DUCANI LEGACY SERIES 8: Khalid (Exclusively Available In The VIP Group)

Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3

Anie

Pababa ako ng hagdan nang marinig ko si tita Evangeline na kausap ang pamangkin niyang si Oceana. Looks like Oceana is seeking help about her love life, at dahil pare-pareho naming alam na iba mag-react ang parents niya pagdating sa mga ganoong bagay ay kay tita Evangeline siya madalas tumakbo.

"That's what I've been saying to your cousins, Cia. Establish yourself so a man's social status will never be enough to impress you," dinig kong sabi ni tita Evangeline.

"Is it true, Tita? You never fell for tito just because he's part of the secret service?" tanong ni Oceana.

"Of course not. In fact, he's a major red flag back then kaya kahit na naging bahagi siya ng secret service, kung hindi ko siya nakitaan ng pwede kong mahalin sa kanya, baka hindi naman siya ang napangasawa ko."

I saw how Oceana tucked her hair behind her ear. "So what did you like most about tito, tita?"

Tita Evangeline smiled. Maging ang mga mata ay kumislap na para bang hanggang ngayon, wala pa ring kapantay ang kilig na nararamdaman niya kapag naiisip si tito Linel. I want that, too. I grew up seeing that kind of sparkle in my mom, my aunt, and my ninangs' eyes. They made me have faith that true love exists, but every time I'm imagining the man I'd walk down the aisle for, the same man appears in my head.

Si Khalid. Kung kailan iyon nagsimula ay hindi ko na maalala. All I know is that I cannot see him the same way anymore, ever since my heart realized the kind of love it craves to feel.

"Your tito Linel is a man of his words. When he said he'd come home safe for me, he really did. When he said he'd never stop me from chasing my dreams kahit maging mag-asawa na kami, he quit his job, stayed at home to take care of our kids, and supported me when I went to med school. When he said my money is all mine, he tripled his investments so he'll have more than enough to sustain our family's needs so I will never have to touch my salary. He loves me so he kept showing me reasons to keep choosing him every single time. Kaya lahat ng pangako niya, Cia, tinutupad niya."

Pati ako ay napangiti. Daddy Khalid, or Khalid as I like to call him in my diaries and in my head, is a man of his words, too. He stopped drinking and didn't entertain girls while I was at the booth camp because he promised me that. Madalas ko lamang asarin dahil gustong-gusto ko kapag napipikon ko siya. Nakakahanap ako ng dahilan para maglambing.

Tuluyan akong bumaba ng hagdan. "Hi, tita. Hi, Cia."

"Hi, Anie! Sorry, ha na-late kami ng dating dito sa Monte Costa. Alam mo naman ang schedule ni Liah ko," paliwanag ni tita Evangeline nang matapos akong bumeso sa kanila.

"It's okay, tita. By the way, have you seen Atreus? I've been looking for him. Nag-inom daw po kagabi."

"Nasa harap ng Raja. Tulog yata?" sagot ni Cia.

I sighed. Nagpaalam na ako sa kanila bago ako nagmartsa palabas ng clubhouse. Nang mahanap ko si Atreus ay naupo ako sa edge ng sunlounger kung saan siya nakahiga. He's wearing his sunglasses and his upper body was shirtless. Nakaunan ang magaling kong kapatid sa dalawang palad at tila natutulog.

I removed his sunglasses, making him groan in an irritated way. "Nag-inom ka raw nang marami kagabi?" nakataas ang kilay kong tanong.

Atrues sneered. Inagaw niya ang salamin at muling isinuot. "Bakit ako lang ang pinapagalitan mo? Si Areisso rin naman uminom."

Napairap ako. "Sinabi ko na sa inyo na huwag kayong mag-iinom kagabi!"

"Umiinom ka rin naman, 'di ba?"

"Yes, but I know my limits. You guys don't!"

Atreus groaned. "Tigilan mo nga ako, ate."

I sighed. "Nasaan ba ang Jacob na 'yon at nang mabatukan?" Siguradong iyon ang nagyaya ng inom kagabi sa mga kapatid ko palibhasa nag-fishing sina Daddy buong gabi kasama ang mga myembro ng MCB.