Chapter 10

"What's going on?" I asked Lev the moment we're left alone.

Auntie and Kali went home earlier kasi sabi ko gusto ko munang kausapin si Lev. Auntie didn't like the sound of me being alone with Lev. Buti nalang tinulungan ako ni Lev at sinabing importante lang talaga ang pag-uusapan namin.

As both parties bade their goodbye's, hindi nakatakas sa aking mga mata ang makahulugang tinginan nina Kali at Lev. At some point, I might have an idea why they're acting like that. Ayoko lang mag-conclude. Baka magkamali ako.

"What?" Tanong ni Lev.

"Duh. Those smiles and meaningful eye-contact," I rolled my eyes. "Seriously, Lev. Anong meron sa inyo ng kakambal ko?"

"Yan nga pala ang iku-kuwento ko sa'yo," He smiled. "It was Kali who helped me when I was drunk. Akala ko ikaw kasi magkamukha kayo."

Tumaas ang magkabila kong kilay. "Si Kali yun?"

He nodded. "She confirmed it herself after I asked."

"In front of Auntie?"

"Oo."

Nasapo ko ang aking noo. Kaya pala. Let alone that Auntie likes Kali more than she does to me. Paano na kung pagdating sa taong gusto ni Kali? I'm sure para sa kanya, Kali is a better option than I am.

"Good job. It looks like my Auntie favors Kali to be your bride and not me," I sighed. "Oh well, ano naman ang magagawa ako? I'm just a leftover."

"Hey don't say that," Iling niya. "You're not a leftover, okay?"

"I'm just thinking," I paused. "Kung mangyari mang piliin ni Auntie si Kali para sa'yo, you could do so. Like, pwede namang si Kali ang magiging asawa mo. I could always find someone else."

Sana nga makahanap ako. I need a plan B if everything will not go as planned. Isang lalaki lang naman ang nasa isip ko. Si Sebastian. He likes me and if I ask him for marriage, alam kong sasang-ayon din siya. Pero isang hole lang ang nakikita ko. He will never agree on divorce. Hindi kagaya ni Lev na wala kaming feelings towards each other.

"Are you kidding? Why would I choose your twin wherein I promised you," Iling niya. "I will marry you, okay? Itutuloy pa rin natin yung naplanuhan natin."

He smiled assuringly at me and I could only smile back. Buti naman. Kakasimula pa nga namin tapos palpak na agad? Hindi maaari yun.

"Anyway, I heard that there's another party tomorrow," Sabi niya.

"Ayokong um-attend. Nakakasawa na," Irap ko.

"Come on. Pumunta ka na para may date ako. Gusto ng mga kapatid ko na dumalo ako. If you want a publicity stunt, ito na yun," He tried convincing me.

I signed. May punto siya. Well, pinasok ko ang setup na ito, papanindigan ko nalang.

The next day, I did attend the party. The usual pa rin. May mga sayawan at mga magagarang kasuotan ang makikita. It's actually tiresome, going to parties like this tapos pabalik-balik lang din ang gagawin ko. On the other hand, it looks like I don't have to talk to men kasi I'm sure rinig na ng karamihan na si Lev na yung kumuha ng atensyon ko.

Or so I thought.

"Kaia!" Someone called from afar.

I saw Sebastian, smiling from ear to ear. Kumaway siya at agad namang naglingunan ang mga tao sa direksyon ko. Sebastian will never falter by the fact that maybe Lev and I are seeing each other. Maybe he's thinking na hangga't hindi ko pa naikompirma, then I belong to nobody.

I smiled back at him, returning the same energy. He started walking towards me but was halted by a woman who I seemed to remember the name. Ysabelle.

"Sebastian! It's so nice to see you again!" I heard her greet him.

"Hi, Ysabelle," He smiled.

Lalagpasan na sana ni Sebastian si Ysabelle pero hinawakan niya ito sa braso kaya napahinto siya at lumingon sa babae.

"Are you gonna turn your back against a lady?" She asked.

Napapikit nalang si Sebastian at umiling. "I'm sorry. What is it again?"

"I know that it's not ordinary for a lady to ask a gentleman out for a dance," She giggled. "But, can I have this dance? I've been wanting to grasp this opportunity."

Lumingon saglit si Sebastian sa akin at ganun din si Ysabelle. Tinaasan niya ako ng kilay as if telling me to back off. She could have Sebastian all evening for all I care. Tinanguan ko lang si Seb before he smiled apologetically to me.

"Shall we?" I heard him asked.

"Yes!" Sabik na sigaw ni Ysabelle.

The two went to the dance floor and danced with a few other couples. Maganda naman talaga si Ysabelle. If she'd want it, she can have a pile of men lining for her. Kaya lang gusto niya si Sebastian. Halata naman noong una kaming nagkita.

"What should we call ourselves?" Biglang may nagtanong sa likuran ko.

I turned around and saw Lev.

"Wow. It took longer than expected," Iling ko.

"Maraming tao kasi," Ngisi niya.

It was surprising to me na maaga siyang pumunta. I never had to wait for him. May pinuntahan nga lang siya saglit.

"So, ano nga tawag natin sa isa't-isa?" He asked.

Sumingkit ang mga mata ko."Why are you suddenly asking that question?"

"Well... I heard a few couples exchanging endearments. I just thought na baka mas makakapaniwala kapag may tawagan tayo," He replied.

I look at him in disbelief. So he's up for it? I'm not being rude or anything pero ang baduy naman ng endearments. Why would you call your partner a name that everyone uses? Kaya nga significant other kasi dapat special. Imagine calling your girlfriend or boyfriend 'love' tas yun din ang tawagan ng majowa mong kaibigan. Isn't it the other way of calling that certain friend of yours?

