RJ's POV
Everybody is excited on this contract signing event, lalo na si Lolo at si Dad since this is a fulfilment of their dream to penetrate the regional and global market. Pero ako mas excited sa trip namin ni Charm mamaya after this event as this is our first out-of-town trip alone. Kung hindi lang magagalit si Lolo at si Dad, kanina pa sana kami nakaalis ng asawa ko para sa long over due naming honeymoon. Medyo matagal din byahe ang papuntang north ah.
The ceremony started on schedule, after the contract signing the buffet dinner follows. Charm and Celestine joins Tatay Teddy and Nanay Mary in their table together with Rizza and Lola while I joined Mike, my Dad and Lolo with Leila, Scoth and their other fellow executives in the presidential table.
I can't take me eyes off my wife, not only because of how gorgeous she is tonight but someone's eyes also in on her. I also saw how he stands behind Charm at the dessert table. I can't wait for this event to be over, para mawala na sa paningin 'tong ex ng asawa ko na walang ginawa kundi bumuntot sa kanya.
He intentionally followed Charm at the dessert table and I don't like seeing him whispering to my wife. I wanted to go to them at once but it took me awhile before I was able to excuse myself from the discussion about the client's expectations on the project.
Patrick already left Charm at the dessert table when I come near her. "Are you alright? Namumutla ka. Ano ang sinabi ng gagong yun?" I asked her.
Charm looks at me a bit shaking and said "He is claiming that Celestine is his daughter."
"Wala syang ebidensya, sa inyo nga hindi binanggit ni Olga kung sino ang daddy ni Celestine. What made you so sure that Olga will admit to him that he is Celestine's father?" I said.
"You think so?" Charm asked.
"Yes, so please relax my love. Would you like to leave now?" I asked and she nodded.
I immediately told my Dad that Charm and I had to leave because we want to reach La Union before two in the morning. I also told Rizza to bring Celestine home at once because I don't want Celestine to have an encounter with Patrick, mahirap na baka kung anu-ano pa ang sabihin ng gagong yun sa anak ko.
"Bakit ba hindi na lang sa amin muna si Celestine? Daanan nyo na lang sa Monday pagkagaling nyo sa La Union." Nanay asked.
"Hindi po kasi pwedeng mag-miss ng class si Celestine sa Monday kasi may rehearsal din sila para sa school program sa Friday." Charm replied to Nanay Mary.
"Ok lang naman na sa amin muna si Celestine, Tita Mary. Mas natutuwa si Lolo kapag nasa bahay namin si Celestine. Hindi daw kasi sya naiinip." Rizza said.
"Nakakahiya kasi kung kayo pa ang mag-aalaga sa apo ko." Nanay Mary replied.
"Hindi naman po iba si Celestine sa amin, pamangkin ko po sya. She is family. At saka na-plano na po namin ni Celestine kung ano ang mga activities namin this weekend." Rizza said.
"Thank you Rizza" Nanay Mary gratefully said
"We are going on a camping Mommy." Celestine said.
"Hoy Rizza, saan mo dadalhin ang anak ko, hindi pwedeng kung saan-saan mo kakarayin ang batang ito." I said.
"Kuya sa garden lang kami magtatayo ng tent, kumalma ka" rizza said
"As much as possible just stay home Rizza, wag mo nang dalin si Celestine kung saan-saan, ayokong mag-alala masyado." I told her.
"Don't worry kuya, i-practice na lang namin yung part nya para sa school program." Rizza replied.
"Rizza please don't let Celestine talk to anyone maliban sa atin lang." Charm strictly reminded Rizza.
"May problema ba Charmaine, you look uneasy." Tatay Teddy asked.
Charm looks at me before she replied to Tatay Teddy, "Ok lang naman po Tay, pag-usapan po muna namin ni RJ."
"Tama ka, pag-usapan nyo muna at dumaan kayo sa bahay pagkagaling sa La Union, tayo naman ang mag-uusap tungkol sa inaalala mo." Tatay Teddy said. This folks really know their daughter very well. Wala pa namang sinasabi si Charm sa kanila pero alam na nila, parang Daddy at Mommy ko lang.
On our way to the parking lot, I saw in Charm a bit of uncertainty to leave Celestine this time.
"Are you ok?" I asked.
"Yes, I am." She briefly replied
"Would you like Celestine to come with us para hindi ka na magworry?" I asked.
She smiles at me then held my hand and said, "Paano kita masosolo kung sasama natin si Celestine? Next time na lang sya, tayo muna dalawa ngayon."
I kissed her temple to give her assurance there that everything will be fine, because I know, though she says she is okay, she is still worried about the possible encounter of Patrick with Celestine without us.
