Ang gwapong-gwapong mukha ni Reed Varys ang agad na sumalubong sa kanya pagkababang-pagkababa niya sa kanilang van. Angat na angat ang kakisigan nito kahit simpleng long sleeve shirt at maong pants lamang ang suot. His Fil-Am features made him more attractive.
Reed is a girl version of her who likes wearing simple clothes though they both have a lot of expensive ones. Ang dahilan niya ay ayaw niyang nakikitang naiilang sa kanya ang mga taong nakakasalamuha niya.
"You're late. The mass already started." Sermon ng lalaki. She just pout her lips then smiled sweetly because that's Reed's weakness.
"Sorry na, prinsipe ko." She said with puppy eyes. Napabuntung-hininga na lang ang binata.
Inalalayan na siya nitong pumasok sa loob ng simbahan. Si Romeo ay nasa likuran nila. They dipped their fingers on the holy water font and made a sign of the cross before entering inside the church.
Nagsisimula na ang misa kaya naman sa dulong bahagi na lamang sila pumirmi. Tahimik silang nakinig sa misa at nanalangin.
Nang matapos ang misa ay awtomatiko na ang pagtayo ni Romeo upang tumungo sa Parish office at ibigay ang donasyon ng kanilang pamilya. Sila naman ni Reed ay nauna na sa parking lot at doon hinintay ang driver. Magkahawak-kamay silang nakasandal sa sasakyan nitong Toyota Mirai na simple kung titignan pero ilang milyong piso naman ang halaga.
Reed gently pulled her beside him and kissed her temple like the usual. At palagi siyang kinikilig everytime he did that gesture. His strong hand is now wrapped on her tiny waist and caressing it.
Inihilig niya ang ulo sa balikat nito.
"Are you coming with us tonight at Papa Solomon's birthday party?" She asked starting a conversation.
Bahagyang natawa ang binata bago sumagot. "Para namang papayag 'yun na hindi ako pumunta. We know that old man. Idagdag mo pa ang mga magulang natin."
Siya naman ang maikling natawa sa naging sagot nito. Hindi kasi talaga papayag ang mga magulang nila na hindi kasama ang mga anak dahil nga minsan lang sa isang taon sila kung magkita-kita ng mga Marquez simula noong nag-migrate na ang mga ito sa Macau. Their businesses is thriving in that autonomous region. They're in the line of gaming corporation which is very popular in the place like Macau.
"I wonder if Knife would be joining us this time. The last time we saw him, he was like uhm, sixteen?" Saad niya ng maalala ang isa pa nilang kababata.
"I don't think so. He's always busy." Reed said in a flat tone.
Si Knife ang panganay na anak ng mag-asawang Marquez kaya naman napasa rito ang karamihan sa mga responsibilidad ng kanilang mga negosyo. Ilang taon na nila itong hindi nakikita at baka nga hindi na niya ito makilala kung sakaling makasalubong niya ito sa daan.
Ipinatong ni Reed ang baba nito sa kanyang balikat. The stubbles on his chin tickles her skin a little but it makes her feel giddy at the same time. Ewan ba niya, everytime naman yata na magdidikit ang katawan nila ni Reed ay may kakaibang reaksiyon ang kanyang katawan.
"I saw him last year." Reed whispered. Napalingon siya sa katabing binata dahil sa narinig.
"You saw him? Where?" Puno ng pagtataka niyang usisa.
"Remember when I went to Taiwan with my band mates?" She nodded. Lead vocalist si Reed ng bandang RAKS. "Knife was there. He watched us performed."
She gasped and her eyes widened a little. "Really?"
"Uhm-hmm. I didn't expect him to be there. Hindi ko pa nga agad nakilala because he's different now, Aminah. I mean the last time we saw him, pare-pareho pa tayong teenagers. Of course I expected that he may changed physically. But the Knife I saw last year, I feel like... he's a different person. He changed, a lot."
BINABASA MO ANG
Hate Me Now Love Me Later
RomanceHATE ME NOW LOVE ME LATER Knife Marquez x Aminah de Salva "I only agreed to this marriage because I made a promise to protect and to take care of you, not to love you, Aminah. You knew that very well from the start, yet here you are begging me to lo...
