Chapter 38
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"Xochi, wake up." I faint voice woke me up na may kasamang pagyugyog sa akin, but it was gentle.
I slowly opened my eyes, bumungad sa akin ang mukha ni Ate Kisha with a soft look on her face.
"Gusto mo bang magpaalam ako sa crew at kay Felicity na mauna na tayo?" Tanong niya sa malumanay na tono, she supported me to sit up straight.
I slowly shook my head. "No need, Ate Kisha. I just dozed off a bit, I can manage."
I ran my fingers through my hair to fix it, and she handed me a glass of water.
"Malapit na matapos yung shoot, just hang for a bit, okay?" She informed me, and I nodded. Nagpaalam siya na may kukunin lang sa labas na nginitian ko lang.
I stood up to prepare for our shoot, but before I could completely stand, I tripped muntik pa ako masubsob kung di lang ako agad napahawak sa table at isa na rin dahil may nakasalo sa akin.
"Xochi, are you okay?" A baritone voice asked. His warm and huge hands were enveloping my tiny waist.
I looked up and realized that it was Trevor who caught me. What is he doing here?
"Thank you, Trevor." Madaliang pasasalamat ni Ate Kisha kay Trevor bago ibinaling ang atensyon sa akin.
"Thanks." I thanked him in a low voice, enough for him to hear.
I heard the murmurs of the crews, iginala ko ang paningin, and they were all looking at us.
"I think we should end the shoot early today. She looks pale." Trevor persuasively said that made the crew nod their heads.
Hindi ko na nagawa pang magpasalamat when Ate Kisha immediately thanked them, then supported me to stand. Trevor insisted on helping, but Ate Kisha didn't let him.
"Kaya ko, pero salamat." Ate Kisha firmly answered, then continued walking.
When we arrived home, Ate Kisha immediately let me rest on the couch while she prepared for our dinner. After Ate Kisha finished cooking our dinner, she went to me to support my frail body. Tinulungan niya pa akong maupo, people will think that I have a terminal illness if we were in public.
I stared at the food she cooked. It's steamed fish with vegetables, and she also cooked a broth. I smiled, It's a good thing that I don't usually vomit if it's not Zak's cooking.
"Ahh.." Ate Kisha mumbled in the middle of eating.
I looked at her. "Is something wrong, Ate?"
She looked hesitant, parang ayaw niya sabihin sa akin ang nasa isip niya.
"It's already been two months since you and Zak..." She trailed off, tinitigan niya ako para tingnan ang reaksiyon ko. When she confirmed that I didn't get violent, she continued. "There is a party that someone I know will host, and they are the Ford Brothers. They'll host a birthday party, to be precise. I was invited, and I was wondering if you would like to come with me." She informed me, squinted her eyes, and smiled forcefully. I don't see anything that relates to Zak.
I sighed at what she said. It's already been two months since I confronted Zak about Tamora, and it's already been a month since the news was circulating about our break up pero hindi man lang tinanggi or sinang-ayunan ng M Entertainment and tungkol dito.
"Is our presence needed?" I asked with a raised eyebrow.
She violently shook her head, which made me sigh once again, and looked down at my plate.
"Do you want to go?" I asked, and she nodded na parang bata.
I mean, I can decide not to go, but if I did, Ate Kisha would likely stay para mabantayan niya ako ng maayos. I looked at her, and her expression was now serious.
"I don't want to put you in a difficult and uncomfortable situation, Xochi." She stated and placed the utensils on her plate. She might be pertaining na baka I migjt get uncomfy with the people dahil sa nakaraang balita tungkol sa akin at kay Zak. "Kaya kung ayaw mo ay puwede namang 'di na tayo pumunta. What matters the most is your decision." She remarked, which moved me.
"Do you know the Ford Brothers?" She asked, and I nodded. I know that Kuya Livan and the Ford Brothers are business partners, but I'm not quite sure, though.
She chuckled. "Crush ko kasi isa roon."
My eyes widened in shock when I heard what she said. Hindia ko makapaniwala... hindi lang dahil sa sinabi niya kundi dahil sa akto niya ngayon.
"Eww, pupunta ka lang para masilayan crush mo?" I asked jokingly and continued eating.
