Del Rico Triplets #1: Bound By Duties

Kabanata 2

Del Rico's

“What marriage you’re saying, huh?! Sinong ikakasal?”

Galit na boses ni Crowell ang naulinigan ko nang makapasok sa loob ng hotel room kung saan naganap ang pag-aayos kanina. Nangingimi kong pinagmasdan ang limang taong naroon. Carden, Crosson, Giovanni, Zohan at namumula sa galit na si Crowell. Agad nilang napansin ang pagdating ko.

Crowell walk towards me.

“Hollis… do you want to rest?” naninimbang ang boses ni Crowell.

Craden walks towards us. Napansin ko si Gio na matipid na ngumiti sa akin habang si Zohan ay nag-iwas ng tingin. Hindi kayang tignan ang malamang ay bagsak na bagsak kong mukha.

“You should rest now, Hollis. Matatapos na rin ang party mayamaya,” aniya sa pormal na tinig.

Crowell hissed at him.

“You should explain what’s happening or at least be sorry for putting her in this situation, Kuya!”

Hindi na nakayanan ni Crowell ‘yon at galit na muling bumaling sa mga naroon. Hinawakan ko siya sa braso para patigilin pero hindi siya natinag.

“Ano? Titingin lang kayo? You’ll just act like this is not a serious matter, huh?” he said spitting anger through his words.

Crosson looks at me without any emotion on his eyes and the rest are like they’re sympathizing with my situation. Umiling ako, nagyuko ng ulo. ‘Yon nga lang, agad ding nag-angat ng tingin nang makarinig ng mga yapak na papalapit.

Nilingon ‘yon agad ni Crowell habang ako ay sinundan ang ginawa niya. Of course, the four already saw who is it because they are facing the doorway.

Tita Selena’s walking gracefully. She found me first and muttered sorry. Another figure came. Del Rico family is also here. Ang unang nahanap ng mata ko ay ang lalaking kanina lang ay kasama sa stage pero may kakaiba sa kaniya. His aura doesn’t look like what he’s sporting earlier when he’s with me on stage.

Tumango ito sa mga kasama ko. Crosson even muttered his name as greetings.

“Troi…”

Pinaglapat ko ang labi nang sa akin na natuon ang tingin nito. I thought he’s just gonna ignore me but he smiled a bit, nodded his head to acknowledge my presence.

Crisosmo cleared his throat. He motioned me to come to where they are. Five steps away from where Crowell and I are standing. His piercing eyes are darted on me, warning me to obey his command like what he always want me to. Akmang lalakad na ako papunta sa kanila ni Tita Selena pero a hand stop me from doing that.

Bumagsak ang tingin ko sa kamay ni Crowell.

“Stay here,” aniya.

“Explain what’s happening, Dad. You’re not selling my sister to them, right?” madiin ang bawat salita ni Crowell. Nilingon pa niya ang mga Del Rico.

I noticed that someone made his way to where I am. Nanlaki ang mata ko na mapagtanto na dalawa ang mukha ng lalaking sinasabi nilang fiancé ko. Now, I am sure, the one who now settled himself behind me is the one I am engaged to while the other one who smiled at me earlier stayed where he is.

“Our family is now tying the knot with the Del Rico. My daughter…” Crisosmo looks at my way. “… Is going to marry Theun’s son. I want to formally announced this in front of you, our family…”

Six more figure came in. Halos mga lalaki lahat. They all greeted everyone inside the room. They even look for their cousin beside me or maybe, it is me they are trying to see. Sa akin na kasi nanatili ang mga tingin nila. Hindi man lang tinago ang pagiging kuryuso. Umiwas ako ng tingin, binalingan si Crowell na ngayon ay inalang hakbang lang ang pagitan nila ni Crisosmo.