Beneath His Cold Eyes

Kabanata 35

Home

Sabay kaming bumaba nang ipatawag na kami para sa hapunan. Ilang minuto lang ay dumating na rin sina Cala.

"Ris!" agad akong nilapitan ni Cala at bumeso. Her eyes then darted on Kyzer who's beside me. "Hello, Kyzer!"

"Good evening," Kyzer smiled formally and simply wrapped his arm on my waist.

Cala giggled and clung her arm into Gelo like a bubbly teenager.

"Ang sweet nila, babe! Kinikilig ako!" tumawa pa ang makulit kong kaibigan kaya't napangiti rin ako.

The first few minutes of the dinner were full of catching up. I don't know if it's just me, but the couples are too careful not to say anything that would give Kyzer hints to what happened to me eight years ago. I feel bad that we're hiding something from him, and I know we can never hide it forever. We have to tell him the truth. He deserves it.

Ramdam ko ring gusto na nilang sabihin sa akin na magsabi na kay Kyzer ngunit nirerespeto nila kung kailan ako magiging handa.

"Why did you declined the proposal with Mr. Cojuangco, son? I heard he's a big client," Tito Alfred asked.

Kyzer shrugged lightly and sipped on his wine.

"It requires you to go abroad for months, right, hijo?" si Tita Kara naman.

"Yes. I don't want to leave the country for that. I have many things to do here. I just can't leave it for that one big project."

"Mr. Cojuangco is our investor, too," Gelo spoke. "He has many connections abroad. It might be useful for your company's growth once you worked with him, Kyzer."

"I still have to deal with some... important matters," Kyzer looked at me intently. "I was thinking I could settle down first before accepting work overseas--"

Kyzer was cut off when Cala choked on her food.

"Did I hear it right, hijo?" Tito Alfred asked. "Settle down... You want to get married?

Tita Kara's gaze went on my fingers. Then her forehead knitted as if she was confused. Para kasing may hinahanap siya at nabigo nang hindi ito makita.

"Yes, Dad. Maybe this month."

This month? Wala kaming napag-usapang ganoon, ah? Sino naman ang papakasalan niya sa ganiyang petsa, kung ganoon?

Natahimik ako, medyo lumalim ang iniisip. What does he mean by that...he will get married this month with me? Hindi pa siya nagp-propose! Pero ayos lang siguro na kasal na agad at hindi na dumaan sa gano'n?

That's crazy.

"Anyway...uh..." Cala chuckled awkwardly. "You're all invited to our second wedding po. That will be next month."

I smiled at my friends.

"We will definitely come, hija!" magiliw na saad ni tita. "Do you have a wedding planner already? I can recommend you to some."

"We are already in it, Tita," Gelo answered. "The wedding preparations started last week."

Tumango si tita at sumulyap sa akin.

"Have you talked to your father?" she asked.

My shoulders squared as I glanced at Kyzer beside me. He looked a bit tensed when tita mentioned my father. I know he knows about my father and kuya because I asked tita a favor to tell him that years ago.

I put my hand on his thigh, trying to console him, at least. Napatingin naman siya sa akin na tila nagulantang sa ginawa ko.

"Yes tita. He said Kuya Rule will visit us here. And uhm... susunod na lang daw po si papa kapag tapos na iyong inaasikaso niya doon," sagot ko at muling bumaling kay Kyzer na titig na titig sa kamay kong nasa hita niya.