CHAPTER SEVEN

CASSIDY parked his car in front of Lavigne Restaurant. It was owned by his father's business partner, Arthur Lavigne. He's the father of that woman, his ex. They have been engaged since they were young, but last month, he caught her having an affair with her best friend. 

He wants to cut off the engagement, but his father won't let him. Unless, may bago siyang nobyang ipakilala dito. Pero wala siyang ibang kaibigang babae. He can't find any other woman that fits to be his girlfriend, except for Mika. Her attitude certainly can help him out of this mess.

Tingnan niya ang hawak niyang cellphone, still no response from Mika. Hindi niya alam kung pupunta ba ang dalaga o hindi. Alam niyang hindi niya dapat ito pinagbantaan gamit ang contract pero wala na siyang ibang maisip na pwedeng gawin. He can only be at ease kapag nandoon si Haru.

Bumaba siya ng sasakyan at inayos ang suot niyang black suit. Inabot niya ang susi sa valet sabay lakad papasok sa loob. 

''Good evening, Mr. Montero. Mrs. Lavigne and your friends are already waiting for you. This way.''

Sumunod lang si Cassidy sa babae. Di-nial niya ang number ni Mika, nag-ring lang ito pero walang sumasagot. That woman.

Huminto ang babae sa harap ng itim na pinto, vip room. Pagkapasok ni Cassdy ay 'agad nagsitayuan ang mga dati niyang kaklase. Some are his friends, some are not. They studied together in a private school, only for heir or heiress. In general, they just became acquaintance to form a good relationship for their company. 

What he hates the most is being surrounded by people who only wants something from him, he even built his shop to distance his self from this kind of world. If not for his father, he didn't want to attend this dinner at all.

''Cass! You're here!'' 

Masaya siyang sinalubong ni Jeric.

''Here, take a seat. Ilang buwan 'din tayong hindi nagkita ah.''

Sa lahat ng kaklase niya noong college, ito lang at si Asher ang lagi niyang kasama. Speaking of Asher, mukhang wala pa ito rito. Nambababae na naman siguro 'yon.

 ''Nabasa mo ba 'yong tinext ko sayo? Nakakatawa talaga ang mukha ni Asher, akala niya siya 'yong ama ng ex-girlfriend niya. Kung nakita mo lang 'yong gulat sa mukha niya, para na siyang maiihi,'' saad ni Jeric na sinabayan ng malakas na tawa.

''Oh. He's lucky then. He escaped from the hand of that tigress,'' tugon niya at pilit na ngumisi. Asher's ex-girlfriend is very possessive and clingy, araw-araw yata kung saan ito pupunta ay nandoon din ang babae. 

''Cass, why aren't you with your girlfriend? Where is she? Bakit mag-isa ka yata?'' biglang tanong sa kanya ni Celestine.

''Girlfriend? Cass, may girlfriend ka na?'' gulat na tanong ni Jeric. Pati ang iba nilang kasama ay napunta sa kanila ang atensyon.

''Sino? Mas maganda ba kay Tine? Akala ko may engagement pa kayong dalawa?'' Tumawa si Fiona, malapit itong kaibigan ni Celestine. Lage itong nakasunod sa dalaga. 

''Tine is already perfect. She has both the looks and the wealth. May mas hihigit pa ba sa kanya?'' mayabang nitong sambit. Napaismid si Jeric.

''She has the looks? She don't even have a dignity. Cheater,'' bulong nito. Mukhang narinig yata ito ng dalaga dahil tiningnan nito ng masama si Jeric.

''Is she really your girlfriend? Or did you just hire her to perform a show?'' Nakatingin lahat kay Cassidy. Naghihintay nang magiging sagot ng binata. Lihim nitong naikuyom ang kamao. 

''So, where is she?''

Isang backless na red fitted dress ang suot ni Mika . Pinatungan niya ito ng itim na coat. With her 3 inch gold heels, and gold pouch, puno ng confidence na bumaba siya ng kotse. Nginitian niya ang valet at binigay dito ang susi ng kotse.

''Take care of my baby,'' aniya rito at sophicated na naglakad papasok ng restaurant. 

''Good evening Ma'am, do you have a reservation?'' salubong sa kanya ng babae.

''Yes. My boyfriend, Cassidy Montero,'' sagot niya dito and flash a sweet smile. Hindi makapaniwalang napatitig sa kanya ang babae at kaagad na yumuko.

''Kayo po pala. Sumunod po kayo sa akin. Kanina pa po sila naghihintay sa inyo.'' 

Sumunod siya rito nang mapansin niya ang isang lalaki at isang babae na parang nag-aaway malapit sa may reception area. Pinagtitinginan na 'rin ang mga ito ng ibang guest. Marami ang napasinghap, kabilang na siya, nang malakas na sinampal ng babae ang lalaki. Mahina siyang napatawa.

Nagtama ang mata nila ng lalaki.  Nginisihan lang niya ito at nagpatuloy sa paglalakad.

''Jerk,''

Habang papalapit sila sa kwarto, rinig na rinig ng dalaga ang iba-ibang boses na nag-uusap mula sa loob.

