Diana prepared for the event. She wore a long black dress with gold lining. She put on some make-up and her signature red lipstick. She was still fixing her hair when she heard a car horn. After a few
seconds, there was a knock on her door.
"Come in." she called out while straightening her hair.
The door opened. She saw her brother's reflection on the mirror.
"Albert's outside. Should I tell him to come in?" he asked.
"You didn't tell him to come in?" she asked, turned around to glare at her brother.
"That's what I thought." He said and went out.
She finished straightening her hair and brushed it once more. She checked herself on the mirror.
When she's satisfied, she went out. Albert was waiting in the living room, and as soon as he saw her, he stood up, surprised.
"You looked as if you saw a ghost." She remarked.
"You look stunning." He said.
She laughed.
"Don't worry, it's just me, Diana Pangan, your friend." She winked at him.
He let out a short breath and laughed a bit. He offered his arm to her.
"We'll be going now, kiddos. Just tell papa we went ahead." Diana told her siblings.
"Sure. Have fun!" The three girls said.
"Albert, bring my sister in one piece." Janwill said.
"Oh, that's so cute of you, young man! Being overprotective." She teased her little brother.
"Don't worry, I'll bring her back in one piece." Albert said to Janwill
"Good. Have fun." He said
Diana clutched her arm on Albert's arm and they went out of the house. She didn't see the motorbike, only a black shiny car.
"1 didn't know you have a car." She remarked as they walked towards the car.
"It's my parents. I wouldn't risk you absorbing all the pollution going to the city so I borrowed their car." He said. He opened the car for her.
"Thank you." She said and get in the car.
Albert went to the driver's seat. He started the engine and they drove off.
While they were travelling...
"Why are we going to Vice Mayor's Wedding Anniversary?" Diana asked to cut the silence between them.
"Well, he required our presence there. Actually all of the Municipal Hall's employees will be there. I hope you won't feel indifferent." He said.
"I hope so... if you're not going to leave me alone out there, I will be fine... I guess." She said, but she's silently regretting her decision to go with Albert.
"Don't worry, I won't leave your side. Besides, I don't really socialize with the people there. I have a few friends, but not all of them." he said.
She nodded. They continued their travel silently again. When they arrived at the venue, Albert
went out of the car and went immediately to the passenger side to open the door for her.
"Thank you." She said.
"You're welcome. Let's go inside." He said and offered his arm to her.
She clutched her arm on his and they walked towards the door. The guard asked for their invitation card. Albert showed the invitation and the guard let them in.
"Would you like to accompany me to greet them?" Albert asked her as soon as they entered the function hall.
"Sure. I wouldn't want to be left alone, would 1?" she asked.
"Let's go to them then." He said.
Albert and Diana walked towards the old couple. The old couple were talking to another couple
when another pair approached the four of them. The couple who were talking to the celebrants excused themselves and when they turned around, Diana froze which make them stop walking.
It was Arjay and Hanney. Yes, Diana knew her full well. Arjay and Hanney walked towards them.
Hanney smiled at them.
"Albert! Long time no see. How are you?" she asked as soon as they reached them and she kissed
Albert on the cheeks.
"Hanney! I'm great, actually. I didn't expect to see you here." Albert said.
"We have the same thoughts. Anyway, it's good to see you here. Let's talk later. You should greet
the celebrants. Join us in our table later." She said and they walked away.
"Are you okay? You didn't talk to him." Albert said.
"I'm okay. Well he didn't talk to me." Diana replied.
"Fair point." Albert said and they approached the couple celebrant.
When they were done, they went to where Arjay and Hanney were seated.
"Are you sure we're going to seat with them?" Diana asked Albert while they were walking towards the table.
"Why not? Sir Arjay is your friend. Hanney is my friend, too. I guess there won't be a problem. Is
there?" he asked.
"No, it's fine with me." she lied.
"Are you sure?" he asked.
Diana nodded but deep inside, her regret of agreeing to go with Albert tonight is growing bigger and bigger by the minute. They approached the table.
"Hi again! Can we join you?" Albert asked.
Hanney smiled at Albert. Diana glance at Arjay but she immediately looked away because Arjay was already staring at her.
"Sure, have a sit." Hanney said.
Albert pulled a chair beside Hanney for Diana. She took a seat. Albert took the seat beside Arjay.
"So, I heard vice invited all the staffs at the Municipal Hall. I supposed you're one of the staffs."
Hanney said, more on Diana. Diana looked at Hanney.
"Yes, he invited us all, but he told us to bring our plus one. So I asked Diana to accompany me." Albert answered.
"Ohhh... okay. Don't feel uncomfortable, Diana. I really like talking to new people." Hanney said, more to her again.
"Yeah, sure." Diana simply said
"By the way, meet my escort tonight, he's---"
"We know him, actually. Sir Arjay and Diana are friends, right?" Albert asked, nudging her shoulder.
Diana glanced at Arjay.
"Yes, we're friends." Arjay said. Hanney looked at Arjay, frowning.
"Since when? Why didn't I know that?" she asked, and glanced at Diana.
"We know each other since college. Brother Jc is a friend of mine." Diana replied.
"Really... you haven't told me that back then." Hanney said, more on Arjay. Her mood changed.
"We weren't that close back then. We just met again at a seminar last week and we just reacquainted and got close." Arjay said.
"Okay." Hanney simply said.
The program started.
"Good evening, ladies and gentlemen. Tonight marks the 50th wedding anniversary of our
distinguished Vice Mayor Ampoy and his beloved wife, ma'am Lily. Their love has been through ups and downs but we can see how true their love with each other is. Let us give a round of applause to our main celebrants for tonight, Vice Mayor Ampoy and Ma'am Lily." The emcee said.
They all clapped. Diana felt someone's gaze at her. She glanced towards Arjay, and she's right! He was staring at her. And Hanney was staring at Arjay.
Ariay met Diana's gaze but she immediately looked away.
'Why is she acting indifferent?' he asked himself. 'Was she embarrassed that we knew each other?'
The band played the Tennessee Waltz.
"Let's give a round of applause to our main celebrants as they waltz through the dance floor with
their theme song." The emcee said again.
They all clapped once more. The main celebrants danced their way to the dance floor. After the
dance. They walked back to their seats.
"They are a very lovely couple, aren't they? Why dont we listen to some inspiring message coming
from our beloved Vice mayor?" the emcee asked and handed the microphone to the vice mayor.
"Thank you, John Paul. Actually John Paul is my godson. He's very articulate isn't he?"
The crowd agreed.
"First of all, I would like to thank you all for attending our big celebration.I know I required our staffs at the Municipal Hall to attend, but you can always say no. But since you still came, I really appreciated it. Second, this wedding anniversary wouldn't be made possible if not for my very patient, loving, caring, and
beautiful wife. She never left my side through all the ups and downs, whether it's my career as a politician, or our family problems. She is always there for me. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful wife. Lily, my love, thank you for being my inspiration every day. Thank you for being a wonderful wife and mother to our five children. You are an amazing woman."
Everything around Arjay had become blurry because his focus was on Diana. Why couldn't she
look at him? Does he make her feel uncomfortable? Did he do something or did he say something a while ago that made her feel bad? She could just tell him. He's feeling uncomfortable about the way she ignores his existence when they were oth seated together in one table. Should he text her? Did she bring her phone?
He came back to his senses when the band played another sweet song.