Maginoong Medyo Bastos

Chapter Eight

Vannessa could really swear that she'd forgotten about her Tito Rody, but the moment she heard him say her name, it was as if all the things that she had struggled to forget and to get over with were crashing down on her once more.

Sa pagtawag pa lang nito sa pangalan niya ay naramdaman niya ang pakiramdam na halos araw-araw niyang nararamdaman ilang taon na ang nakararaan. Hindi siya halos makagalaw nang maayos habang ramdam ang presensya nito sa kanyang likuran.

Ramdam niya ang pagtayo ng kanyang mga balahibo na wari bang hinahaplos ng malamig na hangin ang kanyang balat. She tried hard not to look affected, but she knew that she'd failed at it even when her life was at stake.

She flinched when she felt his hand caressing her hair. "Enjoy yourself, Dear," he told her before he slowly dragged his hand down to her back.

Kaagad siyang napalayo rito nang nanlalaki ang mga mata. Itinago niya sa bulsa ng kanyang sweater ang mga nanginginig na kamay bago tiningnan ang kanyang tito. "Uh, t-thank you."

Rody gave her a little smile that for Vannessa, spoke so many unspoken words. It creeped under her skin like some insects digging holes into her flesh. She tried hard to swallow the lump on her throat as she prayed for him to leave her alone.

Mukhang narinig ng langit ang hinihiling niya dahil naglakad na rin ito palayo at pabalik sa mesa nito.

Nakahinga nang maluwag si Vannessa dahil doon ngunit malakas pa rin ang pagkabog ng kanyang dibdib na wari bang dumadagundong sa kanyang tenga. She focused on her breathing as she tried her best to calm herself.

When she looked back up once again, she saw that some of the people were already looking at her and whispering something. Alam na niya kung anong pinagbubulungan nito. Sa sobrang predictable ng angkan niya'y hindi na siya nagtataka at nagugulat sa mga pinanggagawa at pinagsasabi nito. She clenched her fists in dismay before doing her best to look away and look for a place to sit on as she waited for the party to start.

Tumigil ang kanyang tingin nang makita ang daddy niya. Kasama nito sa isang mesa ang iilan sa mga tito niya. Her mom was nowhere in sight which she very much expected. Wala nang nagawa pa si Vannessa kung 'di ang maglakad papunta sa table nito, pilit na hindi pinapansin ang mga tinging kanyang nakukuha sa kanyang paglalakad.

She stopped near him. Nginitian niya ang kanyang mga tito na kaagad naman siyang tinuro. When her dad saw her, there was a mixture of confusion and surprise in his countance, before he looked at the clothing she was wearing. "Hey, honey."

Ngumiti siya nang tipid dito. "Hi, Dad." Umupo siya sa bakanteng upuan tabi nito bago muling nginitian ang mga tito niyang nakatingin pa rin sa kanya. "Hi, Tito Jem, Tito RK, Tito Roann."

Fortunately, the Concepcion men didn't really meddle with other people's lives as much as the women did. They had their own worlds. Nasasali lang ito kapag pinipilit ng mga asawa nila at alam niyang wala ring masiyadong pakialam ang mga ito sa mga desisyon niya sa buhay.

"You're here? I didn't think you liked going in here, Van," her dad said.

She rolled her eyes before letting out a sigh. "Of course, dad. I'm very delighted to be here," she said sarcastically before leaning against the backrest of the chair. "Gustung-gusto ko talagang maki-join sa engagement party ng aking bff Stella."

Her dad disheveled her hair before sighing. "Just at least pretend you like to be here, okay? Ano na namang masabi nila."

Hindi na siya nagsalita pa at nanatili na lang nakatitig sa dalawang grand staircase sa harapang bahagi ng ballroom. Paniguradong doon ang magiging grand entrance ng engaged couple. Napabuntonghininga siya. She just wanted for everything to be over so she could finally go home. Pilit niyang sinasabi sa sarili niyang kaonting tiis na lang at matatapos din ang lahat ng iyon. Every minute she spent in there was emotional torture.