HMSS: TAMING THE HOT FARMER

Kabanata 23

Hindi nangyari ang inaasahang reaksiyon ni Tereesa mula sa pamilya ni Andrew nang magtapat siya ng katotohanan sa mga ito. Imbes na magalit ay natuwa pa ang nanay ni Andrew nang nalaman nitong nobya siya ng binata. Marami itong tanong tungkol sa kanilang relasyon. Maraming plano at suhestiyon. Napangingiwi na lamang siya kapag sinasabi nitong mamamanhikan sa pamilya nila. Mas excited pa nga itong makilala ang kaniyang buong angkan. Habang ang ama naman ni Andrew na dating gobernador ng bayan ay tahimik lamang. Tatango kung sasang-ayon. Sasagot kung may magtatanong.

Sa nangyari ay tila nabawasan ang tinik sa dibdib ng dalaga. Doon niya napagtanto na mababait ang pamilya Guerrero. Bukod pa roon, maging ang pagsisinungaling ng mayordoma nitong si Melba ay pinalampas ng mga ito. Humingi rin naman ng tawad ang mayordoma katulad niya at nangako ng katapatan sa pamilya.

"So, kailan ang kasal?" Laura joined Tereesa in the balcony of the Guerrero mansion. Umupo rin ito kaharap ng dalaga. Nakangiti.

While looking at the woman, Tereesa couldn't stop herself checking her. Totoong napakaganda nito. Morena ang kulay ngunit makinis. She has a tantalizing eyes. She also has a geniune smile that always pasted on her lips. Maging kung magsalita ay mababakas ang sopistikasyon. No wonder Andrew fell for her. Totoo naman kasing kaibig-ibig ito.

'Pero ikaw na ang mahal niya ngayon!'  It was her conscience comforting her. Bigla kasing nakaramdam siya ng insekyuridad.

Umiling siya. She should not feeling that way because she knew Andrew was head over heels in love with her. Laura was his past. And it ended there. She was now his present. And his future. It was all that matters.

She sighed. "I believe we should know each other first before talking to marriage. Andrew and I, we don't rush things," sagot niya sa tanong ni Laura.

Tumango si Laura. May ngiti sa labi at mukhang kombinsido sa sinabi ni Tereesa. Kapagkuwan ay napangalumbaba ito habang titig na titig pa rin sa dalaga. "Masaya ako dahil nakakita na rin ng babaeng mamahalin si Andrew. I am happy for the both of you. Alam ko kasi ang mga pinagdaanan niya noon. I know his pain. I saw them. Pero hanggang tingin lang ako." Umiling ito. Natawa. "I had to keep my distance away. Alam mo na siguro ang kwento," dagdag nito.

Tereesa sighed. She nodded. Pinagsalikop niya ang dalawang kamay at tiningnan iyon. Pinisil. Though, Laura didn't mean any thing, she could still feel that she envied her. She was jealous of her. Fuck! Kailan ba siya naging selosa sa mga bagay-bagay?

'When it comes to Andrew. Yes!' sagot ng mahadera niyang utak.

Napailing muli siya. Pinilit na ngumiti. "Yeah. But it was all in the past now," sagot niya. She was trying her best to not to roll her eyes on her.

Tinampal ni Laura ang kaniyang kamay. "Seriously, you don't need to hide what you feel towards me. Ayaw mo ba sa akin?" Nakangiti pa rin ito.

"Ikaw kasi, eh! Nakakainis ka! Past is past, 'di ba?" She rolled her eyes. Nakakainis na kasi ito.

Natawa si Laura sa kaniyang ginawa. Napailing. "I like you. I could see that you're really in love with him," wika nito.

Natigilan si Tereesa sa sinabi ni Laura. Iba rin ang trip ng babae. Sinabi na nga niyang nakakainis ito pero gusto pa rin siya?

"I like you and I like you for Andrew," dagdag nito. "Can we be friends, Tereesa? I mean, kung gusto mo lang naman. . ." Laura was obviously provoking her.

Napailing siya. Nag-isip. Kapagkuwan ay napangiti. The realization came in. Laura was showing her true self to her. Walang halong kaplastikan. She wanted to clear things up with her and Andrew. It was maybe an assurance that she was not a threat but she was actually a supporter. A true friend to Andrew who wanted the best for him and his future happiness.