Chapter 5

Stephanie

Hindi ko din alam kung anong sumapi sa akin at pumayag na 'ko sa kasal na sinasabi nila. I just want him to be happy. Siguro kung gagawin ko 'yun, somehow, 'yung galit na nararamdaman niya sa'kin.. mawala.. o mabawasan man lang.

"I'm the happiest old man in the world dahil sa pagpayag mo Stephanie," Lolo Rafael said grnnning widely. Para siyang batang binigyan ng candy na matagal na niyang gusto. Masayang masaya siya and I can't take that happiness away from him.

"Hindi pa kayo ganun katanda Lolo.. Aabot pa kayo ng 3001 okay?" I tried to joke around para naman hindi ko maisip na may kamay sa bewang ko. Katabi ko kasi si PJ. His hand is on my waist. Tapos, he's pulling me closer kapag lumalayo ako kaya hindi ko nalang pinansin.

"Biniro mo pa 'ko!" he laughs. "Pag-usapan na natin lahat ng gagawin sa kasal niyo. I want it to be a grand wedding of the year. It's not everyday that a Monteverde ties the knot. And besides, the what-they-called hottest bachelor in town is getting married. Hindi ako papayag na hindi engrande ang magiging kasal niyo." Napatingin ako sa katabi ko. Wala siyang reaction sa pinagsasasabi ni Lolo Rafael.

"Engrande po? Hindi po ba pwedeng simpleng kasalan lang?" nakakahiya naman kasi. I'm nobody compared to PJ. Tapos puro elite pa 'yung iiinvite nila. Outcast ako dun.

"No no no no no.." Lolo rafael shook his head. "Ako ang gagastos sa kasal na ito.. and I want youor wedding to be the wedding of the year.. wedding of the century pa nga kung gusto mo e!"

"Pero-"

"Grand wedding it is. Huwag ka nalang magreklamo." Pj whispers. Hindi naman sa nagrereklamo ako. kaso, gagastos pa ng malaki para lang sa kasal na 'to? Kasal na hindi naman bounded with love? Err.. I mean.. oo may halong pagmamahal 'to.. pero sa side ko lang.

"Hindi naman ako nagrereklamo.. It's just.. I think it's too much.." napayuko nalang ako sa kamay ko.

"Stephanie.. hija.. I wanted to do this. Pagbigyan mo na ako okay?" Lolo Rafael's voice is soft.

"Sige po." I bit my lower lip. Puro nalang ba ako 'sige' , 'sige' 'sige' sa kwentong 'to?

"Now it's settled. PJ, samahan mo na si Stephanie sa wedding coordinator niyo. Nakausap ko na siya kahapon pa.." nakangiting sabi sa amin ni Lolo.

"Po?" my brow furrows. Hindi pa man ako umooo, okay na? Planado na?

"I planned this already.. sige na.. umalis na kayo at magpapahinga na muna ako.." tumayo na si Lolo Rafael and made his way up.

"Hindi ka pa ba tatayo?" PJ raised a brow on me. nakatayo siya sa harap ko.

Tumayo na ako. kailangan kong pumuntang shop. Naglakad na ako hanggang sa garage and was about to insert my keys sa sasakyan ng hinawakan ni PJ ang braso ko.

"Where do you think you're going?" he hissed.

"Sa shop. May trabaho ako." i tried to keep my voice formal. Ayokong mag-away kami ng lalaking 'to.

"Hindi ka pupunta dun. We're going somewhere else. Let's go." Hinila niya ako papunta sa kotse niya. Hindi man lang binuksan 'yung passenger seat door. Sooooooo ungentleman of him!

"Hindi bubukas ng kusa 'yan. Bilisan mo na!" naiinis na sabi sa akin ni PJ.

I fight my self not to roll my eyes. Naalala ko 'yung sinabi niya kanina e.

I opened the door and climbed to his car. Put my seatbelt on at tumingin ng diretso. Naramdaman kong walamng pagkilos na ginagawa 'yung katabi ko. kaya naman nilingon ko na siya.

"What?" I asked him. Akala ko ba may pupuntahan kami? Bakit hindi pa siya kumikilos?

"Tss." Then he started the engine.

Hindi ko alam kung saan ba kami pupunta. Tanungin ko man si PJ, wala naman akong napapalang sagot. Maiinis lang ako. kaya 'wag nalang magtanong!

I was counting the posts na madaanan namin. Hindi man lang kasi niya buksan 'yung stereo niya para naman malibang ako. grabe! He'll live kahit na wala atang kausap!

♪The day we met.. frozen I held my breath..

Right from the start, I knew that I found my home

For my heart beats fast, colors and promises..

How to be brave.. how can I love when I'm afraid to fall..

But watching you stand alone..

All of my doubt, suddenly goes away somehow..

One step closer..♪

Hinanap ko pa 'yung cellphone ko sa bag ko. nasaan na ba 'yun?

