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Hindi mapakali si Naia. Kanina pa siya nakaharap sa isang rack puno ng damit but she can't seem to pick an outfit.

Araw na ng dinner nila with the Montecillos. Daig niya pa ang isang presong nakalinya upang hatulan ng kamatayan. She was both a nervous wreck and a full-on mess. Where's Uno when you need her?

"Third!" sigaw niya. "Third I need your help!"

In just a matter of second, niluwa ng kanyang pinto ang kapatid ma humahangos.

"Ate? Why? What's wrong—"

"I don't have anything to wear for the dinner," nagpapanic niyang saad. Nangunot naman agad ang noo nito.

"Ha? Ang dami-dami mo kayang damit diyan ate. Designer pa. Panong wala kang masuot?"

"I mean, wala akong mapili," paglilinaw niya. "Can you help me?"

"Ate, in case may jet lag ka pa, I'm a guy. Wala akong alam sa mga damit pambabae. Ang alam ko lang eh kung pano mag-tanggal ng damit." Ngumisi pa ito.

"Alfonso Uychengco the Third!" hiyaw niya sabay hampas dito.

"Aray naman! Nag-abroad ka lang naging bayolente ka na," reklamo nito. "Try calling Uno. Baka pwede ka niya tulungan. Patapos na ata shift 'non sa ospital. Or kung hindi, tingin ka sa internet."

"Fine." Inabot niya mula sa ibabaw ng dresser ang kanyang telepono and called her cousin. To her surprise, hindi ito ang sumagot ng tawag. "Yvo?"

"Ate Naia!" the kid enthusiastically replied. "You're really back! Akala ko niloloko lang ako ni Dora."

"You're with her?"

"She's dropping me off sa bahay," simpleng sagot nito. But why though? "I can't drive because she broke my arm."

"Ano?" kunot-noong tanong niya. "Uno broke your arm? Deliberately or hindi?"

"Long story, ate," he just said. "Kamusta ka na po? Kamusta lolo niyo? I heard what happened."

So alam pala niyo. It wasn't surprising knowing he's somewhat friends with Uno. Si Jarvis kaya, alam?

Maybe. But it wouldn't matter if he did, right?

"He's doing fine. Nawili na sa Amerika kaya ayaw na umuwi. He and grandma are planning to stay there for good."

"And you'll stay with them?" Itong batang 'to. Fishing for information.

"No," saad niya. "I'll just finish my final sem in NYU then come back here for good. Kailangan ko kasing tulungan si dad sa kompanya."

"Wow. Big shot ka na pala talaga, ate!"

She chuckled. Na-miss niya rin ito. Ang kambal kaya, kamusta na?

"Hoy Giovanno, i-loudspeaker mo," narinig niyang sambit ng pinsan sa background. "Ako tinawagan hindi ikaw. Apaka-gago mo talaga."

"Isadora 'yang bunganga mo," saway niya agad nang mahimigang naka-loudspeaker na ang tawag.

"Sanay na 'ko sa pasmadong bibig nito, ate Naia. Pasalamat siya..." he trailed off but didn't continue. Hindi niya naiwasang mapangiti. Dalawang taon na ang nakalilipas pero ganito pa rin ang dalawa. "Anyways, andito na kami sa bahay. See you!"

She heard the car door shut. Medyo may mga unnecessary noises rin siyang narinig nang ilapag nito sa kung saan ang aparato.

"Napatawag ka, 'te? Papasundo ka ba? San 'yung gago mong kapatid?"

"Seven pm pa 'yung dinner, Uno," sagot niya. "At hindi gago si Third. Medyo lang."

"I feel so attacked right now." Right. Nasa kwarto niya pa rin pala ang kapatid.

"Anyways, kailangan ko ng tulong mo."

"Tulong? Saan?" tanong ng pinsan from the other line.

"I have nothing to wear tonight. Do you have any clothes you can loan me—"

"Yasss!"

Inilayo niya sa tenga ang hawak na telepono sa sobrang lakas ng naging sagot nito. Napangiwi din si Third dahil narinig din ata nito ang sigaw ng hyper nilang pinsan.

"I'll be there in fifteen. Daan lang ako sa condo. Chill muna kayo diyan," anito. "On second thought, paluto ako ng Pancit Canton yung Chili-mansi. Lagyan niyo rin ng hard boiled egg saka iced tea na rin na may maraming ice. Mwah. Byeeee!"

And with that, naputol na ang tawag. Bumaling siya sa bunsong kapatid sabang ngiti ng pagkatamis.

"Thiiiiird..." malambing niyang sambit na ikinairap ng lalaki.

