The Art Of Hating

Chapter Forty-four

XLIV. Mine

It was a nice morning when I wake up.

Maganda ang pakiramdam ko nang magsimula sa usual yoga at dagdag na workout. Kagabi pa lang, nakaplano nang hindi ako lalabas ng cottage ngayong araw depende na lang kung kakain. I opened my phone incase someone will call, too.

I'm not that heartless to ignore them.

Katatapos ko pa lang maligo ay nakatanggap agad ako ng tawag sa mga magulang ko.

"Bakit ngayon lang kita natawagan? We were so worried!" Mommy said.

At least, she's not hysterical now. Kasi baka magulat na lang ako, humabol na sila ni Dad kung nasaan man ako ngayon.

"My phone's. . . off," I said honestly. "I'm sorry."

"Next time, 'wag mong i-off, okay? How are you there? Happy birthday, sweetie."

I sincerely smiled. "Thanks, Mom. I'm okay! The beach is nice and quiet here."

"That's great, sweetie! I hope we're with you. . ." Medyo malungkot na sabi niya pero pagkaraan ay biglang napahagikhik. Seriously? "So how's your vacation with Alexander so far? Are you staying in one room?"

Napatikhim ako at kahit na may nararamdaman pa rin akong galit at sakit, I can't help but blush. Mommy's suggestive voice is distracting. I can't help but to imagine things. . .

Umiling agad ako. Pilit na tinatanggal ang kung anumang nakakaeskandalong iniisip. No way. . . I should stop thinking about it!

Pinutol ko na ang mayro'n kami. And really. . .it's not appropriate to think about that asshole that way while I'm talking to my parents!

"Almira. . ." I heard Dad warned Mommy at the background. I can't help but laugh. Oh. Our conservative Alvarado.

"What? I was just asking, Henry. When we were that age, malikot na rin naman ang mga kamay mo---"

Malakas na tikhim ni Daddy ang pumutol sa sinasabi ni Mommy pero naintindihan ko naman kahit papaano. Napairap na lang ako sa ingay ng dalawa. Hindi mo alam kung nag-aaway o naglalandian lang talaga. It's probably the latter. They always do that.

"No, Mom. He's in another cottage." I said to stop whatever she's thinking.

He's here in the resort but we're basically strangers.

Obviously, hindi nila alam na wala na kami ni Alexander. No one knows. And I think it's not yet the right time to tell it to them. Siguro. . . Kapag umuwi na ako.

Right.

"Oh." That sounds disappointed. Really? "Sayang naman," Mom said.

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi niya at narinig ko ulit na pinapagalitan siya ni Daddy. Natawa na rin lang ako.

After the call, I received a video call from my friends. Kaya naubos ang umaga ko na nakikipag-usap lang sa kanila. I answered their questions and. . . shockingly they never mentioned Alexander. It got me wondering. . . but I didn't asked about it. Kapag nagtaka kasi ako, panigurado magtatanong din sila. So it's better this way.

Lumabas ako ng cottage no'ng magtanghalian dahil gusto kong i-libre ang sarili ng masarap na lunch. I'm tired of tasting the same cooked food for the past days. I just knew a few. At hindi rin masarap.