Dust in the Diamond

Chapter 2

Hindi ko maiwasang balingan ng tingin ang kaliwa ko- si Chalto na tuon ang mga mata sa daan, habang kontrolado ang manibela ng kaniyang mga kamay. Seryoso ang kaniyang mukha. Halata namang masama ang timpla niya. At batid kong kasalanan ko yun.

"Love?" mahinang pagtawag ko sa kaniya. I sat my palm on his lap and stroke it apologetically and affectionately.

"Stop that, Love," mahinahon, ngunit may diin niyang sabi.

He pulled the car on the side of the road and he laid his eyes on me. My hand's pause caressing his lap for a while.

"I'm sorry for making you mad, Chalto"

Hindi ako makatingin sa kaniyang mga mata. Ayokong salubungin ang tingin niya, dahil masasaktan lamang ako kung kaya yumuko na lamang ako.

"Masisisi mo ba ako kung nagtatampo ako sa'yo? I know, I might sound selfish, but pangangailangan yun ng lalaking tulad ko na tutugunan ng babaeng tulad mo," aniya. I remained silent coz my mind couldn't make any word to think.

"I thought, our first love making would be as tender as the night and as hotter as the day. Pero sadyang hindi lang nakiayon ang panahon sa ating dalawa"

"I'm sorry"

Yun na lang ang kayang likhaing salita ng bibig ko. Walang bahid ng sumbat sa paraan ng kaniyang pagsasalita, pero hindi pa rin maikakaila ang pagkadismaya sa tono ng kaniyang boses.

"Hey, Love... "

He held my chin up. I pouted my lips and he immediately kissed it. I kissed him back.

"Don't feel bad 'bout yourself, Love. I understand you and I respect it. I love you more than you deserve and there's no room for me to remain mad unto you. Hihintayin kita kahit mahirap magpigil"

Muli niya akong masuyong hinagkan sa aking mga labi na akin namang tinugunan.

"Thank you and I love you so much, My Cappuccino," I said. My heart is melting. I gave him one more smack kiss before hugging him.

"And I love you, too. Just please, h'wag mo lang ulit gagawin ang paghimas sa hita ko while I am driving, Love. Just so you know, you're waking up the slumbering dragon," aniya na mahina kong ikinatawa. Bumitaw na rin ako sa pagyakap ko sa kaniya at muling umayos sa pagkakaupo.

"Noted," I assured him.

He chuckled and commenced driving. And now I'm relieved.

Ilang sandali lang ay huminto ang sasakyan sa tapat ng isang ancestral house. Pinagbuksan ako ng pinto ni Chalto at inalalayang makalabas sa kotse.

"Is this your Granpa's house?" bulalas ko.

"Yes"

"Wow," hindi ko napigilang sambitin.

Right in front of me is an ancestral house established in bygone centuries, yet it looks like a modern and luxurious edifice. Ever since, I am very fascinated with the antiquated things. They beheld such opulence in my eyes. I like their rarity, uniqueness, grandeur, and most especially their story and history.

Pumasok kami sa loob ng bahay. I couldn't stop myself from nosing around the place. Palatial. That's all I could sum up the whole place into one. The highly polished parquet narra floor. The bulky, ponderous, and heavenly carved sumptuous furnishings. Also, the ebony and walnut rare and favored woods were combined in a single piece for contrast, gold oak tableware with lavish gilded bronze fittings. Spiralled and shell-shaped lathe-turned elements and ornaments. Antique pottery and porcelains, windows made of Capiz abd it's grand staircase made of narra.