Loving The Light [Cosmos Series#4]

Kabanata 8

Archer pulled the chair for me while I'm still clueless. A frowned slowly formed on my forehead as I stared at the table he reserved for the dinner meeting.

"Aurie," he called when I remained standing. I glanced at the chair and sat on it.

Dumako ang aking tingin sa bouquet na nasa aking mga kamay. A dozen of blush pink rose surrounded with baby's breath in different colors.

I place the bouquet at the side of the table when Archer sat on the chair in front of me.

"I thought you have a meeting?" I asked.

He reserved a table for two. Saan pa uupo ang kameeting niya kung ganoon? My mind's telling me something that I don't want to entertain. Ramdam ko ang pagkabog ng aking dibdib dahil doon.

He looked directly at me. "I lied, I'm sorry."

My lips parted as I slowly confirmed what my mind's telling me. The beat of my heart feels like I just won a triathlon competition.

I watched him licked his lower lip as he continued. "I want to court you, Aurie."

Agad na lumipad ang aking kamay sa aking bibig. He'll court me?

"A-Arch," I bit my lower lip when my voice trembled. He'll court me? Fuck! He'll court me!

"Archer?"

Agad akong napalingon nang marinig ang boses ng babae na tumawag sa kanya.

I immediately frowned when I saw a familiar woman beside Creed. Nakapulupot ang braso ni Creed sa baywang ng babae. Nang tuluyan silang makalapit sa aming direksyon ay noon ko tuluyang nakilala ito.

My eyes widened as I remember her. Lavinia Amherst! What the hell is she doing with Creed?

Tumayo si Archer at sinalubong ang dalawa. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang tumayo rin dahil tumapat sila sa aming table.

Lavinia's eyes darted at me as a smile formed in her red lips. I smiled a bit, agad ring nawala ang aking ngiti dahil pa rin sa pagkagulat.

"Hey, lovebirds!" Archer greeted the two as he stood beside me.

"You're here," Lavinia muttered as she glanced me.

"Hmm, I'm with Auriese," he announced as he turned to me. "You already know Creed, right?"

Wala sa sariling napatango ako.

"And this is Lavinia, Creed's wife."

My lips parted as I heard his words. An Amherst? Creed's wife? Seriously?

"Auriese?" Lavinia muttered, tila inaalala kung narinig na ba ang aking pangalan. She slightly leaned and whispered something to Creed.

"Is she-" Hindi ko na narinig ang kasunod ng ibinulong niya dahil sa sobrang hina noon. Creed turned to his wife as he nodded his head. Matapos ay bumaling sa akin si Lavinia.

What did she asked? Am I what?

"Nice to meet you, Auriese," Matamis siyang ngumiti sa akin bago inilahad ang kamay.

I looked at her hand before looking directly at her eyes. "Nice meeting you too, Lavinia," I greeted as I accepted her hand for a handshake.

Matapos makipagkamay ay wala sa sariling lumipat ang aking tingin kay Creed. I caught him directly looking at Archer, tila ba naguusap ang mga mata.

"Remember what I said earlier." Napaayos ako ng tayo dahil sa makahulugang sambit ni Creed kay Archer bago bumaling sa akin. "Enjoy the night, Aurie."