Pervy insisted na he should pick me up but hindi ako nag-agree kasi nga sabay kami nila Zara and they rejected their plus one's offer too na ihatid sila so I should do the same except for Zelle na nakapag-promise na sa kanyang plus one.
They never mentioned about their plus one, that's why it sounded so fishy nga eh, but it's their privacy, makikita ko lang din naman sa party mamaya.
I invited the boys din, even though dad and grandma doesn't like them, wala pa ring makaka-stop sakin na i-invite sila because they are my friends too. I don't know about my family, or specifically sa side nila Dad, all they see is money and power.
While riding na sa car nila Chloe, we enjoy the road trip with good music hanggang nasa venue na kami, there are also from the media pala, hays grandma talaga. Chloe's and Katie's family are also here kaya siguro mau pa ganyan si grandma.
And pumasok na kami, yes, it is indeed grandiose.
We parted ways na with Katie and the squad because they are papunta na sa family nila and iyong iba hinahanap their plus one, ako I'm finding both. Ang raming tao, I greeted those people na medyo kilala ko because of business.
When I caught a sight where my brothers are ay agad akong lumapit sa kanila and I saw that andun din si Grandma, my other siblings and Dad with the other business men in one table, I sighed deeply and encourage myself na maging confident and held my head high.
Kapag ganito kasi napre-pressure ako lalo na kapag nasa akin na ang spotlight, and it is and will always be my greatest nightmare, maybe because kahit ang sarili kong pamilya walang trust sakin, and I just suffer it alone, all the dagger words.
Lumapit ako to them with a slight smile plus with grace and poise just like what I'm train to be and pumunta ako sa gilid ni grandma and greeted her with a beso, "Happiest birthday my gorgeous grandma," and I smiled genuinely, grandma is still grandma that's why I'm really happy naman talaga na birthday niya kahit ang bigat sa loob na pumasok dito.
She smiled and I know it is genuine too. "Hija, my dear beautiful Julienne, I'm so glad to see you, please join us," tinapik niya ako and I just smile and nod in response. |
Kahit labag sa loob ko umupo ako katabi ni Kuya Jeremy and the chair beside me is supposed to be kay Ryan and then katabi niya si kuya Jeremy, of course dito ko sinigurado sa tabi nila kuya, masisikmura ko pa sila kaysa sa mga babae kong kapatid, but before that dumaan ako sa tabi ni Dad and beso din sa kanya and umupo na.
Speaking of Pervy, shocks! Bakit late siya? Argh, baka Grandma will think that Pervy is irresponsible and hindi punctual at baka ma-lose points si Pervy kay Dad din dahil dito, argh! He's too impossible!
Napatingin ako sa phone ko and started to dial Pervy's number.
"Julienne," I was shock because tinawag ako ni Dad so napabalikwas ako ng upo and look at him, "Ryan already arrived way before us with his family and he excused himself para makihalobilo with the other business men, baka darating na iyong batang 'yun ngayon, don't worry too much Julie," mapang-asar na sabi ni Dad, I was shock, yes I am.
Naramdaman ko ang paghila ng pisngi ko, si Kuya Josiah pala, "Dalaga na bunso namin," sinamaan ko lang siya ng eyes and tinapik his hands na nasa cheeks ko,
"Sorry I'm late," napatingin kaming lahat kay Pervy na dumating.
I saw him looked around and when his eyes landed on me ay agad siyang ngumiti and nag wave, and I feel my cheeks burning up, does he always look this good? I mean fudgee bar! He's wearing coat and tie but still looks like... Like Ryan! I mean I always found other people wearing coat and tie are boring but Pervy? Bull shark!
I stiffed when he upo na sa tabi ko, "Oh it's okay hijo, it's just a party not a meeting, don't be so formal," and grandma even giggled at the sight of Pervy, oh geez even grandma thinks Pervy is hot! "I like your boyfriend Julienne hija, he's a true business man plus a handsome face kahit ang bata bata pa, 'wag mo na siyang pakawalan dear Julienne, pwede na kayong magpakasal," and now I'm sure that I'm red as a tomato.