"Oo na. Magluluto na po," maktol nito sabay martsa palabas ng silid.

"Thank you baby bro! Love you!" pahabol niya.

Nang tuluyan nang nakaalis ang kapatid ay inihulog niya ang katawan sa malambot na kama.

Juan Miguel Montecillo, head of La Monte Group at siyang ama ni Inno at Jarvis. Alam niyang kaibigan ito ng kanyang Tito Alfie as what Jarvis told her before pero hindi niya lubos akalain na ito ang pinagbentahan ng stocks nito. Now she's forced to have dinner with the man and possibly his children too. Meaning, malaki ang posibilidad na magkita sila ngayon ni Jarvis.

The unlikely being very likely...

Si, Jarvis. Yes. The man who loved her so much but she chose to leave because she was a coward. Takot siya sa kung ano ang sasabihin ng ibang tao. Takot siya sa opinyon ng kanyang ama at ng kanyang pamilya. At higit sa lahat, takot siyang malunod sa pag-ibig.

And that was dumb. She was dumb.

Nanatili siyang nakatulala sa kisame contemplating her life and the choices she made. Maya-maya ay dumating na si Uno. May dala itong maleta.

"This day finally arrived," naka-ngising saad nito sabay lapag ng dala sa sa sahig. Agad naman siyang napabangong at tiningnan ang mga dala nito.

Variations of clothes na may mga tag ba nga ang niluwa ng luggage bag nang buksan ito ng pinsan. Iba't ibang klaseng tela from silk down to velvet. Wala siyang ideya na Uno owned tons of dresses like that dahil kung hindi ang uniform nito ang suot, she's always wear her baggy pants and baggy shirts. Occasionally ay mga sexy tops pero lagi naman itong may bitbit na over-sized jacket.

"You own all that?"

"Bili ni mama na hindi ko alam kung pano susunugin," kaswal sa sagot nito sa kanyang tanong. "Medyo kinulang sa tela yung iba dito pero okay na 'yan. Paliluwain natin mata ni Kuya Jarvis."

Nanlaki agad ang kanyang maya. "Hoy!"

"What?" The girl raised an eyebrow at her. "Wag mo nang subukan mag-deny, ate. You're like one of the most fashionable people I know kaya you--calling for my help, only meant one thing. Nabobo ka dahil distracted ka."

"Ikaw talaga Isadora—"

"Don't bother denying it," putol nito sa kanya as she folded her arms. "Pupunta tayo sa mansyon ng mga Montecillo and all of a sudden, parang nawala yung pagiging fashionista mo. Wag mo rin idahilan na outdated na mga damit mo because you like vintage clothes. Pero huwag ka mag-alala. I support you. Gusto ko na rin magkabalikan kayo ni kuya Jarvis 'coz you looked really happy with him."

"But I'm happy—"

"Yup. Happy ka nga but not really."

Napairap siya. Ang babae 'to talaga.

"We have like... two hours to prepare. And I already have the best outfit planned out for you. Balmain, anyone?"

Mukhang this will be the longest two hours of her life.

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"Wow. So, you're Danilo's daughter. Napakagandang bata!"

Isang tipid na ngiti lamang ang naging tugon niya sa babae. She was wearing a fitted red haltered dress paired off with a pair of black sparkly Jimmy Choos. Simple lamang iyon and she opted for a natural looking make-up as well as a nice French bun hairstyle.

"Thank you po," sagot niya sa babae as she smiled.

The woman looked regal in her baby pink off-shoulder dress that formed perfectly on her body. Maputi rin ito't napaka-amo ng mukha. Sa tabi nito ay nakatayo ang isang matikas na lalaki. He looked really intimidating and he gave that typical bad boy aura. Somewhat like Dos. Ito ba si Juan Miguel Montecillo?

"I'm Dorothy Montecillo. It's nice to finally meet you, Naia."

"Likewise," sagot niya sabay tanggap ng kamay nito. She also gave a respectful bow. "Thank you for having us."

"It's our pleasure. Oh, and by the way, this is my husband, Juan Rafael Montecillo."

Tumango lang ng tipid ang lalaki.

"Ate Naia!" Napatingin agad siya sa tumawag. It was Seven. Agad itong lumapit at niyakap. "Long time no see. Ang ganda mo pa rin talaga."

"Two years at bolero ka pa rin, Seven," aniya sabay ngiti. Napatingin sa kanila ang dalawang matanda.

"You two know each other?" Tanong ni Mrs. Montecillo. "Did you also happen to attend UDSA, hija?"

Tumango siya. "I graduated two years ago po and they're friends with my cousin, Uno. Naging kaibigan ko na rin po sila through her."

