Beyond The Square One (BTSO2)

S q u a r e T w e n t y - O n e ( H E )

SUCH A DAMNED TEASE.

Kahit frustrated man, napangisi na lang ako habang naglalakad pabalik sa upuan ko. Sometimes, Ariel can be very playful. I'm just glad that we're okay now and it gives me the more reason to keep this good start going.

"Boss, reminder lang po sa function mamaya. Lahat po ng affiliates ng Fuentebella Empire, nag-respond na," Pamela says.

I just nod and smile at her before she closes the door. Muntik ko nang makalimutan ang Business Mirror Event mamaya. I have to let Ariel know about this so she can prepare.

"Lunch?"

Hindi ko na naramdaman ang takbo ng oras. I check on my watch when Ariel walks into my office and asks if I want to take my lunch with her. And of course, I do.

"Mamaya ba, may gagawin ka?"

She holds my hand as we walk into the elevator. "Bakit parehas kayo ng tanong ni Pamela, boss? Tungkol ba sa BME 'yan?"

"Yes. I don't have a date."

"You don't have a— pfft! Eric, what are you, a high school student? Hindi mo naman kailangan ng date sa ganiyan. Business ang ipupunta mo diyan, hindi landian."

"Will you be my date?" I ask, ignoring her snideful remark.

She looks around the smiling faces of the people in the elevator. I smile at her, too, as I notice her face turning red. "Kailangan sa harap ng maraming tao? Tae," I hear her saying under her breath.

She hides her face on my shoulder and pinches my torso in embarrassment. I just laugh at her. "Ariel, just 'yes' or 'no'," I playfully say, carefully pulling my arm away so we can all see her red face.

"Impakto ka talaga!" she yells at me.

Hinatak ko na lang siya palapit sa'kin and she drapes her arms around my body, burying her face against my chest. I can't even hide my stupid face-splitting grin. "Keep on teasing me, and I'll do this very often in crowded places," I whisper.

"Leche," she answers in a muffled voice.

After taking our lunch, nakita ko 'yung disappointment sa mata ni Ariel no'ng hindi ko siya hinatid sa station niya, unlike what she's used to. I want to keep on surprising her with my actions and despite the expectation of suffocating her by walking her to her station every now and then, she reacts otherwise when I don't. Ibig sabihin, she wants me to keep on doing that. And as always, it's confusing, really.

"Saan kita ihahatid?" I ask as she buckles her seatbelt.

After coming up with a draft plan for Saturday, I dismiss everyone early before business hours finish. This week should be light and easy for everyone so they don't feel pressured of their jobs. Ariel voluntarily walks with me to the parking space and I'm guessing she wants me to take her home. Which home?

"Anong klaseng tanong 'yan?" she asks in disbelief.

I decide, that even if I know we're okay, I'll ask her from now on kung saan niya gustong umuwi because I don't want to keep on forcing her to stay with me, even if that's what I want to happen. Again, I want to let her know that I'm not gonna suffocate her in any way.

"I'm just making sure. Sa Rizal ba? O sa'tin?"

"Eric, I'm so confused," she says sardonically, perplexed.

"Baka kasi dalhin kita sa unit natin tapos mag-reklamo ka. Don't forget, we have a business function to attend to tonight, kapag inuwi kita at nagbago na naman ang isip mo, baka ma-late tayo."

"Oh, shoot! Buti pinaalala mo. Ihatid mo na lang pala ako kila Jace."

I frown. "Now, I'm confused."

"Magpapatulong lang ako kay ate Yomi na mag-ayos. Syempre, gusto kong gumanda lalo sa paningin mo. Magkita na lang tayo sa mismong hall, may invitation naman tayong pareho, e."

"You can be naked or surrounded with toilet papers from head to toe, and you'd still look like a princess to me. Why do you have to..." And I realize then that I'm starting to become a control freak again.

'Remember, don't hold the bird too tight,' my little angel says.

"...t-to explain? Okay. Ihahatid kita do'n. Just let me know when you're ready to go to the hall. Gusto ko sanang mauna do'n so I'm the one to wait..." again, idudugtong ko sana. But it would ruin the precious look of absolute bewilderment on her face.

"Quota ka na, ah. What the hell did you do to my fiancé?" she asks, again, in disbelief.

I just smirk and start driving off our way to Jace's house— a wedding present from our parents, and leave her a kiss before driving myself home to get prepared.

From: +639176561111

James, nasaan ka? — (A. Jack Ervin Fuentebella)

From: +639176561111

Bro, I need you. — (A. Jack Ervin Fuentebella)

From: +639176561111

James, please? Kailangan ko talaga ng kausap. Please. Just this one time. — (A. Jack Ervin Fuentebella)

I'm already in the function hall when I read his messages and I have five missed calls from Jace. I can't just ditch the event now, especially when Ariel is about to get here according to her last message.

