Chapter 7
Upbringing
I was raised in an environment where the pressure was more than evident.
"Hindi sapat na maganda lang, Noella. Dapat may utak at kaibig-ibig na ugali rin."
Nakatatak na ata iyon sa utak ko noon pa man.
"Babae ka at hindi ka ipinanganak para matinag lang. Alamin mo ang halaga mo bilang babae." She lectured.
It has been my family's norm. Gratia, munditia et potentia. It means grace, finesse, and power. Grace, to execute beauty in whatever you will do. Finesse, to handle every situation with a righteous character. And power to take control, a power not used to overpower and dominate, but a power not to get intimidated, but to take control.
Kung hindi ako naturuan ng pamilya ko na gamitin ang kapangyarihan sa mahirap na situwasyon ay baka matagal na kaming magkasintahan ni Jiro. Mahirap hindian si Jiro, but I'm not imprisoned in his palms, in his sweet words nor his plastic facade. I'm not naive. Atleast not anymore.
"Beautiful ..." Deo commented admiring the view we both put our eyes on. "So beautiful..." dagdag niya nakita ko sa sulok ng mata ang paglingon niya sa akin at pagtutok ng matagal.
I turned to him with stitched brows and noticed that he was just looking at the view in front of us.
The way he swiftly turned to the view, I saw it. I thought he was looking at me because that was what I felt. Or maybe I'm just feeling it. Delusion.
He turned to me swiftly and stood up. "Let's go. You have a class right?"
Yeah right. I almost forgot the time. I stood up and went to the counter to pay. But he stopped me by holding both of my shoulders and leading me away from it.
Right then, I realized that he was done paying for the whole lunch.
"Magkano binayad mo?"
"Mura lang," he chuckled. "Let's go back to the university."
I kept wondering kung kailan siya nagbayad. Is it when he stood up to grab some water? Bakit siya palagi ang nagbabayad? I have money naman!
He opened the car's door for me, I eyed him sharply while hopping in, pero nginitian lang ako. He's really something. Ayaw ko pa naman ng nakadepende sa iba.
May ilang minuto pa nang makarating kami sa school. Before we parted ways pinigilan niya akong umalis sa pamamagitan ng paghawak sa pulsuhan ko. Realizing what he had done agad niya akong binitawan.
"You have something to say?" tanong ko.
"Yeah... " he gulped, and I saw his Adam's apple move because of it.
"What is it?" I asked while fixing the strap of my tote bag.
He breathe deep at ipinikit ang mga mata at umiling. "Wag na lang muna pala..." ngiti niya.
I have a feeling about what he was going to say, but I choose not to mind it because I'm not sure.
One thing I observed about him is that he's playful, but he's kind. The way he acts and the way he talks is something that I can't simply predict. Why is he acting all friendly to me?
"Ms. Mondiego," agad akong napatayo ng tawagin ni Sir Lincoln ang pangalan ko.
Narinig ko ang pigil na tawa ni Lau sa tabi ko. Palihim ko siyang sinulyapan pinigilan na lang rin ang sariling tawa. Pasaway pa rin talaga minsan.
BINABASA MO ANG
Cursed Kiss (Curse #1)
RomanceI have always been obedient. Morals, manners, etiquette, class, and intelligence. I've done it. I abided on it like it's a law. But you came, starting with a kiss. All of that didn't matter anymore. Then, there is this curse between us. A long hist...
