41 - Family Event

RJ's POV

As expected I was not able to convince Charm to skip the dinner. First of all, she already informed my Dad about her decision to attend, therefore there is no way for me to insist for her to just just stay home with Celestine. I was too complacent she will never change her mind, but I was wrong. Now, my paranoia comes back because of my huge anticipation on my wife's meeting with her ex-boyfriend tonight.

As I drive from our office to the hotel my paranoia soars high. My dad and I arrived ahead of everyone. Rizza texted me and said that they are already within the vicinity and they will arrive in five minutes in Royalties Hotel so I choose to wait for them at the lobby.

"Hello Richard." Ellie greeted me when I met her at the lobby

"Hi Ellie." I greeted back.

"Waiting for the guests?" She asked.

"Nope I am waiting for my wife." I replied.

"I thought she is not coming." Ellie asked

"She changed her mind." I replied.

"Bakit, threaten sya na baka agawin kita sa kanya? Selosa pala si Charm, she's so pathetic." Ellie said and it does gets into my nerve.

"My wife is not pathetic and most of all she is not threaten. Even if you try Ellie, hindi ako magpapaagaw because I only belong to my wife. She is not jealous because she knows there is nothing to be jealous about." I straightly uttered.

"Hey, relax Richard, nagbibiro lang ako." Ellie said and wraps her arms around my arms. "Let's just wait for them sa Prince Hall. Magkwentuhan muna tayo sandali while we are waiting for them." She said.

"Kuya RJ!" Rizza called from the entrance of the hotel.

"Why are you alone? Nasaan sila?" I asked.

"Pababa na, hintayin na lang daw ni Ate Charm na maibaba si Lolo, sasabay na lang daw sya sa kanila" Rizza said.

"Hello Rizza, good to see you again. You look great." Ellie greeted with a cheek to cheek.

"Thanks Ellie, are we all set?" Rizza asked.

"Yes Rizza, I made sure everything is in order." Ellie replied.

"RJ, Rizza!" Lola Linda called while walking towards us. I saw Charm's fierce stare while pushing Lolo's wheelchair and only then I realized that Ellie's arm is around mine. I slowly removed it and walks towards them. As I tried to kiss Charm, she turns to speak with Lola and obviousy avoids my greetings. But that does not stop me from wrapping my arms around her waist and kiss her on her cheek.

"You look great." I whispered and I just gained a sarcastic smile from her.

"Let's get inside then, dumating na ba ang mga guests?" Lola asked while I replaces Charm in pushing Lolo's wheelchair.

"Not yet Lola, mabuti na lang nauna tayong dumating." I replied while all of us walks to the Prince Hall.

"Ang ganda-ganda namang suplada." I whispered.

"Ewan ko sa yo, wag mo akong kausapin." She said.

"Oh nagsusungit pa." I said.

"Wag kang lumapit sa akin, dun ka na sa ex mong parang octopus kung pumulupot. Enjoy na enjoy ka talaga eh." She said.

"Of course not, wag nang magalit please Mrs. Faulkerson, Jr., ang ganda-ganda mo lalo ngayon pero nakasimangot ka naman. Pero kahit masungit ka mahal talaga kita." I said.

"Binobola mo ko Faulkerson, Jr" she said while I see a slight smile in her.

"Hindi ako nambobola, walang pinakamaganda para sa akin kundi ang asawa ko." I said and I cupped her face for a kiss when Ellie interrupts

"RJ, I think your guests are here." She said.

"Ok Ellie, thank you" I said

"Dumistansya ka na, yung ex mo nagseselos na?" She softly said and I just chuckled then planted another kiss on her forehead.

"We will have more of that later when we get home para walang istorbo." I said.

"Kapag hindi tumigil sa pagpapa-cute yang ex mo, isasabit ko sa chandelier ng hotel yan dun sa may lobby para makita ng lahat. Tapos lalagyan ko ng label na 'Bitter kasi ex na, pero lumalandi pa'. Kaya sabihin mo dyan sa Ellie na yan, get her hands off my husband, dahil makita ko lang na nakikipaglandian din ang asawa ko sa babaing yan sabay ko silang isasabit sa chandelier." She threatens.

"Ang layo ko na nga oh, bakit pati ako nadamay?" I asked.

"They are here." My Dad suddenly announced and from the door I saw how Patrick's facial expression changes.

After the usual introduction and changes of hi and hellos, everyone settles on our own seats at may isang bisita na makapal ang mukha na umupo sa harap ng asawa ko. As expected, each of us have our own topic to discuss with each other while enjoying our food.

"My daughter-in-law is also in motocross sports, pareho kayo Patrick." My Dad said at hindi ko alam kung paano napunta ang topic sa sports ng asawa ko.

"Yes, before I left to work abroad. I was a trainor for motocross driving. Infact, Charm was one of my trainees." Patrick replied while his eyes are glued on Charm. Eto namang si Menggay yung smile parang may kilig.

"Really, such a small world." Leila their lady boss commented.

"Indeed, and I am very glad to see her again." Patrick said.

"You're one lucky guy Richard, I find it fascinating for women who are into extreme sports" says Scoth, one of their executives.

"Not only fascinating but truly admirable." Patrick seconded.

"And I am proud to say that I am the lucky man she chooses to be with her for the rest of our lives." I replied.

"Awwww that is so sweet Richard, I am so jealous. I should have brought my husband with me." Leila uttered.

"There is always a next time Leila." I said.

"Yes, I will definitely come back and I'll make sure my husband comes with me then." She said.

"Patrick will be staying here for months, maybe you guys could help him find his match. RJ, why don't you introduce him to your friends so he could find someone as amazing as your Charm." Scoth suggested.

"I doubt if I'll find someone like her Scoth, this woman is one of a kind." Patrick said.

