Bridgetine Squad I You Belong With Me

Chapter 3

Jackie

Nakahinga ako ng maluwag ng hindi na ako sinundan ni Charlie. Of all the restaurants in the city, talagang sa pag aari pa nila kami kumain ni Kuya. My gosh! 

Naisip ko ang mga salitang binitiwan nya. Napagkamalan pa nyang boyfriend ko si Kuya. P*tang*na! Walanghiya talaga yang si Charlie. But at the back of my head, hindi ko sya masisi. Bukod kay Nay Coring, wala naman syang nakilala sa pamilya ko. Kuya John was already overseas. Mom was busy running the company while Dad was on duty. Kaya ako nakabukod ng bahay dahil mas malapit sa school. All I have to do is walk or take my bike. I have been training for the triathlon since I was a kid. I was told to dress simply and not attract attention, for safety purposes. I did not know the reason until I turned 18 and we moved to Montreal. 

Two years later after that, I saw Chloe. Pregnant. Alone. I took her in and we raised CJ together with my family. The house is big enough for all of us. Chloe just dropped off CJ at school before going to her work. They are in Montreal still. Kami lang ni Kuya ang bumalik dito sa New York. Hindi rin naman ako magtatagal. Pinapunta lang kami ni Mommy because Dad is coming home this month. So I have to be here for a month too. While Kuya, hindi ko alam kung kailan sya idedeploy ulit.

Then I remembered Charlie's kiss. Ahhhhh! Masisiraan na ako ng ulo. I don't want to think about him anymore . It just brings back bad memories. Bad memories lang ba talaga? You had good memories too. Remember his kisses? His advances? Remember everything? Padarag akong bumangon ng kama at isinalang ang sarili ko sa dutsa. I need a cold shower!

Dali dali akong nagbihis at nag ayos ng sarili ko. Nag shorts ako ng green na may belt na kulay caramel at black top. I didn't bother fixing my hair. Sinuklay ko na lang at tinuyo. Hinagip ko ang sweater kong brown at ang bag ko saka kinuha ang shades at lumabas ng bahay. I am running late. Volunteering day ko ngayon sa orphanage. Si Charlie ang may kasalanan nito eh. Hmp!

"Where are you going today sweetheart?" Sabi ni Daddy na nagbabasa ng newspapers sa kitchen at nakita akong paalis na.

"Good morning Dad." Lumapit ako sa kanya at humalik sa pisngi nya. "Volunteer ako ngayon sa Orphanage."

"Do you have to? Ako ang napapaguran sa ginagawa mo. You took a month off work pero nagvovolunteer ka naman ngayon. Why don't you see your old friends and go out. Or better yet, go out on a date with someone." nakangiting sabi nya.

"Date? Dad naman! Not in a rush to get married. Gusto mo na lang yata akong mag-asawa eh." Maktol ko sa kanya.

"You're 25 at wala pa akong nakitang boyfriend mo. Ni wala ka ngang pinapakilala sa akin."

My Dad and I are very close. Sinasabi ko sa kanya lahat. Well, maliban ang tungkol kay Charlie. I can't. Baka magalit sya at masaktan pa nya ay kargo de konsensya ko pa. If my Dad finds out Charlie cheated on me, he's dead meat.

"Hmp! Darating tayo dyan Dad. Maybe in 10 years." Nakangisi kong sabi sa kanya. 

"Ano? 10 years?? Sweetheart, hindi na ako magkaka apo sa iyo nyan. At ang kuya mo ay mukhang wala din planong mag asawa. My God! Noong edad mo ay mag-asawa na kami ng Mommy mo at buntis na sya kay John."

I smirked. "Okay lang yun Dad. I can always have somebody impregnate me. Besides, advance na ang science. Hindi ko na kailangan ng lalaking bubuntis sa akin." I winked at him. 

Imagine the horror in his eyes. "Jaqueline Elizabeth Amsberg Reynolds! Waag het niet!" (Don't you dare!)

"Relax papa, ik maak maar een grapje." (Relax Dad, I'm just kidding.)

"You better be." I smiled at him at niyakap sya sa likod. 

"Joke nga lang, ang aga high blood ka na agad."

"You'll be the death of me." naiiling na sabi nya.

Napatawa ako ng mahina at binigyan nya ako ng "the look" at pumormal na ako. Dad's a retired CIA that's why he's not always around. But when he is, he always spends his time with us. For me, he's the best father in the world. Hindi madali ang pinili nyang trabaho at madalas ay walang oras sa amin pero kapag kasama namin sya, sinisiguro nyang wala kaming kahati. He came from a wealthy family but it was never enough for my mother's parents. 

He's still a commoner in their eyes and Princess Beatrix Elizabeth Amsberg has to marry a man from the Royal Family to retain her title. But her love for my father was stronger than any title could hold, binitiwan nya ang korona nya at nagpakasal kay Daddy. Happy ever after -- feel good story huh? Sana all!!

"Anyway Dad, I really have to go. I will see you later okay?"

"We're having dinner tonight. I want you to meet someone."

Here we go with his matchmaking again. "All right. I'll be here for dinner." I kissed his cheek again and run for the door. Late na talaga ako. My red Aston Martin Valkyrie is a year old pero mukhang bago pa rin iyon dahil hindi ko madalas gamitin. Mabilis akong nagmaneho palabas.

Swerte naman at hindi gaanong traffic pero na-late pa rin ako. Their activities were already starting ng makarating ako. Ginawa kong headband ang shades ko at nakipagusap sa sa staff na nandoon. 

"So sorry I'm late." sabi ko kay Miss Tricia. Nasa mid 50's na sya, payat at matangkad. 

"It's okay Jackie. We just started and plus we have a new volunteer so you didn't really miss anything."

New volunteer? That's good. At least someone finally has the heart to do something for the community. I only come here once. Saglit akong tumalikod para ilagay ang bag ko sa office table.

"I'd like you to meet our new volunteer." 

Pagpihit ko ay nanlaki ang mga mata ko at napanganga. "His name is Charlie Young. Please tour him around when you finish the activities. You know your way around. Teach him the ropes. I'm taking my leave now."

F*ck! How am I suppose to avoid him now?

***