Sins of the Rebels (Lush Trans Series #1)

Chapter 24

"Who cooked this dish? Hindi pa ako nakakain ng igado na ganito kasarap!" General Noroña praised. Magana siyang kumakain at talagang nakaka-ilang sandok na siya ng kanin.

Tumingin ako sa panganay niyang anak na kasing-edad ko lang na nasa tapat ko. His name is Don Lucio Noroña. Habang nasa tabi naman nito ang babae niyang kapatid na Margarette ata ang name? Ah. Basta. Limot ko na, ang hinhin kasi ng boses niya habang nagpapakilala kanina. Tapos iyong bunso nilang kapatid na amoy kong Barbie doll ay katabi naman ni Cairo, panay pa ang sulyap nito sa kapatid ko at mamumula ang mga pisngi sa tuwing babaling ng tingin si Cairo rito. Huli ka! Chos.

I caught him staring at me while chewing the food inside his mouth in a very slow manner. The way he stared at me gave me the creeps and it was unforgiving. How I wanted to blur out that staring is rude but I restrained myself from doing so.

Naaasiwa akong umiwas ng tingin dito bago inabot ang wine glass na apple juice ang laman at sumimsim. Gosh... why is he staring at me like I'm some sort of a criminal?

He was a law student after all. Is he trying to read me like a damn book? Iniisip ba niyang may naging krimen na ako kasi black sheep ako ng pamilyang ito?

Paniguradong kilala ako ng pamilyang ito. Lola Evelyn appears to be close with them too dahil kanina pa sila nag-uusap ni Lindsay the lizard na mataray na halatang nagpa-botox sa Japan, banat na banat ang mukha. 'Di niya keri ang mala-collagen skin namin ni Mama. Haha. Charot.

He may be good-looking but I was immediately turned off by his disposition. Ininda ko nalang ang paninitig niya sa akin, whatever.

My mother chuckled softly. "Anak ko ho ang nagluto niyan, General. Naku! Ipagbabalot ko po kayo kung gusto niyo."

"Anak?"

Tumango-tango si Mama at tumingin sa akin. She's giving me a proud look on her face with a sweet smile plastered on her lips.

"Si Cian ho, General. Masarap po talaga magluto ang anak kong 'yan, sa edad na dose anyos po ay tumutulong na 'yan sa akin sa kusina."

Hinawakan ni Papa ang kamay ni Mama at puno ng pagmamalaki niya akong tiningnan. "Our daughter is a blessing to us. Mapagkumbaba, magalang, matino at maayos, may respeto at mabait." He winked at me.

"She's taking Education, right?" Taas-kilay na tanong ni Lindsay the lizard. Bakit ba parang mainit ang dugo nito sa akin? Ano bang ginawa ko sakanya?

"Yes, Mrs. Noroña. Marangal na propesyon ang kinakamit niya. She's an achiever, she is smart. A scholar in her school back in Manila. She has principles. Independent. She studied in Manila for almost four years and had a part-time job because she didn't want us to worry about her expenses and fees. At such a young age, she learned how to budget, regulate and control the money we're giving her. Honestly, she showed me that she really didn't need the money because she could manage without our support." Mahabang anas ni Papa kaya uminit ang mga pisngi ko. I can almost hear him say that I am not a black sheep... while he was looking at Mrs. Noroña who blatantly rolled her eyes and sipped on her wine.

Parang may maiinit na mga kamay ang humaplos sa puso ko.

Pumalakpak si General Noroña at binigyan niya ako ng namamanghang tingin.

Oh my God! Ako? Prim and proper? Papa naman! Sa iiksi ng mga damit na sinusuot ko? Prim and proper ba 'yon? And why is he bragging about all of those now?

Hindi nga pala nila alam na may taglay akong kalandian sa Manila... shucks!

Napa-tikhim tuloy ako ng mahina at muling inabot ang aking wine glass upang uminom.