Kiss by kiss (Completed)

Chapter Twenty Seven

"Glad to bump into you, Joaquin Da Silva. Remember me? Selena Montemayor?" She smiled seductively.

Joaquin remembers her alright but he doesn't have time to dally around with the likes of her. Just to be polite, he acknowledged her presence.

"Fancy meeting you here, Selena." He replied and went his way to the High School department.

"It's been a long time, Joaquin. I'll see you around." She winked and flicked her hair.

He just nodded as a reply and went to Cess's classroom. Selena Montemayor was the heiress of the Montemayor Group of companies and they are one of the richest in the country. Mas mayaman sila kaysa sa mga Da Silva at minsan nagkakasama ang dalawa sa mga business ventures. Rodrigo Montermayor and Enrico Da Silva were best of friends during their younger days. Joaquin and Selena met during one of the corporate parties he attended before with his father.

"Oh Rodrigo! My good friend, I'd like to introduce to you to my son Joaquin." Pakilala ng tatay niya kay Mr. Montemayor.

"Wow he has grown! Meet my daughter too. Selena come over here."

Nakipaghandshake ang mag-ama kay Selena. She was indeed beautiful in a very alluring way na madami ang nagkakadarapa sa kanya.

"I hope the two will get along. In the future, we can merge our families." Rodrigo said.

"Ah yes. Very soon." Enrico replied.

Naalala ni Joaquin ang pangyayari kaya iniiwasan niya magkita ulit sila ni Selena. She sounds trouble. Big time.

Sinundo ni Joaquin si Cess para pumunta sa boutique ni Pia Mendoza.

Nakatingin lang si JC sa kanila habang kinuha ang detention slip niya.

-JC-

Sobrang malas ko naman ngayong araw na ito. Una hindi ko nasagip si Cess sa pagbubully nila Mitch at Steph then second napahiya ako sa ginawang pagbasa ni Ma'am ng note ko and lastly andito ako sa library to serve my detention which means I missed the basketball practice. 1 hour and a half for two days!

Nagliligpit ako ng mga libro nang dumating sila Leo at Nick.

"Pre, medyo badtrip si coach dahil hindi ka nakapagpractice. Alam mo naman na hindi tayo pwede matalo sa susunod na laban." Reklamo ni Leo.

"Yan kasi di pa pass the notes ka kanina kay Cess eh!" Sabat naman ni Nick.

"Alam nyo naman na bawal ang cellphone. Do I have a choice?" Naiirita kong sagot.

"So ano plano mo kay Cess? Hahayaan mo na lang ba siya kay Joaquin?"

"Kakausapin ko muna siya para makapagsorry. Kayo kasi bakit nyo pa siya tinawagan para sunduin ako?!"

"Alangan naman si Tita? Eh wala naman kami ibang matatawagan para sunduin ka? Sagot ni Leo.

"Si Cess naman talaga ang humahatid sa iyo tuwing lasing ka." As usual na second the motion ni Nick

"Alam niya na delikado pero pinilit niya pa din akong sunduin."

"Kasi pre mahal ka ni Cess. Malay mo nastarstruck lang yun kay Joaquin. Sa prom kaya?"

"Oo mahal niya ako bilang kapatid. Sa prom? Siya yung partner ko."

"Oh ayan pala. There's your chance na!"

Natapos ang detention ko at hindi ko pa din alam ang gagawin ko. Nagtext ako kay Cess na aantayin ko siya sa swing area ng playground.

After 2 hours, nakita ko naglalakad si Cess papunta sa akin. Ilang araw lang ang nakalipas pero parang ang tagal na hindi kami nagkausap. Ito ata ang pinakamatagal dahil kung may tampuhan kami, nagkakabati din kami agad.

"Princess, I'm sorry sa inasal ko last time. Nabigla kasi ako. At sana hinayaan mo na lang ako noon sa Tipsy's. Pasensya na at naabala pa kita."

"Alam mo naman na hindi kita kayang tiisin di ba?"

"Friends?" I asked and opened my arms wide open.

"Best of friends." She stepped into my arms and hugged her tight.

Hindi pa ngayon ang tamang panahon pero one day masasabi ko din sa iyo ang nararamdaman ko.

-Cess-

Masaya ako at nagkabati na kami ni JC pero hindi ako makatulog sa nalaman ko about Sophia kanina. Habang nagfifit si Joaquin ng mga isusuot niya sa fashion show ay dinala ako ni Pia sa office niya. In exchange sa pagpayag ni Joaquin ay ang story nila ni Sophia.

"Cess, I know I have no right to tell you this but because pumayag si Joaquin sasabihin ko sa iyo." Seryosong bungad ni Pia.

"Sophia was Joaquin's first love. They meet in LA during their high school days and nag-aral sa UCLA nung college nila."

"Asan na siya ngayon at bakit hindi sila magkasama?" Tanong ko.

"She died. She was diagnosed of leukemia while carrying their baby." Malungkot na sagot ni Pia.

"Baby? Kelan lang ba iyon?" Naawa ako kay Joaquin, Sophia at yung baby nila.

"It was three years ago. Aksidente lang na nabuntis si Sophia. 18 years old pa lang sila noon. Hindi alam ni Joaquin na may leukemia si Sophia at biglaan ang nangyari. He was devastated kasi pinili niya si Sophia noon over his family."

"What do you mean na pinili?"

"Hindi boto ang father ni Joaquin kay Sophia. Alam mo ba na ngayon lang sila nagkabati ni Uncle Enrico kasi he needs Joaquin to run his business. Joaquin decided to come home to forget Sophia kaya andito siya ngayon and then he met you."

"I feel sorry for Joaquin. I know it's hard to loose someone you love. Naka-move na kaya siya?"

"I think so kasi hindi siya nagtatagal sa iisang babae. He dated pero once lang and he drops them like a hot potato. He never committed to anyone after Sophia. Naging committment phobic ata siya."

"I see." Tipid kong sagot.

"Remember I told you before? When Joaquin falls... He falls hard. He will do anything for the one he loves. Sana ikaw na ang magpapatibok ulit ng puso niya. You're getting there na."

"Sana nga Pia. Sana nga."

Habang inuulit ko ang usapan namin ni Pia ay hindi mawala sa isip ko ang kaba at konting selos. Ilang taon sila ni Sophia at muntik na magka-baby pa. Will I stand a chance against his first love?