Urgency of Heat (El Refugio #1)

Chapter 25

I do not proofread. This chapter is unedited.

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Chapter 25

Good Boy

"How do you know each other, Dad?" Takang tanong ni Esteban sa kaniyang tatay. All of us are now at the big table, starting to eat our dinner.

"We were close back in the days. She's one of my friends. A very close friend." His dad smirks by the question, looking at Tita Maricel.

Narinig ko naman ang mahinang singhal ni Tita Maricel sa kaniyang pwesto na nasa aking tabi. Tinatarayan niya ng tingin ang tatay ni Esteban.

We are on a round table, line up at my right are Tita Maricel, Kenneth, and Klinton while on my left was Esteban, Tita Estelle and his dad. There are two empty seats after them. I am facing Esteban's dad at my seat.

Apparently, his mom has brought so many foods here. Iyon ang sinisimulan naming kainin ngayong gabi.

"We were still in college when I lost contact with them. They left without telling me." His dad uttered seriously. I could sense a little bit of bitterness in that.

I couldn't believe what I am hearing right now. How come that they are close? Did Tita Maricel used to live here in Manila?

I never knew anything about Tita Maricel.

"I bet, even if we are friends, they still couldn't share everything to me." Esteban's dad spoke seriously. "Hindi nila ako pinagkatiwalaan bilang kaibigan nila." Dagdag nito.

Tinignan ko si Tita Maricel na parang walang naririnig habang kumakain ito. Napansin ko na parang naiilang ito, hindi mapakali, na para bang iniiwasan niyang tignan ang tatat ni Esteban.

"Oh, kaya pala pamilyar ang mukha niya!" Biglang saad ni Tita Estelle. "I saw your pictures together back in high school." Nakatingin ito sa kaniyang asawa.

"That's her, one of the two girl best friends I have back in high school." Sagot naman nito at ngumiti kay Tita Estelle.

"I lost in touch with them after graduation. For years I haven't seen or heard about them." Bumalik ang tingin ni Tito kay Tita Maricel.

Habang si Tita Maricel ay hindi parin makatingin dito. Habang kami naman ay patuloy lamang sa pakikinig.

"That's enough chatter, we should focus on eating." Biglang saad ng tatay ni Esteban. "We have a lot to catch up, Celly." Dagdag nito.

Tahimik ang lahat nang magsimula kaming kumain. Wala na ni-isang umimik sa amin maliban sa iilang bulong sa akin ni Esteban sa tuwing nilalagyan niya or kung may gusto siyang pagkain na kainin ko.

"Try this," Mahinang saad ni Esteban habang nilalagyan niya ng pasta ang aking pinggan. Aalma na sana ako dahil marami na akong nakakain ngunit hinayaan ko na lamang siya.

Masarap kasi ang pasta, lalo na ang naglagay non sa pinggan ko.

Natapos na lamang kami sa pagkain ngunit nanatili parin sa aking isipan ang usapang iyon ni Tito Sebastian at Tita Maricel. I'm wondering about their relationship back then.

I'm somehow bother by it however Tita Estelle is keeping me occupied at the moment. Kaya hindi ko magawang usisain si Tita Maricel.

"Do you know anything about Tita Maricel and your dad?" Agad kong tanong kay Esteban nang pumasok kami sa kwarto namin.

After we finished our dinner, everyone went straight to their rooms. Lalo na si Tita Estelle at Tito Sebastian na pagod pa dahil sa byahe at agad pa na pumunta dito.