Undestined (ON-HOLD)

CHAPTER 2

Jerk

Wearing my beige midriff baring top, paired with Chanel belt, black trouser pants and Prada stilettos while holding my Louis Vuitton handbag, I walked inside the restaurant confidently.

I saw how the people eating at the restaurant stunned as they look at me. I just shrugged and glanced to the waitress who's also looking at me in awe.

Tumikhim ako upang makuha ang kanyang atensyon. Agad naman siyang nahiya at ngumiti sa akin. "Do you have any reservation, Ma'am?," she seems uneasy.

"Uh, yeah. My brother, Erres Vasquez, had some reservation for two awhile ago," I said politely.

Tiningnan niya saglit ang kanyang logbook at ngumiti sa akin kalaunan. "This way, Ma'am,"
Iginiya niya ako sa isang reserved table na nakalaan para sa aming dalawa.

I thanked her then she left. I took out my phone and sent a text message for my brother.

Me:
Kuya, I'm here at Vikings na. I'll wait for you.

He replied after a few minutes.

Kuya Erres:
I'm on my way now.

Out of boredom, I logged in to my Instagram account and tons of notifications popped up. When I left for Florida, I deactivated all my social media accounts, especially Facebook and Instagram, to avoid those toxic people. But still, I have thousand followers who always stalked my everyday life.

I only followed those people that I met in Florida who became my friends for a short time and some family friends here. I only post my selfies, food, places where I go and even sexy photos at the beach while swimming and surfing.

While scrolling, natigilan ako nang may isang picture na nakaagaw ng atensiyon ko. It was a picture of Justin and Ally in Boracay. It was posted yesterday by Evan, Justin's bestfriend. Kumuyom ang kamao ko at pinipigilan ang pagbugso ng galit sa puso ko.

I smiled bitterly. Even after everything I've been through just to forget, nandito pa rin ang galit at poot na pilit kong kinalimutan sa mga nagdaang taon. No love, just pure anger and hatred. I'm hating myself again for feeling all these.

Natigil na lang ako sa pag-iisip nang may humalik sa noo ko. It was my brother. Agad akong tumayo upang yakapin siya ng mahigpit.

"I missed you, Kuya," naramdaman ko ang kanyang ngiti sa aking balikat. Kahit naman lagi niya akong inaasar ay isa iyon sa bonding namin kaya na-miss ko iyon. It made us closer to each other. Our closeness is always there.

"I missed you, too, Sungit," napangiti ako dahil iyon ang laging pang-asar niya sa akin mula pa noong mga bata kami. Lagi ko raw sinusungitan at tinataasan ng kilay ang mga babaeng pinapakilala niya except sa mga girl friends niya na kilala ko naman at friends ko na rin.

I just hate those girls na may bitchy attitude at laging umaaligid sa kaniya. Lagi kong pinagdarasal na sana makahanap na si Kuya ng katapat niya, a girl that is worth fighting for. Yung babaeng nararapat sa kaniya.

I sighed and smiled at him a bit. "Let's eat na. I'm already starving," natawa naman siya kaya inaya na niya ako sa buffet table.

While picking foods, napansin ni Kuya ang pagiging tahimik ko kaya tiningnan ko siya at ngumiti ako kahit pilit.

"What?," pilit kong pinasigla ang boses ko.

"Something's off. Hyper ka naman kanina habang magkausap tayo pero nang nakita mo ang picture na iyon, natahimik ka na," concern is evident in his voice.

Natigilan ako nang bahagya. Ganoon na ba ako katagal nakatingin sa picture na iyon at hindi ko napansin ang pagdating niya? I shrugged.

Nang hindi agad ako nakasagot at nakagalaw ay siya na mismo ang naglagay ng pagkain sa plate ko. I smiled, he really know what my favorites are.

"Kuya, it's never been easy for me," hindi ko na siya matingnan. Baka maiyak ako.

"They're not worth it, Ria," alam ni Kuya ang pinagdaanan ko noong mga panahong iyon kaya hindi ko siya masisisi kung magagalit siya sa akin dahil nagkakaganito na naman ako ngayon. Natandaan ko pa kung gaano siya nagalit noong malaman niya iyon.

