Warmth of Summer

Chapter 7

Father

"Can we talk?"

I cleared my throat and raised my chin as I faced him again. "After you sided with our enemy? I decline."

Dumaing naman ako nang bigla akong binunggo ni Winter sa braso. I glared at her but she just smirk at me and walk towards the man who was beside Finn.

"Stop acting, Summer. Hindi bagay sa'yo," natatawa nitong sabi.

Akmang aangal pa ako nang tinalikuran niya na ako at hinila ang lalaki papalayo sa amin at kinausap ito. But I didn't heard anything kasi medyo malayo naman sila.

"H-hey! We are suppose to be going home na! Saan pa kayo pupunta?" sigaw ko sakanila.

Mukhang narinig iyon ni Winter dahil lumingon ito saamin. She lifted her right hand and waved it like she's shoving us away.

"Una na kayo, commute na lang ako!" sigaw nito at hindi na hinintay ang sagot namin dahil agad itong naglakad palayo kasama ang lalaki habang hila-hila pa ang kamay.

Napairap nalang ako sa hangin at nilingon din si Autumn na nasa tabi ko. "How about you? You should come with me since you need to rest."

"M-mom called me... M-mauna ka na rin, Sammy," mahinang sabi nito at naiwang nakabukas ang bibig ko nang tumakbo na ito papunta kila mommy na kausap parin si Solomon.

Damn it! Inuna pa talaga nila ang mga lalaki nila kaysa sa'kin?

I have no choice but to look at the tall man in front of me. I rolled my eyes when I saw that he's still staring at me. I crossed my arms and walked closer to him. Tumingala pa ako dahil nga kapre siya.

"Why are you here? Don't you have classes?" mataray kong tanong.

Instead of answering me, pinakita niya sa'kin ang handbag ko kaya agad akong napasinghap. Oh my God! How can I forget my luxurious bag? That's freaking expensive!

"Oh... My precious bag!" I exaggeratedly said and grabbed it before I hugged it tightly. "Bakit nasayo 'to?"

"Naiwan mo kanina," tipid niyang sagot at nilagay ang kamay sa bulsa ng slacks niya.

"Thanks for returning this to me." I sweetly smile at him. "I'll go ahead, bye!" Kumindat ako sakanya bago ko siya nilagpasan.

Nakakailan palang akong hakbang nang maramdaman kong sumusunod siya sa likuran ko kaya agad akong humarap sakanya. Hindi naman siya nabigla sa ginawa ko pero umatras siya dahil medyo malapit siya sa'kin.

"Are you following me? Are you a stalker? Sabi ko na nga ba! You're just acting like you don't like me but the truth is you're already in love with—"

"We're on the same way, Miss Haponesa. I'm done with my classes and I'm on my way to my work place. I'm not following you and I'm not your stalker," walang gana niyang sabi at nilagpasan ako.

I tightly closed my eyes because of embarrassment. He's always slapping me with the reality that he's not fucking interested in me like what I am always thinking.

I continue to walk while sulking and glaring at his broad back. Tumaas ang kilay ko nang mapansing bumagal ang lakad nito kaya hindi nagtagal ay magkatabi na kaming naglalakad. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin dahil ayokong mapahiya na naman.

"Why did you do that?" Nagpatuloy lang ako sa paglalakad kahit na tinanong niya 'yon.

I don't want to assume that he's talking to me. I don't want him to think na assumera na naman ako.

"You're intentionally ignoring me, aren't you?"

"Oh my... Ako ba ang kausap mo?" Nagkunwari akong nagulat habang nasa bibig ko ang isa kong kamay.