Hate Me Not

Chapter 17 Party

Cadley

Namamangha ako sa lugar na pagdausan ng party, isa itong napakalaking hotel. Base na aking narinig, it was considered as one of the top luxury hotel in the Philippines.

Pagdating pa lang namin maraming ng nakaabang na mga media sa labas. Bawat bisita na dumadaan ay ininterview nila, may pa red carpet pa..

I am shock when Jacko holds my hand suddenly. This is the first time he holds my hand na para kaming couple na mag holding hands. Bigla akong kinilig.

“Just go with the flow; never leave my side, maraming paparazzi ang nakaabang, baka magkagulo pa.” Ah kaya pala he holds my hand, to protect me sa mga nakaabang or baka mawala ako.

As we walk along the red carpet, nakatungo lang ako nahihiya pero minsan inaangat ko din ang mukha at ngumiti sa mga nadadaanan namin. Alam ko may kumukuha na pictures sa amin.

Jacko just walk na parang wala lang sa kanya na pinagtitinginan kami ng mga nadadaanan namin. Sanay na siguro siya sa ganito.

“Hey Mr Guerra, may we know who is your date tonight?" Tanong ng isang paparazzi. Pero di niya pinansin, isnabero talaga. I just smiled at them kasi ako ang nahihiya sa kanila. They take time to ask pero di sinagot.

“Ang ganda naman niya, bagay sila;” rinig kong bulungan ng mga tao at parang nagdiwang ang puso ko sa narinig. To be appreciated by some people who doesn't know me, means they see something in me.

This is my first time to attend such glamorous occasion, kaya para akong ignorante sa aking mga kilos.

“Wow, ang ganda naman dito;” namamangha kong sabi ng makapasok na kami sa loob.

“This hotel is owned by Adric.” Wika ni Jacko na nagpabigla ako sa akin. Ganun ba talaga sila kayaman para makapag may-ari nito Bakit parang normal lang sila na tao, kung ituring ako at mga kasambahay nila ay parang kauri lang nila? Literally sila ang tunay na definition of down to earth people.

Nang makarating na kami sa bulwagan, maraming tao ang nagtipon tipon at lahat sila nakatingin sa amin. Kaya bigla akong kinabahan. Bakit kami pinagtitinginan? Baka kasi kami lang ang matagal dumating. Gusto kong malusaw sa hiya.

“Heads up, you look beautiful kaya wag kang mahiya.” Bulong sa akin ni Jacko. First kong narinig na he appreciate me, sinabihan na maganda, di ko mapigilang mapangiti.

Nakita namin ang mag-asawa. Sobrang ganda at gwapo nilang tingnan. Di nakakasawa at bagay na bagay. Kung paano hawakan ni Kuya si Ate Rabi ay nakakasuya talaga. Alam mo na mahal na mahal niya ang asawa.

“Oh Cadley Jacko, buti nakarating na kayo;” bati sa amin ni Ate Rabi. Kahit di magkalayo ang idad namin pero sabi niya tawagin ko daw siya ng Ate kasi wala siyang kapatid. May mga kuya at ate daw siya pero walang tumatawag sa kanya na Ate. She wants a younger sister.

“Happy anniversary Ate at Kuya. Pacensya na wala kong dala na regalo.” Bati ko sa kanila. Wala akong dala kasi di ko alam kung ano pa ang ibibigay ko sa kanila, they got everything.

“Okay lang yun ang importante narito ka. Halika ipakilala kita sa mga friends ko.”

Dinala na niya ako sa grupo ng mga girls. Naiwan sila Jacko at Kuya Adric nag-uusap. Ang cool talaga ni kuya Adric. Iba ang naririnig ko sa balita, strikto daw siya, di basta basta pero sa aking obserbasyon. He’s just normal cool guy, caring at loving husband.

