Enchanted Series #1: Curiosity And Ignorance

Chapter 25

“Luisito!” pagbati ko. Unti-unti na akong nagh-heal lalo kaya ko na nakuhang ngumiti ng sincero hindi gaya ng dati. Inutusan ko ang yaya na maghanda ng tsaa. He fix his poise at nagsalita pagkatapos.

“Actually lady Maria, I have a question” he said. Tumango ako and told him to proceed.

“Kayo na ba?” he asked. Kumunot noo ko dahil hindi ko mawari ang kanyang sinasabi. “nino?” I said.

“Ni Von Benitez” anas niya. Huminga ako ng malalim at uminom ng tsaa.

“Why do you want to know?” I asked in my not-so-natural voice. Tumitig ako ng diretso sa kanyang mga mata yet I can’t find the answer I’m looking for.

“You don’t have to know” tugon niya at uminom din ng tsaa.

“Alam mo kasi Maria…” usal niya at inayos ang upo. “my feelings to you starts to get worse. Maria, matagal na akong may pagtingin sa’yo but I’m afraid to convey this kasi anak ako ng vice mayor. Knowing your father, hindi siya boto sa akin”

“Matagal ko na ring kinikimkim ang lungkot na nangingibabaw sa aking puso, bawat araw ikaw ang aking iniisip. Bawat araw ikaw ang itinitibok ng aking puso. Wala nang iba kundi ikaw lamang” paliwanag niya.

“Kahit alam kong wala akong tsansa, hindi ko mapigilan ang sarili ko na itigil ito dahil sa’yo lamang ito rumirisponde” pag-amin niya.

I saw his hands. Nanginginig ito, I guess kinakabahan siya habang umaamin.

“I’m already with someone” I drop the bomb with his confession. I drank the tea as if I am chilling with the tension between us. But the truth is I wasn’t chilling. I’m afraid of what he could do. He’s a son of a vice mayor. A government member. And I’m afraid of what he would say.

Luisito smiled bitterly, as if he wasn’t sad with the response. I know he’s been chilling. Oo sabihin na nating nasasaktan ang tao dahil sa sagot ko, but who knows what’s up on his sleeve.

“Your question earlier, kung kami na ba ni Von Benitez, it’s a yes. I’m sorry kung paligoy-ligoy ako sa sagot ko. I don’t want anyone outside to know this except the Ackerman clan and the girls” tugon ko. “pasensya na kung sa tingin mo ay may pagtingin ako sa’yo. I can’t blame myself to have a lovingly charm. Kaya kung ganon ang tingin ko sa’yo. I’m sorry”

“I don’t want to hurt your feelings kaya ko sinasabi ito. Ayokong umasa ka kasi mabait ako sa’yo. Ayokong umasa ka kasi nakatingin ako sa’yo sa tuwing nagsasalita ka. Ayokong isipin mo na may ibig sabihin lahat ng ginagawa ko” sagot ko.

“If everything offends you, tell me immediately so that we can fix it” huli kong tugon. Tumayo na ako at umalis na.

Not looking back.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

“Musta na Rose?” pagbati ko kay Thraia nang makita ko ito. She smiled but her smile… Something is definitely wrong.
“Bakit? Ayos ka lang ba?” I asked. I looked at the people’s stares.

Tumango siya. Tumingin siya sa mga tao na iba na ang tingin sa amin. Nagsisibulungan din ang iba sa kanila ngunit hindi sapat upang marinig ko.

“Don’t mind them” she said, at hinawakan ang buhok ko to gently pat it.

I saw her in my peripheral vision that she looked back at sinungitan ang mga tao.

The people starts to smirk and mock her. Yet we both can’t figure out bakit.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

Mabilis na lumipas ang nangyari. Napansin din ni Von na pinagtitinginan ako ng mga tao.

Kasama niya ako sa canteen dahil I decided na magbaon ako ng pera and thanks to kuya, binigyan niya ako.

But he told me to conserve money and consume a little percentage of it. Kaya smoothie ang nabili ko at nilibre niya pa ako ng lunch.

I spotted Luisito sa dulohan ng canteen. Nag-fist bump pa sila ni Vincent at tumingin pa ito sa akin.

Humiwalay na si Vincent sa amin. “palaging nakatingin sa’yo ‘yang si Lui” panimula ni Von, studying what would he do.

“He confessed to me yesterday” I said. Tumango siya. “oo, nagsabi siya kahapon sa amin, but he didn’t say the name of the girl. I didn’t expect na ikaw pala ang babaeng tinutukoy niya”

He chuckled a little. “may pagkababaero rin kasi siya like kuya. Nahulog pala siya sa charms mo” kumuha siya ng hair tie at pinuyod ang buhok niya.

“Actually, I rejected him” tugon ko.

“That’s great. Although nagmumukha akong masamang tao rito, but Luisito has something on his sleeve. His confession might either his sincere feelings to you, or his way to destroy your family” he held my hand.

“You. Your cousins and your brother, you are the only hope for the Ackerman clan. May pina-plano si Luisito. Sinabi na niya ito sa akin bu I won’t disclose it” tumingin ito sa kanya.

“Malapit lang tayo sa kanila. Once he knew that I told you about his plan, I will be killed” he smiled and assured. “at least I died being with you. Being with you is the only thing I ask for. And I’m a lucky guy to grant that”

Ngumingiti ako. Ngunit nababalot ng takot ang buong katawan ko.

“His confession might either his sincere feelings to you, or his way to destroy your family.”

May kinalaman ba ito sa tingin ng mga tao kanina?

And why they are looking to her condescendingly?

Nilunok ko ang laway ko, at kumain na lamang.

Nang lumapit papalapit sa amin ang dalawa, we acted as if Von didn’t tell me something that would shiver me down to my spine.

· · ─────── ·𖥸· ─────── · ·

“Sabay na kayo sa amin!” alok ni Luisito but Von gladly decline. Nakatitig pa rin sa akin ang lalaki kahit si Von ang kausap niya.

I could say… His stare is quite creepy.

“Ah. I got it. Akala ko may pupuntahan kayo sa munisipyo regarding to political matters” he laughed awkwardly. “wala naman kami masyadong ginagawa, ito si kuya marami, he’s the heir anyways” Von casually said. Masungit na tumingin sa kanya si Vincent at umirap.

Nagbiro pa silang tatlo at nagpaalam pagkatapos.

Nauuna nang maglakad si Vincent at may sinabi ito sa akin.

“Maria, we have to protect him at all cost” he informed. I stared at Von na naka-earphones pa. Dahil sa lakas siguro ng music sa tainga niya ay hindi niya naririnig ang sinabi namin.

His stare means something, and meaning by him, he’s talking about Von, his younger twin brother, and my boyfriend.