Of Love and Politics I: Juego Limpio - Completed

CHAPTER 57

"Pagod ka na ba?"

Lily gingerly nodded her head from Alana's question. Mamaya kasi ay hindi para sa kanya ang tanong nitong iyon. But it seems that it was for her. Nakatingin ito sa rearview mirror at sinisipat siya.

Nasa backseat siya samantalang nasa passenger's seat naman si Vin. Kakatapos lang ng medical mission and she can say that it was a success. Akala niya pa naman ay mag aantay pa siya ng isang buwan bago siya puntahan ng mga taga San Aguinaldo. But it turned out Alana cleared what ever the rumor about her was.

"Ihahatid ko lang si Vin sa bahay nila. Then I'll drop you off to your house. Saan ka ba nakatira dito? Are you staying with Rory?"

There it was again. Alana calls Rory like they're friends. It made her ears perked up. Nangangati na ang dila niyang tanungin ito tungkol doon but she wanted them to be alone for her to ask that. Ayaw niya namang may isiping iba si Vin Alegre sa kaniya.

"It's ok and no I'm not staying with Rory. M-May sarili akong bahay malapit lang din dito."

"Oh." Ngumiti ito sa rearview mirror at tumingin saglit kay Vin Alegre na hindi naman kumikibo sa gilid.

"Vin. Malapit na tayo. Gising na."

Napataas siya ng kilay niya. Masyado atang malambing ang boses nito? May naalala tuloy siya but she forced herself to wipe that memories away. Tumingin na lang siya sa bintana.

Huminto ang sasakyan ni Alana sa isang bahay na may kalakihan. There she saw the woman who resembles Helen a lot. Mrs. Alegre was smiling lalo na nang umibis sa sasakyan si Alana.

"Al. Kain ka. Dito ka na mag hapunan. Mabuti naman at sinamahan ka ni Vin sa medical mission." Mrs. Alegre held Alana's hands.

"S-Sorry po Mrs. Alegre. May ihahatid pa ako."

Doon lang napatingin sa kanya ang ginang at saglit itong napatda. Lily looked away. She knew that look. There are many people affected by what her father did but Helen's mother is one of the people who probably had a grudge on her.

"A-Ah ganun ba? Why don't you invite her inside?"

Sa sinabi nito ay doon lang napatingin si Lily sa mga ito. Hindi ba ito galit?

Alana looked at her and wince. Bago ulit ito tumingin kay Mrs. Alegre.

"Saka na lang po siguro."

Mrs Alegre smiled and waved at her. Naglakad naman pabalik si Alana sa sasakyan but before she could reach for the door ay hinawakan na ni Vin and braso nito. Pagkatapos ay mabilis nitong hinalikan sa pisngi si Alana bago sumunod sa ina nito.

Alana was stunned at napahawak ito sa pisngi nito at saglit na tumingin sa kanya. Nag baba ito ng tingin at nag tungo na sa driver's seat. Alana sat there in silence pagkatapos nitong isara ang pinto.

Lily couldn't help but feel pissed. Napakagat labi siya. She was biting her lips with such force that she's afraid it will bleed. Bwisit. Dapat wala siya dito para makita pa iyon. Gawain ba yun ng batang Alegre? Bakit hindi ito tinulak ni Alana?

But why is she feeling pissed? Why is her heart squeezing?

"I-I'm sorry you have to see that. H-Hindi naman niya ginagawa yan noon. Maybe its because she felt threatened----"

"Wala akong paki kung anong ginagawa niyo ni Vin Alegre, Alvidrez. Can you please get me home? Inaantok na ako at pagod."

Napatingin ito sa rearview mirror and Lily looked away. Walang kibo na pinaandar na nito ang sasakyan paalis sa tapat ng bahay ng mga Alegre.

"Where is your street?"

She said the street and Alana didn't say a word. Nag maniobra lang ito sa susunod na kanto and she wasn't surprised na alam na alam nito ang street ng subdivision na iyon.

She straightened her posture nang makita ang pamilyar na bahay sa di kalayuan. It was her house. Nang tumapat doon ang sasakyan ni Alana ay napahawak siya sa likod ng upuan ng passenger's seat.

"Here. Stop here."

Sumunod naman ito sa kanya and Lily immediately got off after murmuring a thank you. But to her surprise ay narinig niya ang yabag ni Alana sa likod niya. Napakunot ang noo niya. Nilingon niya ito at tinaasan ng kilay.

Alana sighed. "Why are you in a sour mood? I told you first time ginawa ni Vin yun. Maybe----"

"I'm not pissed about that."

Tinaasan na din siya nito ng kilay. Lily gulped. Ang ganda pa din talaga nito but it's not the point.

Pinamewangan niya ito. "Why are you following me?"

Alana sighed again and closed her eyes for a moment. Hinilot nito ang sentido bago tumingin sa kanya. "I'm not following you. My house is literaly right there."

Itinuro nito ang bahay na katabing katabi lang ng kanya. Kumunot ang noo niya. Rory told her that there was a vacant house at mabait ang magiging kapitbahay niya. Rory even told her that she would feel safe. Ang tinutukoy ba nitong kapit bahay ay si Alana?!

Nang mapagtagni tagni niya ang mga pangyayari ay napapikit na lang siya ng mariin. Rory will pay with her prank. Alam nito na iwas na iwas siya kay Alana. If possible she doesn't want to be with the same area. Pero bakit siya nito itinabi kay Alana? Isa pa, when did the two became close?

Lalong nalukot ang noo niya dahil sa sinabi nito. "Rory that----"She stopped herself from cursing her bestfriend. Huminga siya ng malalim bago tiningnan si Alana. "Alam mo bang ako ang kapitbahay mo?"

Umiling ito.

"Rory didn't even tell me that you are our new doctor in town. Basta ang alam ko lang may doctor na ang bayan ng San Agustin. Kaya nga I told the towns people to come for their daily check ups. But other than that I didn't know it was you."

Mukhang nag sasabi ito ng totoo dahil sa nakikita niyang frustrations sa mukha nito.

Lily cleared her throat and she lowered her voice. "T-Then are you close with Rory? I remember back then you hated each other's gut. What changed?"

Alana brushed her hair back. "It's a long story." Ngumiti pa ito na tila may naalala, but it was such a bitter sweet smile that Lily looked away.

Kumikirot ang dibdib niya. Bakit kapag malungkot ito ay tila sumasakit din ang dibdib niya? But she promised herself that she wouldn't let Alana affect her again. Kailangan niyang iwasan ito kahit pa mahirap iyon dahil sa kagagawan na din ng kaibigan niya.

"Bakit hindi mo i-kwento?"

"Because I might bore you." Pagkasabi nun ay umangat ang gilid ng labi nito and it made Lily's heart skip a beat.

Lalo lang nag alburoto ang tiyan at puso niya dahil titig na titig ito sa mga mata niya. Then those eyes would occasionally look down. Pagkatapos ay ngingisi ito na tila gusto nito ang nakikita.

She looked away. Ramdam niya ang pag iinit ng pisngi niya. Ikinunot niya ang noo niya.

"Kung ayaw mong mag kwento. Papasok na lang ako sa loob. I can always get the story from Rory."

Tumalikod na siya dito. But before she could do that. Naramdaman niya ang pag hila nito sa braso niya. Then something soft landed on her left cheek.

Umawang ang labi niya. But Alana is already walking towards her own house and waving a hand. Napako siya sa kinatatayuan niya.

What the hell just happened? Hinalikan ba siya nito sa pisngi? But it was so fast that it must have been in her imagination.