

Fortunately, there is no work after Christmas… after the Year End Party sinabi ni Samuel na hindi siya makakasama sa Kasalang Garcia-Acosta. Nagyaya daw si SVA ng bakasyon sa labas ng bansa, nagpapaalam pa ang loko kala mo may relasyon kami. Blessing in disguise na rin siguro dahil noong Pasko ibinalita ni Papi at Mamita na invited pala sila. Akalain mong magkaibigan pala si Papi at ang Lolo ni Sebastian.

A week before the wedding I'm already at the venue to help and have some bonding time with Athena. The Mountain Farm Resort is stunning, nasabi na ni Papi na dito niya nakuha ang inspiration sa gusto niya ring gawin sa Hacienda. - Papi and Mamita will only arrive on the day of the wedding, mag helicopter yata kasi baka balikan lang din sila.

Modern Rustic ang Theme ng Wedding, navy blue, mauve, nude and gray are the color palettes. Nakilala ko na rin ang Best man na kapatid ni Athena at isa sa mga bestfriend at business associate na rin ni Seb na si Axel. He’s a boy version of Athena not overly handsome but not ordinary too, he has his own charm. A serious type dahil na rin siguro sa pagiging agent niya mula pagkabata at isa ring computer geek.

The Day of the wedding comes too soon… Athena’s sister-in-law is such a machine, she prepared the wedding unflawed. And the Farm Resort is transformed into something like from a fairytale books whimsical, picturesque… beautiful is an understatement for how it looks.

My maid of honor gown is in mauve color like Axel’s long sleeves, while the other bridesmaids are in nude color, the same as the groomsmen shirts. All men are in navy blue khaki pants.

“Ganda mo apo” bati ni Mamita ng magkita kami sa chapel sa loob ng Farm Resort

“Lagi naman yan maganda, kasi nga apo ko yan” hirit naman ni Papi…

“Thank you po” saka ako nag mano, hindi ako naka upo ng matagal katabi nila… I have to wait for the bride outside… And goodness gracious me Samuel Roman Aguila in the arms of the supermodel is here. I thought he’s out of the country, what the F!? He could just told me, he doesn’t want to come “with me” ginawa pang excuse ang Nanay niya, Sh*t! Talaga! - Ano ka ba kasi niya? asik ng mabait kung utak - Well brain I’m not just his EA, I am a friend too… bakit kailangan pang mag dahilan, nakakainsulto lang nagsabi pa ako kay Athena na hindi siya makakapunta, Tapos heto siya ngayon may kasamang iba. The F*ck! Nagmukha akong tanga! Hindi ko na pigilan ang pag ikot ng mata ng magtama ang paningin namin, hindi ko mawari ang tingin niyang nanghihingi ng sorry. Sorry my ass!

Took my phone and sent a message to Papi and Mamita of his presence…

Deep Breaths… Deep Breaths… then I close my eyes, pag mulat ko ng mata kita ko sa harap ko si Axel ng nagtataka ang mukha.

“You Ok!”

“Yeah, I am” and smile my sweetest… I shouldn’t be affected by his presence, pareho lang kaming bisita dito walang Boss, walang EA… so to hell with Him!

“Ok, you look pale kanina… like you’ve seen a ghost or maybe somebody” sabi ni Axel

“Hey! I am Ok… really and stop being an agent on me, you’re too observant” biro ko sa kanya

“Sorry, nasanay lang”

“No, don’t be Sorry, It’s OK… Salamat sa pag aalala” tinapik ko siya sa braso… natawa na rin kami pareho… sa one week ko na pag stay dito, siya lagi kung kasama kaya medyo at ease na kami sa isa’t isa. And he is fun to be with kahit naman serious siya may funny at playful side naman.

Ng dumating si Seb sinamahan na siya ni Axel sa loob, kasunod ang asawa ng kapatid niya. Ako at ang sister-in-law ni Athena ang naiwan… Ng tumapat sa amin ang bridal car… I get into action of being the Maid of honor. Namangha ako sa ganda ng kaibigan ko… tama sila mag bo bloom ka pag in love ka and she is blooming.

When the parade songs started everyone lined up in their places…

Big names are well represented both from the politics and business community… Seb is a grandson of a former Senator. But I am happy to see simple people mingling with them, nakilala ko na rin kasi ang mga katiwala nila at iba pang farmer leaders... iba talaga sa probinsya.