Under the Mafia Boss's Protection

C23

Nothing much happened yesterday night, pagkarating ni Catalina ay nagsaikainan na ang lahat and the party started. After that party ay umuwi na kami sa mansion, I can't even stop thinking about Catalina.

The whole night ay nakaupo lang siya maintaining her elegant posture at parang may hinahanap siya. I guess she is seeking for Jizan, pero lumabas nga 'yon.

Today, naghahanda kaming lahat para sa beach na pupuntahan namin. Our parents will not join us because they said we are responsible enough to know our limits.

Isang van lang ginamit namin dahil hindi naman sumama sina Soren, Leviathan, Khadin, Ruel, at Rahul.

So tanging kami lang nina, Avie, Ryl, Jax, Riguel, Jizan at Jurielle ang nasa loob. I also heard na sasama saamin si Catalina.

I sat beside Jurielle, kasi ayokong makatabi si Riguel o si Jizan.

"I still can't believe it. Bumalik na pala talaga si Lina." I heard Jurielle said, napatingin ako sakanya and I saw her holding her phone.

I took a glance at her phone at nakita kong i********: post iyon ni Catalina na suot yung long dress niya kagabi.

"Why? Bakit hindi ka makapaniwala?" I asked.

"After she left Kuya Jizan, I really thought hindi na siya uuwi rito. She said to Kuya kasi na she will never comeback, if Kuya will remain unsuccessful with his life." I looked at Jurielle with confusion.

"What does that even mean?" I asked her.

"Kuya Jizan is not really hardworking when he's young, he always depends on Dad. He always depends on the money that he'll got from Dad, and Catalina is from a not so rich family kaya gusto niya ay huwag umasa si Kuya kay Dad, and to learn how to work on his own." Jurielle paused for a second.

"Catalina dreamed to be a model, while as for Kuya wala pa siyang pangarap noon."

"Lina always lectures Kuya na magsikap na. But hard-headed Jizan Zoldyck, ayaw niya. And that where their problems started."

"Catalina doesn't want a lazy guy, so she broke up with Kuya and started to follow her dreams even without Kuya Jizan. Sabi niya hindi siya babalik hangga't hindi successful si Kuya, and Kuya Jizan isn't successful as of now dahil nag-aaral pa naman siya." Jurielle said.

Yeah, right.

"But Kuya Jizan already finished his Architecture Degree, he is now finishing his Engineering Degree."

Hindi ko mapigilang mamangha kay Jizan, an Engineer-Architect?

"How about you Ate Evie? What are you planning to take?" She asked.

"Pharma." Maikli kong saad. But I really don't know though, hindi ko alam kung magp-pharmacist ba talaga ako.

"Oh? Then why you didn't take STEM? I heard you're ABM e." She asked.

"I don't know either." Natatawa kong sabi.

The car suddenly stopped kaya napatingin kami sa driver.

"Dito daw maghihintay si Catalina, can you see her?" I heard Riguel said.

Napatingin ako sa labas ng sasakyan at nakita ko naman si Catalina na naka suot ng floral dress habang may malaking hat sa ulo niya at naka-sunglasses rin.

She looks like a model, which is siya nga.

Nagmamadali siyang lumapit papalapit sa van at agad pumasok. I can see the relief in her eyes ng makapasok siya sa loob.

"Finally! Ang init-init sa labas." Saad niya.

Nakita ko namang umupo siya katabi ni Jizan, magkatabi kasi si Avie at Jax, tapos si Riguel at Ryl, kaya walang katabi si Jizan.

Hindi na ako nagsalita at tahimik nalang buong byahe.

When we arrived at the resort ay mas lalo akong natahimik. Catalina is clinging into Jizan too much, I mean dapat wala naman akong pake sakanila diba?

Pero hindi ko mapigilang maging insecure. But I don't even know why!

"Evie, lalangoy ka?" Napatingin ako kay Riguel ng nakangiti siyang nakatingin saakin, while waiting for my response.

