Last Drop of Coffee (Lost Souls Series #1)

Chapter 9

Walang ni-isang umimik sa gitna ng hapag. Tanging tunog lang ng kubyertos ang pumuno sa dining area. The silence is deafening, a vacuum of sound that seems to suck the air out of the room. It is a silence that is heavy and oppressive, suffocating in its intensity. ven the slightest sound, the creak of a floorboard or the rustle of clothing, seems to reverberate through the silence like a gunshot.

We can't deny that the ambiance of it is awkward. But mas pipiliin ko na ganito na lang kesa mag-salita ang lola ko. Kay tabas ba naman ng dila niyan at walang preno, nananakit pa ng tao gamit ang salita.

"So-" limang segundo ko pinilit ipikit ang mga mata ko, pagkatapos ay tignan ko siya. Tagos sa mga mata niya, tila nagbabadya ng magsalita gamit ang dalawang pares na 'yon. But knowing her, hindi siya mapipigilan.

"You're the son of Abenzuella, right?" she said while dropping her spoon and fork on her plate elegantly.

"Yes ma'am. The son of Abenzuella and Kasseo." tugon ni Aeolus sa lola ko na may kasamang diin, tila nagpaparating na hindi lang siya anak ni Abenzuella, kung hindi ay sa respetado niyang ama na si Kasseo.

"Oh right, Kasseo. Poor young man, I warned him not to get involved with your mom." her nosy ass killed the vibe. I looked at Aeolus to see his vein popped in his neck, nagpipigil siya.

"Momita-"

"Shut up, Isariell." I was caught off-guard. Her blazing eyes darted at me, preparing to send me off because I interrupted her. I stared at my mom, asking for help. Tinanguan lang ako ng nanay ko. Ay wow, kampihan. Akala ko ba ako 'yung anak.

"I bet your dad's really regretting it right now in heaven." magsasalita pa sana siya when Aeolus couldn't take the words from my Lola at tumayo.

"Sorry for my rude words. But you don't get to say anything about my family since you're not even part of it." his eyes burned with . . . anger

I held his hand, to let him know that I'm on his side. I was holding my breath as I gently caressed his hand with so much assurance and pleaded with him to calm.

Aeolus is like a storm cloud, dark and brooding with an undercurrent of tension. He radiates an energy that is sharp and prickly, like a cactus that is bristling with spines. His movements are abrupt and jerky, like a puppet on strings that is being pulled in different directions.

"Ma! That was too much, you crossed the line!" finally at nagsalita na rin siya. I just don't get it.

"What? I was just saying. His Dad was dumb for choosing Abenzuella over your husband's sister." kumukulo ang dugo ko. Binitawan ko ang kubyertos and stared at her. I glanced up to the ceiling, reminding myself that she's my grandmother, magsasalita pa sana ako kaso naunahan na ako ni Daddy.

"Just like this young man said, you don't have the right to dictate other people's lives. Manahimik ka, Ma. Baka mawalan na ng respeto ang mga apo mo sa'yo."

"Respect should be earned not because of your age but in kindness." Grandma crippled in anger when I talked back, "and right now, wala akong nakitang karespeto-respeto sa'yo. Hindi ka ba tinuruan ng magandang ugali sa kapanahunan ninyo?" atsaka binalik ang paningin sa lola ko and slammed my hands on the table.

I stood up and forced myself to smile at her, when in fact I'm literally shaking because of fear, "I'm sorry for my words, but you deserved it." I gripped Aeolus' hands tightly and ran. Hoping that he'll get my point and for him to think that he has my back, always.

He may be some kind of a jerk in this lifetime, pero hindi pa rin 'yon sapat to attack him with harsh words in reality. He's a great guy that others didn't notice.