Chapter 13

Rita sighed, hands on her hips. "Kat, nakikinig ka ba sa'kin?" Isang oras na kaming naglilibut-libot sa commercial center sa Zone Six, going in and out of the shopping stores para bumili ng susuutin naming damit para sa Founders' Night mamaya. Sina Pops at Kurt naman ang magkasamang bumibili ng outfit nila at di ko alam kung saan sila. Di kami magkasama and we used different cars.

"Sorry. What were you saying?" tanong ko sa kanya. Medyo nahirapan akong matulog kagabi at hanggang ngayon, nasa isip ko pa rin 'yung picture na nakita ko. So what if Dad and Aunt Diana were ex-lovers? It was all in the past. Dad married our Mom, period. Everyone had moved on at dapat wala ng issue sa'kin.

But honestly, I kept their photo and hid it in one of my cookbooks. Di ko alam kung bakit ko ginawa 'yun. It just felt I had to.

Pumasok kami ni Rita sa isa pang bukas na store and immediately, fashionable dresses came before our eyes. The store smelled like lavender and the female staff were also dressed elegantly. "Tinatanong kita kung may idea ka na para sa susuutin mo mamaya," she repeated. "Kanina pa tayo dito saka wala pa tayong nabibili."

"Wala pa din, eh. Alam mo namang di ako sanay um-attend sa mga malalaking social gathering. And I have poor fashion sense."

Bakit pa kasi may theme pa? It was a Black-Tie event and I didn't even know what that's all about. Sabi ni Rita, we just had to look formal and elegant.

"Ako bahala sa'yo. As promised, I'll be your personal stylist today. At bawal magreklamo," sabi niya, then she grabbed my arm and we walked into a maze of clothing racks.

Moments later, I found myself inside the fitting room para sukatin ang mga napiling damit. Hinubad ko 'yung suot kong t-shirt and put them all on one at a time. So far, wala pang nagugustuhan si Rita sa mga naisukat ko kaya pabalik-balik ako sa loob para magpalit. There was the last piece na napili namin and I'll be damned if di pa rin 'to magugustuhan ni Rita. Pagod na katawan ko sa kakapalit at masakit na rin mga paa ko sa kakalakad.

I finally put on the purple velvet mini dress. It's v-necked and long-sleeved. And then, I paired it with black heels. Lumabas ulit ako at andun pa rin si Rita nakaupo sa couch, patiently waiting.

"How do I look?" awkward kong tanong.

Her eyes suddenly glittered at ang laki ng ngiti niya. "You're fab!" sabi niya sa wakas. "'Yan na kunin mo, okay? It perfectly matches your dark hair and your legs."

"Um, okay," I just agreed. Bumalik agad ako sa loob ng fitting room para magbihis ulit. Tumingin muna ako sa salamin and I was, like --- was that me? Rita was right. I definitely looked good.

I got out at napansin kong wala na si Rita sa inuupuan niyang couch. Binalik ko na lang ang ibang mga damit sa rack hanggang nakita ko rin siya finally sa counter. She was talking to another girl. No, they looked like they were arguing. Nakita ko rin na hawak nila pareho ang isang damit at parang pinag-aagawan nila 'to. I immediately rushed to them at pati 'yung isa sa mga staff ay nakiawat na rin.

"Binalik mo na 'to sa rack. So that means di na sa'yo 'to," sabi ni Rita dun sa babaeng kaharap niya na mukhang kasing-edad lang din namin.

"So, what?" sagot nito at di pa rin niya binibitawan 'yung damit. "Ako pa rin ang unang nakakita nito. Don't I have the right to change my mind?"

"Excuse me," tawag ko dun sa staff, I started to get really worried. "Do you still have another one of that left in stock?"

The staff shook her head. "Sorry, ma'am. Last na po 'yan."

"You only have the right if you have paid for it." Nakikipaglaban pa rin si Rita at mukhang di siya magpapatalo. Buti na lang wala pang ibang nakapila sa counter para magbayad.

