CHAPTER 10
"Hey, don’t yell!" Sita pa niya sa akin.
"Anong ibig mong sabihin, kuya?!"
"Don’t panic, since he’s just been with a woman to do business. As far as I investigated, nothing else happened between the two."
Tumaas ang isa kong kilay at puno ng confusion. "You’re investigating him without my knowledge? What for?"
"What do you mean what for? Of course you’re my only family—why would I let you end up with a scumbag?" So our family is not your family? Napalabi ako.
"So hinahanapan mo siya ng butas?"
"His whole life has a big plot hole! You can’t blame me. He’s like a dog on a leash, tempting to reach the bone that is out of his reach."
Pumangit ang mukha sa sinabi niya. How dare he! "Stop insulting him! Hindi ko naman iniinsulto mga taste mo sa babae, ah! Oh right—since you are one who’s the problem!"
"Hey, hey! How can you treat your brother worse than your fiance!"
"Enough. Just send me his location, okay?"
"Are you going to find him there? Didn’t you guys have a deal?" Sumeryoso ang boses niya. "I’m telling you now, Ophelia, once you lose on this deal, he’s gonna have to pay for his life."
Mariin akong napapikit. "I won’t. May plano ako, kaya huwag mo muna akong pangunahan."
"Good." sumigla ang boses niya sa isang iglap. "I have emailed his address in California. Tell Miliana that I’m going to pick her up at eight p.m. tonight."
Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Tonight?! Agad-agad? T-Teka hindi ko pa sinasabi sa kaniya—"
"Your problem. Goodbye." Binabaan niya kaagad ako ng tawag.
Nakagat ko ang ibaba kong labi at nasapo ang aking noo. Patay! Lagot ako kay Mina. Paniguradong ma-iistress na naman ‘yon.
Pagkabalik ko sa kaninang puwesto sa garden ay nadatnan ko parin si Eiji na tahimik na nakaupo sa kaniyang kinauupuan nang hindi na ginagalaw ang mga pagkain. Samantalang si Mina at Yssa ay nakatayo sa gilid.
Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na hininga bago tuluyang naupo sa aking puwesto. Nabaling naman ang kanilang atensyon sa akin. Direkta akong tumuon kay Eiji na siyang nakatitig din sa akin.
"What took you so long?" he asked with a timid look in his eyes.
Sa halip na sagutin ay inabot ko kay Yssa ang cellphone at binaba ang paningin ko sa plato niya. "Finish your food."
He pursed his lips and lowered his head. "I lose my appetite."
Naitabingi ko ang ulo ko sa pagtataka. "Lose your appetite, huh? Maybe you meant to say that you’re already full, since you’ve eaten so many."
