Chance Again (Again Series #3)

Kabanata 23

Naitawid namin ang pagbati. Mabuti na lang talaga at nag-decide na silang pumunta sa dining table para simulan na ang dinner.

Cleo pulled the chair beside me.

"Aurora, sa kaliwa ka." Kunwari pang umubo si Daddy pero alam ko namang banta niya iyon, na ayaw niyang magkatabi kami ni Cleo.

Sandali kong tiningnan si Cleo, saka pumunta sa banda nina Grandma.

Nasa magkabilang dulo kasi sina Grandma at Chairman Lim, sa tabi ni Grandma sa kaliwa ay naroon ang family ko, sa kanan naman ni Chairman Lim ay sina Cleo pati ang secretary nito.

Hindi ko napansin. I am just used to being beside Cleo.

My Dad just made it a big deal, mabuti na lang at hindi masyadong napansin ni Grandma iyon.

Nag-iwas ako ng paningin nang makitang sa pag-alis ko ay nakatingin pa rin sa akin si Cleo.

"Dad, can I sit beside Ate Cleo?" Nasa tabi ko si Arielle sa kanan kaya narinig ko ang bulong niya kay Daddy na kaniyang katabi.

"No," he said.

"Raymond," si Grandma. "Why are you stopping my grandchild from interacting with our guests? Go ahead, Arielle."

Seryoso ang mukha ni Daddy. I know he's just holding back his bitterness, dahil hindi niya makontra si Grandma sa kahit ano-halos lahat sa pamilya namin.

Masayang pumunta si Arielle sa inupuan ko kanina sa tabi ni Cleo.

"Hi!" si Ashley iyon na katabi ni Cleo sa kaliwa, binati si Arielle.

Pasimpleng ngumisi sa akin si Cleo. I can't believe that she's teasing me right now

"We are here to court Mr. Givan for our proposal partnership in trading our aircraft," si Chairman Lim iyon na kay Daddy nakatingin. "Good thing, your Mom here, Chairwoman Givan offered her help."

"I see," tipid lang ang ginawang pagsagot ni Daddy.

"And your daughter also told me things about you."

Doon na natigilan si Daddy. I know in his peripheral vision, he's now looking at me.

"Really?" anito.

Nanatiling tahimik si Mommy, kinakapa ang ekspresiyon ni Daddy.

That was the day when Cleo's birthday party happened.

"Yes, she told me that you're not fond of connections but you attended our proposal because you might be having second thoughts. Nang imbitahan ka ulit namin puro rejections ang natatanggap namin, so I am hoping at this dinner that we could settle everything."

"Pardon? May I ask where you met my grandchild?" Sumingit si Grandma.

Unti-unting bumabalik ang kaba ko mula kanina, the only difference is that it's worse.

"Uh, that?" Umasta itong nag-iisip bago bumaling kay Cleo na seryoso na ang reaksiyon. "Cleo had a small party in their house last month. Pumunta ako at doon ko nakita ang apo mo. I will raise her ego right now, but she is really pretty and knows how to talk well."

I got a mixture of emotions when the Chairman said that.

Samantalang, tipid na tumingin at ngumiti sa akin si Grandma.

Agad akong napayuko.

"May I ask why you are in that house, Aurora? I thought you didn't know each other?"

Here it is.

"We're schoolmates, Chairwoman."

Dumapo ang paningin ko kay Cleo nang sumagot siya para sa akin.