Cursed Kiss (Curse #1)

Chapter 3

Chapter 3

forgotten

Like I said, the routine is pretty generic. I can predict what would happen in my day, or even in my week. I'm not being ungrateful. In fact, I know that this is a blessing. To know and have what most people don't. A cycle. But what I am most scared of is the comfort it brings, stagnancy.

Paano kung masanay ako sa siglo ng buhay ko at hindi na magbago iyon? Ni isang beses ay hindi pa ako nakapagdesisyon para sa sarili ko. Even the program I'm taking right now, this is not a dream of my own.

It was something, I naturally began to look into. Not because of passion or anything. But because I don't wanna be left behind by my family. I don't want to be the odd one out. The legacy that the family has is something that my Abuela sacredly protects. Reputation and honor.

Mom was a known neurosurgeon, she stopped just at the time she bore Lian. Si Papa, abogado. Bigatin ang kliyente. Si Ate, negosyante. Si Rahim, regent ng campus. Ako na ang kasunod. Ano ako?

Wala, studyante lang. Maganda. Kapatid ni Rahim, at kontento na ata na nasa anino lang ng mga kapatid ko. Maybe someday, I'll serve my purpose in the family and become their bride offering to strengthen business ties.

Nakakatakot isipin. I hope it won't happen though. Kaya araw-araw ko rin pinagdadasal na ipadala na ang ipinagkaloob ng Diyos sa akin na magtatanggal sa akin sa situwasyon na to.

I wore a white cap, white jacket and a white mask when I got out of the gates. Sobrang init sa labas ng campus. Sobrang sakit ng init at parang tumutusok sa balat ko. Wala akong pake kung pinagtitinginan ako dahil sa suot ko, mabuti na to kaysa ma-sunburn.

Donis was wearing a cap and a jacket na may zipper in the middle of the heat. Nakita ko siya papalabas ng gate may dalang itim na payong. He went straight to me. Ang bilis niya naman akong mamukhaan.

"You can remove your mask if you want to. May payong naman kaya hindi masyadong mainit," he offered.

"I prefer it this way," I shrugged.

May seloso akong manliligaw na hindi makaintindi ng salitang hindi. Mabuti na yung walang makakita.

He chuckled. "Are you an artist, miss?"

"Ikaw nga mukha kang personal assistant ko e," I said with the same tone.

Isa pa tong lalaking to. Napapangiti niya ako sa weird na accent niya tuwing nagtatagalog. This is my first time to eat out without asking for a permission first. Kinakabahan ako.

Umiling siya at parang may gusto pang sabihin, pero pinili na nalang manahimik.

He pulled me to the side where it was a safezone. Nagpalit kami ng pwesto at doon siya sa malapit sa may mga dumadaang sasakyan. Nang matapos na naming lakarin yung extended waiting shed ay binuksan niya na yung payong. At parang hindi niya pinapayungan ang sarili niya. The shade of the umbrella fell on me more.

Dumating kami doon sa kainan. Parang suki ata to nilang magpipinsan. Presentable naman itong eatery at simple. Plus, medyo mahaba ang lakad bago umabot sa school. Like ten minutes walk.

"Are your cousins gossipers?" I asked directly. Still without removing my facemask and cap. Ganoon rin siya.

I can see his cousins and brothers, they just went out. Hindi nila kami nakita. Saktong pagdaan namin ay pagbayad nila sa counter.

He held out a small chuckle. "No, but they would tease us. I don't want you in an uncomfortable situation."

He stood up and ordered food. Tinanong niya rin kung anong gusto ko out of the menu above the counter. I said what I wanted, and he came back with a tray and the food.