Codename: Wonder

5.2: By The Sea (Sail-Away)

WISH

I did nothing but sit silently while watching things unfold. The scene's a little noisy, I don't like the music. The lights are warm and I'm getting bored. It's been thirty minutes since I entered the yacht. It wasn't that big, it can only host sixty members at most. There are less than fifty attendees. And I personally don't know any of them.

Kaya sobrang bored ako. But all I can do is endure since I can't really mingle with anyone, nor do I want to.

"Hello, pretty."

I turned my head when I heard the voice of an old man. He's on a wheelchair, with a very familiar man pushing him from the behind. Oh, shoot.

"Mr. Narciso!" I stood up and greeted him. I just have to play it cool. My mission is not yet done and I don't wanna be forced to leave this early. "Happy birthday, sir. I hope you're enjoying the night."

He smiled at me. I know he doesn't recognize me.

"May I know your name? I don't seem to recognize you, I'm sorry," he chuckled. "But since you know me by appearance, I guess I also know you."

Of course, your printed profile was handed to me this morning.

I smiled at him. Alvarez won't tell me to use the sister-card if it won't save me from identity troubles. Hindi ako sigurado kung may silbi ba talaga iyon pero bahala na.

"It's fine, sir. We have never really met, to be honest," I said and smiled awkwardly. Sanay akong gumawa ng kwento. Kaya ko ito. "I've only seen you in photos. The name is Wonder Alvarez, sir."

I saw his forehead creased. Naloko na. Napatingin naman ako sa doktor na nagtutulak ng wheelchair at bakas ang gulat sa mukha niya kahit kalahati lang ng maamong mukhang iyon ang nakikita ko. I know he would recognize both names but those names being together must have shook him to the core.

But no, I'll save that for later. Problema ko pa ang matandang ito.

"Alvarez... Wonder..." He tried to recall my name. "I have heard the name twice or thrice before. Alvarez? I can only think of... Oh! I remember inviting Marcus Alvarez to attend." Natawa siya kahit wala namang nakakatawa.

Nakitawa na rin ako. I have dodged the largest bullet, the celebrant himself. Alvarez surely paved my way smoothly. A forward thinker indeed.

"Baka nabanggit na ho niya ako sa inyo noon," sabi ko. I am not sure as to how he heard of my codename. "My brother sends his deepest regrets that he can't come over tonight. But since he still wants to be here by presence, he sent me instead."

Mas malakas na natawa ang matanda. "He sent his sister instead, eh? Is he still busy with company papers?"

"He sure is. Kuya Marcus is a little bit workaholic. Palagay ko nga po hindi na siya makakapag-asawa dahil sa ginagawa niya." We both laughed at the not-so-funny joke. Oh, well. I turned to the man pushing him. He's still surprised, huh? "By the way, you look really familiar, sir. Have we met before?"

"James Llantada, Miss Alvarez. It's nice to see you doing well." He stretched his hand, asking for a handshake. I smiled and reached for it. Now, this is scene is funny. He'll die later in the very same hands he's holding right now. Binitawan niya ang kamay ko. "Mabuti naman at hindi na tayo sa ospital nagkita."