Twilit Passion

Chapter 34

Dedicated to
cinnderela

Chapter 34

Ang saya pala kapag may pinsan ka na malapit sayo. Hindi ko kasi naranasan ang ganito at nakakataba lang ng puso kasi parang kuya ko na sila at kaibigan. May karamay ako sa anumang pagsubok sa buhay.

I also felt the moment I arrived in their house ten months ago in Morocco that he accepted me fully as his cousin. Umuwi pa nga siya noon para lutuan lang ako ng aking paborito na Moroccan bouillabaisse. Nag-away pa sila ng Kuya Tauseef niya kasi gusto niyang siya naman daw ang mag-aasikaso sa akin. Alam niya kasing magkasama kami ni Taus sa Pilipinas.

“Tsk, let's go to the ice cream shop, Chi,” tanging turan niya at iniiwasan ako. So, I followed him half-running, cos' his strides were too big and fast.

After we bought our fave flavored ice cream in which his was a spicy, vanilla. I decided to stroll around watching mall goers while eating my frost. As usual he complained again. Why can't we eat inside that parlor? That he's tired and hungry. Again.

“Chi naman eh, hapon na o. Umuwi na tayo. Are you still not tired? Kanina habang nag-uusap sina Attorney, Tita at Mang Herman. I noticed that you looked worn out or specifically, bummed out,” he said that I flinch.

“Uh..hmm.. That's rubbish,” I replied, denying the fact that what he observed was correct. Dang, napansin niya ang pagkatulala ko.

“Ahm well, if you're tired Rim, you can wait me in the fountain on the ground floor,”  dagdag sabi ko na lang.

I need to divert the topic or else his gonna ask me about.. Dang!

He shook his head, looking annoyed. “Lead the way Chi. I'll accompany you wherever you want,” sumusuko niyang tugon.

Tumaas ang isang kilay ko, hindi makapaniwala sa narinig. “O..okay. hmm.. I want to go to the arcade area Cous. I miss playing there eh.” Inayos ko ang aking Chanel pink sling bag.

“Alright! Basta sasamahan kita. Ako pa mamaya ang papagalitan ni Kuya at Tita kapag may nangyari sayo. At saka andaming bastos at masasamang tao ngayon,” he reasoned out. So, I nodded and walked around.

Lihim akong napapangiti kapag straight at mahabang Tagalog ang sinasabi niya tulad din ni Taussef. Minsan kasi may pagka-slang at tunog Moroccan talaga sila. Hanga ako sa kanila ng Kuya niya na maraming alam na lenggwahe. And they're all fluent.

Ayaw din niyang iwan ako mag-isa kasi natatakot siya na baka may biglang lumapit na naman sakin gaya noong sa Morocco. Sobrang nagalit siya kay Almer, ang kanyang tauhan na nakabantay sa akin. Kung bakit daw may sumubok na bastusin ako. He even punched that poor guy. I grimaced while remembering how savaged he was.

Nakasunod siya sa akin nang lumiko ako sa dulong store para makababa na kami sa second floor gamit ang escalator na malapit doon. I concentrated on licking my ice cream when suddenly, I felt it being smashed on my chin.

“Ouch!” Napaaray ako habang hawak-hawak ang aking ilong na nabunggo sa isang matigas na bagay.

Napapikit pa ako sa sobrang hapdi. Damn, kung peke lang siguro tong ilong ko eh di ko na alam kung ano ang mangyayari. Hindi lang iyon ang malala, maa-out balance pa yata ako dahil sa lakas ng impact ng kung sinong bumangga sakin. Shit!

“Oh damn! I'm sorry Miss–”

“Chian!” I heard my cousin called me before I felt someone hold me to prevent my buttocks on slumping on the cold floor.

Galit na pinalis ko ang malagkit na sorbetes na kumalat sa aking baba. Tumingala ako para tingnan kung sino ang nakabunggo sa akin. Doon lang at napasinghap ako. The irritation was gone. It changed into disbelief.