“Cadley this is Marie isang blogger;” turo niya sa medyo jolly na babae na nakangiti sa akin.“This is Jamie aking publicist;” ngiti at biniso niya ako, mabait ang aura niya.” And this si Kenna, isang celebrity manager;” saad niya sa isang glamorous na babae. Medyo matanda lang sila ng kaunti ni Ate Rabi, in their early 30”s I guess.

“You can call them Ate as well.” Ngiting sabi ni Ate Rabi. I feel magaan ang vibe ko sa kanila.

“Hello po, nice meeting you all." Saad ko sa lahat at biniso nila ako.

You’re gorgeous, how old are you na ba?" Wika ni Kenna.

“I’m 20 po, a college student.” Magalang kong sabi.

“You don’t look just 20. Don’t get me wrong it’s a compliment. You look regal, a real woman, not innocent look.” Dagdag pa niya.

“Kenna, she really did transformed, maybe because of the dress and make up. But without make up she looks so young. Kaya she is my baby sister." Wika pa ni Ate.

“Yeah that’s what i mean. Darling you want to be a celebrity? I can you make a star, with your quality, that pretty face and that figure. So easy, yayaman ako." Ngiti niyang wika.”

“Di ko pa alam about that. Pag-aaral pa kasi priority ko ngayon."

"Okay but if you change your mind, just give me a call or tell Rabi. Pwede kitang isabak sa modeling, acting or commercial like Rabi." Dagdag pa niya. Lahat ng sinabi niya tempting pero mag-aaral muna ako. Kasi yun ang pangako kay papa.

“Hey may idea ako, di ba you are bidding rare things para makalikom ng pundo para sa foundation mo?” Wika ni ate Marie kay Rabi. Tumango si Ate.

“How about we offer bidding for a date. Like single women here, whoever wants to offer themselves to be bid for a date by any single gentleman here. Just a date for 1 night.” We had few women here that are willing to volunteer. I can volunteer myself as i am single now."

"Yeah a date for a good cause. The proceed goes to your charity, cancer patients, scholarship sa di kayang mag-aral and abandon kids. Maraming gusto makisama sa advocacy mo Rabi. I'll go for it, I want to join." Sambit naman ni Jamie.

"Ikaw ba Cadley are you in, pwede ka na ba?" Tanong pa ni Marie. I said yes. "Wala bang magagalit kapag andun ka na sa stage?"

Di ako sure pero maganda naman ang hangarin. I want to be part of it, kaya omoo na ako. I want to help ate Rabi’s foundation. Naging busy na sila, kinausap ang ibang mga girl na willing.

When nagsimula na ang bidding kinabahan ako. Di alam ni Jacko ang ginawa ko, date lang naman. We are in the back stage together with other girls, waiting for our name to be called.

Jacko

I can't explain myself when i saw her dancing with Mr Martinez. Kinuha ko siya agad. Ako ang nagsayaw sa kanya

“Bakit ka pumayag na isayaw ng matandang yun? That old man ay isang manyakis.” Sita ko sa kanya when we are dancing.

“Huh, di ko kasi alam kung paano ko siya tanggihan baka magalit sa akin.” Inosente niyang saad. Cadley is not used to this kind of gathering. I cool down myself. She is right.

We are dancing in there, I know mahihiya siya. It’s not my first time to dance with a girl pero kinabahan din ako sa di malamang dahilan. But I just followed my instinct.

“Just go with the music;” wika ko sa kanya when sometimes she steps on my shoes.” Just relax and look at me para di mo isipin kung paano igalaw ang paa mo.” I guide her, nervous is evident in her face. Then we both move in sync. Di siya makatingin sa akin. I understand coz i know her feelings for me.

She looks so damn cute in her action though her looks tonight express of a sophistication, pero di parin maipagkaila that she is still young.

We stayed there dancing for quite sometime. Nang natapos di ko na siya binitawan pa baka kunin naman ng iba. I just keep holding her hands para makita ng iba na pagmamay-ari ko siya. I saw few men eyeing on her.