"We can call ouselves with each other's name, Lev. No need for that," Iling ko.

"So you're not a fan of endearment either," Tango niya. "I got it."

"Lev! Here you are, mate!" May biglang tumawag.

Halos magkasabay kaming lumingon sa bagong dating. A man who's about six feet tall. Matangos ang ilong, mapupula ang mga pisngi, may freckles sa ilong at pisngi, at hazel yung mga mata. From the looks of his features, masasabi mong banyaga.

"Jake!" Bati ni Lev sa kanya. "You're here?"

"Of course! I wouldn't want to miss your wedding!" Ngiti niya bago napalingon sa akin. "Who is this beautiful lady? Is it the bride?"

I smiled at the man and introduced myself. "I'm Kaia Dorchner. So nice to meet you."

"The pleasure is mine," he smiled and shook hands with me. "So you are the bride?"

Umiling ako. "No. I'm not--"

"Yet," Putol ni Lev. "She's not YET my wife."

I turned to Lev and he nodded at me as if telling me to ride along.

"Perfect, mate! It looks like you really wanted to settle," Jake said.

"I'm old enough to do so," ngiti ni Lev. "Anyway, when did you leave Australia? How come I never heard of a news that you coming back here?"

"I wanted to surprise you. Are you not surprised?" He asked.

"Of course I am!"

Lev and Jake talked for awhile. Pinabayaan ko na sila kasi mukhang matagal na din silang hindi nagkikita. I sat on the chair, observing everyone else. I know that everyone is feeling the pressure now that it seems like everyone's getting along. Halos may mga pares na ang lahat, pati yung mga nakasayaw ko noong unang pagkakataon kong dumalo.

"Do you want to dance?" Biglang may nagtanong sa akin.

I look up and saw Sebastian smiling at me. Inilibot ko ang aking paningin hoping to see Ysabelle. I spotted her on one of the chairs, glaring at our direction.

"Si Ysabelle?" I asked. "Isn't she like you date for tonight?"

Umiling siya. "I haven't found my match yet, Kaia. So I can dance with any girl that I want tonight."

He could add that he wants to dance with me for he likes me but he never did anyways. I admire his consistency pero sana makita na din niya that I can't reciprocate to him what he feels. I feel guilty every time he shows his passion towards me kasi alam kong hindi ko ito masusuklian.

"But Kaia found her match already," Someone said behind me.

Bigla nalang akong hinawakan mi Lev sa balikat at bahagyang inilapit sa kanya. It was so sudden that I wasn't able to react. Seryoso niyang tinitigan si Sebastian.

"Laurier," Sebastian called. "Are you taking possession of what's not yours?"

"Yet," Dugtong na naman ni Lev. "Not YET mine. But she's my date for tonight so that means she can't dance with you."

"Who made that rule? As far as I know, pwede kong maisayaw yung babaeng gusto ko na hindi pa engaged. I see no ring, Laurier," Seb fired back.

"Hindi naman importante kung sino ang may gawa sa rule na yan," Iling no Lev. "You ask the lady if she wants to dance with you."

Seb smirked before turning to me. "Kaia. You wanna dance with me?"

I bit my lower lip. Why are they doing this? Pinagtitinginan na kami ng mga tao. Nakasunod na nga lagi mga mata ng karamihan kay Sebastian. Paano na kaya kapag magkaharap na sila ni Lev? The most sought out men of the night.

"I'm sorry, Seb. Lev is right," Yuko ko. "He's my date at pangit din pakinggan that I'm with Lev but I danced with you. I'm trying to avoid issue."

Mapait na ngumiti si Seb. I feel sorry even more. Yumuko siya at patango-tangong ngumiti.

"I understand, Kaia. I care for your reputation as much as you do," He said. "We'll see each other some other time?"

I nodded. "Sure, Seb."

Nagpaalam si Seb bago niya kami tinalikuran. From afar, I saw Ysabelle stood up and approached Seb. She must really like the man so much.

"What was that?" Tanong ni Jake.

"Just some guy who had his eyes on my girl," Sagot ni Lev.

My girl? Oh please. I don't even like the fact that someone took possession of me. Pero dahil pinasimunuan ko ang set up na ito, edi go nalang.

"You're possessive, aren't you?" Iling ni Jake.

"Not really," Ngiti ni Lev. "Excuse us, Jake. I need to take my girl to the dance floor."

"Sure thing, mate!"

Gaya ng sabi ni Lev, we both went to the dance floor to start dancing. Naramdaman ko yung titig niya kaya tinapatan ko siya ng tingin.

"What?" I asked.

"Huwag ka ngang lumalapit kay Sebastian. It would put our plan to risk," Reklamo niya.

"Hindi ako ang lumapit sa kanya, siya ang lumapit sa akin," I replied.

"Kung makita mo man siyang lalapit sayo edi sana ikaw na yung umiwas," Iling niya.

"Try telling that to yourself, Lev," I started. "Hindi sana ako lalapitan ng lalaki kung kinausap mo ako."

"Are you telling me to stop talking to my friend?" He asked.

Napailing ako. "I thought you were raised different."

"What?"

"I felt unimportant, Lev," I paused. "Ilang minuto din akong nakaupo, hinihintay kayong matapos magkuwentohan. And now you're telling me to ignore someone just because he's giving me the attention that I needed?"

"Kaia I--""

"Next time, try to focus on me," Sagot ko. Inilapit ko ang aking mukha sa kanya. "Sa akin lang."