Bewitching the Tempter

Chapter 11: Ready

Because I was mad, I think I did well. When our class concluded ay agad akong lumabas without looking at Kyla and Agatha. I know that I am being unreasonable again pero ayoko lang talagang maging plastic.

Mabilis ang lakad ko but I immediately felt people following me, when I turned my back ay agad kong nakita ang dalawa na ngiting-ngiti na nakatingin sa akin.

"Sayang talaga, Klio! Tingnan mo 'yong picture namin kanina, ang ganda! Grabe, kinikilig pa rin ako kay Rachel." Agatha shrieked.

"Dapat talaga sumama ka, same pa naman kayo ng apelyido! You could've introduced yourself to her!" Kyla added.

Seriously? That topic again? I rolled my eyes in annoyance.

Hindi ba sila makaget-over?

"I'm not interested," sagot ko at mas lalong binilisan ang lakad.

"Wow, wala ka sa mood ngayon?"

"Taray mo beh ha!"

I sighed. Wala ba silang common sense? Mukha ba akong masaya? But then, hindi ko naman sila masisisi because they were a fan of her.

"I'm just not interested in her." I added, trying to calm myself.

"Bakit naman? Bait niya kaya?" Agatha asked.

I stared at her in disbelief. E ayaw ko nga e. Ano 'yon? Required akong maging fan niya?

"Omg! Nagseselos ka ba, Klio? Kasi si Rachel ang kasama ni AJ?" Kyla's eyes widened at nagkatinginan pa sila ni Agatha. Based on their expression, I could say that they're already thinking that the idea they have is the absolute reason.

I sighed. I really want to calm down, pero...this is really...

I closed my eyes before looking at them.

"Look, guys, I'm really not in the mood today. I need to go home." I muttered and sighed.

Hindi ko pa rin pala talaga kayang pagsalitaan ng masama ang mga taong tinuring ko ng kaibigan.

I just can't.

"Ah, gano'n ba? Sige, mauna ka na! Kita kits nalang bukas." Agatha smiled at gano'n din si Kyla.

Mabilis akong humiwalay sa kanila pagkatapos at saktong pasakay na ako ng jeep nang may humintong itim na SUV sa harap ko.

When it opened, it revealed my father's butler. And when our eyes met ay tila alam ko na kung ano ang pakay niya.

I didn't want to go with him but I had no choice, dahil kung tatanggi ako ay alam kong pipilitin lang din ako.

My hands were trembling the whole ride. David didn't say anything, ang sabi lang niya ay gusto akong makita ni Dad, pero may palagay na ako na kung hindi dahil sa inasta ko kay Rachel ay may kaugnayan naman sa sinabi ni Ninong Larry ang pag-uusapan namin. O baka rin...ipapamukha lang niya sa akin kung gaano ako ka-talunan.

"This way, señorita." David led the way when we got to the mansion.

Sumunod naman ako sa kanya at nang makarating sa study ay agad kong nakita ang aking ama.

He was reading a book and when he felt our presence ay agad niya iyong ibinaba.

Iminuwestra niya ang kaharap na silya at agad naman akong sumunod at naupo roon.

"How's UP? How's your studies?" He asked without looking at me.

I smiled. Bakit ba ako umasa na kukumustahin niya ako?

"It's okay, Dad. I'm doing good." I answered, trying to conceal the sadness and longing I was feeling.

"Your grades?" He asked again as he started flipping pages, not even looking at me in front of him. Pakiramdam ko tuloy ay isa lang akong dumi sa harapan niya.