After few minutes kinausap ni Rabi si Adric kaya natigil kami sa aming conversation. It’s really clear how this couple sync in together. They think the same, act the same and always looking sweet and in love.

I can’t see the old Adric i used to know. Yung Adric na kasama ko sa bakbakan, yung Adric na matigas at walang sinasanto. Sa kanya ako natotoo na maging matigas sa kalaban, sabay kaming nagbago at binitawan ang trabahong yun. But now i see the difference side of him. Love really change him especially he is now a father.

Dinala ni Rabi si Cadley kaya panatag ako.

When the emcee has an announcement that bidding for will start. Lahat excited kasi mga rare pieces ang itatampok ngayon. The proceed is for Rabi's foundation, she had been in that foundation for few years at marami and na siyang natulungan. Instead na magbigay lang pera may kapalit na isang bagay that also are donated.

I have been supporting her foundation ever since.

When i see the necklace piece nag bid ako. I wanted to help. Nakuha ko ang necklace.

The necklace is really good. Only 1 person comes to my mind na pagbibigyan ko nito. It's Cadley bagay sa kanya to. I just smile.

Then the bidding officially finish. May namamangha at may nanghihinayang kasi di nila nakuha ang gusto.

"As i said while ago, we have 2 sets of bidding tonight. Yung isa ay planado, ang isa ay hindi in fact ngayon lang nabuo at every one agree. The official bidding are done and here comes the other one." Announce ng emcee. Lahat interested to know what it is.

"This bidding called "Date For A Cause." It’s open for ladies and gents who are single and available. All the participants are volunteers who want to be part of this cause. For the sake of charity and we only allowed to bid gentlemen who are single or anyone na walang sabit, anyone who are allowed to date.

The date is good for 1 night only. Whatever happen next after the date ay labas na ang organization. We will call the ladies one by one on the stage and start the bid but once nakabid na kayo, you are not allowed to bid again.

Sa isip it's a good plan, good way to get more funds.

The bidding started, one lady came in front. Wala akong planong magbid as i don’t need to date anyone. I have donated already anyway.

I was just there waiting matapos para makauwi na. I feel tired, gusto ko ng umuwi kaya hinahanap ng aking mata si Cadley or kung saan sila Rabi para makauwi na kami. I feel sleepy.

Until one certain name had been called in the stage, it was Cadley. Lahat ng himaymay ko nagising bigla. I can't explain what i am feeling.

"What the f**k, paano siya nasali diyan? Alam ba niya ang pinasok niya? Alam ba niya ang gulo na haharapin niya? She is still innocent and these men are veteran na sa bulahan. Pwede siyang mapahamak."

I can't understand what i am feeling, I want to take her away from that stage in this instant but i can't do that.

Cadley had been introduced by the emcee. She looks glamorous standing in there, but i can feel she is nervous as well.

When the bidding started ang kaba biglang tumaas. I see marami ang nag-bid sa kanya. Siya kasi ang pinabata na sinalang tonight.

“No way i let these guys touch Cadley.” I am so alert, waiting kung kailan matapos at anong amount ang last bid.

The bidding umabot ng 2 million. The crowds are blazing. It only start from 100k. Siya ang pinakataas ng starting price. Yung ibang girls 20k lang then pinakataas na bid is 1mil . Then the bidding goes as high as 3.5 million.

May nakita ako na persistent nagbid medyo may idad na. I saw Mr Martinez wants to bid but nakabid na siya nakina. Hanggang umabot 4m. The guy was smiling kasi akala niya sa kanya na.

Then tinaas ko ang placard ko. I bid 4.2 m, wala ng nagbid then one came 4.3 m, I countered part. I bid for 5 million and said to everyone it's done.

Cadley was shocked looking at me. Di makapaniwala sa ginawa ko. I look at her intently in the eyes.

"Di ko papayagan ang sino man na hawakan ka.” My expressions are clear to her.