"Isama na natin si Celestine para siguradong hindi makakalapit si Patrick sa kanya." I said
"Wag na, this is supposed to be our time together. Don't mind me, itutulog ko na lang 'to sa byahe. Pagdating natin sa La Union, I'm all yours." She said.
"Everything will be alright, I promise you, Love." I said.
"I know that, Love." She said as I assisted her get inside the car.
I let her sleep in the entire duration of our trip to La Union. I want her to calm down and keep in mind that in every trial which will come our way, we got each other back always.
I woke her up only when we reach the private resort, actually our private resort. Kuya RD, Rizza and I bought this property two years ago to be our private haven away from the city and nobody knows that me and my siblings own this property.
We also have it rented to some very close friends to we get the funds for its maintenance. Kuya RD stayed in this place for a week before he finally decided to fly to L.A. to stay with my Tita Jo and run away from marrying Charm. Buti na lang umayaw si Kuya, and bait talaga ng universe sa aming dalawa ng asawa ko.
"This place is very beautiful. I like that the house is made of glass, parang sobrang malapit sa nature. Parang nasa labas pa rin ng bahay." She said in full amusement. "The ambiance is too calm and relaxing." She added.
"I'm glad you like it." I said
"Magkano ang rent mo dito, I'm sure mahal ang rental fee nito because it is obviously well maintained." She said.
"I want to tell you a secret." I said.
"Kinakabahan ako dyan sa secret na yan, o sige na sabihin mo na kung ilang girls na ang dinala mo dito?" She asked and I chuckled.
"Girls agad? Ikaw ang unang dinala ko dito at siguradong ikaw din lang at wala nang iba." I replied.
"Asus, o sige anong secret yun?" She asked.
"I am a part owner of this property, me and my siblings own this place." I declared. "And as my wife, I think you have to know about this property para in case that I'm gone, alam mong may hahabulin ka sa mga kapatid ko." I said laughing.
"Ayoko ng mga usapang may mawawala." She said almost teary eyed.
"I'm sorry, that's just a slip of the tongue." I said and grab her for a hug. "Nagbibiro lang ako, kahit kailan hindi ako mawawala Charm, matagal pa tayong magkasama." I declared.
"Don't say that again." She said.
"Yes, hindi na mauulit." I said. "Tayong dalawa lang ang nandito, medyo malayo yung house ng caretaker from here, kaya sabihin mo na ang lahat ng kakailanganin natin para hindi pabalik-balik yung caretaker." I said to at least sway the topic.
"We need food, I don't think we'll survive until Monday if we only have each other to eat." She said giggling.
"You are such a tease." I said gigling as well, kinilig kasi naman talaga ako sa sinabi nya
"I'll just go and change." She said and walks to the room.
"Anong gusto mong drink?" I asked.
"Coffee lang Love, I wanted to stay widely awake. No alcohol please, I don't want to be drunk when I'm with you. I want to remember every single detail whenever we are together." She declared before she closes the door.
Ang lakas manukso talaga nitong asawa ko, I hope she has that much energy because wala akong balak patulugin sya until the sun rises later. As requested by my queen, I started brewing our coffee, ano kaya ang mauuna, ang maubos muna ang kapeng ito o tuluyang lumamig na lang. The coffee was already brewed when she steps out of the room in her signature attire of shorts and white shirt.
"Don't you want to change?" She asked.
"I feel like hitting the pool, kaya lang almost four hours din akong nasa manibela, ayokong magkasakit. Siguro, magpapahinga muna ako saglit then maybe ten minutes in the pool will do before I take a quick shower. Sure ka bang coffee lang ang gusto mong inumin? May wine naman dito." I said.
"I had enough wine earlier sa party, but if you want to drink, it's fine. Coffee is enough for me to stay awake until the sun rises." She said teasing. "But I more like the idea of hitting the pool." She said while taking off her shirt.
"Parang I want to hit the bed na lang instead of the pool. Bukas na lang tayo magswimming, tulog na tayo" I said while my eyes are glued on her almost naked tops.
"Sayang naman 'tong suot kong swimwear, ako na lang ang magsu-swimming, hindi naman ako pagod sa byahe kasi nakatulog ako." She said while she started taking off her shorts. I never thought underneath that short and shirt is a sexy two piece swimwear.
I can feel the heat all over me when she finally jumps in the water and swifly floated afterwards. I have seen too many girls in a two piece swimwear but none of them had my body reacted as how it is reacting now while I am staring at my wife.
"Where are you going?" she asked after my few steps going inside the house
"Kukuha ako ng drink, hindi kaya na isang tasang kape ang nararamdaman ko ngayon" I replied
"Don't drink too much my love, baka bigla mo akong tulugan Faulkerson, Jr." she said
"That won't happen Mendoza Girl, I will make sure I am wide awake until the sun rises. And stop teasing, you don't know what you will get later." I replied and continue to walk inside the house to get my drink.