Riguel is only wearing a white sando and swim shorts, he's not masculine as Jizan. Pero masasabi kong may katawan rin naman siyang maipag-mamalaki.

"I'll swim later, maybe." Mahina kong sabi.

Nagulat naman ako ng bigla siyang tumabi saakin.

"Okay, I'll swim later then too. Sasabay nalang ako sa'yo." Nakangiti niyang sabi, I smiled at him too dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Have you met Catalina?" I immediately gazed at the sea dahil sa sinabi niya.

"Nope. Not yet." I said cooly.

"I think you should, may pagka similarities kayo sa attitude e, pero parang si Avie manamit." In short, magka-attitude kami pero mas better siya at may fasion sense.

"Yeah, siguro mamaya. I find her, gorgeous though." May halong bitterness sa boses ko pero hindi ko na yun pinansin, hindi naman siguro lalagyan ng malisya ni Riguel ang tono ng boses ko.

"Hmm? But I think you're prettier." Napakuyom ako sa kamao ko at pinigilan ang sarili kong lingunin siya. Just one glance at him at alam kong magkakatitigan kami.

"Stop joking." Maikling saad ko, sinuklay ko ang maiksi kong buhok gamit ang daliri ko at napatingin muli sa dalampasigan.

"I'm not joking though." Sabi niya and chuckled, napairap nalang ako sa hangin dahil sa sinabi ni Riguel.

"Pero it's a good thing na bumalik narin si Catalina rito." Riguel said.

Doon niya nakuha ang atensyon ko at agad akong napatingin sakanya.

"Why? What's good about it?" I asked with full curiosity.

"So that, Jizan will return in his old self. Simula nung iwan siya ni Catalina, he changed a lot. I'm not saying it's a bad thing, but for our friendship it's a bad thing, but for his academics and performance at school it's a very good thing." What?

"What do you mean?" Hindi ko mapigilang tanungin siya.

"Simula nung iwan siya ni Catalina naging studios si Jizan, at mas tinutuon ang atensyon sa pag-aaral. During clubbing ay hindi na sumasama dahil gustong mag-aral, kaya napapalayo ang loob niya saamin. Last summer ay halos tinuon niya ang sarili sa pag-a-advance study, at apply as a intern in architectural company.."

"Akala ko babalik siya samin magka-kaibigan pero, isang araw parang wala na siyang ganang makipag-interact saamin. Hindi siya sumasabay sa mga get aways, at outings. We understand him with all our might, at wala kaming magagawa. Kaya nagulat kami nung simulang maging mag-kaibigan kayo ay napadalas na ang pag sama niya saamin. And I think that's a good thing too, pero mas maganda na nandito na ulit si Catalina."

"So that he will come back to his senses, and maybe, get together with Lina again. And fix himself."

Maya-maya ay nakita ko si Catalina na hinihila si Jizan papunta sa dagat. With her, yellow two-piece and very big summer hat. Habang si Jizan naman ay topless, at nagpapahila narin kay Catalina.

I find them cute, lalo na ng nagsimula na silang magtampisaw sa dagat. Para silang mag-jowa na naghaharutan sa dagat, they look perfect for each other...

Napahawak ako sa dibdib ko ng maramdaman kong kumikirot ang puso ko, f**k what? Why are you aching so bad? What's wrong with you?!

Agad akong napatayo at aalis na sana ng hawakan ni Riguel ang pulsuhan ko.

"You're going to swim?" He asked.

I didn't have a choice and nodded to his question.

Napatingin ulit ako kina Jizan at Catalina at hindi ko maiwasang mainis sakanila. Sa kina rami-raming lugar, sa dagat pa talaga mag haharutan?!

Tss.

Hinihingal ako habang nakahawak sa batong nasa gilid ng dagat. Riguel and I decided to play a game na kung sino ang unang makakalangoy papunta rito sa bato ay dapat manlibre. I already lost three consecutive times. At naiinis ako, why is he so good at swimming? May lahi ba tong shokoy?

