Romance Anthologies

That Christmas Eve *

* 6/9 lang ako sa simbang gabi hashahsha suri na bz lang talaga ermats niyo huehue. Happy bisperas bukas mga bebekoooo!

-

Minutes ago, Bongbong was just lying down on his bed yet at the speed of light, he found himself wearing a tux and standing at a party that took place in one of the host's properties in Tagaytay, only to witness a harrowing scene – Miro's hands snaked around Leni's waist as he led her on to a certain cluster of people.

Edi sana hindi na lang ako bumangon.

"Never thought I'd see you here," Migz Zubiri caught his attention which abruptly stopped his raging manifestation.

"Kailan ba ako umabsent?" he joked around instead.

"Sabagay," the other party seconded. "But I thought tonight would be an exception. It's Christmas eve."

"My sons are busy with things. Their mother is out of town," he clinked his glass against the ice in it.

"Kaya naman pala bigla kang naging bugnutin dyan," Migz nickered a playful elbow to Bongbong.

"I'm not lonely," the former senator argued.

He shrugged his shoulders. Inikot nito ang mga mata kung saan niya nakita si Bongbong na nakatingin kanina. "You're with...Leni?"

"Ha?" muntik mabilaukan si Bongbong sa iniinom na scotch, buti na lang ay na-segue niya ito. "Hindi ah."

"Hmmm....?" he darted questionable looks at him. "Hindi ko alam kung nagagalit ka sa nakikita mo o hinuhubaran mo sa isip.mo si-"

"Wala. Hindi," sternness enveloped his tone.

"E bakit ganyan ka na lang kung makatingin?" he chuckled and looked at the same direction as he was before. "Ganda nila tignan pareho 'no? I think bagay sila."

Nang-aasar ka ba, Zubiri? Ilang libong mura na ang nabitaw ni Bongbong sa isipan niya at napagdesisyunang manahimik na muna dahil baka maging iba ang timpla ng pananalita at tono nito. Nilagok niya ang isang baso ng alak sa isang inuman lang at dahil sa kanyang inis ay bahagyang napalakas ang pagpatong niya sa ibabaw ng bar counter. Nakahinga ng malalim si Bongbong nang mapansing hindi ito naka-agaw atensyon sa kasama.

Migz felt his silence but then again, just before he decided to console him, a man called him out from afar thus making him excuse himself from the conversation. Isang malaking buntong hininga ng katiwasayan ang nilabas ni Bongbong nang mawala sa tabi nito ang senador. The bartender gave him a bigger glass than earlier and he blindly grasped it in his hands and started to drink again, wincing his eyes towards the same direction he was lurking in.

When Bongbong noticed that Leni was making an effort to distance herself from them throughout their conversation and then walked towards where he was, he felt a quick tingling in his alert system. Agad itong napatalikod sa takot na madiskubre ito kahit alam niyang huli na ang lahat nang magtama ang kanilang mga mata isang segundo lang ang nakalipas.

"May margarita kayo?" the moment he heard her sweet voice, he got immediately trapped in the walls of attraction.

"Spritz lang po, Ma'am," the lady server ushered.

"Okay, I'll take one," her lips formed a thin line. Hindi alam ni Bongbong kung sinasadya ba nitong hindi siya pansinin o iniiwasan talaga siya nito.

"No," his thoughtless, sudden intervention caught the attention of both ladies. He turned his gaze to Leni, "Just give her a punch."

Nagkatinginan naman ang dalawang babae at bahagya na lamang na napatango ang bise, symbolizing that she was agreeing to his choice for her. It was very awkward for the bartender to witness such a scene but she did mix a watermelon punch and served it to her flawlessly anyways. Feeling the need to give them privacy, she scooted away to the other end of the counter as more people came.