My Professor's Secret

Kabanata 27

Bago pa man tuluyang uminit ang situwasyon sa pagitan ng dalawa ay agad na akong pumagitna sa kanila.

"Uh... let's get inside first?" ngisi ko sa dalawa na ngayon ay parehong masama ang tingin sa isa't-isa.

"Pat, sino'ng kasama mo?" baling ko kay Patrick na ngayon ay nakatingin na sa'kin. Bakas sa kanyang mukha ang kawalan ng sigla.

"Nandito sina mama't papa. Nasa living room sila kasama ang parents mo. They're catching a talk." sagot niya

My eyes widened. "They're here!? Then I'd love to see them! It's been a long time, I missed them."

"Eh ako ba, na-miss mo?" pagbibiro niya.

L chuckled mockingly. Inis ko siyang binalingan at mahinang tinampal kaya natigil siya.

Ngumiti na lamang ako kay Patrick na ngayon ay salubong ang kilay at mukhang wala na sa mood. It's obvious that they don't like each other.

Tahimik na naunang humakbang si Patrick samantalang nakasunod kami ni L sa kanya.

Nang makapasok kami sa living room ay agad kaming napansin ng mga matatanda. Agad na tumayo si Tita Valentine, ang mom ni Patrick, at lumapit ito sa'kin.

"Gosh, it's been years. You've grown, Becky! At mas gumanda ka lalo!" she complemented while giving me a beso.

"Thank you, tita. Na-miss ko kayo." ganti ko

Lumapit si Tito Albert sa'min, ang dad ni Patrick at nginitian ako. "How are you, Becky?"

"I'm doing fine po." magalang kong sagot.

I glanced at prof L behind me. Nilapitan ko siya at hinawakan sa braso.

"Boyfriend ko po pala, si Liam Lim." pagpapakilala ko sa kanila.

Nasulyapan ko mula sa di kalayuan ang seryosong tingin ni dad. I can say that he liked L before. Right now, I can sense his judgement and disapproval.

Nakita ko ang gulat sa mata ng mom ni Patrick matapos kong banggitin na boyfriend ko si L.

"You... have a boyfriend? I thought..." nilingon niya ang anak na tahimik lamang sa gilid.

Natatandaan kong noon pa man, gustong-gusto niya na ako para sa anak niya. Palagi niya akong pinapares dito. I won't be shocked if she'll be dissapointed at me for dating someone else.

"It's a pleasure to meet you." pormal na kinamayan ni L ang dalawang mag-asawa.

Tinanguan siya ni Tito Albert samantalang hilaw na ngumiti si Tita Val.

During our dinner, the elders were busy talking about business stuffs. L would sometimes join their talk and share his expertise about the subject.

"How old are you, iho? You sound like an expert in this field." namamanghang sabi ni Tito Albert.

"I'm twenty-four." L answered curtly

"You're already twenty-four?" biglang sabat ni Patrick na nakaupo sa aking tapat.

"Becky deserves someone who's in line with her age. You're seven years ahead of her. That's not ideal." Patrick spat bitterly.

I gulped and turned to look at L who's beside me. He looks calm but I know deep within, his patience is wearing thin. Probably, he respects the people around the table so he didn't say anything.

Nakita kong hinawakan ni Tita Val ang braso ng kanyang anak na para bang pinipigilan ito sa akma pa nitong sasabihin.

Tito Albert cleared his throat. "I'm sorry for my son's rude behavior. It's just that... he's overprotective of Becky, kahit pa man noong mga bata pa sila. They treasure each other. They've been best of friends since childhood."