A Night To Remember (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 16

I was so stunned to even move, kung hindi pa ako inalalayan ni Gio ay talagang hindi ako makakausad. Naramdaman ko na lang ang malamig na hangin nang tuluyan niya nang nabuksan ang pintuan ng kanyang condo.

He has a large foyer, that's what I noticed when I roamed my eyes. I got stuck on each pillar of his living room. They looked sturdy with some paintings on them.

" Good evening, ma'am, sir!" Out of nowhere, someone greeted us. I almost panicked.

Gio neared the middle-age woman who greeted us; he called her Manang and asked for something before he faced me and went near me. I had been to Geoven's condo, and all I can say is that Gio's bigger. His living area is wide enough to accommodate guests for a party.

It's bigger than my room, though. I don't want to turn blind. I know it's reasonable because he's rich and his surname is blowing me to the depths that he's not just like my ex.

He invited me for his family dinner. Ang sabi ni Gio ay itinaon niya talaga ang pag-aya sa akin sa gabing ito kaya hindi rin siya nagpupumilit na hindi ako pwede noong nakaraang linggo. Naiisip ko pa lang na makikita ko si Mr. De Vera rito ay para na akong lalagnatin at isa pa nasa Singapore naman iyon so hindi kami magpang-abot. Kinalma ko ang sarili nang maisip na wala pala sa Pilipinas si Mr. De Vera at kung magkamag-anak sila ni Gio ay hindi rin naman siguro iyon makakapunta rito.

Bakit ko ba iniisip iyon?!

"Sir, eto na po," the woman interrupted Gio's moves.

Tinuro ko iyon kay Gio kaya napakamot na lang siya sa ulo, iginiya niya iyon sa isang lamesa sa may sala bago ako inalalayang lumakad muli. Nakahawak siya sa baywang ko habang dahan-dahan namin tinahak ang pagitan ng bulwagan at ng sala niya.

Nilagyan niya ng cushion ang ang sofa bago niya ako pinaupo r'on, inalis ko naman kaagad dahil hindi ako naging kumportable. Nilagay ko iyon sa likod ko at naupo nang tuwid habang nagmamasid nang pasimple ang mga mata ko. I was trying to look for a family picture, meron akong nakita, tatlong family pictures ang nakadikit sa dingding at ni isa sa mga iyon ay hindi ko namukhaan si Mr. De Vera.

I did a thorough observation, inisa-isa ko ang frame at walang pinagbago sa numero ng mga nasa frame.There's an old man, who I assume is his dad, his mom, who still looks elegant, and his siblings are on the back as he stands next to his father. Gio looks more serious in this photo than the other two's beside this big one. His sisters are beautiful. They resemble each other's features, and after a thorough scan, I can tell that their facial features are from their parents.

Gio's seated on my right side, he handed me a glass of red wine. Kaagad ko namang kinuha iyon lalo pa't tumunog ang cellphone niya para sa isang tawag.

" Hello," mababa ang boses niya nang sinagot ang tawag. Ilang segundo ang lumipas bago siya napatayo at natuliro.

I watched him, he walked back and forth as he tried to negotiate with the caller. Later, I understood why he seemed disappointed when he ended the call with very sad eyes. Those sad eyes vanished as he looked at me, with pity on his eyes while his lips plastered a fake smile.

" I'm sorry, they can't make it tonight. There's an emergency that they need to attend to." He explained. His lips are slowly withdrawing from the smile.

Tumango ako at ngumiti. I knew Gio had been planning this night, and seeing his sad eyes is giving me a damn chill. I just want to comfort him, but I don't know how. Maybe I understand how it feels to get ignored by our parents.