Alluring Gleam of Light (Scholar Series #2)

Chapter 23

"Ang ganda-ganda mo naman. Ibibilad lang kita doon!"

Hinatak ko ang side door at naupo sa shotgun seat. "Ako lang 'to, bebe." Binalingan ko ng tingin si Elizzer at ngumisi.

Naniningkit ang mga mata niya sa akin. He's smiling, admiring the way I look today.

"Seryoso ako, Jaile. Magtatanim tayo doon. Mabibilad ka." Nangingiting iling niya at humilig sa akin para ikabit ang seatbelt ko. After he did that, he kissed my cheek, it made a sound, then he sat properly on the driver's seat.

Ang puso ko ay nagwawala na.

Shit.

Elizzer.

Please don't be like that. Baka hanap-hanapin ko iyan oras-oras na baka ay maasar ka sa akin!

"Sus!" I slammed my hand in the air. "Sanay ako! Nagta-training kami dati sa initan!"

He smiled at me, eyes were shining, seems so in love. Ibinuntong hininga ko ang kilig. Hay nako, Elizzer. Ako rin!

He started the engine so I leaned back to the backrest. I can't abolish my smile. Umiwas ako ng tingin sa kaniya at tumingala, but to my surprise — I caught mom, standing near the window on the second floor, watching us flirt, down here.

"Mommy..." Kumabog ng mabagal at mabigat ang dibdib ko. She's giving me disappointed glares.

Napahawak ako ng mahigpit sa seatbelt ko. She kept eye contact with me. As if she's anticipating I will go out of here and obey her commands instead.

But when the car finally drove away, she vanished in my sight. So what I did is just ... just looked down.

"Sorry, mommy..." I whispered I couldn't even hear my voice.

"Thank you for coming with me. Akala ko hindi ka makakasama..." His warm palm enveloped my hand.

"Nangako ako sa'yo, 'di ba?" Binalingan ko ng tingin si Elizzer. Kagabi dapat ang date namin dahil it's our first monthsary but I suspended it because my body's exhausted.

"It's okay to break your promise to me though. Kung may mas importante ka pang aasikasuhin kumpara sa akin ... It's okay. I could understand, Jaile..." He gave me a weak smile.

"Do you think I still have other priorities now? Aside from you?"

"I just thought ... You were getting hectically busy. Your  off is only on Sunday. And it all goes to me. I'm not complaining, Jaile. I love it actually ... Gusto ko ngang palagi kang nasa akin. But I guess ... I'm depriving your family of you."

It awakens something in me. So he noticed it as well? Hindi lang pala ako? Hindi lang si mommy?

Tinitigan kong mabuti ang lalaking nasa tabi ko. He glanced at me, just to smile.

Is he feeling guilty of it?

"Well, busy naman si mommy sa tuwing Sunday kaya sa'yo na lang ako." Ngumisi ako but he seemed unconvinced with that so my smile fade away.

"You have the same day off with your mom." He said, not even taking a glance at me.

I don't know how to react. I couldn't guess what he is implying. Bumuntong-hininga ako at tumingin sa labas ng windshield.

"So anong gusto mo? Ang itigil natin 'tong quality time kapag Sunday?" Seryosong tanong ko.

"Not! Of course..." Napalingon agad siya sa akin. "Makikisali ako sa bonding niyo ni Tita Caroline."

"A-Ano?" Nanlaki ang mata ko. Seryoso ba 'to? Ayaw na kaming dalawa lang dahil gusto kasama si mommy?

He groaned then he massaged his nose bridge.