Napatingin ako sa paligid at nakita kong wala pa siya. Sa di kalayuan ay nakita ko siyang lumalangoy papalapit sakin. Binagalan niya ang paglangoy niya?

But why? Nang maka-ahon si Riguel ay agad siyang napangiti saakin. Hindi ko mapigilang mamangha sa mukha ni Riguel, he looks cute with his dimple appearing proudly.

"You won!" He cheered.

Agad akong napa-irap kay Riguel dahil sa sinabi niya. "Yeah, I won because you swam slow para manalo ako!" Sabi ko at naiinis na.

I don't accept, half-ass victory. Nanalo lang naman ako dahil binagalan niya sa pag-langoy.

Napatawa siya dahil sa sinabi ko. "What? I didn't do anything, I swam normally." He said kahit kitang-kita ko sa mga mata niya na nang-iinis siya.

Napairap nalang ako. "Whatever Riguel, hindi kita ililibre, kasi hindi mo inaamin na binagalan mo talaga sa pag langoy." I said, at nagsimulang mag-martsa patungo sa dalampasigan.

Sinundan niya naman ako at naramdaman ko ang pag-akbay niya saakin.

"Yeah? I don't mind treating you though, so ano gusto mo?" He asked. Napatingin ako sa kamay niya na nasa balikat ko, what would it felt like to swim with Jizan–fuck Evie! Si Riguel kasama mo! Bakit kaba nag-iisip ng ibang kasama?! That's f*****g rude!

"Anything. Kahit ano, libre mo naman e." Sabi ko. He tilted his head cockily.

"Okay then, I'll treat you food tomorrow. And let's shop, and watch a movie." Napa-isip ako sa sinabi niya.

Last day na namin sa Cavite dahil pupunta na kami sa Manila para sa birthday naman ni Jizan.

So, siguro papayag naman sina Mommy na sulitin ko ang mga araw ko dito.

"Yeah, Sure! But can I bring Avie?" I asked.

"Yeah, no problem. I'll bring Ryl." Agad akong napangisi sa sinabi niya at ngumisi rin siya. We are thinking the same thing, about Ryl and Avie.

"Iiwan natin sila? Na sila lang dalawa?" He asked.

"Game!" agad naman akong tumango.

Nang makarating kami sa dalampasigan ay nakangiti kami pareho at tumatawa habang pina-plano ang magiging takbo ng gala bukas kasama si Ryl at Avie.

"Yes! After that diyan na natin sila puntahan, pagkatapos natin manood ng cine!" Sabi ko.

"Yeah, I should get my pursuing skills ready, para makagala iyang si Ryl." Sabi naman ni Riguel.

Magsasalita pa sana ako pero biglang sumulpot si Jizan at Catalina sa harapan ko. They are both wet from swimmimg at kami rin ni Riguel.

I looked at Jizan at nakita ko ang paninitig niya sa suot ko. I rolled my eyes at hindi nalang siya pinansin.

"Did I just heard you talking about dating tomorrow?" Tanong ni Catalina.

Saan ang similarities namin diyan? Hindi naman ako tsismosa katulad niya! Mind your own business you freak!

"Uhm, yeah, gusto niyo sumama ni Jizan?" Riguel asked. Napahinga ako ng malalim dahil sa alok ni Riguel kina Jizan.

"What do you think Ji? It's been a long time since we dated right?" Nakangiting tanong ni Catalina, hindi kami magka-attitude! Hindi ako ngumingiti at humaharot ng ganyan! Plus, I don't wear a silly smile on my face!

Hindi ko mapigilan na irapan si Catalina. At napatingin kay Riguel.

"Hey, we should go. Ang init na dito sa labas." i said, Riguel nodded at me immediately at sabay na kaming naglakad palayo kina Jizan at Catalina.

I changed my clothes sa room namin ni Avie. I looked at myself at the mirror, I am wearing a simple nude beach dress, at walang kahit anong nakalagay sa mukha ko.

