Caged [RWS #1]

CHAPTER 17: EXPENSIVE

Clio's POV

"Are you courting my sister?!" Pagalit niyang tanong.

It took me almost a minute to process what she said. She thinks I'm courting her sister? That was so out of the blue. Kung may gusto man akong ligawan dito, siya 'yon at wala ng iba.

"Huh?" Vera was the first one to react. She's looking at her sister like she just said something crazy. She did. "Where did you get that idea, ate?" Natatawang tanong nito.

Miss Fabroa is still on her accusing stares. Parang hindi manlang siya nahimasmasan sa sinabi ng kapatid.

"Then why is she here?" Miss Fabroa asked then drifted her eyes on me.

"She helped us last night. Nasiraan tayo ng kotse sa gitna ng kawalan and she's here 'cause she return our car." Vera explained in calm tone. Nagawa pa niyang uminom ng juice habang ang kapatid niya ay masama parin ang tingin sa akin.

Imbes na malinawan ay lalong kumunot ang noo ni Miss Fabroa. Why? Her sister didn't lie. That's the truth. I'm here to return the car.. and also to see her but she doesn't need to know that.

"You're lying. She can't drive." Malamig ang boses na ani Miss Fabroa.

As if on cue, kuya Berting entered the house. He looks confused with the tension between us three. Pero hindi no'n nawala sa isip ko ang sinabi ni Miss Fabroa. She said I can't drive. She remembers..

"Oo nga, ate. That's why she's with their driver. Si kuya.." Vera trailed of then turned her eyes at kuya Berting. Unti-unting nawala ang kunot sa noo niya. She looks at me tiredly. A controlled sigh left her mouth.

"Thank you for driving, sir." Miss Fabroa formally stated to kuya Berting. I pursed my lips to stop myself from smiling when she drifted her eyes on me. "Thanks, Clio." Tipid niyang sagot bago kami talikuran.

Bumagsak ang balikat ko. Kay kuya Berting thank you, samantalang sa akin thanks lang? Tsk. Oh right. Hindi naman ako umaasa ng sobrang appreciation. Si Vera naman ang nanghingi ng tulong, hindi siya.

After eating merienda, we headed home. Hindi na rin bumaba pa si Miss Fabroa. Sabi ni Vera ay kabababa lang ni Miss Fabroa ng oras na 'yon at hindi pa niya nasabi ang nangyari nong gabi. Hindi na rin ako gaanong nakapagtanong dahil baka mahalata ako ni Vera. Atleast I know she's fine.

"Class dismissed." Miss Fabroa announced. Kasalukuyan siyang nagliligpit ng gamit. Again, one guy classmate volunteered to help her but she declined. "Miss Martinez," tawag niya sa akin.

I straightened my back.

"Yes, ma'am?" I asked attentively.

Half of the class is already outside, ang iba naman ay busy sa kanya-kanyang mundo, as well as my friends. She tapped her laptop. I gave her a confused look. Umismid lang siya at tumayo na mula sa silya kaya agad akong tumayo palapit sa kanya.

"Ano 'yon, ma'am?" I asked. Inabot niya sa akin ang laptop nang hindi nagsasalita saka naglakad palabas ng classroom. I stared at her laptop for seconds before following her outside.

Naglakad siya sa hallway. Nasa likod naman niya ako nakasunod. Lumiko siya sa isang hallway na halos walang dumadaan saka huminto. She then faced me. Huminga pa siya nang malalim bago magsalita.

"I want to apologize for having an attitude when you were at home. I didn't know what happened and I accused you of courting my sister.." she trailed off and looked away.

At first, hindi ko alam ang magiging reaksyon ko hanggang sa makita kong namumula ang mukha ni Miss Fabroa. She's fucking blushing and she looks so cute right now.