Through Secrets Unveiled

Chapter Thirty - Fitting in Front of the Mirror

“SHE BETTER BE?” nagtatakang ngiti ni Luz. Hindi nakaligtas sa pandinig ng ginang ang itinuran ni Renante.

“Well,” angat saglit ni Renante ng tingin sa ina nito, “she better be not pregnant. Because we’re always careful.” Then he turned to her. “Right, Boo?”

Stacey blinked.

“O-Of course.” Nahihiya siyang tingnan si Luz dahil pakiramdam niya, na-expose na rito na nagse-sex sila ni Renante. Pero kailangan niyang harapin ang ginang. “I am sorry, Tita. Pero… wala talaga. I am just…” she lowered her eyes, her head still straight. “I’m just not feeling well last night.”

Pagkatapos mag-lunch, nagpaalam na rin ang ginang na uuwi na. Sinamahan nila ito sa eastwing exit ng mall hanggang sa huminto sa tapat nito ang isang putting sasakyan. Stacey remained standing near the glass doors. Si Renante naman, hinatid ang ina sa backseat ng sasakyan. Before he even closed the door, Luz gently kissed his cheek and smiled at her direction.

Magalang na tumango si Stacey at nginitian din ito.

Pagkasara ni Renante sa pinto ng kotse, sumibad na ito. Mabilis na binalikan siya ng binata. This time, his aviator shades hung at the neckline of his button-down shirt.

“Kaya pala hindi mo ako kinulit na samahan ka,” hilig nito ng ulo at namewang habang mainit siyang tinititigan. He was not smiling but he didn’t look upset neither. “May ka-meet up ka pala.”

“Not really,” she coolly defensed. “Nagkataon lang na nagkita kami.”

“Really?” Renante didn’t sound convinced. He took her shopping bags. “Let me.”

“No,” bawi agad ni Stacey. “Dala ko naman ang kotse ko.”

“At least, let me carry these.” He successfully got the shopping bags from her. “Hanggang sa maihatid kita sa kotse mo.”

Hindi na siya nagprotesta pa.

“I know you’re not used to having someone do stuff for you, Miss Independent,” may himig-pagbibiro na sabi ni Renante habang sabay nilang tinatahak ang gilid ng mall papunta sa basement parking.

“Oh, please,” mahina niyang tawa. There was a tinge of whining and sarcasm in her voice. What did he call her? Miss Independent? Ne-Yo lang ang peg? “That was before.”

As Stacey said that, how her life used to be seemed to flash before her eyes. How she used to be living alone starting as young as high school. How she built businesses on her own. By herself. How she used to deal with her stalker and her fears alone while being someone that Sondra— and the rest of her friends— depended on.

Now what happened to me? Love has turned me into this needy woman. Desperate to be proposed to. Desperate for validation from Renante’s family… Desperate for stability…

The realization made her glance at Renante.

I used to be stable, standing on my own two feet. And now, having someone to lean on has turned me too…

Renante felt her stare and caught her gaze.

…dependent.

Narating nila ang kanyang pulang Corvette. Pagkalagay ng shopping bags sa backseat, isinara ni Renante ang pinto. Nakapwesto na si Stacey sa likuran ng bukas na pinto ng driver’s seat nang tabihan ng binata. She turned to completely face him.

“May… May kailangan ka ba sa mall? I can leave the shopping bags here in my car. ‘Tapos, samahan kitang bumalik—”

“No need,” matiim nitong masid sa kanya. Her heart thumped when Renante reached for her arm. “I already got what I need at the mall.”