I stared at my body, my body isn't that bad. I have the curves already, pero hindi parin ka-kurba gaya nung kay Catalina at Kylie. My breasts aren't small, and aren't big either. Nasa tamang size lang ito, and my hips are a bit wide, just like Mom's.

Napatingin ako sa desk kung saan nandoon ang mga make up ni Avie. I grabbed the combed and gently combed my hair...

I grabbed the lip balm at pinahid iyon sa labi ko which made an glossy effect on my lips. Agad akong naglagay ng pressed powder sa mukha ko, pero imbes na maging malinis ay mas naging pula ang puti kong balat.

Ang dami pala naming similarities ni Mom, even the powder Avie is using isn't advisable to my skin. It's too sensitive.

After readying myself ay lumabas na ako sa room namin ni Avie, agad namang bumungad saakin si Catalina na parang naliligaw.

Nakasuot parin siya ng tuwalya at parang hindi niya alam kung saan siya pupunta.

"Mabuti nalang nakita kita, can I ask if nasaan ang room ni Jurielle? Sabi kasi ni Jizan saakin iisa kami ng room ni Jurielle." She said while looking straight into my eyes.

I cleared my throat.. "Just walk straight, nasa room 076 sya." I said.

"Thankyou, Evie!" Nakangiti niyang sabi at agad naglakad sa corridors.

Nang makaalis ako sa building. I received a text from Riguel, saying na nasa beach resto sila at doon daw kami magl-lunch.

Naglakad naman ako papunta roon and I saw, Riguel, Jax, Ryl, and Avie sitting at our table. Nasan si Jizan?

"Let's just wait for, Catalina ang Jizan. I already ordered for us all, kaya habang nagluluto ay maghintay nalang tayo." Riguel said.

"Hey, Evie. I found a garden near here, at gusto ko yung puntahan mamaya. Sama ka?" Avie asked beside me. Garden? I love flowers.

"Yeah, sure." I said.

Maya-maya ay dumating na ang mga pagkain na inorder ni Riguel at nagulat naman ako sa dami ng inorder niya. Parang may fiesta ah.

"Ang dami naman!" Natutuwang sabi ni Jax.

"Let's take a picture, I'll post it on my account!" Nakangiting sabi ni Avie, agad naman kaming ngumiti lahat at tumingin sa hawak ni Avie na cellphone.

Timing namang dumating na sina Jizan at Catalina. Bakit sila magkasabay? Did they meet outside? O, hinintay ni Jizan si Catalina?

Nakisali narin sila sa picture at agad naman iyong pinost ni Avie at tinag kaming lahat.

We started eating at laman ng usapan ay ang buhay ni Catalina sa abroad.

"So, Lina. Why did you come back here? I thought you'll staying in Spain?" Riguel asked.

"I came for your birthday, and for Jizan's birthday. And maybe, I'll stay to fix things I broke before." Nakangiti niyang sabi. Oh, I know what she meant, she's going to fix their relationship with Jizan.

That's really hilarious! Siya yung nang-iwan diba? Kaya dapat hindi niya na balikan si Jizan. It is so hilarious to think of.

"Kuya doesn't want to get back to you, Ate Lina." Napatingin naman ako kay Jax sa biglaan niyang pagsalita. What?

I saw how shocked Catalina is dahil sa sinabi ni Jax. Napatingin naman ako kay Jizan at nagulat ako ng makita kong nakatingin rin siya saakin, agad kong iniwas ang tingin ko sakanya at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

"Hmm? I don't think so, Jaxryl. We already talked e, and your Kuya said he's going to give me a chance fix everything." I heard Catalina.

Hindi sumagot si Jizan.

I see, he's giving Catalina a chance again? Kahit sa ginawa niya sakanya noon. I understand how desperate Catalina is to get back with Jizan.

I mean, Jizan is intelligent, handsome, kind and mature. Kaya naiintindihan ko si Catalina kung ayaw niyang mawala si Jizan sakanya.