"Could you pick up that fvcking phone? It's irritating!" he hissed.

I doubled time finding it. Saan ko ba kasi sinuksok 'yun?!

"Ano ba?!" sigaw ni PJ sa'kin. Finally! I found my phone. Hindi ko na tinignan kung sino ang tumatawag. Sinagot ko nalang agad.

"Hello?" sino ba kasi 'to? Nasigawan pa tuloy ako!

"Hi Stephie!" iisang tao lang ang tumatawag sa'kin ng Stephie kaya naman napangiti ako ng makilala ko ang caller na 'to.

"Blue? Hi! Kamusta?" I can't keep the excitement in my voice. It's been 4 mos. since huli kong makausap si Blue. Ang alam ko kasi nasa ibang bansa si Blue.

"I'm fine. Nasan ka ngayon? Lunch tayo. My treat. Kababalik ko lang kasi e." pag-aaya niya sa'kin.

"Lunch? Ngayon? Hmmm.." lumingon muna ako kay PJ. He's looking at me. na para bang may masabi lang akong mali.. mamamatay ako.

"Yeah.. wala ka pa kasi sa shop. I've been there.. so asan ka?"

"Uhmm.." inagaw ni PJ 'yung phone ko sa'kin.

"Blue.. it's me." his lips turned into flat line.

"She's occupied right now. Bye!" then he turned off my phone. Like what the?

"Bakit mo inagaw 'yung phone ko?" I can't help to show the irritation in my voice. Nakakainis naman kasi talaga e.

"You're with me tapos makikipaglandian ka sa iba? Sa kaibigan ko pa! Mahiya ka naman!" sigaw niya sa akin.

"Nakikipaglandian? Are you out of your mind? Inaya lang ako ni Blue for lunch dahil kakauwi lang niya. Anong pakikipaglandian dun?" hindi ko na din napigilan ang pagtaas ng boses ko. nakakainis kasi kung makapagbintang.. wagas!

"That's the point! Kararating niya pa lang. Bakit hindi ako o si Cupid ang ayain niya? We're his bestfriends! Bakit kailangang ikaw?!" he said in gritted teeth. His jaw tightened.

"Hindi ko alam sakanya! bakit hindi mo siya puntahan tapos alamin mo!" humalukipkip na lang ako sa sulok at tumingin sa labas. It's the first time in my 22 years of existence na nakipagsigawan ako. kay PJ pa. Nakakainis kasi talaga siya e.

"Fvck!" narinig kong sabi niya tsaka pinaandar ulit ang sasakyan. Bahala ka diyan! Sinandal ko nalang ang ulo ko sa bintana at ipinikit ang mga mata. Hindi ko namalayang nakatulog na 'ko.

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PJ

Maaga akong pumunta sa bahay ni Lolo. 6:30 pa lang nandun na 'ko. excited to see Stephanie? I don't think so. Kailangan naming pag-usapan 'yung arrangement na 'to.

Nakita ko si Lolo na pababa ng hagdan kaya naman lumapit ako sakanya.

"Morning Grandpa," bati ko dito.

"Morning apo. Ang aga mo naman ata?" bati rin sa akin ni Lolo. "Nagbreakfast ka na ba? Come.. join me." aya niya sa akin.

"Uh.. si Stephanie?" hindi ko pa kasi nakikitang pakalat-kalat si Stephanie dito.

"Baka natutulog pa.." pumunta na kami sa komedor at nakita kong naghahain na ang mga kasambahay ni Lolo ng almusal.

"Puntahan ko na muna siya." iniwan ko na si Lolo at umakyat sa taas. I know where her room was. Katabi ng kwarto ko dito.

Kumatok ako pero walang sumasagot. I turned the knob hoping that it isn't locked. At nagulat ako ng hindi nakalock ang pinto. Bakit hindi naglolock ng pinto 'tong babaeng 'to? Paano kung mapasok ng ibang tao 'to? Tss.

Nakita kong nakahiga siya sa kama. Sleeping peacefully. She's hugging her pillow and a nanosecond.. I wished that it was me she's hugging.

Bahagya siyang gumalaw kaya naman natanggal ang kumot na tumatakip sakanya. nahantad ang makinis na legs niya and all i can do is swallow.

Sht! This girl is really a goddess!

"Hmmmm.. PJ.." nagsasalita siya ng tulog? And she's calling me.. lumapit ako sakanya. trying not to look at her exposed legs.

"Stephanie.." I called her. nagbabakasaling gising na siya. pero hindi siya kumikibo. Maybe she's dreaming. Dreaming of me? I smiled.

"PJ.." he called me again. I wonder what's her dream all about.

I saw her bite her lip. She's really sexy when she's doing that. I feel the room gets hotter. Kailangan ko na atang lumabas and just wait for her outside.

Lumayo na 'ko sakanya when she called me again.. "PJ.." her voice is husky.

