Fit the Puzzle (Azcona Cousins #3)

26

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Chapter 26

An undeniable shock was written all over my parents' faces. Adriel dropped me off. Hindi siya umalis hangga't 'di pa ako pinagbubuksan ng gate. Pero nang pinagbuksan na ako ni Papa, inaya siyang magkape muna. Tinawag ni Mama si Kuya Alex para bumaba sa dining. Like my parents, he was confused. Stealthy slits in his eyes were tried provoking me.

Naninimbang din ang tingin niya kay Adriel. My friend was acting natural, 'di niya alam na kanina pa inoobserbahan ni Kuya.

I elbowed Adriel.

"Hmm?" he asked, enjoying the coffee that Papa brewed for him. 

"Batiin mo si Kuya," bulong ko sa kanya.

Nang bumati si Adriel ay palihim na umirap ang kapatid ko. He sat beside me, still with a provoking look. I just sighed next to him.

Siguradong may alam 'to.

Papa was entertaining Adriel as he sipped his coffee. Nakita kong aliw na aliw si Papa sa kanya. They had a business talk as if my father was testing my friend's knowledge. He was impressed. I sensed it through my father's continuous genuine questions about anything related to money and market development. Samantalang 'yong katabi ko, 'di mapigil sa pagsulyap sa orasan.

He later texted me, and it was a warning message for me.

Alex Nixon:
What the hell, Zian? Do you and Brent have a problem?
Nag-aalala sa'yo 'yong tao ta's malalaman niyang kasama mo si Adriel... tss.
Umayos ka, mag-usap tayo pag-uwi ng kaibigan mo.

Hinatid ko si Adriel hanggang sa gate na lang namin dahil kaya naman daw niyang umuwi nang mag-isa. Papa insisted but he couldn't change my friend's mind.

Kuya Alex threw me a cold glare. He was leaning against the edge of the wall and one hand was on his hip.

"Care to explain what's going on, Croozian Neriah?"

"I was busy the whole day. Wala sa'kin 'yong phone ko... maraming nangyari, 'di ko na maisa-isa. Tapos bigla akong niyaya ni Adriel na bumiyahe pauwi rito para magpahinga at pumayag naman ako... You know this has a purpose. Pwede ko siyang makausap ngayon kahit saglit lang."

He scoffed.

"So, ganiyan ang paliwanag mo kay Brent 'pag tinanong ka? Unbelievable."

Teka nga, ba't ko ba inuuna si Kuya? Kay Iverson naman ako may atraso.

"Alam ko namang may kasalanan ako," pag-amin ko. "Kaya... pwede bang bumisita tayo sa kanila, Kuya? Mabilis lang."

Inirapan niya ako. He was already holding the car remote. Tumunog ang itim na kotse at umilaw ang mga headlights.

"Ayoko sanang pumayag na umalis pero tuliro si Brent kanina." 

I was about to follow his direction but then I realized that we haven't asked for our parents' permission yet.

"Hindi ba tayo magpapaalam?" I asked, kind of confused and nervous.

My brother pivoted. He made a face. "Ah... bakit? Gusto mong sabihin kay Mama na susuyuin mo muna ang manliligaw mo? Ayos lang naman sa'kin."

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin at 'di naman siya natinag.

Kuya snorted.

"Sabihin mo pupunta tayo ng Tagaytay, magkakape."

I really told Mama that we're going to stroll around Tagaytay to grab some coffee. Pumayag naman siya at walang follow-up questions. I put my earphones on while we were on the road. I wore them for my defense. Naririndi ako sa boses ni Kuya, 'di naman niya kailangan ulit-ulitin ang nangyari.