CHAPTER TWENTY

WYNTER WENT out of her clinic and waited for a specific car to stop in front of her. Hindi naman siya matagal na nag-abang at nakarating din kaagad si Dan.

Sa hindi malamang kadahilanan, pwede naman siyang magsasakyan papunta sa condo niya at saka sila sabay ni Dan na pumunta sa bahay nila. But then of course, malalaman ng nanay niyang hindi siya nagpasundo kay Dan sa trabaho. Ella even took her car and drove it to her condo. Again, utos ng mommy niya.

"Pero seryoso, anong okasyon?" tanong sa kanya ni Dan nang pareho na silang nasa loob ng sasakyan nito at napaandar na nito ang kotse. "Do you think they'll pair us up?"

Wynter flatly looked at him. "Most likely, Mom's gonna do that, pero sana hindi."

Mahina namang natawa ang binata. "Ayaw mo pa talagang pumasok sa isang relasyon, ano?"

She shook her head. "I'm still not feeling it. What's the purpose anyway? I'm busy with my work, with my family, and my friends. Hindi ko rin naman siya maiintindi kaya 'wag na lang," pagdadahilan ni Wynter kahit na alam niya ang totoong dahilan kung bakit ayaw niya pa talaga.

"I understand. Pero naisip mo na bang mag-settle down anytime soon?"

Hindi napigilan ni Wyn na mapabuntong-hininga. "Mom's gonna force me to get married at twenty-eight. May it be for love or just for the thought of not getting old alone," seryoso niyang sagot.

"Ia-arrange marriage ka?" Wynter nodded. "Uso pa pala 'yun."

"I was supposed to be getting married a couple of months ago." Naramdaman niyang bumagal ang pagd-drive ni Dan. Hindi malaman ni Wyn kung bakit niya sinasabi ang bagay na iyon sa lalake, pero bahala na. "I was supposed to marry my childhood crush, my best friend. Nakatakda na 'yun college pa lang kami. But then, I began to notice that he can never like me back... tapos ang masaya pa roon, he loves my brother and my brother feels the same. So I did everything I can to make it easier for them. Ayoko kasing maranasan ng kapatid ko yung naranasan ko. Kung yung tao nga naman na mahal mo eh mahal ka, hindi ba mas masaya kung kayo yung magkatuluyan sa dulo?" Wynter let out a humorless chuckle. "But anyway, that's all in the past. Hinihintay ko na lang na gumalaw yung best friend ko kasi alam kong secured na yung future nilang dalawa."

Saglit silang natahimik. Mabagal pa rin ang takbo ng kotse ni Dan pero hindi na niya 'yun pinuna. "Pero ayos ka lang ba?"

Wynter tried to smile but it didn't reach her eyes. "Yeah... Wala naman na akong feelings sa best friend ko 'no. Plus, I get to play with any guy who gets my interest."

Tuluyan na silang nanahimik at umayos na rin ang bilis ng pagpapatakbo ni Daniel. Nang makarating sila sa condo ay naghiwalay na sila ng landas. Sari-sariling ayos na para sa magaganap na hapunan mamaya.

Wynter chose to wear a royal blue bandage dress, paired with black lace-up high heels and blue and silver minaudiere. She let go of her dark red wavy hair. Pinakulayan niya iyon noong nakaraang taon pa, kasabay niya si Narae na nagpakulay ng light blue.

Once satisfied with her look, Wynter took her belongings and went out of her unit. Sakto rin namang kalalabas ni Dan. Naka-blue itong polo na natalikop ang manggas hanggang siko at naka-black pants at black derby shoes.

Pareho naman silang natawa nang makitang pareho sila ng kulay. "Hindi naman natin 'to napag-usapan ah," nakangiting wika ni Wynter.

"Great minds think alike," sagot naman ng binatang mas lalong nagpatawa sa kanilang dalawa. "Tara na?" Tiningnan nito ang suot nitong relo. "Malapit na ang curfew."

Wynter rolled her eyes as they walk to the elevator. "Curfew ka ruyan, baka world war pa. Kasi kapag na-late tayo, gulo 'yan, promise." Her remarks made Daniel chuckle.

Nagkwentuhan lang naman sila ng kung ano-ano habang nasa elevator, at hindi maiwasan ni Wynter na pansinin kung gaano siya kakomportable sa binata. I can easily smile and laugh in front of him. This was one of the reasons why I used to like him.

Nang bumukas ang pinto ng elevator at sabay silang makababa ay naunang natigilan si Dan. Nakatingin ito sa nasa harapan nila kaya naman nilingon din ito ng dalaga. Kahit naman siya ay natigilan nang makita si Mike.

"Mike, ba't ka nandito? Bibisitahin mo ba ako o si Emy?" nakangiting tanong ni Daniel sa kaibigan nito.

Mike looked at her and then at Daniel before he bitterly chuckled. "You guys on a date?" tanong nito habang pilit na nakangiti.

Umiling naman si Daniel. "Nah, dinner lang. Inimbitahan kasi ng mom ni Emy yung pamilya ko para sa hapunan sa bahay nila," magiliw na wika nito.

Napatango naman si Mike. "I see... Well, then. Mukhang hindi rin matutuloy yung plano ko ngayong gabi. Mauna na ako." Akmang tatalikod na si Mike sa kanila nang may tumawag ng pangalan ni Wynter.

"Emy!" Nilingon nilang tatlo ang sumigaw. Angelo was smilingly looking at her then at those two men. Nang tuluyan itong makalapit sa kanila ay maloko itong binigyan siya ng tingin.

"Why're you here, Hermano?" Wynter casually asked.

"Well, Mama Summer wanted to make sure that both of you will attend dinner, mi bella hermanita," nakangising sagot nito. Angelo then looked at Mike who was silently standing there. "You're Mr. Mike Cabrera, am I not mistaken?" tanong ng kuya niyang mas nagpagulo sa isip niya.

Tumango naman si Mike. "And you must be Wynter's older brother, Angelo Cortez."

Angelo's smile widened. "You got it right. Anyways, you were with Emy in Thailand, you must be friends then. If you want, you can join us for dinner as well."

Pinigilan ni Wyn ang panlalaki ng mga mata sa narinig. Did he just invite Mike for dinner? As in tonight's dinner? "Hermano, que estas haciendo?" Wyn tried her hardest to remain casual.

Angelo turned to her and smiled. "Tranquilo, hermanita. Es una invitación inofensiva." Chill, sis. It is a harmless invitation.

Harmless? You think it's harmless? Tiningnan ni Wyn si Mike na saktong nakatingin rin pala sa kanya. She wanted him to decline the invitation. She bets it'll be a mess once Mom sees him. Baka magkaroon pa lalo ng choice si Mommy na i-set up na ako ng kasal kahit paulit-ulit kong tanggihan.

But then, of course, Mike didn't heed her pleas. "It'll be my pleasure," sagot ng binata. Wynter couldn't help but mentally facepalm. This is just great. So amazing. Note the sarcasm, please!

Halatang natuwa si Angelo sa sinagot ng binata kaya mas lumawak pa ang ngiti nito. If that's even possible. "Great! Tara na." Nilingon nito si Dan na tahimik na nakangiti lang sa tabi ni Wyn. "Your parents are already at the house. Let's go."

Nauna nang naglakad si Angelo palabas ng condominium at nakasunod lang naman silang tatlo. Dan was on her right and Mike was on her left. What a very awkward situation. Pero hindi pinahalata ni Wyn na apektado siya sa nangyayari. Her face remained calm, but her mind was in utter chaos.