"Oh. Kaya naman pala," mas lalo pang lumapad ang ngiti ng babae. "Uno's such a nice girl. And very pretty too. It must run in the family. Kung ako lang masusunod eh I'd pair her off with one of my boys."

Isang ngiti na lamang ang naisagot niya dahil medyo naguluhan siya sa sinabi nito. The words 'Uno' and 'nice' in one sentence. More so, sinong boys?

"Tita Dorothy and Tito Raf is Kuya Dos and Yvo's parents," paliwanag ni Box—who happened to appear right next to her. "She loves Uno."

"Tita Dorothy!" Speaking of the devil.

The lady Montecillo's face lit up like a light bulb as soon as she heard Uno's voice. Agad naman itong nilapitan ng kanyang pinsan at nakipag-beso.

"Tita, I missed you! How was Osaka? I saw your IG pics and they were awesome! Oh, Hi, Tito Raf. Looking as handsome as ever," ani ng babae na agad kumapit sa braso ng babae. Hindi rin nakaligtas sa kanyang tingin ang naging tipid na pag-ngiti ng lalaking Montecillo as her cousin rained him with compliments.

"Distracted na 'yan si Tita. Might as well let you meet the other elders," bulong sa kanya ni Seven. Tumango naman siya bilang tugon at nagpatangay sa lalaki.

The Montecillo Mansion wasn't the 'in your face' type of mansion. Simple lamang iyon with the right mix of modern and traditional designs. Though bigger than an average Filipino house, it felt really homey and welcoming. 'Yong tipong pagpasok mo pa lang eh feeling mo, you wouldn't want to leave.

Her father and Tito Alfie were talking with another couple. It was now safe to assume na ito ang mag-asawang Juan Miguel Miguel after learning that she just had a brief encounter with Juan Rafael. Wala pa raw kasi sa bahay ang pangalawang kapatid nito as their flight got delayed.

The only younger generation Montecillos present were Box and Seven and Yvo. But the youngest was busy helping set the table up. Naging kaugalian na daw kasi ng mga ito na tumulong sa mga simpleng gawain sa bahay lalo pa kapag may mga bisita.

"Tita," ani Seven nang makalapit sila sa isang babae. Napaka-ganda nito't may katangkaran. Mala-porselana rin ang kutis nito't mamula-mula ang pisngi. "Tita, this is Naia Uychengco."

Tumingin ito sa kanya't sinipat siya nito ng tingin. There was something in the way she looked at her than suddenly made her suddenly feel self-conscious.

"Naia, this is Saturnina Montecillo. Our favorite aunt," pakilala nito. "But she goes as Tita Saturn for us."

"I'm your only aunt," ani ng babae na nginisian lang ng pilyong pamangkin.

If there was only one thing to describe the woman in front of her right now, it was 'elegant'. Maganda, poised at napaka-ladylike ng babae.

"Naia," anito without breaking into a smile. Baka normal na ang ga'noong reaksyon mula sa babae at nagiging sensitive lamang siya. "I've heard so much about you from the boys."

"Good things, I hope," she charmingly said and smiled.

Sabi nga nila, when all else fails—smile. Muli siyang sinipat ng tingin ng babae then smiled back pero hindi iyon magiliw at welcoming. It was more like, 'Not me, bitch. Not me.'

"But of course," sagot nito bago bumaling sa pamangkin. "Severino, can you call your brother? The guests are here and it's rude to keep them waiting. Patawagan mo na rin ang iba niyo pang mga kuya."

"Kuya Inno's on his way, Tita," ani ng lalaki. "Si Kuya Dos po nasa taas na. Si kuya Jarvis—"

"Hijo!"

It was clear who the woman's favorite was. She clearly saw kung pano kumislap ang mga mata ng tiyahin nang makita ang bagong dating.

Kulang ang katagang 'tumigil ang pag-ikot ng mundo' nang nagtama ang kanilang mga mata. Jarvis Montecillo looked the same from two years ago. Deep brown eyes, chiseled jaw and and a pair of luscious lips.

Then she saw the woman walking next to him—clinging on his arm. The woman looked gorgeous wearing a fitted black slip dress that ended just a few inches above her knee. The color contrasted with her silky white skin and accentuated her perfectly shaped body. Her eyes were cat-like and expressive. Medyo familiar ito pero hindi niya maalala kung saan nakita ang babae.

"Xaris, hija. I'm so glad you could join us," ani Miss Montecillo sabay beso sa babae. "Your boyfriend here tends to keep you for himself and I miss shopping with you."

Bigla siyang nakaramdam ng pagbaliktad ng sikmura.

B-Boyfriend?

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