Warmth of Summer

Chapter 9

Delivery

"Ihahatid na kita."

"W-what?" I stuttered.

But instead of answering me, mas nauna na siyang naglakad sa'kin. Lumingon muna ako sa likuran at nakita ko ang babae kanina na nakatingin sa aming dalawa. When she saw that I'm staring at her, she walk away already.

Saglit akong napapikit bago ako sumunod kay Finn. Minsan talaga hindi ko siya magets. Sometimes he's acting like he doesn't like me, sometimes naman ay pinapakita niya sa'kin na gusto niya akong kasama. He's so damn hard to read.

"I told you already that you don't need to accompany me," inis kong sabi nang makasabay na ako sakanya.

"I'm doing your parents a favor. Dumidilim na at hindi kita pwedeng hayaang umuwing mag-isa. Ako ang malalagot kapag may nangyaring masama sa'yo dahil ako ang huling nakasama mo," walang emosyon niyang sabi habang nakapamulsang naglalakad.

I rolled my eyes. "Damn your excuses, dami mong palusot!" Hindi naman siya umimik kaya nagsalita ulit ako. "You even left your girlfriend—"

"She's a friend," pamumutol niya sa sinabi ko.

"Whatever, it's obvious naman na hindi friend ang tingin niya sa'yo."

"Stop concluding things, Summer. You're not supposed to say what she felt towards me when you don't even know her name," masungit niyang sabi.

"Of course, I don't. Why would I when she's irrelevant," pagtataray ko.

"You don't have to be rude, Summer. I'm sure both of you will get along if you just give her a chance. She once mentioned you to me."

Tumaas naman ang kilay ko sakanya at doon ko rin napansin na sinisipa niya ang mga maliliit na kahoy at bato na nakaharang sa dinaraanan namin.

"What did she say?" I asked curiously, baka kasi paninira lang 'yon sa'kin.

"Maganda ka raw," tipid niyang sagot.

"H-huh?"

"Maganda ka nga," sabi niya habang titig na titig sa mga mata ko.

Parehong namula ang pisngi namin at sabay pa kaming nag-iwas ng tingin. Tahimik lang kaming dalawa habang naglalakad at tila walang gustong magsalita sa amin.

That wasn't the first time I got complimented, that wasn't the first time that someone told me that I'm pretty. But it felt like it was the first time for me. I don't want to confront him nor confirm if I heard it right kasi nahihiya ako.

I should be saying 'I know' since I'm always saying that every time someone tells me I'm beautiful. But when it comes to him, natatameme na lang ako.

Hindi ko namalayan na malapit na pala kami sa mansion. Bakit parang ang bilis?

"A-ah... You can g-go na, hatid na lang kita ng tingin," I said while smiling awkwardly.

Tumikhim naman ito at umiling. "Una kana, pasok na." He even shoved his hand signaling me to go ahead. But instead of listening to him, I stubbornly shakes my head.

"You go first, nasa harap lang ang bahay namin kaya safe na 'ko," pangungulit ko.

"No, mauna ka—"

"Gryffin, hijo!"

Sabay kaming napatingin nang may tumawag sa pangalan niya. My eyes grew wide when I saw mom at the doors' entrance, looking fabulous on her beige-colored soothing dress.

"Donya Blanche, kumusta po?" magalang na tanong ni Finn at lumapit kay mommy, completely leaving me.

Umirap naman ako bago ako sumunod sakanya at tumigil sa tabi ni mommy.