Chapter 11
"Love never dies a natural death. It dies because we don't know how to replenish its source. It dies of blindness and errors and betrayals. It dies of illness and wounds; it dies of weariness, of witherings, of tarnishings."
― Anais Nin
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"Nice meeting you," ngumiti ako sa kanilang lahat at pinasadahan ng tingin ang iilan sa mga pinsan at auntie nyang naroon na nakangiti rin sa akin. Myreisl and Nikolai was also there talking separately from a group, parehas nila akong nginitian nang nag-angat sila ng tingin sa akin.
I spot a familiar face looking straight at me. The girl smiled at me but hell I can't smile back, it was Kirslie. Napatingin ako kay Keaton pero hinawakan nya ang aking kamay at hinila papunta sa kanyang lolo at lola. I glanced back at Kirslie pero kausap na niya iyong lalaking katabi niya na hula ko'y Kaizer ang pangalan.
"Hija! I'm glad you came!" maligayang saad ng lola ni Keaton at hinalikan ako sa pisngi. Ngumisi ako sa kanya at tumango.
"Hello po, lolo, lola!" sabay ko silang binati at magkasunod na hinalikan sa pisngi. Keaton's lolo hugged me and kissed me on my forehed.
"Keaton, hijo, introduce her to your tito and tita and cousins."
Tumango si Keaton at humawak sa beywang ko. "That's what I'm gonna do, lo. C'mon, Raine," tumango rin ako at sumunod sa kanya nang ikutin namin ang kanilang malaking sala sa mga auntie at tito nyang nakaupo. Pinakilala niya ako sa kambal na kapatid ni tito Kevin na si tita Kiera at tita Kieza. Naroon rin ang kanilang mga asawa at hinayaan akong tawagin silang tito. Masigla nila akong winelcome at ramdam ko na tanggap ako sa pamilya.
"This is tita Kiera's daughter, Zhye. Couz, Gremaica, girlfriend ko."
Nilahad ko ang aking kamay at tinanggap niya naman ito. "Hi, nice to meet the apple of Keaton's eye."
"Thank you," pagngiti ko at dumating na kami sa gawi nung si Kirslie. I wonder who she is in Keaton's life.
"The girl from the elevator, right?" ito ang bungad sa'kin ni Kirslie nang mapunta na kami ni Keaton sa sofang inuupuan niya. She flashed me a bright smile and winked at me. Napataas ang aking kilay sa kanya at tumingin kay Keaton na tumitig sa akin.
"Elevator? You two met each other already?" tanong niya.
Humalakhak si Kirslie at mahina akong tinampal sa balikat. "She was in our building past two days, I think?"
"Salvador building?" ang buong atensyon ni Keaton ay nasa akin at tinaasan ako ng kilay. Pero si Kirslie ang sumagot nito para sa akin.
"Yup, kuya K. She was at the 9th floor, too." I bit my lower lip and glanced back at Keaton. "Girlfriend mo pala siya hindi man lang siya nagpakilala sa akin nun," she grinned.
"Anong ginawa mo dun, Raine?" tingin ni Keaton sa akin.
"Uhm, w-wala," mahinang sagot ko at tumingin kay Kirslie na nakapilig ang ulo sa aming dalawa ni Keaton.
"Well anyways, I'm Kirslie, Keaton's cousin." Cousin? Fvck! All this time I was jealous of his cousin? Aba'y bakit naman hindi? Maganda naman kasi itong babae at hindi ko naman alam in the very first place na pinsan niya pala ito. Hindi naman kasi sila masyadong hawig eh. Medyo chinita kasi ang babae. "Nice to meet you, Gremaica."
"N-Nice to meet y-you, too," pinilit kong lakihan ang aking ngiti sa kanya. It was intimidating to know that she's just Keaton's cousin.
"By the way, this is Kaizer, my twin brother. You know, it's in the blood, twins ..." ngumisi si Kirslie sa akin at tinanguan naman ako ni Kaizer. I smiled back at him but he seems to be preoccupied with something from his phone. Kaya bumaling nalang ako ulit kay Keaton na nakatingin pa rin sa akin.
BINABASA MO ANG
Her Unwanted Love (Salvador Series #1)
Ficción GeneralGremaica Lorraine Lazaro is selfless. The happiness of another person is always essential to her. She wants seeing her family, friends and the love of her life, Keaton Leigh Salvador happy. But what if every little thing is coming out of hand? What...