Embers From Within (Casa Fuego Series #6)

Chapter 33

Guilty

"How do I look?" I twirled for Emy to see my whole ensemble.

Hindi siya sumagot at nanatiling mataman ang kanyang tingin sa akin. She's leaning on the backrest of the sofa and her arms are crossed on her chest. She's been looking at me using her hawk eyes since I've told her that I will be attending the business function I was invited to with... Art.

Ngayong gabi na naming sisimulan ang pagpapakita sa publiko na magkasama. We have to start appearing together in public so if we hold the engagement party a month from now, it won't be sudden and suspicious. Hindi na mahirap paniwalaan dahil noon pa man, pribado naman na kaming dalawa ni Art. We can just tell everyone that we've been keeping things out of the limelight as much as possible.

"You look beautiful. But that doesn't mean I am convinced with this decision of yours, Therese," she said in a serious tone.

Nag-iwas ako ng tingin at muling tinignan ang aking sarili sa repleksyon ko sa salamin.

"The tailoring is nice. It's sharp and fits me well, don't you think?" I asked, leading the topic to something else.

But she didn't let it go. Kumalas ang kanyang pagkakahalukipkip at unti-unting naglakad palapit sa akin. Nagpanggap ako na parang hindi ko alam kung ano ang mga susunod niyang sasabihin.

"Alam mo ba ang ginagawa mo? Malaking kontrobersiya ito kapag tapos na ang pagpapanggap niyong dalawa na kasal kayo. I don't have to enumerate or describe how bad the repercussions will be for you. H'wag na si Art. The business industry is still patriarchal. Ikaw ang sasalo lahat ng pambabatikos. Mas malala ang magiging epekto nito sa 'yo."

I inhaled and turned to face her. For a moment, the seriousness in her eyes intimidated me a bit. Hindi dahil tinatakot niya ako. But because I feel like she can read every thought in my mind and feel every emotion in my heart, and I can never really hide anything from her. I'm afraid that she knows me better than I do.

"I really don't care about any of them, Emy. I know what I'm doing. And this is what I want to do."

She sighed heavily. That's probably the heaviest sigh I've ever heard from her. But I don't feel hurt because I know she's this stressed out of my situation because she's concerned for me and she loves me so much.

Ganoon din kay Russ. Noong sinabi ko na plus one ko si Art sa event, agad nagdrive papunta rito si Emy. Si Russ, hanggang ngayon hindi pa rin ako kinakausap.

I heard from Art that Russ, Kuya Conor, and Kuya Brook were all waiting for Art outside his condo unit. Muntik na raw suntukin ni Russ si Art kung hindi lang napigilan ni Kuya Brooklyn. In the end, Russ walked out but Kuya Conor and Kuya Brook stayed in the condo and talked to Art. Art faced them. Of course, he did. It wouldn't be Art if he didn't face anyone of them.

Emy stared at me for so long. Unti-unti ko nang nakikita sa kanyang mga mata na kaunti na lang, hahayaan na niya ako. It doesn't mean she agrees with this scheme, but it only means that no matter what, she has my back.

Of all people, she's the person who understands how making such big decisions like this mean to me because all my life, I have been sheltered. She witnessed how I struggled to be independent. Kaya alam kong susuportahan niya ako rito. At alam niyang pinag-isipan ko na lahat ng ito.

"Will you be alright?" namamaos ang boses niya at agad nag-iwas ng tingin.

A smile slowly formed on my lips. "Yes, Emy."

Bumuntong hininga siya at tumingala. Ilang sandal siyang nakapikit hanggang sa pagmulat niya ay agad siyang naglakad palapit sa akin para sa isang mahigpit na yakap.