Way Back Home

Chapter 10

Order my published books at WARRANJ SUAREZ MONASTERIO on Facebook.

Please expect slow updates. For early access, you may subscribe on my VIP Group or on Patreon.

Way Back Home is already finished on VIPs and Patreon.

—

Chapter 10

Wala sa sarili akong nag-angat ng tingin kay Tobias. He looked clueless while staring at me with furrowed brows. Umayos siya ng upo at hinawakan ang kamay ko.

"What's wrong, Zarinna?"

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa cell phone bago ito iniharap kay Tobias. His eyes darted on the screen. Mas lalong nagsalubong ang kilay niya bago iniangat muli ang tingin sa akin.

"Who sent it to her?"

Umiling ako. "I have no idea."

His phone that was beside his plate suddenly beeped. Kinuha niya ito at tiningnan. His jaw clenched upon staring at it. Ipinakita niya rin ito sa akin hindi kalaunan.

Cedrick: Damn. Saw your pictures. You a model now?

Tiningnan ko si Tobias. He shook his head and breathed out. Ibinaba niya ang cell phone sa ibabaw ng mesa at isinandal ang likod sa silya.

"Looks like our photos are circulating on social media."

Nagbawi ako ng tingin sa kaniya at itinuon ito sa cell phone ko. I went to Facebook and scrolled over the news feed. I have lots of notification and most of them are tagged photos.

I checked them and saw plenty of stolen shots behind the photoshoot earlier! At nang makita ko kung sino ang nag-post no'n ay iong mismong photographer.

"Damn it!" I greeted my teeth. "No wonder Mommy has already found out about this..." Tumayo ako mula sa upuan at nagbaba ng tingin kay Tobias. "I have to go home. Kailangan ko makausap si Mommy."

He nodded. "Do you want me to come with you?"

"No, no. Not now. Ayaw kong mabigla siya. I'll take this slowly. Kapag ayos na, tatawagan kita para sabay tayong haharap sa kaniya."

"Alright. Update me as soon as you can," he said and stood up. "I'll drive you home now."

Tumango ako. Bago pa man kami tuluyang makalabas ng restaurant ay tumunog muli ang cell phone ko. Another message from Mommy flashed in the screen.

Mom: Meet me in my office. Now.

My heart felt like I'm standing in the tallest building while having an Acrophobia. I have never been this nervous all throughout my life. Pakiramdam ko ay oras na malaman niya nang may relasyon kami ni Tobias ay paghihiwalayin niya na kami.

But I am not a kid anymore. Oo nga at nag-aaral pa ako. Nasa puder niya pa ako pero wala naman sigurong masama kung makipagrelasyon ako sa anak ng matalik niyang kaibigan. If she's going to reason out about Tita Trinity being Dad's ex wife, then she is being unreasonable.

"Sa main office mo ako ihatid. Nandoon si Mommy." sabi ko kay Tobias nang alalayan niya akong makapasok sa passenger seat.

Mabilis ang naging bawat galaw niya. Alam kong nararamdaman niya ang tenson na namamayani sa akin. Kaya naman habang nagmamaneho ay hawak niya ang isang kamay ko. He was gently caressing it as if he's comforting me.

"Call me right away, hmm? Sa bahay lang ako pagkatapos dito. I'll wait for it." he said as soon as the car reached the basement.

"I will."

I inched closer and placed a soft kiss on his lips. He cupped my cheek and turned the kiss harder.

"I love you.." he whispered. His tone was laced with worry.

Alam kong nag-aalala rin siya sa magging usapan namin ni Mommy. Rest assured that if she asked me to break up with him, I would defy her.

Pagkaalis ni Tobias ay kaagad akong pumasok sa building. I walked towards the privates elevator where Mommy is the only one who is allowed to use it. Pagkarating sa top floor ay mabilis na bumati sa akin ang secretary niya.
Tumango lang ako at nagtuloy tuloy na sa pagpasok.

Alam kong wala siyang appointment ngayon dahil kung mayroon, hindi niya ako papapuntahin dito.

Naabutan ko si Mommy a nakatayo sa glasswall habang pinagmamasdan ang tanawin sa malayo. She's holding a wine glass on her left hand, all serious and stern. She looks like a queen who never gives a fuck about everything that's going on around her.

Sana ganoon rin siya sa amin ni Tobias kung sakali. Sana wala rin siyang pakialam.

"Are you in a relationship with Tobias?" she asked the moment she felt my presence. Ni hindi niya man lang ako tiningnan.

Huminga ako nang malalim at naupo sa couch na naroon. I crossed my legs and looked around.

This office is too huge for her.

"Yes, I am." I said directly.

She let out an audible smirk. It was laced with sarcasm.

"You knew our past with the Follosco, right? Naging asawa ng Daddy mo ang Tita Trinity mo, Zarinna."

"Hindi ko po nakakalimutan iyan, Mommy."

Hinarap niya ako, naniningkit ang mga mata. She placed the wineglass on her center table without taking her eyes off me. Naupo siya sa swivel chair niya at marahan itong iginalaw.

"Iyon naman pala. Bakit nakipagrelasyon ka pa rin? What is this? Another Ravena and Follosco tandem-"

"You sound bitter, Mom."

Umawang ang labi niya, napalitan ng talim ang mga mata.

"What did you just say?"

Bumuntonghininga ako. I thought this conversation would start calmly. lyong maidadaan namin sa maayos na pag-uusap pero kararating ko pa lang ay mainit na kaagad ang ulo niya.

I knew it. My relationship with Tobias would trigger her past. Pero bakit nga? Matagal nang tapos ang nakaraan nila. Hindi pa rin siya nakakaabante?

"Look, Mommy. I don't honestly know why you are being upset about my relationship with Tobias. Ano naman po kung Follosco siya at Ravena ako? Walang kinalaman ang relasyon namin sa nakaraan nina Trinity at Daddy. Please stop making a fuss about it! Kung si Daddy at Tita Trinity nga ay pumayag sa relasyon namin, bakit hindi mo po magawa?"

Nagsalubong ang mga kilay niya. She suddenly stopped from swaying her chair while eyeing me intensely.

"They already knew?"

I sighed. "Yes, Mommy. Si Daddy ang unang nakaalam. Humarap na rin kami sa mga Follosco-"

"And you didn't even bother to tell me right away? Ako pa na nanay mo ang pinaglihiman mo-"

"Because I knew you would be reacting that way! Humahanap pa ako ng tiyempo para sabihin sa'yo ang totoo-"

"I don't want your relationship with Tobias to go on, Zarinna. Respetuhin mo ang desisyon ko dahil Mommy mo ako at-"

"Oh, please! Stop using that token to control me, Mommy. Walang masama sa relasyon namin ni Tobias. Ikaw lang po ang nagbibigay malisya. It even makes me wonder why. Tapatin mo nga po ako, Mommy. Are you still stuck with your past?"

"Of course not! Why would I-"

"Then are you still in love with Dad to act that way?"

As if on cue, the door suddenly opened. Parehas kaming napalingon sa gawi no'n at nakita ang pagpasok ni Daddy.

He looks aristocratic and ruthlessly handsome on his dark gray three piece suit while wearing that menacing gaze. Una siyang tumingin sa akin bago kay Mommy.

"A-Archer..." Mommy called out through her soft voice.

—

To those who want to subscribe on VIP Facebook Group, kindly message Warranj Novels on Facebook.

Completed on VIP Group, Spaces, and Patreon. Epilogue and Special chapters are exclusive for VIPs on Patreon, Spaces, and Facebook Group.