Flames and Vengeance (South Series # 1) COMPLETED- To be published

Chapter 6

We parted happily the next day. Ako pa naghatid sa airport sa kanya, Xandro was maliciously watching us as we bid our goodbyes.

For the next days, I really took into action what I planned. I slept or hibernated for a week. Hindi naman ako pinagalitan ni mommy na hindi ako halos lumabas ng kwarto. Mommy was so considerate, she even asked my yaya to just send me my food. 

Halos kauuwi lang naman ni Ate Trish, since I needed to buy a dress for the Christening niyaya ko s'ya, pero tamad na tamad din s'ya. Lalong hindi s'ya pumayag kasi pagbaba namin ng kusina, kumakain si Kuya Marco.

He suspiciously threw glances at me. Mapaglaro, na parang anytime aasarin n'ya ako, but luckily Riley went to me to help me buy a dress.

"Bakit kailangan bago pa damit mo?" Tamad na tamad n'yang tanong sa akin.

"Finale na mare, dapat bongga," Pang-aasar ko.

"Tss. Nasabi mo ba kay Kuya Calix 'yang plano mo?" Tanong n'ya no'ng kumakain na kami matapos naming maglibot sa Southmall ng tatlong oras.

"Hindi. Kailangan ba?" I raised my brow.

"Heads-up lang."

"For what reason? Bakit kailangan may heads-up?"

He sipped on his juice. "Kayo, diba?"

"Tss. Ikaw lang nakakaalam. You do know we're just faking it."

"Oh? Galing n'yo naman. Iba nakikita ko. Come on, don't hide it from me. I have never seen you in that state. Content and happy."

"I was content and happy with Troy before. What are you pointing out here?!" I said, eagerly.

"No. Never been this happy. Just a reminder, if you still think you're faking it, act that way. Iba 'yong galawan n'yong dalawa. Kilala kita. Kilala ko din s'ya. Don't get hurt. I'll forget we are cousins if he tries to hurt you in any way."

I smiled. "After this, I might end it."

We went to that binyag. Was I nervous? Definitely not. Wala naman akong ginawang masama, 'yong anak nila ang nagloko.

Saktong oras lang 'yong dating namin sa simbahan. Troy's mom walked towards me. Her eyes flickered with joy and excitement to see me.

"Hi, anak! Kamusta? Hindi ka na dumadalaw sa bahay. Sabi ni Troy sobrang busy mo sa law. Hindi nga rin umuuwi 'yon, busy daw kayong dalawa."

Ngumiti ako. "Okay naman po."

Niyakap niya ako. "Wag muna kayo gagawa ng isa ko pang apo, mag-aral muna kayo. Tulungan n'yo ang isa't-isa. Maghintayan kayo, anak. Susuportahan namin kayo."

That got me teary. Riley was watching me intently without leaving my sight. How can I break her heart? She treated me as her own, kaya ang laki ng konsensya ko tuwing nilalait ni Ate Trish si Troy dati, kasi sobrang bait ng pamilya niya sa akin. Never did I feel like I'm an intruder. They accepted me wholeheartedly, even the fact that the head of their family is working as my father's employee.

Hiyang-hiya 'yong tatay n'ya sa akin noon. Hindi n'ya lubos maisip na 'yong gustong-gustong ipakilala ng anak nila ay ang anak ng boss n'ya. When dad knew, he got no reaction. That's better than going against my relationship, but he kept saying that I should stay true to my promise to them na magiging abogada ako. Dad wanted me to fly and reach my dreams, all the content of heart's desire.