Last A Lifetime (Louisiana Series #1)

Kabanata 27

27 - Love

I couldn't keep my eyes off him. Natulala ako at tila lumulutang ang pakiramdam ko. He's here. He's really here. I can see him with my two eyes and now I want to run to him immediately. I want to forget that I wanted him to step back and walk away. That I pushed him and forced him to leave.

Nakatalikod siya kaya naman hindi niya ako nakikita habang pinakikinggan si Mr. Aguilar na nagsasalita at nakatayo sa gitna ng grand staircase. Muling napuno ng palakpakan ang lugar na iyon ngunit parang nabingi ako. He fixed his seat and laughed at something about Zach. Parang gustong tumulo ng luha ko ngayon.

Zion was eyeing me when I glanced at him. He smiled a little and sipped on his wine. Tuluyan akong umiwas ng tingin kahit alam naman na niyang nakatitig ako sa pinsan niya. Kahit na ayaw kong tumingin ay pilit na bumabalik ang mga mata ko sa lamesa nila. Their family looks elegant and expensive. Sa kahit anong aspeto ay nakakapanliit.

I was glancing at him the whole time. Hindi siya tumingin man lang sa akin kahit isang beses ngunit lagi namang mga pinsan niya ang nakakahuli sa titig ko. Looks like he doesn't know that I'm here. Or he just doesn't care anymore like what I wanted.

I sighed and broke my eye contact with Zion when he caught me again. Ipinagpatuloy ko na lamang ang pagkain ko at pilit na nilibang ang sarili ko gamit ang pagkikipag-usap kay Carla. She wasn't interested and was busy eating so I eventually didn't bug her anymore. Nang natapos ay ipinakuha ko na ang plato ko sa waiter samantalang si Carla ay sumama kay lola para personal na muling batiin si Mr. Aguilar.

Someone pulled Carla's chair. He cleared his throat and sat down beside me. I pressed my lips together and inhaled deeply.

"So, you met his parents."

I slightly nodded. It was Zach's fault. Hindi naman niya ako kailangang ipakilala. He even cut me off when I tried to tell them that whatever we had was over.

"Akala ko ay umalis na siya kaya ako pumayag na dumalo rito." Tugon ko.

"He left, but he came back."

I shut my eyes and sighed. Nang dumilat ako ay agad siyang hinanap ng mga mata ko. He wasn't on their table. Nakiupo siya sa iba at ang lamesang iyon ay puno ng apat na babae. There was a slight pang in my chest when I saw him laughing with them.

"At ngayon, nakilala ko pa ang parents niya."

Zion frowned. "Ayaw mo ba?"

"Wala namang kami." Malamig kong sagot

He chuckled, a response that I didn't understand. Nilingon ko siya at nakatingin na rin siya sa table ng mga babae kung nasaan si Spencer.

"Then why did he introduced you to us?"

Hindi ako agad nakasagot. He likes me. I know he does. Pero hindi ko alam kung dapat ko bang sabihin iyon kay Zion. Paano kung hindi at talaga ngang infatuated lang siya sa akin? Hindi ba't mas maganda iyon para mabilis mawala?

"Spencer doesn't like commitment. He doesn't trust easily. Kung hindi kayo, bakit ganiyan siya sa'yo?"

He looked at me and genuinely smiled. I couldn't smile back at him. Pilit na inaagaw ng lamesa kung nasaan siya ang atensiyon ko. I started to feel irritated. Nang napansin iyon ni Zion at tumayo na siya.

"The heart wants what it wants, Agatha." He meaningfully said.

Naglakad siya palayo at bumalik na sa kanilang table. Hinawi ko ang buhok ko at bumuntong-hininga. I bit my lower lip and fixed my shawl. Nang muli kong ibalik ang tingin ko sa parehong lamesa kanina ay wala na siya ro'n. Pasimple akong bumaling sa sarili nilang lamesa. He was there sitting, with his eyes darted to me.