"Babayaran ko na nga, di ba? So, let go!" the girl exclaimed trying to snatch the dress from Rita's hands.

But my bestfriend had a good grip on it. "You. Let. Go." And there it happened again. Pagkatapos sabihin ni Rita ang mga salitang 'yon habang nakatitig sa mga mata ng kaharap niya, the girl immediately got her hands off the dress. Di na siya nakipagtalo pa ulit and without saying any word, tumalikod agad ito at naglakad palabas ng store na parang walang nangyari. Like what happened to Raven . . . and Kurt. They just did what Rita exactly told them.

Sinamahan ko si Rita sa fitting room para isukat 'yung dress that she won over that girl. The dress also looked good on her and she liked it so much. At pagkatapos naming bayaran ang mga binili namin, we decided to drop by the Stellar Diner para mag-lunch bago umuwi. That scene at the dress store was quite intense.

"Seems like your gift of persuasion just came in handy," sabi ko sa kanya while I was having a slice of the fish steak.

Napatingin siya sa'kin like I said something off. Then she smiled. "Na-realize niya siguro that it's pointless kung makikipagtalo pa siya. Saka may point naman ako, di ba? Mali ba ginawa ko?" she asked with her eyes full of guilt.

"You were right when you said na di pa niya bayad 'yung damit," sabi ko sa kanya so she won't feel really bad. "You know what? It's just weird na bigla na lang siya umalis ng ganun-ganun na lang. Don't you think Mamita's right?"

"Right about what?"

Di ko alam kung paano sasabihin sa kanya but the words just came out of my mouth. "That you're a siren. That you have the ability to make people do things exactly what you told them."

She just laughed. "Kat, what century are you living in? Naniniwala ka sa mga ganun? It was just a coincidence."

Coincidence? Three times? And God only knew kung may iba pang instances na di ko na na-witness. Pero di ko na sinabi 'yun sa kanya at hinayaan ko na lang. After our milktea session, umuwi na agad kami para mag-prepare for the party.

I was really glad Rita helped me find a dress. We drove all the way to Zone Four kung nasaan ang Provincial Hall and everyone at the Founders' Party were so elegant and stylish when we arrived. Ang mga lalaki ay naka-coat and tie na iba-ibang designs while the ladies were wearing their best dresses, from cocktails to gowns. Parehong naka-white tuxedo sina Kurt at Pops, ang kaibahan lang ay naka-black necktie si Pops habang black bowtie naman kay Kurt.

May mahabang red carpet na nakalatag sa lawn mula sa porch ng Provincial Hall kung saan naghihintay ang Governor of Puerto Estrella and his First Lady to welcome the guests. They wore matching outfits of shimmery red coat and red gown.

"Good evening, Sir Ramon. Welcome," bati ng Governor kay Pops upon entering the Provincial Hall.

By the way, Governor Gilbert Ortega and Mrs Ortega were Ana Ortega's parents. The resemblance was obviously there especially the aura of power and authority.

"Please don't tell me these beautiful children are . . .?" baling ni Mrs Ortega sa'min dalawa ni Kurt.

"Mga apo ko, Katherine and Kurtis. They were just little kids when they left this place," kwento ni Pops.

"It's nice to finally meet you, kids. Welcome home to Puerto Estrella," sabi ni Mrs Ortega.

"Well, it's time for us to be reunited. It's just us now," sabi naman ni Pops.

"And you're right, Claudia. These children are very beautiful," papuri ni Governor Ortega. "In fact, kamukhang-kamukha nila ang mga magulang nila. Kurtis here looks exactly the same as my bestfriend Edward and Katherine also resembles Daniela."

"Yeah, but I think mas kamukha ni Katherine si---"

"Diana?" I didn't mean to cut her off. "I get that a lot nowadays," sabi ko sa kanila.

Then all of us laughed awkwardly, including Pops. "DNA, I guess. They're related after all," sabi ni Pops.

