Renegade

Chapter 33

Alex was holding my hand when we finally entered our house. Niyaya kami ni Mama sa dining area para raw sumabay na sa hapunan at dahil nando'n daw si Papa.

“Tita, naprito ko nang maayos ‘yung chicken—”

Pero natigilan ako nang sumalubong sa akin ang matinis na boses ni Garnet pagkapasok namin sa dining area. She was wearing an apron and on her right hand, she was holding a tong. Her wide eyes looked at the two of us with disbelief... and pain.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa kamay ni Alex kasabay ng sarkastikong ngiti na gumuhit sa labi ko.

Why did she have to still be here in this time of the day? Talagang ang kapal ng mukha niyang magpabalik-balik dito sa kabila ng panggagago niya sa akin?

“Nako, Garnet! May dagdag pa tayong bisita. Hindi ka maniniwala pero may jowa na ang anak ko!” excited na sabi ni Mama habang kaagad namang napatayo si Papa na naabutan naming abala sa binabasa niyang libro.

“Ano? Boyfriend?” My dad immediately turned around and a deep frown instantly etched on his forehead when his eyes settled on our intertwined hands. “Bitawan mo ‘yang kamay ng anak mo kung ayaw mong bigla na lang bumulagta sa sahig.”

“Pa!”

“Umupo kayong dalawa rito. Ngayon din,” malalim at mahinahon na sabi ni Papa na alam konh isang nakakatakot na senyales.

Alex let go of my hand before we both went to the dining table. Magkatabi kaming naupo sa kanan ni Papa.

Garnet removed her apron and had the audacity to sit beside me. Hinawakan niya pa ang kamay ko sa ilalim ng mesa. “Okay lang, Clang. Nandito naman ako. Tutulungan ko kayo magpaliwanag kila Tito,” bulong ni Garnet na tuluyang nagdala sa akin ng matinding inis.

“Don’t meddle in this, Garnet. Hindi ka naman kasali sa diskusyong ‘to,” I told her, removing my hand from her grasp. I gave her a quick sideway glance. Nakita ko ang gulat at sakit sa mga mata niya. I just shrugged my shoulders at her before I returned my gaze to my father.

I would deal with Garnet later. Sa ngayon, kailangan ko munang ayusin ‘to.

“Wag mo ngang takutin ‘yang si Alex,” bumaling si Mama kay Alex nang may malawak na ngiti, “Okay lang naman na Alex ang itawag ko sa ‘yo ‘di ba?”

“Of course, Ma'am,” magalang na tugon ni Alex bago siya tumayo at kaagad na yumuko. “Hi po, Sir. Ako po si Alexander Lao. Boyfriend po ako ni Clarisse. Bago pa lang po kami at hindi po namin sinasadya na hindi kaagad sabihin. Naghahanap lang po kami ng tamang tyempo.”

I stared at Alex because of what he did. At moments like this, he could really be the ideal boyfriend every woman would ask for. He's caring and he certainly knew how to assure you. Kaso nga, sa sobrang perfect niya, alam mo nang malayo sa katotohanan na may katulad pa talaga niya.

“Maupo ka. Wala akong pakeelam sa pangalan mo. Ang kailangan kong malaman ay kung gaano katotoo ang nararamdaman mo para sa anak ko.”

Alex sat down and was about to answer when Garnet butt in when she should not in the first place.

“Si Alex po ang isa sa pinakamatalino sa batch namin. He has a very good personality din, Tito. Actually, matagal nang crush ni Clang si Alex and we really thought he would not notice her.”

My jaw clenched with the bullshit that Garnet was actually blabbering right now. How dare her to say those things? In front of Alex and my parents?

“Garnet,” I tried to stop her but she didn't budge.

She even giggled as if she was not embarrassing me right now for spilling that secret. “Crush na crush ni Clang si Alex. And then, just like the Cinderella, the prince noticed her. Nakakakilig talaga, Tito. Sobrang bagay nila. And if you're worrying for Clang, maaasahan mo po ako. Lagot sa akin ‘tong si Alex kapag sinaktan niya si Clang.”