Trapped

Chapter 13

Hindi maintindihan ni Julie kung bakit nagdulot ng kakaibang pakiramdam nang hawakan ni Elmo ang kamaya nya. He locked his fingers with hers and held them together tightly.

"What are you doing?" inis na bulong ni Julie. "Let go of my hand!"

"I can’t." Elmo whispered back.

"What?!"

"We’re with our families and with the rest of the world, we should act in love, shouldn’t we?" Julie rolled her eyes and just their hands intertwined.

Invited sila sa isang exclusive party ng isang business tycoon na kaibigan ng mama ni Julie at ng tito Jacob ni Elmo. They are obviously not enjoying the party and chose to stay in a corner and drink champagne together.

Napansin ni Elmo na laging tsine-check ni Julie ang cellphone nito. “Why are you checking your phone every now and then?”

"Why do you care?" Just a couple of days ago they were like friends and even shared a coupld of intimate moments together, but not they’re back into being a cat and dog.

Elmo frowned. “This party is a waste of time. Instead of being here, dapat nagpa-plano na tayo kung paano natin gagaan ng paraan ang kasal natin.” Julie looked at him.

“Bakit, balak mo na bang itanan si Laura?”pang-iinis nya. “Kumusta na nga pala kayo?”

“Shut up okay? This isn’t the time and place to talk about that.”

“Well, not enjoying the party?” Kapwa sila napalingon at nakita si Jacob. “How are you two?”

“Tito Jacob, Julie and I are not planning to stay longer.” Si Elmo. “We have our own plans tonight so-“

“Oh, really. It’s fine. I’m sure the host doesn’t really want to see certain people here who do not even try to appreciate the beauty of this party.” Lihim na sumimangot si Julie. Elmo didn’t let go of her hand.

“Exactly.” Sagot nit okay Jacob. “Just please Julie’s mom na nauna na kaming umalis. Bye, tito Jacob.”

Nakailang hakabang pa lamang sila nang, “By the way, Julie.” Huminto sila’t nilingon si Jacob. Jacob’s smiling in a very annoying way. “That guy who went to your house the other day, was that Aldwin?” Napatigil si Julie, pati na rin si Elmo. “Your ex?” Hindi sumagot si Julie.

“What are you talking about?” tanong ni Elmo sa tito nya.

“I was supposed to visit you, and then I saw the guy Julie was talking to that day.” Then Jacob turned to Julie. “That was him, right?”

Humugot ng malalim na hininga si Julie. “Y-yeah.” Tinignan sya ni Elmo.

“Oh. I didn’t know you were…still friends.” Inis na tumingin si Julie sa tito ni Elmo lalo na’t halatang sinasadya nito ang lahat.

“We’re going.” Sambit ni Elmo. Sabay hawak sa kamay ni Julie at dire-diretso silang lumabas sa malaking bahay na iyon at tinungo ang kotse nila na naka-park sa labas ng mansion. Elmo let go of Julie’s hand and went inside the car without talking to her.

He didn’t say anything while he’s driving and Julie just kept on glancing at him. Hindi rin sya makapagsalita at ewan nya kung bakit she feels worried about Elmo’s sudden silence. Hanggang sa makauwi sila’y hindi pa rin sya nito kinakausap.

At hindi na napigilan ni Julie ang sarili nya’t hinarangan na nya si Elmo bago pa man ito makaakyat ng hagdan. “What the hell is your problem?!”

“What?!”

“Yes! Aldwin was here the other day! I let him in! But we just talked!” paliwanag nya sa binata. “Nakikipagkita ka rin naman kay Laura diba? And I bet you two are even going on dates!”