"Thank you for the complement Patrick, it is flaterring but it is too much." Charm replied. Pero di ba dapat wag ka nang sumagot Meng para hindi na humaba ang usapan.

"There is no such thing as too much complement when it concerns you Menggay, you really are one of a kind." Patrick said at pikon na pikon na ako, harapang ligawan ba ang asawa ko? Good thing my Dad was able to sway the discussion into another topic but this Ledesma guy remains staring at my wife.

"Gusto mo nang dessert?" Charm asked me and I nodded. "Wait here ikukuha kita" she said.

I was about to go with her at the buffet table when Leila asked me something that makes me stay a bit and I was able to see kung paano sinundan ni Patrick ng tingin ang asawa ko.

"Is there anything else you need Richard?" Ellie asked me. I looked at her and shook my head.

Ang gusto ko lang naman, walang umistorbo sa akin habang busy ako sa pagbabantay sa asawa ko na harap harapang nililigawan sa harap ko. Pero sadyang manhid nga yata 'tong si Ellie at nagawa pang maupo sa seat ni Meng. Tanong ko lang self "Paano at ano ang nagustuhan mo sa babaing 'to?"

"Ms. Ellie, you are supposed to check if there is still enough food in the buffet table." I heard Charm said, hindi ko man lang namalayan na nakabalik na pala sya sa table.

"I was just asking Richard, if he still needs anything." Ellie replied.

"We will call you if we need anything. I want my seat back, please." Charm politely said.

Ellie stand up and "Later na lang Richard." She said before she leaves.

"Kung makikipagharutan ka dyan sa ex mo pumili ka ng lugar, dun sa hindi ko nakikita." She whispered.

"I'm not doing anything wrong." I said.

"Siguraduhin mo lang, dahil kapag nagkataon, sa Bulacan kami matutulog ni Celestine." She added.

"Are you joining the Cebu competition, Menggay?" Patrick butts in. Ang kapal ng mukhang tawaging Menggay ang asawa ko. Isa ka pa, hindi ka family member, hindi mo pwedeng tawaging Menggay si Menggay ko.

"Yes, twice a week na ang practice ko." Charm replied to Patrick so I held her hand to remind her of my presence.

"Who is your trainor now?" Patrick ask while I just listens to their conversation.

"Si Jacob pa rin." Charm replied.

"Mabuti naman at sya pa rin, among the trainors sa kanya ako mas may tiwala. He maybe into you but he will never take advantage of you." Patrick said and Charm laughs.

"Akala mo lang yun." She said.

"Bakit anong ginawa sa yo?" Patrick asked and I saw worry in his face.

"Nagpropose, ang daming beses na." Charm replied while chuckling.

"I can't blame him. Naalala ko tuloy nung nagpropose ako sa yo." Patrick said. So nakarating sila ni Charm sa ganong level ng relationship, which reminds me, I haven't proposed to her yet.

"Let's not talk about the past Patrick, tapos na yun." Charm replied.

"Saang tracks ka ngayon?" Patrick asked.

"In Cavite, mas malapit kasi sa bahay namin ni RJ." She replied and I don't like it. I quickly texted her while still holding her hand.

"Why did you tell him your tracks?" is my message which she receives in no time. She looks at me after reading it and reply to it also while I'm still holding her hand.

"Nothing wrong with that" is her text reply.

"Eh kung sundan ka nyan sa Cavite tracks?" I replied again

"Problema na nya yun. Will you please let go of my hand, ang hiram mag text." is her reply message.

"No! I am not letting you go, not now and not ever." I replied

"I need to go to the powder room, so bitawan mo ang kamay ko." She whispered to me

"Sasamahan kita" I said and I quickly stand.

"Hanggang sa loob?" She asked with eyes widen.

"Gusto mo ba?" I teased.

"Ang harot." She said while I gain a small pinch.

"Tara na, samahan na kita, but I'll just wait outside." I said. "I want to breathe, naalibadbaran ako sa ex mong presko." I said and Charm just shook her head and holding hands we went out of the hall.

While waiting for Charm from the ladies room, here comes Ellie walking towards me. As I looked around, wala akong pwedeng puntahan para maiwasan sya. I just reminded myself to keep my distance from her.

"What are you doing here Richard? Bored ka na ba sa loob? I can keep you company" she asked with sweet smile.

"I am waiting for Charm, nasa powder room lang." I coldly reply.

"Hindi ba marunong pumunta sa washroom ang asawa mo at kailangan samahan mo pa? Hindi ka pa nasu-suffocate, masyado syang clingy." Ellie said.

"May problema ba sa pagiging clingy ko eh asawa ko naman yang hinaharot mo." I heard Charm said.

"I'm not flirting with Richard, can you please bring your jealousy somewhere else." Ellie commented.

"This is not jealousy for your information, this is securing what is mine." Charm said. "Now, get back to work and check if the guests still need anything o baka naman gusto mo ipatawag ko si Phillip? Tapos na ang dessert baka gusto mong tanungin kung gusto nila ng coffee. Ah ... another thing, I want to remind you, you are not invited to this dinner so better stay in your lane." She fiercely said while Ellie had no choice but to leave us.

"'Securing what is mine'. Secure ka naman talaga sa akin eh." I told her.

"Sige, hindi ko na sasabihin yan kahit kailan." She said.

"Oyyy, wag ganun, kinilig kaya ako, I actually like that statement, very possessive." I said

"Umayos ka Faulkerson, Jr., I tell you, you do not know what I am capable of doing. Patikim pa lang yang pagsabit ko sa inyo nyang ex mo sa chandelier nitong hotel." She fiercely said.

I just smile and guided her back to the hall, kasi ayokong maisabit sa chandelier ng hotel.