Romancing the Devil

CHAPTER 13

“It’s been a week,” bulong ko habang nakatingin sa kawalan. “Hindi pa rin ako pinapansin ni Dustin.” malungkot kong dugtong bago bumuntong hininga.

“Sana kasi ipinaliwanag mo sa kaniya kung ano ang mga nangyari hanggang sa magpakasal kayo ng asawa mo.” napatingin ako kay Ate Kiana nasa kabilang couch at nagbabasa ng magazine.

I’m here at our parent’s house, visiting them. Pero hindi ko na naabutan sina Mommy at Daddy. They have a meeting abroad. Ayos na rin ‘yon dahil nahihiya akong makaharap si Daddy.

I sighed heavily, “If I have known that this would be his reaction, Ate. Sana pala sinabihan ko na siya agad.” I’m still guilty for not telling him about my marriage.

That was just an arranged marriage but that was still a marriage. And Dustin . . . he said he’s courting me. But I didn’t know he’s my suitor. Alam kung anong gagawin ko para lang kausapin niya ulit ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko maipapaliwanag sa kaniya kung ganitong hindi niya man lang ako matingnan sa tuwing nagkakasalubong kami sa company. He’s just walking past me and that’s it. No greetings, no smiles, no teasing, no sweet gestures, no anything he’s doing like before.

I miss my best friend.

“Of course that would be his reaction. He’s smitten to you. He loves you more than just a friend, Hailey. You’re just too dense to notice his feelings for you.” sabay iling niya.

“I should say sorry again. For hurting him, his feelings, for everything.” malungkot kong sambit.

Huminga nang malalim si Ate Kiana bago ibinaba ang binabasa niyang magazine at lumipat sa tabi ko. I look at her with a sad smile crept in my lips.

“He also have a fault, why? Because he hoped too much about you. When in fact you already told him you can’t give him more than just a friend. But he insist to court you even he has no chance. You’re just too kind and innocent to hurt his feelings by rejecting him directly.”

My lipa quiver as I stiffle my tears to fall down my eyes. I smiled sadly at her. She’s right. I’m really afraid to hurt my best friend. I just don’t like to see him like that; in pain and hurt by me.

Pagkatapos namin kumain ng hapunan ay nagpaalam na akong uuwi na dahil baka dumating na si Callum sa bahay. Maaga akong umuwi kaya nakapunta ako rito at baka magtaka si Callum dahil wala pa ako sa bahay. Hindi pa naman ako nagpaalam sa kaniya na pupunta ako rito.

“Ingat,” ani Ate Kiana habang kumakaway sa akin.

Kumaway rin ako bago naglakad papunta sa kotse. Pinagbuksan ako ni Kuya Benjie ng pinto, pumasok ako roon at kumaway muli kay Ate Kiana.

Until we reach the mansion I was silent and thinking deeply. Mahaba ang binyahe namin kaya nagkaroon ako ng panahon para mag-isip sa lahat ng bagay.

Huminto ang sasakyan sa tapat ng hagdan bago mabilis na lumabas si Kuya Benjie para pagbuksan ako ng pinto. Bumaba ako at agad natigilan nang makita si Callum na nakahalukipkip habang nakatayo sa harap ng pinto, naghihintay sa akin. Mariin akong napalunok habang pinagmamasdan siya bago ako natauhan at naglakad na patungo sa hagdan.

Dahan-dahan ang lakad ko, at bawat paghakbang ko sa bawat baitang ng hagdan ay kumakalabog ang aking dibdib. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang gagawin ko sa nagwawala kong puso. Sa huli ay sinupil ko na lamang ‘yon habang naglalakad palapit sa direksyon ni Callum.

“Where have you been?” he asked in a monotone.

Agad akong napalabi at hindi siya matingnan sa mga mata, “sa bahay. B-Binisita ko lang si Ate Kiana.” sagot ko sa kinakabahang boses.