"Syempre! It's been years since I last saw him." Parang baliw na nag-imagine ito, she even rested her head on her hand, as if daydreaming.
I guess, going there is not that bad, and besides, it's my first time seeing her act like this it's good to see her acting this way. Alam kong stress na stress na siya dahil sa trabaho at dibagdag pang buntis ako.
"Okay, pupunta tayo. I'll be okay by that time, I guess. Saka, this is just mild dizziness, kaya sa tingin ko it'll be gone when the sun rises tomorrow." I said in a low tone, then finished the bowl of broth she cooked. Ate Kisha offered to wash the plates kaya tumayo na ako at naglakad patungo sa salas para magpatunaw ng kinain. A couple of minutes later, Ate Kisha joined me. It took us about an hour before we decided to end the day. I walked towards my room. Before I could hold my room's handle, I looked back at Ate Kisha when I realized something.
"By the way, when will the party be held?" I asked, I looked back at her.
She cleared her throat. "Tomorrow, night."
My eyebrows met, and my lips parted.
"Sorry..." She trailed off and showed me a peace sign. I just received the invitation letter earlier, so yeah... peace." She immediately ran towards me to give me a hug and a kiss on my cheeks.
I mentally rolled my eyes at her kahit na 'di niya naman kita. "Okay now, enough with the kisses. It's gross." I jokingly said.
"Sorry ulit, nahihilo ka pala." She pouted, she supported me to walk towards my room.
I felt quite better after having my dinner, kaya nasabi ko kanina na mild dizziness lang.
I think she really likes that guy to the point that she acted weird today. I shook that thought away to refresh my mind, then closed my eyes to visit dreamland.
~•~•~
"Done checking yourself?" I heard Ate Kisha ask, which made me turn my head in her direction. She was leaning on the doorframe with her legs crossed. She's wearing a blue cotton dress, ankle length. Her hair is tied into a tiny ponytail, she's wearing a silver necklace.
"Y-Yeah." I stuttered, then turned my gaze to the mirror.
I am wearing a red satin silk dress, paired with a white gold round moissanite necklace and bracelet, a red satin clutch, and a 3-inch high maroon ankle strap. As for my make-up, I did a duoyin makeup to go well with my outfit.
"Ganda mo talaga." Ate Kisha complimented, which made me smirk.
"I know, right?!" I smiled, and Ate Kisha jokingly shook her head, but the thought that I had didn't fade.
My stomach is flat. I placed my hand on my stomach, and gently stroked it up and down. I don't feel anything, kahit side view wala man lang umbok. Am I really pregnant? I guess those symptoms were all just for nothing... but the doctor said I was pregnant pero what if mali lang ang doctor?
"Are you okay?" I heard Ate Kisha ask.
Napansin niya ata pananahimik ko at ginagawa ko.
"Yeah." I slowly answered and took one last look at my tummy before walking towards her.
As usual, Ate Kisha is the one maneuvering the car. Umaga kami umalis at nakarating kami magla-lunch na.
"May I have your invitation please, Ma'ams?" The butler asked from the main door when we arrived at the Ford's mansion. He extended his hand and opened his palm, motioning us to give him our invitation card.
Malaki, malaki ang mansion nila but mas huge ang mansion ng Montergo, and no one can beat their mansion here in our country, and I bet even overseas.
"Welcome to our Young Master's birthday party. Feel free to roam around the ground floor and garden." The butler said when he received the invitation card Ate Kisha gave him.
"Thank you," It was Ate Kisha who thanked him, wala ako a mood para magsalita.
When we entered the mansion we were greeted by the nice decorations and the guest enjoying the party. Ate Kisha immediately went over to the birthday celebrant to greet him and so did I.
"Happy Birthday!" Ate Kisha exclaimed and smiled at someone. A tall and handsome man, nakangiti ito. Nagyakapan agad silang mga ilang segundo bago tuluyang humiwalay. "You're getting older, na! And of course, we won'tgo here empty handed," Ate Kisha joked and showed him the gift she's holding.
