Five O'clock Sky (Nueva Caceres#1)

CHAPTER 32

Hi, readers!

Second semester has just started and I might be busy with school works. I can't promise you a regular update. But whenever I can, I'll write.

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Chapter 32: Signs

Sa mga sumunod na araw ay patuloy ang iwasan namin ni Dahlia sa isa't-isa. Hindi kami halos magpang-abot sa mansion. Maaga akong pumupunta ng pastry shop at gabi na umuuwi. Madalas pagka-uwi galing shop ay maliligo at deretso tulog nalang ako. Same goes with Dahlia. I didn't even notice her at home anymore. Sa pagkaka-alam ko palagi rin siyang wala sa bahay at late na umuuwi.

One night, I saw Dahlia stepping out from a Jeep Wrangler in mansion's driveway. Hindi ko na kailangan pang manghula kung saan siya galing at kung sino ang naghatid sa kanya. She stepped out of the car with a smile on her lips. Subalit agad iyong nabura nang aksidenteng nagawi ang kanyang mata sa balkonahe ng sariling kuwarto kung saan ko siya pinagmamasdan. We both mirrored phlegmatic composures in each other's eyes. Unang nag-iwas ng tingin si Dahlia at lumakad papasok ng mansion, chin raised defiantly.

Nang makapasok na siya ay saka lang umusad ang Jeep Wrangler na naghatid sa kanya. Sinundan ko iyon ng tingin. I know it's Sandro driving.  Ramdam ko na sa loob ng kotse ay sinasalubong niya ang aking mata. Na kung hindi lang heavily tinted ang salamin ng kotse ay makikita kung paano kami magsukatan ng titig. The windows of his car are heavily tinted and I couldn't see him, but I knew we were looking at each other's eyes, penetrating each other's soul.

Hanggang sa tuluyan ng nakalayo ang kotse ay nanatili ang aking tingin sa kawalan. I watched the car disappear until I stared into nothing but darkness.

I WAS preparing to go to bed when I heard a knock on the door. Bumukas ang pinto at pumasok ang Mommy. Carrying a tray of food.

"I haven't seen you in our dining table for two days, Xiamara." May bahid ng pag-aalala ngunit seryoso niyang saad. "Kayo ni Dahlia." Dugtong niya at inilagay ang dalang tray sa pinakamalapit na table. "Sana mali ang obserbasyon ko, but... are you in cold war with your cousin?"

Natilihin ako. I didn't expect that she would notice it too soon. Mothers could really detect small changes, huh.

Mom sighed heavily and sit on the edge of my bed. Walang kibo naman akong tumabi sa kanya.

" I noticed that Dahlia frequently went out and I have always been wondering kung saan siya pumunta." Saad niya matapos ang ilang segundong katahimikan at pakiramdaman.  "Gusto ko siyang kausapin kaya lang ay palagi siyang wala sa bahay at gabi na umuuwi. I was worried at her. She's like my daughter too." Warmth on her voice. "Last night, I had the chance to talk to her. I'm glad to know she's enjoying her stay in Nueva Ceceres. Though to stay here for over a month? That's something we all did not prefigure, even by Dahlia herself. She's a metropolitan girl. Her life, literally, is on the cities that never sleep. But poor her, she met a man whom made her decide to stay longer that what she planned." Marahan siyang natawa. "That's your cousin's words. And I've never seen her eyes sparkle while telling a story. Could it be that your cousin... is in love, sweetheart?"

In love... with Sandro?

Tila may kung anong bikig ang bumara sa'king lalamunan. Iyon ang isa sa mga posibilidad na hindi pumasok sa'king isipan.

I have been thinking that Dahlia only wanted to hook up with Sandro to ease her boredom. After all, kilala si Dahlia sa pagiging play girl. The media in Spain branded her as "Every Man's Ex-girlfriend" because she literally dated not just famous celebrities in Spain, but also Hollywood actors and almost a whole team of NBA players.

When Dahlia confessed that she has been seeing Sandro, that she likes him, she got me confused of my emotions. Sure I was shocked, scared, betrayed and all but I knew jealousy was not one of what I have felt that time. Maging noong nakita kong bumaba si Dahlia mula sa Jeep Wrangler ni Sandro, wala akong katiting na selos na naramdaman. Siguro pangamba para sa consequences ng lahat ng ito.