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Chapter 36: Truths and Half Truths
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They parked near the entrance and Alexa reapplied lipstick on her lips. She glanced sideways at Lee Ann who gave her a wink as she adjusted the collar of her pink and white, checkered blouse.
"Kaya natin to, Ate." Lee Ann said as she smoothed her knee-length white, pleated skirt.
"Oo naman. Ikaw at ako pa, we're the Carbonel sisters and we're invincible." Alexa replied with a smile as she unsnapped her seatbelt. She looked at her face on the rearview mirror before turning to her sister. "Ready?" She asked and Lee Ann smiled briefly, squeezing her hand. "By the way, ang cool nung sinabi mo kay Alexander kanina. God, the look on his face? Priceless." She said as they got off the car. The younger girl frowned as she watched Alexander and Carlyn get off the vehicle.
"Ay naku, ang kapal ng pagmumukha nyang magalit. Naiintindihan ko naman sya, Ate kung may galit sya sayo because you just vanished from his life. Pero sana naisip nya na sya tong pinuntahan mo sa opisina nya para makipag-ayos. At sana wag ka nyang insultuhin sa harap ng ibang tao kasi wala syang karapatan. Ang kapal nya, di ba nya alam na muntik ka nang mamatay ipanganak lang yung baby ninyo?"
"Relax, wala pa tayo sa laban hot ka naman masyado." Alexa joked and Lee Ann laughed.
"Warm up lang." She answered. Alexander and his date were ahead of them whispering in each other's ear like they own the world. "Jerk." Lee Ann murmured and Alexander turned his head to look at them.
"Narinig ko yun, Lee." He said and she arched her brow at him.
"If the shoe fits, right?" She replied. Carlyn turned her head to glare at the young girl and Lee Ann returned the favor. "What?" She asked. "Alam kong maganda kami, wag mong ipahalata ang inggit mo." She said and Alexander nearly smiled. Nahawaan na ni Alexa itong isang to. He thought remembering how snappy Alexa has always been. Tang-ina, stop bringing back memories from the past! He scolded himself.
"Dito, guys!" They heard Dustin's voice and the four of them headed to the table at the far end of the room. Dustin stood up and pulled a chair out for Alexa and Lee Ann and they thanked him sincerely. "Tell me how you are. Ang tagal ninyong nawala and the last news we heard about you nasa Paris daw kayo. What have you been up to in the past 6 months?" He asked hoping to get information that would help his best friend later on.
"Wala naman. I was actually hospitalized--" Alexa started to say and Alexander chuckled. Sinong niloko nito? Lahat halos ng hospital sa buong Paris nahalughog ko pero walang Alexa Carbonel na nasa records nila! "May problema ka, Sandoval?" Alexa asked calmly although she was tempted to throw one of the plates at him.
"Wala naman." Alexander answered. "Hindi ka lang mukhang nagkasakit." He stated blandly and Alexa briefly touched Lee' Ann's knee when her younger sister turned to retort.
"Sandoval, you know as well as I do that looks are deceiving." Alexa purred intentionally. "Why you don't look mentally retarded but we all know better." She added with a smile. "Kelan ka nga pala nakalabas sa mental? Kelan ka nabigyan ng clearance ng doctor mo?"
"Galing kang mental?" Carlyn asked in alarm and Alexa nearly laughed. Baliw ba tong babaeng to? She thought as Lee Ann bit her lower lip to stop herself from giggling. Alexander ignored her as he narrowed his eyes at Alexa.
"You've turned bitchier than I remember; some French bloke broke your heart?" He asked and she winked at him.
"Fishing for information?" She retorted.
