Still Chasing You (Still Series #4)

Hakbang 28

Buong byahe pabalik sa Manila, ang pakikipagkita kay Vernon para malaman kung sino ang lalaking 'yon, ang bumabagabag sa isip ko. I have so many questions in my mind and I hope I'll get an answer for that.

Elias Joseph Mendoza? Mendoza? I don't know anyone with that surname. Sino ba siya at 'yong lalaking humarang sa akin noon? Anong kailangan nila sa akin at bakit tiba-tiba raw ako?

I'm still not rich. My family is. Ngayong graduate na ako, gusto kong gumawa ng sarili pangalan at kumita sa sariling paraan. I'm an Alfaro but I won't depend on our family's riches.

I'll create my own riches. I promise that to the wind... and to myself.

I sighed heavily and shifted my gaze at Benjamin. Tahimik siyang nagmamaneho at malamig ang tingin sa dinadaanan namin. Mula pagka-alis namin sa resort, hindi siya masyadong nagsasalita.

Is he not in the mood? Pero kanina ayos at nakangiti pa siya, ah?

"May problema?" tanong ko nang hindi na kinaya ang katahimikan.

I know he's a quiet person most of the time. He doesn't talk much but now is just so different. May tahimik na alam kong ayos siya at komportable ang atmosphere namin. May tahimik namang parang may hindi tama, at nabobother ako sa katahimikan.

Ito 'yon. Ganitong tahimik 'yon.

Naghintay ako sa sasabihin niya pero umiling lang siya biglang sagot. My forehead creased. He didn't even gaze at me.

"Are you tired? I can drive," I offered because maybe he's tired.

Nakakapagod naman talaga 'yong mga ginawa naming... water activities. Oo! Water activities!

He shook his head for the nth time. "I'm fine." He said coldly, sounds like he's dismissing the conversation.

Imbes na maniwalang ayos nga lang siya, mas kumunot lang ang noo ko at nanliit ang mga mata. Isang taon na kaming magkakilala. Hindi niya na ako maloloko sa mga ganiyan niya.

Ano ba ang problema? Hindi ako marunong manuyo! At saka bakit ako manunuyo, eh, wala naman ako matandaang ginawang masama para magalit siya? We're fine before we left the villa!

He even said those words when we're at the beachfront. He wants all his vacations with me and then now, he's being snob and grumpy!

"Sure?" I asked. That's my last straw.

He nodded so I just gave it up. Baka wala sa mood kaya hahayaan ko na lang. Ayaw ko rin namang kinukulit ako kapag wala sa mood.

Inayos ko ang pagkaka-upo at tumitig na lang sa labas. Doon ko na inabala ang sarili pero pagkatapos ng ilang sandali, nagsalita siya...

"You'll gonna meet with Vernon?" that's his question.

At mula kanina pagka-alis namin sa resort, 'yan ang pinakamahaba niyang sinabi.

Napatingin na naman ako sa kaniya at tinaas ang kilay. He's not looking at me, though. He's busy driving while his jaw's clenching. Ang gwapo lalong tignan ng isang Benjamin Zuriel kapag ganitong masungit at suplado.

"Yes. Why'd you ask?" I said.

Kitang kita ko ang paggalaw ng panga niya dahil sa lalong pag-igting nito. He clicked his neck on the other side.

"Nothing," he stopped for a while to glance at me. "Do you still like Vernon?" dagdag niya tanong.

Binalik niya na ulit sa daan ang tingin samantalang napaawang naman ang bibig ko. I was caught off guard by his question. For the whole time we're in this set-up, we never really talk that much about Vernon. He never asked me things about him. And I was fine with that.