Chapter 9 - Mikaela & Rake Story

"ANONG MGA NEGOSYO MO ELLE?" Tanong ni Aika.

"Korean restaurant ang mai cost of living ko. I also have investment on stocks and foreign exchange. Nagsusupply rin ako ng pork, beef and chicken sa iba't ibang restaurants, hotels and supermarkets."

"You look really familiar hindi ko alam kung saan kita nakita," sabi ni Aika kaya nangunot ang noo niya.

"Anong hobbies mo?"

"I don't love parties. Kapag may time ako I do mountain climbing, rock climbing, shooting and horse back riding. Minsan I play golf kapag kasama ko si dad at mga amigo niya."

"Tumatambay ka ba sa west point or sa Manor? You're from Baguio right?" Tanong niya.

"No. Simpleng babae lang ako. Teacher ako sa isang pre school. Mall bahay lang ako," sabi nito.

"Mall! Last year may book signing kami sa phr baka doon mo ako nakita. My pen name's Jade Stellar," sabi niya at kitang kita niya ang pagkabigla sa mukha nito.

Kinuha nito ang cellphone nito at pinakita sa kanya ang mga larawan nilang magkasama at mga libro niyang naipasign sa kanya.

"I love your stories. You look really different tonight from what I remembered. You're into mini shorts and skirts," sabi nito kaya siya napangiti.

"Your heroes are really manly and sexy especially that of Diamond story. Kinilig ako sa message mo sa hero. A certain R Silva. Gad it was really romantic."

"Anong message iyon?" Tanong ni Rake.

"I'll always have this huge crush for you since I met you. I will always remember how you smiled and played it cool. I want you to look at me like I am the most gorgeous thing on earth but I'll be selfish if I'll impose on you. 'Til we meet again. Always. M." Si Mikaela mismo ang sumagot sa tanong ni Rake.

"Oh my gad!" Sabi ni Aika kaya napatingin silang lahat rito.

"Siya si R? No wonder you're in love with him. He's a hottie just how you described Diamond. Wait lang. Diamond's an air force officer. You are a business man right?" kunot noong sabi ni Aika.

"Air force officer siya. He was 1st Lieu when we met. Major na siya ngayon, " proud na sabi ni Mik.

"Sorry baby I am bragging!" Dugtong pa niya ang reached for Rake's hand.

Bahagyang nagblush ito kaya napangiti siya ng todo.

"Thanks sweetheart," sabi nito.

Halos imonopolize ni Aika ang usapan about Mikaela's books and how hook she is with her characters. Nalipat lang iyon ng magtanong ang nobyo nito about business. Kitang kita niya ang pagkabagot sa mukha nito. The men talk about business pero nanatili lang nakikinig si Mario. She pity the man dahil buong buhay nito'y ang propesyon lang. She thought that's boring. Napatitig siya sa nobyo.

Alam na alam niyang basang basa nito ang nasa isip niya. Tumango lang ito sa kanya at nag aya ng magtungo sila sa Casino.

"Atat ka atang maubos ang pera mo dude," kantyaw ni Joshua.

"I highly doubt it. I am with my lucky star paanong mauubos ang pera ko?" nakangising sabi ni Rake kaya natameme si Joshua.

Mikaela's eyes are dancing with amazement. Magaling si Rake maglaro. Relaxed lang ito at manaka nakang bumubulong sa kanya. He's trying to destruct his playmates by making her laugh. They are winning lalo na nung siya ang pinahawak nito ng baraha.

"You're good sweetheart," sabi nito at inayos ang baraha niya.

"But this is a kill," dugtong nito na kinangiti niya.

"Where did you learned poker?" Tanong ni Mikaela sa nobyo.

"Patago kami dati sa pma. Bawal kasing cellphone dati. We play cards secretly. Those who are braver nagpupuslit ng phone but us hanggang cards lang kaya naming ipuslit."

"Palagi kang nananalo?"

"No pero hindi naman ako umuuwing talong talo. Bawi taya lang ganyan. Gambling is something I can live without," sabi niya kaya ngumiti nanaman ang girlfriend niya.

"Good. I like that," she said at tinawid ng labi nito ang distanya patungo sa kanang pisngi niya.

"Get a room!" Kantyaw ni Joshua.

"Shut up Josh!" Sabi ni Mikaela pero tuloy pa rin ito sa pagtukso.

Maayos ang naging takbo ng laro nila. Nangulelat sina Mario at kitang kita ni Mika ang disappointment sa mukha nito. Though Jean's cool about it habang kinukunsula ang nobyo.

