Chapter 6
Trapped

I laced my hands in the spout of the faucet and it automatically released the water as it sensored my hands.

I was about to wash my face when I realized that I didn't bring my handkerchief with me. I just sighed and looked at myself in front of the mirror.

"Relax, Blair..." I calmed myself. "You're a strong and independent woman. You just need to get through this dinner then you're done."

Ilang beses kong kinumbinsi ang sarili ko na wag magselos kay Gael dahil sa atensyong binibigay sa kaniya ni daddy bago ko napagdesisyunang lumabas na ng bathroom.

"Why do girls take so much time in the bathroom?"

I think my heart skipped a beat when I saw Gael in front of me, crossing his arms while leaning in the vacant wall in front of the girls' bathroom.

"Why don't you try being a girl so you can know why?" I gave him a smirked.

I was about to leave him when he suddenly grabbed my arm and stopped me from moving on.

"You don't know me, huh?" he smirked at me like I said a joke earlier.

"I didn't lie." sabi ko't binawi ang braso ko sa kaniya. "That's the truth. Hindi naman talaga kita kilala dati. Kailan lang naman kita nakilala? If you weren't Darlene's boyfriend-- Oops! I mean, ex-boyfriend."

His jaw clenched with what I said before he smiled.

"Yeah, I'm her ex-boyfriend." sabi niya't nilapit ang kaniyang mukha sa akin kaya bahagya akong napaatras. "And please prepare to be my girlfriend."

My jaw dropped as eyes widened.

"Excuse me?" I said, offendedly.

"Your father likes me, Blair." he declared at agad namang nag-init ang dugo ko nang dahil doon. "And unluckily, I can see that my mom likes you too."

"So what if my dad likes you? Kapag gusto ka ba ng daddy ko ay magugustuhan na rin kita?" I sarcastically asked him. "Is that how your knowledge conclude things?"

"No, Blair. I'm just stating possibilities." he said. "There are some arrangements that are not impossible in our world, specially, arrangements between you and me."

"There aren't any arrangements between you and me that's going to happen, so just fuck off with your crazy imaginations." I gritted my teeth, pissed off with what he's saying.

"Watch how my imagination turns into reality, Blair." mapagbanta niyang sabi sa akin.

"I'd rather live in a fictional world than be in reality with you." sabi ko't muli siyang inirapan bago bumalik sa private room.

The table's full of bountiful foods that we ordered earlier.

"You're back." ani daddy nang pumasok ako. "Where's Gael? Hindi mo ba siya nakasalubong?"

"Hindi po." simpleng sabi ko't umupo na sa tabi ni mommy.

I can't believe that daddy's asking about Gael's whereabouts to me.

Aftwr a few seconds, Gael came back with a shy fake smile.

"I'm sorry kung natagalan po ako." nahihiya niyang paghingi ng paumanhin sa akin.

"That's okay, Gael." nakangiting sabi ni daddy sa kaniya.

I looked at Gael and saw him grinning at me. He raised his eyebrows and I just rolled my eyes while averting my look at the empty plate in front of me.

"Let me, mom." I heard Gael said to his mother, volunteering to get her food.

"Blair, sweetie, you like shrimp right?" malambing na naniniguradong tanong sa akin ni mommy.

It's a good thing that I can still feel my mother's love. I'm touched because she can still remember that I like to eat shrimps.

"Yes, mom." nakangiti kong sabi sa kaniya.

"There are two dishes with shrimps. Get as many as you want." she said.

I did what she said. I got many shrimps and less rice para hindi ako mabilis mabusog.

I enjoyed eating shrimps the whole dinner that I didn't even bother to look at my family or even Gael and his mother. My whole attention's focused on the food that I'm eating.

"Your daughter's a hearty eater, Jay. Nakakatuwa naman siya." Gael's mom commented and I swiftly moved my gaze to her.

"Well, she loves shrimps that's why..." nagkibit-balikat si daddy.

"Natutuwa nga ako because I can see that she's a hearty eater." biglang sabi ni mommy. "I don't know if she's eating properly dahil lagi nga kaming nasa ibang bansa but seeing her eat this way, napapanatag ang loob ko."

"Oh! Since Gael's her schoolmate, I'll asked Gael to eat lunch with her para naman mabantayan siya ni Gael." her mom suggested.

Muli akong tumingin kay Gael and he's looking at me like he wants to tell me that it's already starting.

"Okay lang po ako. I don't need someone to eat lunch with me." mabilis kong pag-aapila. "Besides, I have Ida na kasama ko po. We're eating fine. Madalas rin po kaming nasa buffets. There's no need to worry, mom."

Nilingon ko si mommy and I gave her an assuring smile.

"I think that's a good idea, Mercy!" biglang sabi ni daddy. "I would like my daughter to have a guy friend. At least, mapapanatag ang loob kong may nagp-protekta sa kaniya habang wala kami dito para bantayan siya."

"Hindi na po kailangan, daddy." muli kong pag-apila. "And besides, I have a guy friend po."

"I didn't know you have one." biglang pagsingit ni Gael.

Why is he even contradicting everything I say? He should be thankful because I'm doing something for our own benefit pero mukhang ini-enjoy niya pa ang mga kagustuhan ng magulang namin.

"It's because we're not close." I gave him a smile, accepting his challenge. "How would you know right?"

I reached out for the glass of water in front of me and drank it while still wearing a smirk.

