Gazes

Prologue. Gazes

THE Caballero-Quiroz' Nuptial Rellie's family attended was grand and beautiful, but she couldn't take her eyes off of that prominent man who's sitting on the opposite side of her seat the moment he caught her attention. It was like she was taken back in those times where she was still a naive and an innocent young woman; back to when she kept on following him and begging him to be her masterpiece, yet, they did more that what they should just be doing.

She was having a hard time looking at his hands, and when she finally had a glance, she was dismayed because he's wearing a ring—most probably a wedding band.

Was he married already? Kunsabagay, lagpas anim na taon na rin pala ang nakalipas... And she doubted if could he even recognize her. For him, she was just a bed warmer he had during his bachelor years.

She grunted to drive away her thoughts that kept on coming back to how she became wild in bed only for him. So wild that one time, she got shagged by him in the waiting room right after the staffs went out to go to the after party.

"Fuck off!" she muttered a curse under her breath reminiscing those hot moments she had with that damn heartless lawyer.

Laglag ang balikat na bumalik ang tingin niya sa dalawang ikinakasal. Ang kuya niya ang nakakikilala sa mga ito, naimbitahan lang ang buong pamilya niya dahil bukod sa kaibigan ng kaniyang kuya ang dalawa, ay naging investor pala ang ama niya sa winery business ng mga Caballero. Habang siya nakatrabaho ay na niya ng isa hanggang tatlong beses ang bride sa iilang photoshoot noong nag-full time siya bilang isang modelo. Isa kasi itong sikat na aktres at ilang beses na naimbatahan sa mga fashion week at naalok na maging modelo ng ilang magazines and advertisements. They both endorsed an international liquor brand few years ago.

"Bakit nakabusangot ka?" tanong ng mommy niya na katabi niya sa upuan.

"I'm bored," kaila niya.

Tahimik naman siyang kinastigo ng ina. "You shouldn't be saying that."

"But I'm bored, 'Mom."

"Aurora Aurelia!" Pabulong man ay mahihimigan ang awtoridad sa tinig ng kaniyang ina. Bahagya pang napalingon ang ilang katabi nila sa upuan.

Napanguso siya. She knew she couldn't do anything but to stay until the wedding ceremony was over.

Pero hanggang sa reception ay pinasama siya ng kaniyang ina. Idinahilan nitong wala naman daw siyang gagawin.

"Why are you so cheesed off?" her mom asked when they're on their table.

Well, she couldn't say she's irritated with someone who's in there, her mom would ask her bottomless questions.

"I have something to do. Kailangang magawa ko na 'to bago pa mawala." She's pertaining to the concept she just thought of: a series of gloomy, disappointing, and annoying feelings.

"You're going to stay. Wait for your brother. He'll bring you home."

"But Kuya and Ate will go straight to Amanpulo later. Hassle kung ihahatid pa nila ako." Ang asawa ng kaniyang kuya ang tinutukoy niyang ate.

"Nakausap ko na ang kuya mo at pumayag naman na siya."

That's why, there she was, standing in the middle of the crowd; waiting for the bride to toss the bouquet of flowers. She was sighing heavily when the bouquet landed directly on her chest area. Good thing her reflexes were fast and she caught it by her hand just in time.

The crowd cheered while she smiled awkwardly. Then, when the bride's garter was removed by the groom using his teeth—which was so damn hot and sexy when the newlywed did that—it was also tossed and to her surprise, it landed in front of the man who's been occupying her mind for a few hours now. Napangisi siya bigla pero kaagad ding nawala nang walang emosyong umatras ito kaya iba ang nakakuha.

Napalunok siya nang mag-angat ng tingin at nagtama ang kanilang nga mata. His eyes were full of unnamed emotions for a second, then, it was all gone. He now met her gazes with no emotions at all. She could tell that he must not remembering her that's why he had that stern look he always had. But that just seemed too impossible. Ilang beses na may nangyari sa kanila, ilang buwan din iyon—higit labing-dalawang buwan. Siguro, pinili nitong tratuhin siya na parang hindi pa sila nagkakilala o nagkita kailan man dahil isa lang naman siya sa mga babaeng nakasiping nito noon.

Sa huli ay napabuntong-hininga siya at nag-iwas na ng tingin. Nakaupo na siya sa silyang pinalilibutan ng mga bisita kung saan ilalagay na ng nakakuha ng garter ang garter sa kaniyang binti, hanggang sa hita.

The tossing of the bouquet and garter was a tradition wherein it believed that the next bachelorette and bachelor who'd catch or get it, would be the next one to get married.

Ah, kaya pala hindi niya pinulot ang garter, Aniya sa isip nang maalala kung paanong iniwasan ng abogadong iyon ang garter na nahagis sa harapan nito. Kasi, kasal na ito.

"Hi," the baritone of the man who got the garter. Nakuha nito ang atensiyon niya kaya mabilis na bumaling siya rito. "My name's—"

"I know you," he interrupted. They're conversing in a very low tone. "Arturo Altaraza the Second, right?" Kilala niya lang ito sa mukha dahil naging maingay ang pangalan nito noong nakaraang taon; nang magulantang ang lahat na bumalik mula sa hukay ang tagapagmana ng mga Altaraza. It's a long story.

Napangiwi kunwari ito dahil nababakas pa rin ang ngisi sa mukha ng lalaki. "Just Art."

"Blimey!" She smiled at him. She absolutely liked his nickname. Now that she had a closer look at him, she came to realize that he's strikingly handsome. Naisip din niyang sguro'y marami na itong napaiyak na babae. Mukhang palikero, eh. O baka masyado lang siyang judgmental.

"You can save the conversation later, put on the garter already!" the groom yelled jokingly. Mabilis na pinamulahan siya ng mukha dahil nagmistulang naglalandian sila ng lalaki roon.

"Put it on! Put it on!" the crowd cheered.

Art and her both chuckle, and he said, "I'm putting it on." Tumango siya at gamit ang mga kamay nito at ipinasuot na ang garter sa kaliwa niyang binti. Nasa tuhod na niya ang garter nang magreklmo ang mga bisita.

"Use your teeth, man!"

Iiling-iling na tumalima ito at siya nama'y naitakip ang mukha gamit ang magkabilang palad. When she felt he was done putting the garter on her leg already, she removed her hands to laugh with the crowd.

Hanggang sa namataan niya ang abogadong matatalim ang mga tinging ipinukol sa kaniya, at kaagad na napaiwas siya ng tingin; biglang nahiya na hindi niya mawari. Pero nilakasan niya ang loob upang mag-angat ulit ng tingin dito.

But he was now mockingly smirking at her! As if he's telling her she's a muppet who enjoyed doing things like that even if there's no nuptial. Bigla siyang napabusangot at nagsalubong ang mga kilay, saka na tumayo. Mabuti na lamang at wala na sa kanila ang atensiyon ng mga bisita—nasa bagong kasal na. Padabog na tinungo niya ang banyo para pakalmahin ang sarili. Because right at that moment, she's totally pissed off with that bloody lawyer!