Pagkatapos nilang maglaro ay nagdecide lang pumunta pa sila sa bar ng hotel upang uminom habang nagkwekwentuhan.

"Manlibre ka naman brad!" Kantyaw ni Joshua kay Rake kaya napatawa lang ang huli.

"Alright. It's on the house. Order whatever you want it's on me!" Sabi ni Rake.

"Wow that's a first. Nagpapasikat kay girlfriend!" Kantyae nanaman nito.

Natatawa nalang si Mikaela kay Joshua. Ito talaga ang pinakaplayful sa kanila. Marami naman silang panalo. Si Rake naman ang namuhunan at umabot ata ng kalahating milyon ang panalo nila baka sumobra pa.

May napansin siya kay Arq. Nakasunod ang mga mata nito sa bawat galaw ni Jean.

"Arquiles right?" Tanong ni Mikaela.

"What's your nickname?"

"My nickname's Troy to my childhood super friends. May play kasi kami before where I get to play Troy of high school musical," kwento nito.

Nangunot ang noo niya. Ang pagkakaalam niya'y Gabriela ang pet name ni Jeanella way back.

"I wanted to hear a sample. Can you grant me my wish?" Tanong niya.

"Only if someone will volunteer as my Gabriela," natatawang sabi nito.

"I'll do it," sabi ni Jeanella kaya napatingin silang lahat.

"Can I mahal?" Tanong nito kay Mario.

"Of course. I told you to resume singing. I know how much you love singing," sabi nito kaya napangiti si Jean.

"Thanks mahal. I love you," sabi nito.

"I love you so much," ganting sabi nito.

NAPANGITI SI JEANELLA NG MAHAWAKAN ANG MIKROPONO. Napatitig siya sa nobyo niya. Kitang kita niya ang kislap sa mata nito. He's happy she's singing again and she's singing because of him.

"I really lost you this time," bulong ni Arq.

"Yes. Sorry, Troy." Nakangiting sabi niya at binaling ang buong atensyon sa nobyo.

We're soaring, flying

There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach

If we're trying

So we're breaking free.

We know the world can see us

In a way that's different than who we are.

Creating space between us

Till we're separate hearts.

But in faith it gives me strength,

Strength to believe..

We're breaking free!

We're soaring, flying

There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach

If we're trying

Yeah we're breaking free

Oh we're breaking free, ooooh

Can you feel it building?

Like a wave the ocean just can't control

Collected by a feeling

Ooh in our very soul. (very soul)

Rising till it lifts us up

So everyone can see.

We're breaking free!

We're soaring, flying

There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach

If we're trying

Yeah we're breaking free

Oh we're breaking free, oooh.

Running, climbing, to get to the place to be all that we can be.

Now's the time,

So we're breaking free.

We're breaking free, ooh yeah

More than hope, more than faith,

This is true, this is fate,

And together we see it coming.

More than you, more than me

Not a one boy in need

Up above, breaking free!

Soaring, flying

There's not a star in heaven that we can't reach.

If we're trying

Yeah we're breaking free (breaking free)

We're running, ooh climbing to get to that place to be all that we can be.

Now's the time (now's the time)

So we're breaking free. Ohhh we're breaking free

We know the world can see us

In a way that's different than who we are.

Nagpalakpakan ang mga bisita ng hotel bar. Muntik ng masamid si Mikaela sa sinisimsim na alak ng tawagin siya ni Jean sa stage.

"I would like to call my soul sister. Let's give her a big round of applause," sabi nito.

"Are you good?" Tanong ni Rake sa kanya.

"Yes but I'll feel better if you come with me," sabi niya kaya tumayo ito at inakbayan siya papunta sa stage.

Medyo kabado si Mikaela hindi dahil kakanta siya. She's been singing all her life ang kinakakaba niya ay ang pakikinig ni Rake.

"Let's sing a classic?on the wings of love?" Tanong ni Rake.

Tango lang ang sinagot ni Mikaela. Nakatitig lang siya kay Rake ng magsimula itong umawit. He has a baritone voice. Hindi niya akalaing mahusay rin pala itong kumanta. When they did a duet on chorus ay napakaganda ng combinasyon ng boses nila.

Nang matapos silang umawit ay nakarinig sila ng kantyawan na humihingi pa ang crowd ng isa pang kanta.

"How about Like I am gonna loose you?" Tanong niya kay Rake.

"Okay lang have heard the song," sabi nito they started singing.

They earned applause at humihingi pa ang mga ito ng isa pero umayaw na sila. They had this common joke na baka madiscover sila at from business persons ay magkasideline sila sa showbiz. They will surely hate that especially with Rake. They both love their freedom.