Napatikhim naman si Dad and I hear Ryan chuckling too, "Lola, I think it can wait, it's better to be prepared and plan things first, and isa pa, tito seems to disagree about that idea having his youngest daughter to be tied with someone, and I will patiently wait for his approval po in the near future," hindi ako makatingin kay Pervy but I saw Dad smiled and raise his glass of wine kay Pervy.
"A man, indeed," rinig kong compliment ni grandma.
I just smiled at their treatment kay Pervy, I mean I feel proud kahit hindi naman ako iyong kino-compliment nila and not because he is my plus one, kahit siguro hindi ko siya plus one or boyfriend ngayon I would still be proud and happy genuinely na ganito ang reaction nila.
"Now I witness the true meaning of beautiful," napatingin ako kay Pervy after he whispered it sakin, and I know I blushed and still managed to smile and umiwas ng tingin sa kanya.
The first time na ang environment ko ay tanggap nila na kaming dalawa ni Pervy and it is super nice sa feeling pala ano? Iyong parang tanggap kayo ng whole world.
"Ikaw Julienne? Since may boyfriend ka na, did you won first places na? How are your grades?", and then I heard my tita asks and my heart starts to stop na, eto na naman. My nightmare, sakin na lahat ng kanilang attention.
I was about to speak when inunahan ako ni ate Jillian, "Oh don't expect anything tita, she's still the same Julienne, the 4th placer of their batch," as much as ate tried to talk nice, naramdaman ko parin ang disappointment sa boses niya.
Naramdaman ko ang atmosphere na cold na naman, this is the atmosphere na alam kong tinitignan nila ako with disappointments in their eyes kaya I stayed nakayuko because I'm tired, and God knows I can't defend myself anymore.
I heard tumikhim si Pervy and napapikit nalang ako ng naalala ko na he's here, nakakahiya, and now I'm stopping my tears from falling, "Actually po Julienne got the first place in their cooking contest na nangyari lang recently and what more sa upcoming months? I witnessed her determination and passion sa pagluluto, and by that I'm already proud of her kahit hindi ko pa alam kung sino ang mananalo, and sa first monthly exam, we didn't communicate because iyon ang sabi niya, because she has to focus on her studies, she's trying and she succeed," napatingin ako kay Pervy, he's looking at me.
A tear fell from my eye, ano ba ginagawa niya? Why is he doing this to me?
Napatingin kami lahat kay ate Janine when it's her turn to speak, "She succeeded? Sa ano? Pagiging top 4? Sa pagpanalo para lag sa isang cooking contest?" and again, napayuko nalang ulit ako and I just hold my purse tightly but nagulat ako when I saw a hand holds the top of my hand and in-intertwine ito, I know it's Pervy's.
I look at him, and he's looking at everyone na naghihintay sa sagot niya but he galaw his thumb sa kamay ko na parang kina-caress ito na nagsasabing okay lang. Oh God, what did I do right para maging boyfriend ang isang Ryan Will Yoshihara? And hanggang sa isip ko lang ito sasabihin because I know his head will be lalaki if sasabihin ko din ito sa kanya.
"No, she may not be the 1st placer of their batch, nor the smartest in their school, and yet sinabi ko kanina that she's trying, instead of shopping and eating to her heart's content ay nag focus siya sa pags-study even though her passion is cooking, and yes she succeeded, she succeeded to be the best, loving and selfless daughter," sa ngayon, I only look at his eyes while saying those.
Hindi pa na-process sakin ang lahat but I want to remember this day, I want to remember how he's defending me. I want to remember every part of his face na nakikita kong masaya siyang naalala ang mga little things na effort ko para sa pamilya ko, I saw his eyes sparkle, and I know iyong akin din, kasi nakatingin ako sa kanya.
"So please excuse us," and nagulat nalang ako when tumayo siya and napatayo na din ako because hawak hawak pa din niya ang kamay ko and he bowed.
Umalis kami leaving them in awe or dumbfounded but one thing's for sure...
Masaya ako, sobrang saya ko.
But where kami pupunta?