Not Now But Forever

Chapter 19

My friends are all acting weird. Saturday came and I saw them staring at Dale's car outside our apartment.

"Where are you going?" Napatingin ako kay Ali while fixing my hair.

"Hindi ko alam. Surprise raw." I shrugged my shoulders and started putting a little makeup on my face.

Natuto na rin kasi akong maglagay nito. Thanks to Jerard who's very patient and maarte in teaching us. Nagsuot ako ng cream bodycon dress at block heels.

I checked myself one last time before going out our apartment. Napatigil lang ako sa pagmamadali ng marinig ko ang boses ni Rose.

"Charm," She called. I looked at her and smiled.

"Call us if something happened. We got you." She sadly smiled at me.

I walked near her and hugged her. Hindi ko alam kung anong problema nila but more than that, I know something's wrong.

"I'm with Dale. I'm safe." I whispered at her.

Mataman niya lang akong tiningnan bago sinabihang umalis na. I tried to calmed myself. Kahit ako kasi, hindi ko alam kung safe ba ako kapag kasama ko si Dale.

Napaayos ng tayo si Dale ng makita akong papalapit sa kanya. He smiled and kissed me on my cheek.

"You okay?" He asked and looked at me in the eye.

Ngumiti ako bago ito tinanguan, "Yes. Kinakabahan lang but nandyan ka naman diba?"

He pinched me on my cheeks. "Let's go."

Tahimik lang kami habang nagmamaneho si Dale. Hindi ko tuloy maiwasang kabahan lalo. He drove in a subdivision. Malalaki ang mga bahay. Mukhang anak-mayaman talaga si Dale. I wonder why he suddenly transferred at BSU.

Pumasok ang kanyang sasakyan sa isang malaking gate. May isang security guard ang bumukas nun. I roamed around the whole place. May mga lamp posts sa paligid.

"Come on."Alok niya sa akin saka siya lumabas sa sasakyan niya. He opened the door for me.

Breathe, Charm. Breathe.

Iginiya ako ni Dale papasok sa kanilang bahay. Their house looks like a mansion. Few maids greeted us.

"Si Daddy?" He asked one of their maids.

"Nasa dining area na po kasama si Ma'am." The maid replied.

Hinawakan ako ni Dale sa siko at saka inalalayan papunta sa dining area. From there,  I saw a woman silently drinking her wine. She looks stiff, malayo sa pagkatao ni Dale.

Sa kabisera naman ay nakita ko ang Daddy niya. Nakasuot ito ng long-sleeves polo na nakatupi hanggang siko. Agad itong ngumiti ng makita kami.

"Hijo!" His Dad stood up from his chair and greeted us.

He looked at me for a while, and then his eyes went back to Dale.

"Dad, this is Charm. My girlfriend." He said.

I don't know how to react lalo na dahil napansin kong natigilan ang Daddy niya.

"Good evening po." I shyly told his Dad.

Dale kissed the cheek of her Mom. I smiled at her and gulped. She's just eyeing me, and my every move.

Naupo kami sa harapan ng Mommy niya. Buti na lang at si Dale ang nasa harap ng Mommy niya. I don't know how I'm going to react kung ako ang ka-face to face ng Mommy niya!

"So, you're here for OJT?" Halos mabulunan ako sa biglaang tanong ng Mommy niya.

"Ah, yes po. Food tech po kasi ang course ko." Magalang kong sambit.

Dale offered me water that I gladly accepted.

"You okay?" He whispered. I looked at him and nodded. "You looked tensed." He added.

Sinulyapan ko si Dale. I gave him a bright smile, "I'm okay."

"Are you okay, hija?" His Dad asked me.

"Yes po." I shyly smiled and looked at my food.

"So, what's the work of your parents?" Her Mom asked me again.

I composed myself, "Government employee po si Papa tapos housewife si Mama."

Her Mom nodded. I feel like, I failed her expectations.

"Let Charm eat, Mom." Dale said. Naramdaman kong hinawakan niya ang kamay ko sa ilalim.

He motioned me to eat. Naging tahimik ang hapag. Her Mom would always eyed me and I would tend to looked at my food.

"Hijo!" Agad akong napatingin sa Mommy ni Dale. I thought he's calling Dale.

I felt Dale stiffened beside me. I looked at him. His jaw clenched.

"Manang, please get an extra plate!" Her Mom said.

Napaawang ang aking bibig ng makita si Liam sa harap ko. I don't know what's happening.

"Good evening, Tito." Liam politely greeted Dale's father.

Lito akong napatingin kay Dale at saka sa mga magulang niya. Liam gave me a weary smile. I can't even forced myself to eat.

"How's your OJT?" I felt Dale stiffened on his seat.

"It's okay, Tito." Liam answered. Nakita kong nakatingin ito sa akin..

"You know Charm?" Tanong ng Mommy ni Dale.

Liam answered, "She's my schoolmate."

Nang matapos si Liam kumain ay nagpaalam itong aalis na. Dale got up from his seat.

"Just stay in the couch. I'll be back." I nodded and made myself comfortable on the couch.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal doon. I stared at the interiors of their house. It was nice.

"You know my sons?" Nagulat ako sa presensya ng Mommy ni Dale.

"Po?" She laughed at my question.

"Liam and Dale." My eyes widened at the sudden revelation. It's impossible!  They have different surnames unless...

"They have different father." She casually told me.

"I cheated on Dale's dad. We're not in a good state but Dale said that we should act like we're fine. My son wants to impress you." She sadly smiled at me.

Dale wants to impress me? God! Doesn't he know that he already had impressed before? That non-showy guy!

"To be honest, I don't know what's special on you. My son is just...head over heels on you." She smiled at me.

Hindi ko alam kung bakit unti-unting sumikip ang dibdib ko matapos marinig iyon galing sa Mommy ni Dale.

Natigil lang ang pag-iisip ko nang makarinig kami ng kalabog sa labas. I think the sound came from the back of their house.

Agad akong napatayo. Something about that sound scares me.

"Charm," I stopped myself from walking when I heard Dale's mom.

"Whatever happens, please...understand my son."