Nilingon ko siya and she's still sleeping. Umupo nalang ako sa gilid ng kama niya. I'll wait her to wake up. Watching her sleeping is the most beautiful scene i can capture. Ang ganda niya. She looks so innocent. Pero alam kong panlabas niya lang 'yan. She's a bitch inside.

After an hour.. hindi pa din siya gumigising kaya naman lumapit na 'ko sakanya. gently tapping her cheeks to wake her.

"Hmmmm.." she moan. Sht! Lalo akong nakakaramdam init dahil sa ginagawa niya. I lowered down my head and cover her lips with mine. Her lips is so soft! Like before. When I kissed her 5 years ago. I deepened the kiss. Trying to push my tounge inside.

"Hmmmm.." I moaned. Sht! I can take her now! I'm feeling so hot!

"Ummmmp!" naramdaman kong bahagya niya 'kong tinutulak. She's awake.

"Hmmmm.." finally, my tounge is now inside her. Tasting her. She's so sweet.

"PJ.." she called me. sht! I'm really turned on right now.

Itinulak niya ako ng marahan kaya that woke me up. I let go her lips.

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?" she said panting.

"Visiting my bride." I smirk.

"I'm not sick.. no need for the visiting.." she rolled her eyes at me. my jaw tightened.

"Never roll your eyes at me woman.. hindi mo alam kung ano ang kaya kong gawin.." rolling her eyes on me makes me wanna take her now.

"Look PJ.. pwede bang lumabas ka muna? I need a private time for myself.." she looks like aphrodite. And she also have the just-fvcked look. She's smoking hot in her nighties.

I quizzically looked at her. "I want to see how you consume that private time you needed." I smirk.

"Please.. lumabas ka na muna." She said.. almost pleading.

I walk toward the door and open it then I turned at her again. "By the way, I heard you calling my name while you're sleeping.. so i suppose you're dreaming of me?" I smirk. "Laters, baby." Then I walked away.

I took a deep breath. That was hot. Seeing her like that gives me a hard on! Sht! Bumaba nalang ako para madivert and attention ko.

Maya-maya, bumaba na din siya. we had breakfast together although I really want her for my breakfast.

Umalis na kami to meet the coordinator. And while in our way there.. Blue called her. that made me pissed off. Big time!

Nakita kong nagliwanag ang mata niya habang kausap si Blue. Like what the fvck?!

Inagaw ko ang cellphone niya and turned it off after talking to Blue.

Nagalit siya sakin but i don't give a damn! Naiinis ako sakanya!

Nakita kong sumandal siya sa sasakyan. Pinabayaan ko nalang.

When we reached the shop.. shop nung coordinator.. natutulog pa din siya. tapping her exposed shoulder I suddenly feel the urge to kiss her again. Sht!

"Wake up." Napalakas ata ang pagtap ko sakanya that made her flinched.

"Ouch!" she hissed.

"Tulog mantika ka kasi! Andito na tayo." Bumaba na ako and waited for her. I saw her frowning ng bumaba siya. she's also massaging her shoulder. Nasaktan nga siya marahil dun.

"Nasaan na ba tayo?" inikot niya ang mata para tignan ang paligid.

"Tita Bettina's shop." Pumasok na kami sa loob. Sinalubong naman kami sagad ng mga tauhan sa shop. It's actually my auntie's shop. Kapatid ni Daddy. Anak ni Lolo Rafael. I'm surprised na hindi alam ni Stephanie 'to.

"Tita Bettina? 'yung anak ni Lolo Rafael?" kunot noong tanong niya.

I nodded.

"Okay." She bit her lip again.

"Stop biting your lip!" I hissed. That gesture had an effect on me!

She freed her lip and look around. Then Clarisse appeared infornt of me and to my surprise.. she kissed me on the lips.

I heard Stephanie gasps. She looked away and i saw her wiped her cheeks..

Hinawakan ko si Clarisse sa magkabilang balikat then pushed her. giving her a what-was-that look.

"I missed you!" she hugged me. "when the staffs told me your here.. lumabas na ako agad. How are you?" she's smiling ear to ear.

"i'm fine.." I missed this girl too.. she's special to me.

"What brings you here?" she asked me not then snake her hands on my waist.

"Uh.. I'm getting married.." i looked at Stephanie who's eyeing us.

"What?!" she squeak.

"Yeah.." tinanggal ko ang kamay niya sa bewang ko at lumapit kay Stephanie. Reaches her hand and gently squeeze it. "Here's the bride." Pakilala ko dito.

I saw Clarisse's eyes widen.. but after a nanosecond, smiled at Stephanie. Lumapit siya then hugged her.

"You're such a lucky girl!" she said to her.

Hindi kumibo si Stephanie.

"Clarisse, this is Stephanie.. my fiancee.." pakilala ko kay Stephanie. "Babe, this is Clarisse.. pinsan ko." Stephanie looked at me eyes open. She looks so puzzled.

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