Mahaba ang buhok ng lalaki, mukhang masungit, gwapo kahit di nakangiti pero mas lalo kapag nakangiti ito at labas ang ngipin. Matangkad siya, andyou will think that he's a korean model because of his height and dahil sa kasing puti niya ang mga Koreans. Napadako anman ako sa suot niyang damit, naka-black suit lang ang lalaki, inside is a white polo and naka-button 'yong coat na medyo fitted sa kaniya kaya halata 'yong body built niya, and what made him more and a black Oxford shoes. What made him more expensive looking is because of his watch.
Natatawa itong napailing sa pinuna ni Ate Kisha, nang mapunta sa akin ang tingin nito ay may pinaghalong gulat at pagtataka ang dumaloy sa kanyang mukha.
"Ohh, hi. Happy birthday." I slightly bowed down as a sign of respect.
He might be curious and shocked because I came kahit na 'di niya ako kilala.
"Thank you." Pasasalamat nito at ibinaling ang tingin kay Ate Kisha.
"Ohh, right! She's Xochiquetzal Valmorida, my alaga." Pakilala ni Ate Kisha sa 'kin.
Magsasalita na sana siya pero 'di na ito natuloy pa ng may lumapit na bisita kaya naglakad na lang ako paalis.
"Xochi, where are you going?" Ate Kisha asked when she noticed me walking away.
"Garden, meron daw ehh. I'll just take a fresh air. I'll be right back, nasa garden lang naman ako." I stated, she looked around as if looking for someone then gazed at me again, she looked hesitant. "Don't worry about me, I'll just ask for directions. You know where to find me." I added and started walking away before she could say anything.
Nagtanong-tanong ako ng directions sa mga waiter, maids, and butlers sa paligid. It's a good thing that one of them kindly showed me the direction.
"Wow..." My lips parted, and I was left in awe by the beauty and the aesthetically pleasing garden. I looked at the person who showed me the way to express my gratitude, but that person was nowhere to be found.
Nagsimula akong mag-lakad lakad, dinamdam ko ang malamig na ihip ng hangin na dumadapo sa mukha ko. May medyo maze pa, may mga trimmed bushes, and small tress. When I saw a shed, I decided to walk towards and take a seat. There were many flowers planted, mainly roses, ptulips, and lavenders. Nakakarelax ang ganda ng garden, dumagdag pa ang malamig na ihip ng hangin.
I closed my eyes to feel the air pero di ko namalayang makakaidlip pala ako. I woke up when I felt a murmur just two feet away from me. Di naman ako makikita dahil, may mga bushes na nakapalibot, kaya agad kong inayos ang sarili. I checked the time, and I wasn't that out too much, only for 20 minutes.
I stood up and decided to go back inside. Nadaanan ko pa ang nag-uusap about something that just arrived. Saktong pagpasok ko ay nadatnan ko si Ate Kisha palabas.
"Where are you going?" I asked when she heard my voice, agad niyang itinaas ang ulo.
"Right on time, the party just started. Kain ka na, masama para sayo ang magpalipas ng kain. Follow me." So I did, even though I was contemplating if I'm even pregnant, but still skipping meals is not advisable.
She was the one who prepared my food when we arrived at the food area, a buffet full of foreign foods, of course, may Filipino foods pa rin. I was just the one who picked the food pero si Ate Kisha ang kukuha at ilalagau sa plato ko.
"Rain, cous." A voice, deep as the abyss made me look back when I realized that person was calling Ate Kisha. Daliang lumingon si Ate Kisha.
"They're waiting for you at the table, sabay na tayong pumunta." It was deep yet soft. I can't examine it.
Mahinang tumnago si Ate Kisha, di ko na pinarami ang mga pagkain dahil hindi ko naman gusto yung iba. It will only make me puke. I saw how the guy's gaze landed on mine, it's eyes widened, his lips parted, and he somehow turned pale as if he saw a ghost.
I blinked three times because of his reaction, it was kind of awkward.
"You..." he didn't continue what he was about to say when Ate Kisha patted his shoulders and gestured for him to go first.
"Xochi... brace yourself." Ate Kisha stated that made me slightly tilt my head in confusion.
We arrived on a circular table, pagpamilya ata ang naroon dahil magkamukha. Nakangiti solang lahat, hindi pa ata nila napapansin ang presensya naming tatlo.
But my eyes widened when I saw someone that looked exactly like the person I longed for.
"Mom..." I called.