Just a Spoonful of Love Part Two - Chapter 17

Chapter 17

"I'll see you later." Daniel said and kissed me in the cheeks to bid goodbye. Mauuna na siya sa gala dahil sympre we wouldn't want to be seen together. I waved him goodbye and naglakad na siya palabas ng kwarto ko. 

Ako naman ay nagsimula ng magayos para sa gala tonight. Mask gala ito kaya required na naman ang mask. The last time I wore a mask was the engagement ball and it didn't end well. And I don't want to even think about it anymore. Why do they always want to have a mask party? Uso ata ngayon ang mga ganun party in higher class. 

I don't really mind wearing mask but the memory of the last time makes me shiver and all. 

After kong magayos, bumaba na ako and I saw Enrique down at the foyer leaning sa may wall and he looked up and when he saw me he smiled. Hindi ko alam kung bakit siya nandito but it does make sense I am still his fiance well in his mind I am. Galit ako kay Enrique because he lied to my face. I thought he was my friend but no. Pero why did he lie? Did he lie because Tita Clarisse made him or it was his own will to lie to me?

Lumapit na ako sa kanya and I forced a smile. "Anong ginagawa mo dito?" I asked. 

"I.... of course you need an escort so here I am." he smiled. He led me towards the door and pagkalabas namin, nandun na yung sasakyan and the driver already opened the door, pumasok na din ako at ganun din siya. 

The whole ride was quiet, walang nagsasalita sa amin, he didn't even try to have a small talk with me, not that I would try and talk to him, I'm still fuming mad about him lying. But I know I have to confront him and not lead him on to something that won't ever happen to us; marriage. 

When we reached the gala, I wore my mask at ganun din siya, hinintay namin na pagbuksan kami ng pinto and when it did open, nauna siyang bumaba at sa kabila naman ako bumaba, he waited for me bago maglakad and he held his hand pero hindi ko ito kinuha, if Daniel would see me and him, he'd be jealous. I don't want him to be jealous for no reason. 

Pumasok na kami sa loob, and the venue was decorated with the theme of Baroque, it was quite beautiful and elegance was definitely seen. I looked around the place and saw Julia with Khalil, somehow if hindi ko alam na in love si Julia kay Daniel and that Khalil is actually fond of entertaining girls I would say they look good together, but then again, Khalil is so much of a mystery na I don't even want to solve dahil ewan ko, there's this vibe with Khalil pag serious siya na you'd be scared.


Julia noticed me kaya naglakad na siya papunta sa akin but when she noticed the guy beside me she frowned. Sympre lumapit parin siya."Hey Kath." pagbati niya sa akin, we wore the same color pagdating sa gown, baby blue. Pag malayo ka sa amin, parang magkaparehas lang kami ng suot, I mean baby blue na tube, the only difference was our mask and our shawl. "Mag best friend nga tayo pati damit parehas tayo." she giggled.


"Yeah." I smiled. I looked around to look for Daniel and when I spotted him, I smiled discreetly at him and he just gave me a nod. Me and Julia talked and Enrique never left our side. Umalis din si Julia and saw I was left alone with Enrique. And I know I should talk to him. "Bakit ka pumayag na maengage sa akin Enrique?" I asked him.


Tinignan niya ako. "Hindi mo ba talaga alam?" He asked and I shook my head "Mahal kita Kathryn." he confessed and I was shocked no shock would be the understatement of the year.


"Mahal ko si Daniel." pagaamin ko.


"Pero wala na kayo." if only you know...


"But it doesn't mean na titigil na yung puso ko sa pagmamahal sa kanya." I told him. "I can't marry you Enrique so might as well tell your mother to cancel it." I said, alam ko na dapat na I'm supposed to lead him on na may kasal na magaganap but I can't. Not after I learned the truth. He might have lied to me pero he don't deserve me to lead on. Kahit pa kunting araw nalang ay ikakasal na ako.


"Alam mong hindi papayag si mom."


"I don't love you Enrique and I can't marry someone who I don't love." I said and started to walk away.


"He's with Bea." he said that made me stopped. Why do you have to lie Enrique? "Mahal niya si Bea at hindi ikaw."


I just walked away. Nagpunta ako sa rest room, tinanggal ko yung mask ko and shawl. It was hot. And nagbukas yung pinto at pumasok si Julia, she also removed hers and umupo dun sa sofa sa gitna ng rest room.


"Wanna change?" She asked me as she waved her mask.


I nodded tutal naman matatapos na yung party, we're just waiting for the last midnight dance. Nagpalit kami ni Julia ng mask and shawl. It's actually a good thing we changed para pwede akong isayaw ni Daniel, and when I spotted him, he gladly held out his hand and led me to the dance floor.


His eyes bore into mine and we just kept looking at each other. "I'm glad I could dance with you." he said and I nodded "Alam mo ba may myth about the midnight dance during this gala?" I shook my head "Sabi nila yung kasayaw mo daw ngayon ang taong nakatakda para sayo."


Ngumiti ako sa sinabi niya "So meant to be pala tayo." sabi ko.


"Of course." he said "I can't wait for Saturday."


"Me too." I said and he pulled me closer to him, I saw Julia also dancing with someone, they were talking and I guess Julia's having fun. I pulled away from Daniel and smiled at him nung natapos na yung kanta "I'll see you later." I said and bid him goodbye.


Pero sympre hindi ako hinayaan maglakad ni Daniel magisa, we waited for Julia sa tapat ng rest room at nung dumating siya nagpalit na din kami ng mask and shawl. Nagpaalam na siya sa akin, ganun din si Daniel. I was walking out na sana ng venue para makauwi when one of our investors cornered me.


I forced a smile "Good evening Mr. Gonzales." pagbabati ko sa kanya.


"Evening Leila." he said "I'd like you to meet my nephew Sam." sabi niya at dun ko lang napansin na may kasama nga siyang lalaki na naka mask, from what I can remember kamukha niya yung kasayaw ni Julia kanina.


"Nice to meet you." I said and shook his hand.


"The pleasure's mine." he said na para bang tuwang tuwa talaga siyang nakilala niya ako. Weird. 


"I have to go Mr. Gonzales but I'll see you on Saturday?" I asked.


"Of course. Pero ano bang meron sa Saturday and it's so confidential?" Mr. Gonzales was quite intrigued from what I gathered lahat ng investors and board members were also intrigued by it.


I smiled mischievously "You have to come to find out." I said "See you on Saturday." I waved goodbye at lumabas na ako ng venue and my car was already there with Paul standing outside. Pumasok na ako sa loob at nagulat ako dahil nandun si Daniel sa loob. "Bakit ka nandito?" I asked.


"Paul has something to tell us both."


Tinignan ko si Paul. "Milady, wala sa Saturday ang mga natitirang Vanderbilt."


"Saan sila pupunta?"


"To visit my mom." Daniel answered, I can hear from the tone of his voice na he was pained to know that "Tita has been going yearly to check her."


"And you?"


"Told you bawal akong lumapit kay mom." niyakap ko lang siya. "It's fine at least wala sila dito sa araw ng kasal natin."


Ngumiti ako "Yeah." I said. "Can't wait."


My phone beeped kaya kinuha ko ito and saw a message from Julia.

Kath, I think I'm in love! Na love at first sight ata ako kanina. I hope to see him soon! Just wanna tell you that and I'll come to your house later, I wanna see what they've done with your garden! See you. 

 Napangiti ako sa text ni Julia, pero sino naman kaya yung lalaking yun? Could that be the guy she was dancing with? Ano nga ulit ang pangalan nun?

Another character that would be an important piece of the story.