"You don't know how much I want to beat that bastard to death for what he did with your so-called bestfriend. Pero dahil ayaw kong mag-alala ka, I chose to let it go," he sighed heavily.

"I'll be fine, Kuya," I smiled to convince him. He looked at me and smiled sadly.

Nang makabalik na kami sa aming table ay tahimik lang kaming kumakain. After long silence, we talked about the university that I'll be attending for college.

"Did you ask Dad about Eastwood?," he asked.

Natigilan ako sandali at huminga ng malalim. "We're not yet talking about the details, Kuya," I shrugged.

Buti na lamang ay kahit dito sa pagpili ng university na papasukan ko sa Manila ay ako na ang pinagdesisyon ni Daddy. The Eastwood State University.

Nasabihan na nila ako ni Mommy about that university. Pag-aari iyon ng mga Samaniego, rich and noble family. They're also in the same field when it comes to our business, the Samaniego Group of Companies. They have an Italian blood. Marami rin silang ibang business like luxurious hotels, restaurants and prestigious universities. Mayroon din silang company branches around the world but mostly in the Philippines and Italy.

Naging magkaibigan sina Daddy and Tito Phillip mula pa noong college sila and they're on the same field kaya nagkasundo rin. I only met him and his wife, Tita Veronica once. I think I was around 7 years old. Meron din silang dalawang anak na lalaki pero hindi ko na matandaan kung ano ang hitsura nila. I'm not interested either.

Hindi ko na sila ulit nakita dahil naging abala na ako sa maraming bagay. My studies, martial arts class, sports, surfing and many more. Kaya hindi ako sumasama sa mga events and social gatherings na pinupuntahan nina Daddy.

Ito na lang ang pinili kong university dahil mukha ngang maganda talaga dito at may quality education. They also said that the professors and the dean were Stanford, Oxford and Harvard alumni.

"I'm sorry, Ria, if  I can't do anything para pilitin si Daddy na payagan kang pumasok sa law school to pursue pre-law," he looked guilty so I smiled to tell him it's alright.

"You don't have to, Kuya. It's not your fault. Ever since, alam ko nang malabo talagang mangyari iyon. Nagbaka sakali lang naman ako dahil baka payagan niya ako for one last time pero sa huli..." pumikit na lamang ako at hindi na tinuloy ang sasabihin.

He sighed. "But I heard that doon din mag-aaral ang bunsong anak nina Tito Phillip and Tita Veronica, si Pharaoh," nagulat ako sa pangalang binanggit ni Kuya.

Oh God! 'Wag naman sana. I'm having an idea already.

"Pardon, Kuya?" I don't know why my heart started beating so fast.

"Si Pharaoh Vinn Samaniego, he's just the same as your age. You met him already but we were still kids that time, alongside Phantom, his older brother. I heard that he just flew back from Italy for visiting his grandparents," namilog ang mata ko sa sinabi ni Kuya.

And that's it. That guy who annoyed me at the airport earlier was none other than the heir of the Samaniegos! That jerk who even called me "mi amore" for heaven's sake!

"Why? Did you meet him again?," I sighed and tell him what happened at the airport and how annoying he is.

Kuya Erres laughed after that." Ugh! Why are you laughing ba, Kuya?! He's annoying as hell!" I rolled my eyes.

"Looks like meron nang papalit sa akin na nambubully sa 'yo," he laughed again then he continued, "But please be careful. I always see him with different girls at the club. I don't want you getting hurt again," he looked serious this time.

"Kuya, I don't want to get close to him either. I've had enough. I didn't learn martial arts for nothing. I can handle that jerk," I said confidently.

Amusement is in his eyes again. Naningkit ang mata ko sa kapatid ko dahil inaasar na naman niya ako. Tumawa naman siya. "Okay, whatever you say, 'lil sis." I glared at him and sighed.

Great, looks like my college life will be very exciting because he'll annoy me as hell everyday. I sarcastically thought.

— 🥰