But an hour, two hours, three fvckin' hours, there's not a single sign of Ariel. Sinubukan kong tawagan ang phone niya but she's unreachable.

"Mr. Fuentebella?"

I shoot a look at the person from behind me. "Ms. Mariano? What are you doing here?"

"Fancy seeing you here, Fuentebella. Bakit naman ako mawawala dito, e, invited ako?"

I just ignore her and check on my phone once more. I hate it when I get in a situation where I don't know whether to get home or wait some more. Bakit kasi hindi na lang niya sabihin kung nasaan siya?

"Wala ata ang malansang isda dito."

Oh, great. Do I really have to deal with Aurora right now? Again, hindi ko lang siya pinansin dahil sobrang badtrip na rin ako't baka mapag-salitaan ko pa siya ng hindi maganda.

"Where's Ariel?" she asks, this time, sitting on a chair next to me, crossing her legs.

"Why do you care?" I ask nonchalantly.

"Wait, don't tell me nag-away kayo? Oh well, I can't blame you. She's always been a pain in the ass since childhood."

"Kung wala kang sasabihing maganda—"

"Just shut up?" she cuts me off. "I find it amusing kung paanong dalawa pa kayo ni Yomi na nagtatanggol sa kaniya. Hindi niyo man lang ba makita na ginagamit lang kayo ni Ariel?"

Again, I don't answer.

"I mean look at her. Obviously, she never had the childhood of a princess that she desired, so ngayon siya magpapaka-prinsesa."

"Ladies' and gentlemen..."

Thankfully, the sound of the MC's voice over the mic stops her from talking. And just in time, I receive a message from Ariel...

From: +639158881112

Eric, baka ma-late ako. Kung makakaalis ka diyan, alis ka na. Punta ka na lang dito sa bahay ng Papa mo. Cash needs us. —(AAA. My Little Mermaid)

I almost throw my phone after reading her message. She made me wait this long only to tell me she's with Cash?!

To: +639158881112 (AAA. My Little Mermaid)

I'll wait here. Get out of there. Now. (Sent)

I sit, sulking, and drink the glass of wine on my table.

"Problem with the girlfriend?" Aurora asks with a hint of insult.

"Please shut up. And please, I do not have a disinfectant to sanitize that chair once you leave so get the hell out of that chair because it's specifically reserved for someone."

"That someone is not coming now. Just thirty minutes more, tapos na ang event na 'to. Anong dadatnan niya? Uwian?"

Lalo akong naiinis. Bakit naman niya kasi inuna si Cash? AT BAKIT HINDI NIYA SINABI AGAD? I feel like I want to punch someone in the face right now.

"Tara. Sa bar counter tayo. This event is so damned boring."

"Pwede ba, Rory? I'm not going anywhere with you."

"You know what? That puny disgusting feeling you have for that little fish-bait is what makes you a lonely man in a hall full of people right now. Look around you. Everyone is having fun in their own way and you're here, sulking, waiting for someone that will never show up."

I remain impassive. There is no way I'm joining Aurora in any activities she deems exciting. Ayoko lang na pag-awayan namin ulit siya ni Ariel because honestly, dalang-dala na ako. An argument about Aurora is not even worth an argument at all.

"It's not like I'm asking you to break up with her, James. Niyayaya lang kita sa bar counter, ilang hakbang lang 'yon mula sa table na 'to. There are drunk guys out there, ayoko lang na mabastos ako. Nagkataon din namang wala kang kasama so why don't we just have a drink?"

"Natatakot kang mabastos tapos sa lalaki ka nagpapasama? You are so pathetic, Aurora."

"As if namang babastusin mo 'ko, e, obsessed na obsessed ka sa sardinas na 'yon. Kaya nga alam kong hindi ko kailangang magduda kapag ikaw ang nakasama ko dahil sigurado namang wala tayong gagawin," masungit na sagot niya pa.

"What the hell? Sino naman ang nagsabi sa'yong the thought crossed my mind? Get out of here."

"Bahala ka nga diyan. Feeling mo naman napaka-importante mo para pilitin pa. Magsama kayo ng gold-digging sardines mong girlfriend," she finally says in defeat, walking out.

I check on my phone again and there's a new message from Ariel. FINALLY.

From: +639158881112

Eric, hindi na talaga ako makakarating. 'Di ka man lang ba nag-aalala sa kapatid mo? Inuuna mo pa 'yan? Mag-excuse ka na diyan, pumunta ka na lang dito sa bahay ng Papa mo. —(AAA. My Little Mermaid)

Wait... WHAT?! Pinag-hintay niya ako dito only to tell me she can't make it? Because of Cash? THIS IS ABSURD. How can she do this to me? Inuna niya pa si Cash, e, alam niyang naghihintay ako dito?! WHAT IN THE WORLD. THIS IS SO FVCKING UNACCEPTABLE.

"Aurora, wait!" I call out.

She stops on her tracks when she hears my voice but still, that scowl is on her face when she turns to look back at me. "What?" iritadong tanong niya.