"Oh, I'm sorry to interrupt this moment pero kanina pa handa ang buffet," sabi ni Governor Ortega. "The other founding families are already here, too. Claudia will escort you to the dining banquet."

Pops thanked him saka kami pumasok sa loob ng Provincial Hall with Mrs Ortega guiding us. Marami na ring tao sa lobby at 'yung iba ay may hawak na champagne glasses habang nakikipagkwentuhan. The decorations and ornaments were a mixture of gold and silver which made the place more glamorous and sophisticated. Nagpaiwan muna si Pops sa lobby to meet his colleagues at nagsabing susunod na lang siya sa'min.

Mrs Ortega brought Kurt and I into a big room where large round dining tables were set. May nakalagay din na mga laminated signage sa ibabaw ng mga mesa kung saan nakasulat ang mga apelyido. So far, di ko pa nakikita ang Vergara. Kumakain na ang ibang mga guests pagdating namin habang ang iba naman ay kumukuha pa ng food sa buffet area. Ang mga food servers ay may suot na white long sleeves at black bowtie.

"There you are," sabi ni Mrs Ortega sa isang girl na nakasalubong namin. It was no other than her daughter, Ana Ortega. "Kanina pa kita hinahanap."

"I'm an usherette, remember?" sabi niya sa mom niya. As usual, she looked stunning in her red metallic wrap-around dress.

"By the way, this is my eldest daughter, Anastasia, and these are---"

"Mom, I already know them. We go to the same school," paalala niya sa mom niya and then she smiled at us.

"Great. So, from here, ikaw na bahala mag-asikaso sa kanila," bilin ni Mrs Ortega. "Kailangan ko nang balikan ang Dad mo. Where's your sister?"

"I don't know. She's just there somewhere, baka kalaro ibang mga bata."

"Okay, I gotta find her, too. Your Dad's speech is about to start in a bit. We all need to be there. Enjoy the food, kids," nagbeso-beso muna siya sa'min ni Kurt bago siya umalis.

"Food is this way," yaya ni Ana at hinatid niya kami sa buffet area. Tinuro niya din sa'min kung saan ang magiging table namin and then she left us to welcome the other guests.

They served a great variety of food that night, 'yung iba nga parang di ko pa natitikman. Pagkatapos naming kumuha ng pagkain ay pumunta agad kami ni Kurt sa table namin. I was glad to see Rita and Mamita and they were sitting on the same table with us. Pareho na silang may food at kaka-start pa lang nila kumain.

"Buti talaga nakipag-wrestling ka diyan sa damit na 'yan," sabi ko sa kanya, complimenting her dress. It was a black sequined dress na may mahabang slit sa right leg. She looked different --- gorgeous.

"Thanks. Ikaw din. Sabi sa'yo, eh. Bagay sa'yo ang dress na 'yan," sabi niya. Mamita was also wearing a black Filipiniana-inspired gown.

On the other table next to us, nakaupo ang pamilya Salvador at Buenavista. Jake was with his dad at kasama nila sa table si Seth at ang mga parents niya. I wondered kung nasaan ang mama ni Jake pero di ko na tinanong pa si Rita.

Maya-maya, dumating na rin si Pops na may dala na ring food and moments later, nagbigay na ng speech si Governor Ortega. There was a stage set up in front kung saan kita ng mga nakaupo ang speaker. With him was Mrs Ortega, Ana, and their youngest daughter who looked like a little princess dahil sa suot nitong dress. They're like the best example of a perfect family.

The people started mingling and laughing after dinner. Pati si Kurt ay kasama na naman sina Jake at Seth. Inaya ako ni Rita na lumabas ng dining hall dahil may ipapakita siya sa'kin. We walked through the hallway outside and past the lobby. At pagkatapos ng ilang pinto na nadaanan namin, we finally entered into one of them.

"Welcome to the Provincial Hall Gallery," masayang wika ni Rita.

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