Flames of the Night (Flames Series #1)

CHAPTER 10

Chapter 10

‘I dropped at the unit but you weren’t there. Where were you?’ Saglit akong pumagilid at binitawan iyong pushcart na kanina ko pang tulak-tulak nang ma-receive ko ang message na ‘yon mula kay Harold.

I quickly type in my reply, telling him that I’m here at the mall. Konti na lang kasi ‘yung laman ng ref niya at naisipan kong maggrocery na lang muna para may maimbag naman ako habang nagsstay pa ako sa condo niya.

‘Okay, see you later.’ Matapos ko ulit basahin iyon ay isinuksok ko na lang ‘yung phone sa bulsa ng suot kong pantalon.

I bought different stuff including the things needed in the kitchen as well as the things needed in the bathroom. ‘Yung iba ay puro pagkain na. Hindi na ako nag-abala pang bumili ng mga damit dahil marami pa naman akong hindi nasusuot sa mga gamit ko. Iniisip ko rin na kapag bumili ako, dagdag pa ‘yon sa liligpitin ko kapag lilipat na ako.

Speaking of lilipatan, wala pa akong napipili sa mga pictures na sinend sa akin. Maybe I could ask Jana to accompany me once she’s free para tignan ‘yung iba pang unit na in-o-offer sa akin.

Lahat ng mga binili ko ay nagkasya sa dalawang medyo kalakihang karton kaya nagpatulong na lang ako sa mga staff na dalhin iyon sa compartment ng kotse ko. Isa pa ay hindi ko ‘yon mabubuhat dahil paniguradong mabibigat ang mga iyon.

“Thank you po,” I told the two staff who carried the boxes.

Muli akong pumasok sa mall at dumiretso sa third floor. Nagkataong nakita ko naman si Lacey kaya kinawayan niya ako. She bid goodbyes to her friend saka ako nito nilapitan.

“Sana hindi mo na pinaalis mga kaibigan mo,” saad ko sa kanya.

“May pupuntahan naman daw sila, so I didn’t bother to ask them to stay,” wika nito, napatango naman ako.

“Have you had lunch?” When she shook her head, I invited her to eat with me para naman may kasama ako.

Lacey asked me what I did here. I just told her that I bought groceries. I asked her back and according to her, they just had their friends hang out. It so happened that her friends had urgent to do that’s why they left her. Mabuti na lang daw at nakita niya ako.

“What happened pala after the family dinner?” pagbubukas nito ng usapan, tinutukoy ‘yung pagpupull off ko sa wedding noon.

“Everything gets worse,” I answered, and sipped at my drinks. “Especially now. My Dad even took the unit he gave from me.”

“What? Why?” Napakibit balikat na lang ako at hindi ko na sinabi sa kanya ang tungkol sa pagbubuntis ko.

“Kung gano’n, san ka nakatira ngayon?”

“I’m staying in Harold’s unit for more than a week now.” Bahagyang natigilan si Lacey sa kinakain at kumunot ang noo nito.

Kumunot din tuloy ang noo ko. Her reaction is telling me that she doesn’t know a thing. I thought she already knew? I mean when Harold told me that she will understand it, I thought he already informed Lacey that I was staying with him. But why Lacey doesn’t seem to know everything?

Dahil sa pagiging tahimik ni Lacey, iniba ko na lang iyong usapan. After eating, I invited her in her boyfriend’s unit but she declined. Sabi nito’y may aasikasuhin pa raw siya ngayong tanghali but I doubt that. This is all Harold’s fault. Bakit ba kasi hindi niya kaagad sinabi kay Lacey?

“You fool, akala ko ba sinabi mo na kay Lacey na nandito ako?”

“What do you mean?” Harold asked.