"Just this one time," I say, walking towards the bar counter's direction and she walks beside me.

"Daming arte. Sasama rin pala," she mutters.

"Don't force me to change my mind."

"For old times' sake!" She gleefully raises her glass to a cheers for her nth shot.

"It's not like we were childhood buddies or something," I reply but clink glasses with her, anyway.

"But at least we were schoolmates in middle school so... It's almost close," she argues.

"Whatever."

And I can't believe I'm actually having a conversation with Aurora as we take shots of tequila. She has a great deal with alcohol tolerance and I'm surprised na nasasabayan niya 'yung inom ko, given the fact that I'm so used to drinking. But of course, dahil marami na rin kaming nainom, hindi na mawawala 'yung mga alcohol talk na masasabi mo lang when you're drunk.

"...and she was so cute when she was little. You know what? One time, we were playing hide and seek with Yomi and we both fell asleep in the closet. Sa sobrang tagal ni Yomi na maghanap, nakatulog na kami. And I remember seeing Yomi crying after she figured out we're just in her closet," madaldal na sabi niya and she laughs like she finds that little story a hilarious one.

I just smile as she tells me stories about her and the short childhood she shared with Ariel. At nakakapagtakang everything she tells me now are just the good memories. Samantalang when she's sober, she hates her sister so much.

"I miss those days. When I was her only heroine and she was only mine."

This time, naging seryoso na siya. Alam niyo 'yung mga taong kapag nakakainom tapos may tama na? Like after reciting her biography, the dramatic ending is the next?

"But then, things change and sometimes, they change into the way you hate the most. Actually, wala naman akong problema kay Ariel noon. I started developing hatred towards her no'ng mas close na sila ni Naomi. You know, I hate Naomi so much that the thought of flirting with you was the first thing I had in mind. That time when I asked Dad to talk to the Fuentebellas, you were still secretly in a relationship with her. Si Naomi kasi, she used to be the family's apple of the eye. Still is. I started having insecurities and all kasi siya 'yung all around. She has great talents, she's smart, humble, like she's the perfect girl and I was the least of the favorites kasi mahina ako sa school. Dad said, mas matalino si Ariel sa'kin and he forced me to learn so much dahil kung hindi ko daw gagalingan, kay Ariel niya ipapamana lahat. Tapos naging close pa sila ni Naomi so it was double impact."

Kahit mahaba masyado ang sinasabi ni Aurora I try my best to listen as closely. Maybe she's not as awful as I think she is but it doesn't mean I have to loosen security around Ariel from her hands.

"It has always been Ariel and Naomi for our whole clan. I'm pretty sure you've heard of the FIMSS Org, Fujiwara, Inoue, Mariano, Sato, San Juan— Japanese-Filipino organziation and all the shits. Alam mo 'yung feeling na naging shadow nila ako? Well, you're the James Eric Fuentebella, I'm pretty sure you've never felt that. But just to let you know, it hurts like fvcking hell."

Hindi ko na napigilan ang magtanong. "Why are you telling me all this?"

She stares blankly on her shot glass. "I don't know. For a little empathy, perhaps?"

I snort. "I'm not a very empathic person."

"Or at least to let you know that I have reasons to hate your girlfriend. Not that I want to force you to understand, but it hurts a whole lot less if some people can believe that... I'm not at all evil."

I just stare at her. I don't want her to think, too, that just because I joined her in this little drinking session, I trust her to withdraw doing her stupid plans on my fiancé.

"And I'm still concocting plans on ruining her life so you, Mr. Fuentebella, better watch out," she says. See?

She stands up and leans close to my face, the smell of tequila and strawberry instantly invade my nostrils. I instinctively take a safe distance by leaning backwards.

"I'm just about to start with my friendly competition, Mr. Fuentebella. Just to test how much she loves you. I just need to prove something to myself," she murmurs, staring at my lips.

On a different occasion, perhaps I'd feel a little turned on with what she's doing. Obviously, she's trying to play with me. But for some reasons, it seems rather funny that I end up raising an eyebrow, smirking.

Bigla naman siyang sumimangot. "But I have to give it a rest for toninght dahil sa totoo lang, inaantok na ako. Good night, James." With that, she takes her purse from the tabletop and walks about five steps away when she stops to glance back. "Thanks," she adds.

Just about a couple of steps more, tinawag ko rin siya. "Hey, Sleeping Beauty..."

She stops walking, turns to look back at me with a scowl, and I have to laugh so earnestly for the first time tonight.

"Thank you, too. Good night."

Rolling her eyes, she continues walking out of the hall and I just follow her moves with my eyes until she's out of sight.

Once left alone again, naalala ko na naman kung bakit ako napadpad sa bar counter na 'to. I'm a little tipsy now but I can still drive myself to McKinley.

Humanda lang talaga silang lahat sa'kin kung hindi talaga emergency ang nangyari kay Cash.