Love and Pretensions (Published Under PIP)

08.

"Hey, love, guess what?"

Nag-angat ako ng tingin kay Kai at pinagtaasan siya ng kilay. We're done eating lunch and we decided to visit a park to have a picnic, always the perfect public place to hang out and draw attention.

"I bought a new property. It's a beach resort!" he said happily. Nanlaki ang mga mata ko at gulat siyang tinitigan.

"You did?!" Magkano na naman kaya ang nagastos ng isang 'to?

"Hmm, and operations will start next month! I'll take you there two weeks from now before the grand opening para solo muna natin." he winked.

"I'm so happy for you, Kai! And I'm excited to see it." I giggled.

Nabanggit nga niya sa'kin noon na may pinag-iipunan daw siya, siguro ay ito na 'yun. Pero kahit naman hindi mag-ipon ang isang 'to eh mabibili niya kung anong gusto niya.

"I'm excited for you to see what it looks like." nakangiting sabi niya at sinubuan ako ng cotton candy na nabili namin kanina sa nagtitinda sa isang gilid.

It's only been about 5 months since we first met and we're this close already. Mainit pa'rin ang pangalan namin sa media pero wala namang kaso 'yun. Dumadami din ang fans namin kahit ako lang naman ang artista sa'ming dalawa. And the best part about it all was that my old management offered me a new movie. Hindi ko pa alam ang ibang details pero tinanggap ko na kaagad. Ang tagal ko na kayang naghihintay!

-

"Finally, you're home. I've been waiting for you." salubong ni mommy pag-uwi ko. My brows creased. She's sober again, it's been a usual thing now pero hindi ko pa'rin maiwasang manibago.

"You were?"

"Yes, I want to have a word with you." aniya at nagsimula nang maglakad papunta sa opisina niya. Nagtataka naman akong sumunod.

"You were out with that Kai again?" she asked seriously. Tumango naman ako kaagad. "Is he really your boyfriend?"

Napangiwi ako at umiling. Ilang beses ko nang sinabi kay mommy na hindi pero hindi din siya naniniwala. Gano'n ba kami kagaling umakto ni Kai?

"You're so slow, Avery." napailing siya. "When I was your age, I already had a rich man wrapped around my fingers."

Napailing ako sa sinabi niya. Ilang beses na nga ba niyang nabanggit na noong kapanahunan niya ay madaming naghahabol sa kanya at gusto siyang mapangasawa? Aside from being the unica hija of the Vergaras, my mom, without a doubt, is really beautiful.

"I already got what I want, mom. My old management offered me a new project and I believe that after that, everything will fall into place again. And about Kai... our friendship is genuine, I treat him as a true friend now." umiling ako.

"So you no longer want to use him anymore?" her brows arched.

Umiling ako at tipid na ngumiti. "I don't need to, mom. Bumabalik naman na sa dati ang career ko."

"But the same thing can happen again, Avery. You can lose that again." she chuckled. "Oh, I have an idea."

I curiously looked at her. I saw her hiding a smile and I already know that this is not good. She's planning something again.

"You should make him fall in love with you. He'll give you everything you want, Avery. He might also give you a big share of his company. Oh, just imagine! Isn't that what we want? Money? Wealth? Power?" she grinned wickedly.

Mabilis akong umiling. I knew she was up to no good. "No way, mom. There's no way I'm doing that. Naging mabait sa'kin si Kai at hindi ko siya kayang lokohin nang gano'n." inis kong sabi at pumihit na paalis ng opisina niya.