THE SUBSTITUTE BRIDE (COMPLETED)

CHAPTER 5: Darwin Romualdez

INA'S POV

nandito na kami ni mami phine at alex sa venue ng auction. The venue was arranged in a party theme, the tables consist of 4 seats, and there are also waiters to serve foods. The guests are coming one by one, some bring an escort and some are bodyguards while posing at the cameras.

"Who are you looking for? You keep on looking back at the entrance door, are you expecting someone?" Tanong sa akin ni Alex.

Kanina pa kasi ako palinga-linga sa paligid. I just want to see if the ghost guy is here. I shrugged at Alex as an answer.

"If its Darwin, then don't worry he will be here anytime for sure." Sabi pa ni Alex.

Usually kasi pag may mga ganitong event lagi naming kasama si Darwin kasi nga according to him, he's my knight in shining armor :) I just chuckled at my mind remembering how cute he is.

"Uhmm!! Nope Darwin wont be here with us tonight." -me

"Why? Any problem?" Tanong ni Alex.

"He told me earlier to go straight at our favorite restaurant instead." I answered her smiling. She was about to answer but the M.C. already start the event.

Isa-isang dinidisplay sa stage yung mga items na designs ko. Nagsimula na ang bidding pero hindi ko pa rin nakikita yung ghost guy so instead I focused my attention to the stage. Maybe namalikmata lang talaga ako kagabi. Pang winter ang theme ng fashion kagabi kaya maraming kumuhang mga clothing and dressing companies winter na kasi this month.

(Author's note: hindi ko na ide-describe yung auction since alam na naman natin yun diba?? Haha.. :D)

FAST FORWARD

  We're walking at the parking lot with mami phine. Its already 7 pm diretso ako sa dinner date namin ni Darwin. Nagkotse ako magisa since Alex will go with mami phine. Nakasakay na ako sa kotse  while mami phine and Alex are waving at me.

"Good luck Ina dear! Enjoy the night :) " paalam ni mami phine habang umaacting na parang may isinasaboy na kung ano sa kotse ko .. ano ako ikakasal??
I really thank god, bcoz I have them in my life. I just want to clear that Darwin and I are not on a relationship. He's a good friend of mine. Kaya kapag tinutukso kami ng ibang tao, we just smiled at them bcoz we both know what's the real score between the two of us.

I arrived at the restaurant exactly 7:15 kasi hindi naman masyadong malayo sa hotel. Pinagbuksan ako ng isang waiter, pagpasok ko I was mesmerized by the venue. There's only one table and two chairs at the center, there's also a floating heart ballons tapos may nakalagay sa magkabilang holiday na mga kandila na parang nagsisilbing daanan ko papunta sa table. Lumabas si Darwin with a bouquet of flowers on his hands.

Sinimulan akong kabahan this is not Darwin hindi dapat ganito. Kung ibang babae kikiligin sa effort nita but not me. Unti-unting lumapit sa akin si Darwin.

"H-hi!! Uhmm! I hope you like it." Sabi ni Darwin habang inaabot sa akin yung flower.

Magsasalita pa sana si Darwin ng tanungin ko siya.

"What is this all about Darwin?" Tanong ko na medyo ikinabigla niya.

He sighed and said " tonight, I want to confess my feelings for you Ina. I have loved you since the first time that I saw you. And I want to ask a permission to c-court you."

Tuluyan na akong napaluha kasi I didn't expect him to say that. But still I have to tell him the best answer na kahit alam kong masakit ito pa rin yung tama.

"I-i'm sorry Darwin (sob) you know you're a special person in my life. I treasure you a lot. You're my best friend. I love you Darwin (sob) but as a friend a good friend. Mahal kita kaya ayaw kitang masaktan p-pero ayaw ko namang payagan kang manligaw knowing that (sob) t-that I will ended up hurting you. I don't want that Darwin.. h-hindi ko kaya.. mas masasaktan lang tayo.. p-please wag mo nang ituloy.. please." I said to him habang pilit kong pinupunasan ang mga kuya ko. Pero sadyang taksil ang mga luha ko na patuloy lang ang pagtulo.

"Shhhh!! Don't cry. I-i know this is what gonna happen tonight. I j-just wanna tell you how I feel because I don't want to hide it forever." Sagot ni Darwin while cupping my face.

"I-im sorry.. hik hik .. (sob) im really sorry.. (sob) im sorry D-darwin." Paulit ulit kong sabi sa kanya. Gosh this is too much..

Niyakap na lang niya ako ng mahigpit Pero mas lalo lang akong napaiyak ng maramdaman kong nababasa yung damit ko kasi umiiyak din siya.. this is really my fault. After 10 minutes, kumalas na siya sa pagkakayap sakin.

"Hey look at me.. don't blame yourself ok? As long as I got to let you know about my feelings then im fine with it." Sabi pa niya habang nakangiti Pero halata mongrel napakalungkot ng ngiting ibinigay niya sa akin. And it only breaks my heart .. am I being heartless?

"Let's go? I guess dinner date is canceled." Yaya sakin ni Darwin.

Tumango na lang ako as much as I want to continue the dinner, alam kong kailangan ni Darwin mapagisa. Hindi naman ako manhid para hindi malaman at mapansin na sobra na rin siyang nasaktan. Pinauna na niya akong umalis hindi ako pumayag na ihatid pa niya ako , kasi mas lalo lang magiging akward. Tiningnan ko siya sa side mirror ko and it really tear my heart apart seeing how he wipe his tears.

Umuwi ako sa condo, tinanong pa ako ni Alex kung among nangyari kasi bakit daw namamaga ang mga mata ko. I just told her that I want to rest first. Hinayaan na lang niya ako. Pero late pa rin akong nakatulog kasi iniisip ko si Darwin. He's a good man, handsome, gentleman, kind and all. But friendship is all I can offer to him. as I suddenly dozing off to sleep I silently prayed that we could still be friends after this.

AUTHOR'S NOTE:
I hope you're enjoying the story even though parang boring?? Haha dont worry the twist is about to come.. just wait muna Haha.. :) sorry din if may mapansin man kayong wrong grammar jan.. i'll edit it soon.. masyado lang busy dahil enrollment na ng second semester.. :) see you next chapter.. :)