Bridgetine Squad I You Belong With Me

Charlie  It's Saturday morning and  I woke up with the smell of bacon and eggs. This is what I miss living at home. Once a month on a Friday I come home to join my parents for dinner and I sleep over. After lunch ay uuwi rin ako sa penthouse ko.  I saw AJ a couple nights ago  dining with a beautiful girl. Caleb said her name is Luna. I've never seem AJ so smitten at sa kwento ni Caleb ay may pabulaklak pa. He has never given anyone flowers in his entire life. She must be special. I got up and showered at saka nagbihis. I chose a white long sleeves at itinupi ko iyon hanggang braso ko at nagsuot ng dark faded jeans. I wore my onitsuka sneakers. Wala naman akong ibang lakad ngayon. Bumaba ako ng hagdan at dumulog sa mesa. "You woke up early." Nakaupo na ang mga magulang ko, si Chris Young at Jasmin Rodriguez-Young. "May lakad ka ba ngayon?" "Wala pa Ma." Inuna ko ang kape saka sumandok ng sinangag, bacon at scrambled eggs. I like scrambled eggs with tomatoes. I find it tastier. "Son, do you think you can drop by at Verjus ar noon. I need you to do some observation for me. You can just email me your update." Verjus is our new restaurant that just opened a month ago and has raving reviews. A lot of couples dine there. Pero wala pa akong nadadalang ka-date doon.  "Sure Dad, that's no problem. I am free today anyway. Baka mamaya pa kami lumabas nina Caleb." "Kasama mo ba si AJ mamaya?"  "I am not sure. Caleb and I saw him dining with a beautiful woman. He even gave her flowers." I saw my mom raised a brow.  "Sounds serious." My mom commented. "You think so?" tanong ko sa kanya. "Well, when I received flowers from your Dad he dropped down on one knee and had a ring." Muntik na akong masamid. At ng tingnan ko silang dalawa ay bakas pa rin ang pagka in-love sa isa't isa kahit nasa singkwentahan na. What they have is rare.  "How about you? May sineseryoso ka na ba?" tanong ni Mommy. Umiling ako. "Wala akong balak mag seryoso Ma. Okay na ako sa ganito. At least I don't answer to anyone." "When the right girl comes along, you'll be so whipped you won't even feel your legs." Dad said. "Iyon ba ang naramdaman nyo kay Mommy?" nakangiting tanong ko sa kanya. "Yang Daddy mo katulad na katulad mo rin noon. Ayaw mag asawa, allergic sa kasal pero nang sinabi kong mag hiwalay na kami ay mabilis pa sa alas kwatrong nagpropose." "Applicable lang kay Daddy iyon Ma." "I think today you're going to meet someone that will sweep you off your feet." matalinhagang sabi ni Daddy. "Don't be ridiculous Dad." Nang maubos ko ang pagkain ko ay nagpaalam ako sa kanila na mauuna na. Dahil maaga pa at malapit lang sa penthouse ko ang Verjus ay umuwi muna ako at nagpalit ng damit. I want to look presentable to the employees kahit bihira akong magpunta doon. Dad said to always dress in style as impressions last a long time. I picked a black long sleeves, gray slacks and black shoes. The only jewelry I have is my Patek Philippe watch. Tahimik akong umupo sa sulok at nag order ng pagkain ko. I played with my phone while waiting. When I heard an infectious laugh that I haven't heard in a very long time, I looked around and tried to find who owns that voice. My heart beat faster than normal and there she is. My one and only Jackie...  Jaqueline Reynolds, looking gorgeous and sophisticated. And dining with another man.   F*ck! How long has it been since I last saw her? Sever or eight years ago? We are 25 now. Hindi ko tuloy alam kung lalapitan ko sya o mananatili sa upuan ko.  But then she glanced at my direction but did not smile nor make any expression that tells me she remembers me. Pero lalo akong gumwapo baka kaya hindi nya ako makilala. She was head over heels in love with me back in highschool and then one day, she broke up with me and I never saw her again after that. I don't know where she's been all this time. Ngayon na lang at may kasama pa syang ibang lalake. Hindi ko tuloy malasahan ang inorder kong pagkain kahit masarap. Nang tumayo sya para magpunta sa washroom ay pasimple akong sumunod. Binati pa ako ng ibang staff na nakakakilala sa akin. Hinintay ko sya sa pasilyo na lumabas. "Jackie." I grabbed her hand at hinapit sya papunta sa akin.  "Let go." She said. "So you recognize me? Bakit kanina ay parang hindi mo ako kilala." I caressed her cheek and she flinched. "Because  I don't." Napatawa ako ng mahina. "You have never been a good liar even back then." "Oh? Maybe because that department is your specialty."  She smirked. Pilit nyang tinatanggal ang braso kong nakapaikot sa baywang nya pero lalo ko namang hinihigpitan. "I maybe many things but I was never a liar. Why did you break up with me Jackie?" My thumb caressed her lip at naramdaman ko ang pagpigil nya ng hinga. I still have that effect on her. That's good to know. "Could you not bring up the past? I buried it so deep and I don't want to dug it up." asik nya sa akin. "If that's the case, then what are you doing dining at our restaurant with that f*cker?" Inis kong sabi. Mahina syang napamura. "Charles Wilhelm Rodriguez Young -- that f*cker you're referring to is my one and only older brother, John and he just got home from serving overseas. He wanted to dine here so bad and I didn't have time to check if your family owns it or not. Believe me, if I knew we would have gone to a different place." F*ck! Kapatid pala, nagselos ako sa wala. At ngayon ay bad shot ako sa kanya lalo.  "I'm sorry I didn't know --" I tried to apologize but she won't hear me. "I expected that. Wala ka namang alam tungkol sa akin hindi ba? We dated for a few  months back in high school, that's not a big deal and I think we're old enough. Kalimutan na natin iyon, The both of us have clearly moved on."  "Well,  maybe you did. But  I didn't. I thought about you every single day Jaqueline Elizabeth Reynolds."          ***