CHAPTER TWELVE
NAGKULONG lang si Natalie sa sarili niyang kwarto buong maghapon pagkatapos ng paguusap nila ni Vhal sa loob ng comfort room.
It wasn't a good talk. She didn't want it to be a good one.
She was sitting at the edge of the bed with curtains closed and only the lampshade on her bedside table give her light.
Napasapo siya sa ulo at pagkuwa'y binuksan ang drawer ng endtable. Tinitigan niya sandali ang maliit na kahon at kinuha ito.
She gathered all her strength to open it once again. Sa tuwing nais na niyang umatras sa ginagawa ay tinitignan lamang niya ang nasa loob nito at bumabalik na muli ang determinasyon na ipagpatuloy ang nasimulan.
"I can't wait to spend not just your next birthdays but the rest of my life. You were the reason why I came this far, Natalie. So please.." nilabas nito ang isang blue velvet box.
Hindi na napigilan ni Natalie ang luha.
"B-but Vhal, you're at the peak of your career. H-hindi ba iyon muna ang priority mo?"
"Hindi ba sasamahan mo naman akong maabot ang pangarap ko? And I could still reach that, as long as you're with me" binuksan na nito ang box and she saw a familiar ring.
It wasn't just a diamond ring, she knew that ring, it was from his grandmother.
"Madami ng pinagdaanan ito but look, matibay pa rin. I would like to give this to you because this ring means a lot to me and my family, it symbolizes eternity and that's what I want us to be.. forevermore" kinuha nito sa box ang singsing at tinapat sa kanya.
"So will you be mine, forever?" He choked. "Will you marry me?"
Tumango si Natalie. "Yes!"
He cried too, as he slipped the ring on her finger and kissed it. Pagkuwa'y tumayo siya at hinalikan ito.
She closed it again as memories starts to flood her mind, pinunasan niyang muli ang mga luha sa mata.
Pathetic..
No, she can't let him ruin her again. She won't let that one night ruin everything!
Nakuha na ni Vhal ang gusto niya at doon na iyon matatapos. Now she would get what she want and that was to get into the Super Cup tournament!
Isang taon ng buhay niya ang nasayang noon at hindi niya maaring sayangin pa ang apat na taon na ginugol niya sa ibang bansa.
Suddenly her phone rang, It's Erwin - her manager.
"It's tonight, Natalie. Are you still in it?" Bungad na tanong ni Erwin.
Muling tinignan ni Natalie ang asul na kahon at napapikit. There's no turning back now!
"See you there" binaba nito ang tawag at napatingin sa orasan. Ilang sandali na lang ang kailangan niyang antayin at mamaya matatapos na ang lahat, she'll going to win this race!
Just keep your head in the game, Natalie and you're job here is done!
~¤~¤~
The crowd is already wild and getting wilder! Hindi na sa Nueva Castillo ginanap ang karera, it's an open racing track located near it.
"Why did they changed locations?" Tanong ni Natalie. "Do you know something about this?" Tanong niya kay Erwin.
"I don't know, dear" he shrugged his shoulders. "But this place is bigger and you're audience couldn't fit in Nueva Castillo. Isa pa, hindi makakapasok lahat ng nandoon, masyadong mahigpit ang security ng mga Rodriguez"
