After Daylight

17. When Alexander Dominic Escarra Happened

NAOMI

"You did what?!" I exclaimed with my nanlalaki na eyes at Ade.

"Why are you mad?" He asked.

"So dapat ba matuwa ako sa ginawa mo? Palakpakan kita ganon?"

"Dapat lang. I asked him because I want to do it right."

Napakamot ako ng ulo. "Sana you asked me first Ade. Magulo sa bahay ngayon. Ate Celestine is pregnant, si KM may jowa daw na mas matanda sa kanya, si kuya Yllak alcoholic na daw kasi broken hearted tapos dumagdag pa tayo sa iisipin nila. OMG!"

Sumimangot si Ade. "What do you want to do then? Babawiin ko ba sinabi ko sa papa mo?"

"Of course not. Sinabi mo na sa kanya."

"Look Naomi, I like you. I told your dad I want to make ligaw because gusto talaga kita. I don't want to play hook-ups with you and that's it."

"Talaga? Hindi mo ichichika sa kabilang station na buntis ang ate ko? Baka naman bukas una kami sa balita or blind item."

He made a face. "Naomi please. I don't even know the reporters in our station."

"Mamatay?" I dared him.

"Fine. Ex ko yung isang reporter dun."

"How old are you again?"

"Twenty-two. I dated the woman when I was nineteen." He admitted.

"KM ikaw ba yan?"

Ade rolled his eyes. "The point is. I like you and I want to do it right so I asked your dad's permission. Magsasabi ako kay Yllak pag nagkita ulit kami."

"What if I go back to school? I'm studying abroad. Will you still court me?" I asked him.

He nodded. "Maliit na bagay Naomi."

I looked at him. "Seryoso ka ba na gusto mo ako?"

"Yes. I do not know how it happened but you made it happen. I woke up one day wishing you were the one I am eating breakfast with."

Napanganga ako. "Totoo ba yan Ade? Baka naman one-night stand syndrome lang yan?"

"If it was a one night stand syndrome there wouldn't be a next after that. We wouldn't be just eating breakfast with your brother or dinner with your family. I would have walked away after that night."

"Baka naman nakipag-pustahan ka sa kabilang station kaya mo sinasabi yan tapos you are nag-aantay na ma-fall ako."

Ade made a face. "Naomi. Do you really find it hard to believe?"

I nodded. "Oo. You don't look the type to fall for me." For the first time in my life, I didn't have that confidence in me.

"Bakit?"

"Most guys would call it quits and move on." I replied.

He sighed and sat on the bed with me. "Naomi. Believe me it's also my first time to feel this way."

"Ade. Kung sasagutin kita ikaw magiging unang boyfriend ko. Ikaw unang lalake na ipapakilala ko sa magulang ko. I have dated guys but never ko silang naging boyfriend." I told him.

"Why?" He asked.

"I just got stuck up with my puppy love on Alexander. Gustong-gusto ko siya to the point na sinundan ko sa Singapore when I got to college." I admitted.

Ade laughed. "Grabe naman kaagaw ko. Sinundan mo sa Singapore."

I made a face. "He's not your kaagaw really. It's a one sided kind of thing."

"It won't be one sided if you choose me Naomi." He winked.

Pisti. May pumitik.

---

With papa's permission, Ade was my date on my ate's engagement party. Of course we had to lie a bit to the media na ate was already dating that rugged man named Oliver because medyo halata na buntis siya.

"Ade ha, kapag may narinig ako na chismis sa station niyo tungkol sa ate ikaw una kong pupuntahan." I threatened him.

He made a face. "I told you, I'm not interested in the family business. I'm happy being an actor and a model."

"Ex mo pa rin yung reporter dun."

"I didn't have feelings for her when we dated. It was just physical intimacy between two people."

Hindi ko alam pero nakilig ako sa sinabi niya.

"Basta. Umayos ka Ade."

"Oo na po."

I was about to say something to Ade but tita Dani and tito Kaleb's entrance sa ballroom caught my attention. Behind them was Alexander and Victorique. Alexander was handsome as usual. Alexander saw me quickly and waved at me. I waved back awkwardly.

"Alexander is here." Ade spoke.

"Yeah. Friends ang parents namin kaya baka ininvite ni papa."

"I should say hi to him." He said.

"Bakit?"

"I studied with him and Yllak back in London. Hindi mo naalala?"

"Uh. Yeah."

Ade stood up as soon as Alexander approached us.

"Alexander. Long time no see." Ade spoke.

"Same to you, Alexander Dominic," He turned to me. "Hello Naomi. Your vacation was longer than usual."

"Family matters." I told him.

"Right. Are you with AD or you just met him?" Alexander asked.

Ade was about to answer but I cut him off and held his hands. "I'm dating him kaya siya nandito." I told Alexander.

Alexander looked taken aback. "Really?"

I nodded, smiling. "We look together di'ba?" I even raised our hands together.

Alexander smiled awkwardly. "Yeah you do, Naomi."

I giggled. "Kuya Yllak said you guys were together back in London. Sana sa London na lang pala kita sinundan para na-meet ko na agad siya."

Ade laughed, amused. Alexander looked unsure of how to respond.

I looked at Ade. "Puntahan daw pala natin ang ate."

"Sure. I'll see you around, Alexander."

I smiled at Alexander and walked away with Ade.

"You're hands are cold, Naomi."

Binitawan ko kamay niya at huminga. "Sorry."

"Why did you do that Naomi?" He asked when we were alone in the hallway.

"I wanted to do it right too. You asked my papa to let you ligaw me. Then I heard from mama na nagpaalam ka din daw kina lolo and kuya Yllak talked to me last night about dating and stuff so I assumed you have told him na," I smiled at him. "I have thought it over and I think if magpapa-ligaw ako sa'yo, I need to let go of those puppy love feelings I have over Alexander to be fair to you."

Ade chuckled. "Naomi. Ma-fall ka lang sa akin masaya na ako."

"Bakit, na-fall ka na ba Ade?" I asked him.

He smiled and kissed me. It was brief but I felt that.

"You're not so hard to love, Naomi Alexandra."

"Guys I know you are nagliligawan but please be discreet. May media. Bukas nasa headline na kayo." Kuya Yllak suddenly spoke.

Nahiya ako bigla kahit wala akong hiya at nagtago sa likod ni Ade.

"We were just talking." Ade answered.

Kuya made a face. "Right and I'm a virgin."

---

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