Cordovez Series #1: Break The Accord

Chapter 6

Date

"Dito ka," sabay tapik ko sa katabi kong upuan habang tinitignan si Xavier na nakatayo sa gilid ko. Ang mga kasama namin ay nakaupo na at siya na lang ang hinihintay. Hawak niya kasi ang tray ng pagkain na in-order namin.

Lumingon siya kay Yonah at Yohan na katapat ko at mukhang balak niya pang makipagpalit.

"Xavier," pagpipigil ko sa anumang binabalak niya.

Wala siyang nagawa dahil wala nang bakanteng upuan sa table namin kundi yung nasa tabi ko lang which is reserved solely for him. Wala namang ibang uupo diyan.

Pagkaupo niya ay ipinatong ko kaagad ang kamay ko sa kaliwang hita niya. Nagkatitigan kami bago ako ngumisi. He looked away, as usual.

"What are you doing?" he asked in a whisper

"Sinasanay ka. Sulitin mo na kasi hindi ko na uulitin 'to."

"Then what the heck are you training me for if you're not gonna do it again?"

Hindi ko na siya pinansin dahil nasa amin na ang atensyon ng katapat namin. The twins are watching us whisper with each other as if we are some sort of stand up comedians minus the laughter and fun.

I glanced at Yonah who's watching us with nothing but innocence in her face. Baka iniisip lang niya na nag-aaway kami ni Xavier at ayaw ko lang iparinig sa kanila. If she finds out what I'm doing, she would tease Xavier to hell.

Binalik ko ang atensyon ko kay Xavier na nakatitig sa akin. His lips are redder than normal because he keeps on biting it. All while his brows are furrowed. He looks very frustrated but he can't let it all out and that's what makes this fun for me. I like seeing him struggling.

Inangat ko ang kamay ko mula sa hita niya para makapagsimula na akong kumain. I heard him heave a huge sigh. It wasn't just me who heard it. Pati ang kambal na nasa kanya na ang buong atensyon ngayon.

"Kuya? Are you okay?"

"I'm fine, Nana."

Yonah did not ask further but Yohan did not buy what Xavier said. Nagtataka pa rin itong nanonood sa ginagawa ni Xavier. I cleared my throat and now he's looking at me.

"Can you pass me the pepper?" I asked Xavier. Kinuha niya iyon bago inabot sa akin. I made sure to touch his hand longer before letting it go. Nagkatinginan ulit kami. Hindi na matukoy ang hitsura niya habang hinihiwa ang steak niya.

"Damn it, Raija..."

"What?" pagmamaang-maangan ko. I played innocent. As if I didn't do it on purpose.

I was teasing him all throughout dinner. Pakiramdam ko nga ay hindi siya nakakain ng maayos because he spent most of his time struggling. Although I noticed that he is starting to get used to my advances.

Nauna akong naihatid sa bahay namin. Pagkababa ko mula sa SUV ni Xavier ay umikot ako para mabuksan ang driver's seat kung nasaan siya. He's not even looking at me. Diretso ang tingin niya sa kalsada.

"Where's my kiss?" tanong ko. Not even bothered that his cousins probably heard me. I heard someone clearing his throat pero binalewala ko iyon.

"Xavier," I called him but he didn't even move. He's just sitting there, frozen.

"Lag ka nanaman ba? Bukas na lang? O hindi mo na ako mahal?"

Nagmura siya bigla na ikinatawa ko. What is this?

"I'm just kidding. Sige, alis na kayo! Gabi na! Bye!" sinara ko na ang pinto but there are no signs of them leaving yet. Mas nasigurado ko lang na wala silang balak umalis noong bumaba si Xavier mula sa SUV.