Chapter 27

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"Ang bilis nyo naman yatang bumalik," bungad ko kina Jair at Isla.

Sa pagkakaalam ko ay mukhang isang oras lang silang nawala. Ngayon ay nandito na sila at nakapagpalit na din ng damit na casual si Jair. May bitbit syang fresh fruits at pagkain habang si Isla naman ay may dalang backpack.

"I will stay here with you. I'm going to let Isla's boyfriend use my car to return home and rest with your mother," he answered.

Grabbing the backpack from Isla to change into comfortable clothes, I said to Jair, "It's difficult to rest here."

"It's fine with me. I have to stay here beside you."

Tumalikod ako at inignora ang sinabi ni Jair sa akin. I shouldn't take it seriously, right? I shouldn't be holding my hands together behind my back and get flustered.

I stepped into the toilet to change. When I returned, Jair was the only one left with my father. He promptly gazed his way towards me. Then, he tapped the space next to him on the couch to gesture me to sit beside him.

"Have you turned your phone on?" nag-aalala kong tanong dahil iniwan nalang nya ang trabaho kanina at inignora ang mga tawag. Mag-gagabi na din at huli na kung papauwiin ko sya ngayon. Ang sama ko namang tao.

"Yes," only he answered.

Binigyan ko sya ng tingin na hindi naniniwala. Ayokong masisi ako. Mabait lang ang pakikitungo ni Madam sa akin pero kung malaman nila kung bakit hindi tumuloy si Jair ay malalagot ako at itataboy na ako, hindi lang para kay Jair, baka pati na sa trabaho ko.

He thrust his hand into his pocket and showed me his turned-on phone. "See?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko nang mapansin ang wallpaper ng phone nya. Even when I was not looking at the face, I could recognize the contour of my naked back, the curve of my shoulders, the crescent of my waist, and the unsettled loose hair lounging on a cottony pillow.

"Why are you making that face?" nagtataka nyang tanong.

"Ano yan? Sino yan?" sunod-sunod kong tanong.

"Nothing," nauutal na sagot nya sabay iwas ng tingin. Nangangatal nyang tinago ang phone at nag aktong inosente.

"Kailan mo kinuha yan? At bakit mo ginawang wallpaper?" Mahina pero padiing singhal ko sa kanya.

He rolled his eyes to me without moving his head towards me. Smiling, he replied, "Because it's sexy."

Malakas kong napalo ang braso nya. He was boldly saying it in front of my father who was lying unconsciously on the bed and just won a fight against death. If I could cut his tongue right now, then I would.

"Replace it with something decent. Paano kung may makakakita. Ano nalang ang iisipin nila?"

"It's not a lock screen wallpaper so it's safe. Ako lang ang nakakakita nito," pampanatag loob nya sa akin.

"Kahit na, Jair. Ang laswa tignan! Napakamanyak mo!" hindi makapaniwalang pangalan ko sa kanya.

Ngumisi lang sya sa sinabi ko at prenteng sumandal sa sofa na parang ang proud na proud nya pa. "Magaling talaga akong kumuha ng pictures. Hindi mo lang alam."

Nagbuga ako ng buntong hininga sabay pinagkrus ng magkabilang braso ko. "Manahimik ka nalang dahil siguradong naririnig ka ni Papa."

"With that thought... we should transfer your father to Manila. He'll be closer to you and your Mom can stay there with you."

"Okay na si Papa dito. Ayokong bumyahe sya ng malayo at mabinat ang katawan nya. At isa pa ay nandito si Isla, nag-aaral."

"Her boyfriend is here," he suggested.

PARADISE OF THE DEVIL (GONCALVES 1)Tahanan ng mga kuwento. Tumuklas ngayon