"Is that an indirect statement that you want us to get closer?" he raised his eyebrow at kamuntikan ko nang mabuga ang tubig na iniinom ko.

Nagtawanan naman ang magulang namin nang dahil sa sinabi niya. He's really enjoying playing with me!

"Uh.. no. I'm just stating facts that you're not close to me kaya hindi mo kilala kung sino ang guy friend ko." sabi ko. "Y-You're so full of yourself..."

I'm trying my best to filter my words and thank God because I succeeded. If our parents are not here, baka napaulanan ko na siya ng mura.

"Okay then. Name your guy friend." hamon niya't pumangalumbaba pa habang nakatingin ng diretso sa akin.

His playful smile's still playing with me. I can't think clearly.

"Si I--"

I stopped myself because I can't say that Isaiah's the guy friend I'm talking about. I mean, kung alam man niyang kapatid 'yon ni Ida, ayoko pa ring i-risk na malaman niya ang kung ano mang mayroon sa amin ni Isaiah.

"Si Ivan!" I continued as I named one of classmate.

I've heard Ivan's name called by my professor many times. Everytime I have classes on Literature ay lagi kong naririnig ang pangalan niya. Paborito ata siyang tawagin ng professor namin doon.

"Ivan?" his forehead creased.

"I didn't know you have a guy friend in your school, Blair." puna ni mommy. "Is that guy friend courting you?" she straightly asked.

Mabilis naman akong umiling. "No, mom! He's just a friend. He's my classmate in Literature."

"Oh... I thought someone's courting you." tumatango-tangong sabi ni mommy. "As far as I know, you only have one guy friend and that's Ida's brother, right?"

Great! Mom revealed it for me!

I sighed and nodded. "Yes."

"Oh! Ida's brother is the vocalist and guitarist of a successful band here in the Philippines." sabi ni mommy. "Isaiah Mallari. What's the name of their band, Blair?" sabay lingon ni mommy sa akin.

"Uhm... I forgot the name of their band, mom. But they play good music." I proudly said.

"Yes, they're good. I've heard some of their songs before. Ang alam ko nga'y self-composed pa ni Isaiah ang iba sa mga kanta nila. What a talented kid. Bata palang ay successful na." pagpuri ni mommy kay Isaiah.

Even if my mom don't always keep in touch with me. She's always trying her best to get to know my friends na alam niyang si Ida at Isaiah lang. Well, that's the truth anyway.

I can't help but to smile hearing my mom talking highly about Isaiah. Hearing her say these words about him makes me proud.

"I remembered!" mom exclaimed. "May ginawa silang kanta noon ni Isaiah na napunta sa album ng banda, right, Blair?"

"Uhm... Opo." I shyly admitted and smiled.

Napatingin naman ako kay Gael na ngayo'y seryoso lang na nakatingin sa akin like he's sort of trying to read me.

"Is your daughter good in singing too?" biglang tanong ng mommy ni Gael.

"Blair can sing." si daddy ang sumagot.

"Gael can play guitar and piano but I never heard him sing." Gael's mom said.

"Maybe in our next dinner, they can jam together." biglang suwestyon ni daddy.

I frowned. Bumalik nanaman ang topic sa aming dalawa ni Gael at pati ang ngisi sa labi ni Gael ay bumalik na rin.

"Gael can play a piano or guitar while Blair will sing." daddy continued.

"I think we need to practice then, Tito." Gael slightly chuckled while I continue to frown with the idea.

"Well, you're always welcome in our house. Just give Blair a heads up about it. You two can practice in our house. I won't mind." daddy said.

Halos malaglag ang panga ko sinabi ni daddy. Did he just indirectly invited Gael to our house? Well, kahit naman bigyan ako ng heads up ni Gael tungkol sa pagpunta sa bahay namin ay hindi ko siya papaunlakan.

The dinner ended with daddy and Gael's mom talking about Gael and I. Paminsan-minsa'y sumasali pa si mommy. Gael's just enjoying their chat and he's even laughing while I dug in my food to shook the little chitchats away.

"Maybe next time we can have dinner again. Our family... Just like this one." sabi ni daddy.

"Whenever you and your wife's back in the country. Lagi naman kaming available ni Gael." Gael's mom said.

They bid their farewell to each other. Gael looked at me, planning to walk closer in order to talk to me but I turned around and went inside our car without saying a word.

Natagalan pa sa paalaman si mommy't daddy bago sila pumanhik sa aming sasakyan.

The start of the trip was filled with mom and dad praising the Ondevilla family, specially Gael and his abilities when daddy decides to open the topic that I don't want to talk about.

"I think you and Gael can be a great couple, Blair." he said.

"Gael and I have different principles, dad. I don't think we'll click." I said, that's what I really think about me and Gael.

"Come on, Blair. The chemistry between you and Gael while you two were having a conversation earlier, there's no doubt that you two will click." daddy pushed the idea more. "And besides, opposite attracts, right?"

"Hon, don't pressure Blair into getting a serious relationship with Gael." pagpigil ni mommy kay daddy.

"I'm not, hon." daddy defensively said. "I'm just saying what's on my mind. I don't mind if my daughter's going to be an Ondevilla in the future. They're a great family."

Hindi na sumagot si mommy. Maybe she's thinking that daddy's actually telling the truth. There's no doubt that Ondevilla's a great family but I just don't like Gael.

"Is it wrong to think that my daughter deserves a great man like Gael." daddy stated.

Gael's right... We're going to be trapped. I need to make this stop before this arrangement gets finalize.