''Tine is already perfect. She has both the looks and the wealth. May mas hihigit pa ba sa kanya?'' ani ng boses babae. Kahit na hindi niya ito nakikita, naiimagine niya ang pagmamayabang na expression sa mukha nito.

Sumilay ang sarcastic na ngisi sa labi niya. Wealth? She's the daughter of the owner of this restaurant, but it's not even soundproof. What's there to brag?

''Is she really your girlfriend? Or did you just hire her to perform a show?''

She didn't know they're so eager to meet her. Does that clown wants her draw another circle on her nose?

''So, where is she?''

Binuksan ng babae ang pinto. Inayos niya ang coat at taas-noong humakbang papasok.

''I'm here,'' sabay na nagtinginan sa kanya ang lahat. Sumulyap siya kay Cassidy, bakas ang gulat sa mukha nito nang makita siya ng binata. Parang bumalik sa isip niya ang expression nito noong nagpanggap siyang girlfriend nito doon sa mall.

''You-'' She flipped her hair at nakangiting lumapit sa direksyon ng binata.

''Hi, babe! Sorry, I was late.''

Hinalikan niya ang binata sa pisngi. She saw his left ear turn red. She grinned. He blushed again. 

''You are?'' Humarap siya sa lalaking katabi ni Cassidy. He's kinda cute, but he's not his type. He's like the son of Mr. Bean, his big eyes is sparkling while staring at her.

''Hi. I'm Ela, Mikaela Chavez. His girlfriend,'' pakilala niya. Tiningnan niya ang mga kasama nito isa-isa. Tumama ang mata niya sa babaeng kanina pa naghahanap sa kanya.

''We meet again,'' tawag niya kay Celestine at ngumiti ng mapang-asar. 

''Congratulations! You look more like a human now. What a pity. I even brought my lipstick with me,'' dugtong niya sabay taas sa hawak niyang pouch.

Tiningnan siya nito ng masama. Parang sasabog sa pula ang mukha nito sa galit. She haven't changed at all. Ang dali niyang mapikon. Akala niya mag-eenjoy siya sa pagpunta niya dito. Mukhang nagkakamali siya.

''Did you already know each other?'' tanong sa kanya ng anak ni Mr. Bean.

''Yes. We did. Right, Ms. Lavigne?'' Inirapan lang siya nito at umiwas ng tingin.

Pinaghila siya ni Cassidy ng upuan. Tinanggal niya ang suot niyang coat at maingat na umupo. 

''Hey, Mika. Pwede ba akong magtanong?'' tawag ulit ng lalaki sa kanya.

''Yes. But what should I call you?''

  ''Ahh,'' Natatawang napakamot ito sa ulo.

''I'm Jeric, Cassidy's bestfriend. You can call me Ric.''

''Oh,''

''He's Kian,'' turo nito sa katabi nitong lalaki. He's wearing an eyeglasses, obviously a nerd. 

''Joseph,'' sunod nitong pakilala sa lalaking kanina pa nakatingin sa kanya. Even the woman beside her looks so familiar. She wonder kung saan niya ito nakita.

''Diana, he's Joseph's girlfriend. And Celestine, you already know her. The one beside her is Fiona. Oo nga pala, you haven't meet Asher yet. He's also our buddy.''

Tanging tango lang ang tinugon niya dito at ngumiti.

''Hi. Please to meet you.''

''So, Mika. Are you really this wood's girlfriend? Saan kayo nagkakilala? Sa pagkakaalam ko, lagi lang siyang nagkukulong sa shop niya,'' kunot-noong tanong ni Jeric. Sinulyapan niya si Cassidy. Nanatili lang itong tahimik. Ngumisi siya at pinalibot ang kamay sa braso nito.

''What are you doing? Let go,'' bulong nito. 

''You're the one who asked me here. What? Do you want me to tell everyone that I'm not your girlfriend?'' pagbabanta niya rito.

''Just stay still. Don't worry, you're not my type. I won't like you." Ngumiti siya rito at bumaling kay Jeric.

Palihim na sinulyapan ni Cassidy ang dalaga pababa sa kamay nito sa braso niya. Sumilay ang ngiti sa labi niya.

''We also met at his shop. I love playing violin and I heard he's the best of all the violin makers. Isa pa, with this looks, obviously, he fell for me at first sight,'' sagot niya with full of confidence sabay sulyap kay Cassidy. Tahimik lang ito at uminom ng wine.

''You said, your name is Mika, right?  Then can you tell us about your job? What's your family's business? If you're Cassidy's girlfriend, you should know that he is the only heir of CE company. You're just a nobody. With just your so-called pretty face, Uncle Albert, won't approve your relationship,'' sunod-sunod na tanong ng babaeng katabi ni Celestine. She forgot her name, but her voice tones remind her of someone, Celestine. They're right. The same feather flocks together.

''Who are you? I thought it's just a simple dinner, I never thought it would become a job interview,'' sarcastic niyang tugon.

''Whether his father accept me or not, I believe it's none of your business. Am I right?''

''You-''

''And I admit, I'm not as wealthy as you. But at least I'm not a spoiled brat who only knows how to depend on her parents,'' may diin niyang saad at sinalubong ang tingin nito.