Caged [RWS #1]

CHAPTER 42: STANDARD

Clio's POV

We just had our dinner. Busog ako dahil naparami ako ng kain. Good mood kasi ako. Magkahawak kamay ba naman kami ni Vianca hanggang marating ang restaurant. Kung hindi lang namin kailangan kumain, hindi ko talaga siya bibitawan.

I'm having mocha baked alaskas for dessert. I don't know if it's just me but this dessert was just perfect. The marshmallowey toppings and the perfect amount of sweetness added to my whole experience here in Siargao. Ang tamis, ang lambot.. ang perfect lang. Everything's just perfect.

"Vainca,"

'Yun lang. Tinawag ni Rocco si Vianca pero nauna pa akong lumingon.

"Posso parlarti più tardi?" Patanong na bigkas ng lalaki. (Can I talk to you later?)

"Riguardo a cosa?" Tanong din ni Vianca, mukhang curious. (About what?)

"Solo qualcosa di importante." Sagot ni Rocco saka matamis na ngumiti kay Vianca. (Just something important.)

"Okay," Vianca smiled and shrugged.

Hindi ko alam kung ikatutuwa ko bang hindi ko sila naiintindihan o dapat akong mangamba dahil wala akong naiintindihan.

I caught Hyacinth giving me an obvious look. Parang may pinahihiwatig ito pero hindi ko naman alam kung ano. She frowned and slouched her shoulders. Mukha itong bigo, o disappointed sa'kin. I just slouched my shoulders too and lazily rested my back on the chair.

"Devo andare," tumayo ang Italyano. "Ci vediamo più tardi, okay?" Baling nito kay Vianca.

"Yeah, sure," tumango si Vianca at ngumiti kay Rocco.

Naunang umalis ang lalaki na sinundan ko pa ng tingin. Tinahak niya ang daan pabalik sa hotel. Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Vianca na nakataas agad ang kilay sa'kin.

"What?" Pagtataray niya.

"What?" Tanong ko pabalik.

Kinuha niya ang shopping bag at inabot sa'kin. Tumingin ako kay Hyacinth na tinanguan ako.

"Bakit mo binibigay 'tong regalo sa'yo ni Rocco?" Inosenteng tanong ko, hindi parin binubuksan ang shopping bag.

"That's not from Rocco," she said in stressful manner. Siguro kung wala si Hyacinth ay kanina pa ako nairapan.

"It's from you then?" I asked with a hint of playfulness. Ang bilis mag-shift ng mood ko kapag kasama ko siya.

"Who else?" Sarkastikong tanong niya.

I bit my inner cheek and opened the shopping bag. Tumambad sa'kin ang isang pares ng pantulog. Napahinto ako at nag-isip habang tinitingnan ang binigay niya. It's a pair of black shortsleeve pajama with micky mouse print.

"That's the same pair that Hyacinth and I will use tonight." Pahayag niya habang inuusisa ko ang pares ng pantulog. Wala akong hilig sa mga cartoon show pero nagustuhan ko agad 'tong bigay niya.

"I'll use this tonight then," I whispered then turned my gaze at Vianca.

"You can sleepover in our room, right, mommy? So we can have matching pajamas and take pictures together!" Hyacinth cheerfully chimed in. I smiled in my head. What a lovely idea.

"Oh, sorry, honey, but your mamma will be busy tonight." Wika ni Vianca sa hindi ko matantong tono. Parang sarcastic, na nang-aasar, na ewan.

"Eh?" Hyacinth hissed. Mukhang disappointed ito.

"No, actually, I'll be free the whole night. We can have a small party inside your room, baby. Foods will be delivered, you can take tons of pictures, and I can teach you how to dance too." I stated for Hyacinth to be eager to push the sleepover thing.