VERONICA (Montero Series # 4)

Chapter 17: Portion

Chapter 17

Veronica

"Nica, nag aalala ako baka hindi ka natututukan ng anak ko? Pinapakain ka ba ng maayos? Tell me if that son of mine is not doing his job in taking care of you, pagsasabihan ko. Alam kong workaholic at babad sa trabaho iyan lagi, " Tita Sofia asked while busily preparing food for the night. I've never wanted other people to know about my condition especially those na hindi ko gusto. But Elijah's family was different they've welcomed me from the start and I felt like I can trust them to unshed my shield. Lalo na ang parents niya they're nothing but considerate and sensitive of my condition it's inappropriate to say pero mas OA pa yung concern na pinapakita nila sa'kin kaysa sarili kong mga magulang.

"I've been doing great Tita. At huwag po kayong mag alala inaalagaan po talaga ako ni Elijah. He actually leave for a month to be with me at para ma pagusapan namin ang wedding namin. At alam ko naman po kung gaano siya kabusy na tao. Naiintindihan ko po yun."

Napahinga ng maluwang si Tita. "I'm glad that he finally did that to spend time with you. If there's something that isn't right about him being a fiancé to you pagpasensihan mo na ang anak kong iyan ha?" she smiled. "Anyway, I hope it's okay sa iyo that we're going to have a barbecue night for dinner? We've prepared something for you. But my boys are here at matatakaw ang mga yun sa karne."

Umiling ako at ngumiti. "Actually, I'm allowed to my cheat day sometimes ang anak niyo lang po ang sobrang strikto. Mas strict pa kay daddy.

"Ewan ko ba sa anak kong iyan. Masyadong uptight. Nagmana sa daddy pero nasobrahan," Tita jokingly said.

Tumawa ako.

Tita placed some of the meat she prepared from the fridge sa isang malaking lalagyan.

"May maitutulong po ba ako Tita?" I asked trying to get some of the prepared meat to be grilled.

"Huwag kanang tumulong. Magagalit ako. Bisita ka dito. Gusto ko lang talagang makipag kwentuhan sa iyo, Nica. Hayaan mo muna iyan diyan. Halika na sa garden. The boys will be here in no time, sinusundo na ni Cassie si Mikho sa airport. Raf is on his way pati iyong pasaway kong anak na mag bi-birthday.

"Okay po, Tita," I smiled and answered politely. I followed Tita to the garden where Tito Gab and Elj was at may pinag uusapan sa gazebo.

Elijah looked at me the moment we were on towards the gazebo. He was serious at first then he gave me a gentle smile looking at me meaningfully with those eyes. Why was I feeling something different now? He does smile, sometimes, kasi medyo matipid siya sa ngiti but I neglected the idea that he smiles and look at me like that because he was feeling something for me. Pero ngayon, parang naniniwala na ako. I was telling myself that he was doing that kasi may nararamdaman na siya. It was after that kiss that everything that I prevented myself into believing na wala siyang nararamdaman sakin, changed.

"Mauna kana sa gazebo. I'm just going to file this up to grill," sabi ni Tita at nilagay ang dinala niya sa grilling area malapit doon.

I sighed and went to where Elijah and his dad was. I hesitated because I didn't want to barge into their serious conversation probably about business but Elijah stood up.

"Gusto mo bang magpahinga muna? Tatawagin nalang kita kung kakain na? Or baka may gusto kang kainin?"

"Hindi pa nga siguro ako natunawan sa kinain nating lunch kanina. Kakakain ngalang natin ng meryenda. I'm okay pero kung may importante kayong pinag uusapan ni Tito. Kakausapin ko nalang ang mommy mo."

"You slept late last night sa dami mong movie na pinanood," he insisted at papunta naman sa pagpapangaral. Kagabi dun siya naki join sa'min nila Bebang at Manang nanood ng movie and we left early today for his parents. We were early for church and then dito na kami nagbreakfast at nag lunch. They also prepared one of the guest room for me kasi dito kami matutulog.