The Accused (A Series #1)

Chapter Fifty-Three

It was still a peaceful night for August. Madali siyang nakatulog kahit pilit siyang binabagabag ng sinabi ni Calev. The next day, she woke up earlier than she used to. Agad niyang tinawagan si Finno para ipaalam dito ang plano nilang manatili pa ng isang araw.

"Hindi niyo na ba ako miss? Ayaw niyo na umuwi dito?" parang batang ungot nito sa kabilang linya.

Natawa siya nang bahagya. Finno could sometimes act like a boy while looking so manly. Noon nga ay nakukulitan siya rito pero iyong tipo na matatawa nalang siya kaysa mainis.

"Mom wants to meet her grandchildren. And she says she likes you. Gusto mo ba sabihin ko sa kanya na ayaw mong pumayag? Okay lang naman," she teased. She could picture him pouting behind the line.

"Hey! You're so bad. Gusto mo pa ako ma-bad shot sa mother-in-law ko. Makapunta nga dyan nang mameet ko rin siya. For sure, she would like the Dada more than the Daddy."

"Finno!"

Ang aga-aga at ang kulit nito. Nag-usap pa sila ng ilang minuto bago niya napagdesisyunang bumaba para maghanda ng kanilang umagahan.

Sa mga nagdaang araw, si Calev ang nagluluto ng kakain nila. Ayaw nitong tanggapin ang tulong niya kaya ngayong maaga siyang nagising, at paniguradong tulog pa ang lalake, ay siya na ang maghahanda.

She was still smiling from her talk with Finno when she got out from the room. Hanggang sa makababa siya patungo sa kitchen ay andun parin yung ngiti niya. Finno could be silly sometimes, but she only wanted his happiness. Ang sabi nito sa tawag ay nakita na nito ang matagal ng hinahanap. He deserved it so much.

Muntik na siyang mapatalon nang biglang may nakitang gumalaw na bulto ng tao sa kitchen. It was Calev. He was casually leaning on the countertop and eyeing her na parang kanina pa ito roon.

"You're smiling." He said in usual bored tone of a voice.

"Ah... y-yeah. Good morning."

Hindi niya alam kung saan ulit nanggaling ang kakaibang kabang nararamdaman niya. She only knew that it appears whenever Calev was around. Pero ayaw niya namang gawing big deal iyon. She was still not accustomed to Calev's presence on her life once again, and it could only be it.

"Morning. Mind telling me what makes you smile early this morning?" He said as he walked to the kitchen sink and started preparing things.

"Just some thoughts running in my head." Lumapit siya rito, but not too close, to see what he was trying to make. But before she could go near, pinaupo siya agad nito. Kahit pa nakatalikod ay parang alam na nito ang pakay niya.

"I'll do this. You may sit down. Coffee?"

Wala na siyang nagawa kundi ang sundin ito.

"Yes, please." She said after she sat down.

Napabuntong hininga siya and just decided to look somewhere else. Somehow, looking at Calev doing almost all the chores did not sit well with her. Nahihiya siya rito. Anak lang naman nila ang dapat nitong pagtuunan ng pansin ngunit napapansin niyang pati siya ay parang sinasama sa mga responsibilidad nito.

Her thoughts did not actually make sense to her, hindi naman talaga big deal ang lahat. Nagluluto lang naman ito para sa mga anak, at malamang ay isasama rin nito ang kakainin niya.

She shrugged the thoughts away. The years she spent mending for herself made her more sensitive to details, even the pettiest ones.

"Smile. You look prettier when you do."

Agad siyang napabaling dito mula sa pagtanaw sa malayo habang nag-iisip. She saw him turned and looked at her seriously. His voice was sweet yet his facial expression says otherwise. Ngunit sanay naman na siya rito. He always had that rigid expression with him in almost all situations.