#1: Once A Gangster Loves (WATTYS2020)

CHAPTER 25 - She's His

ONCE A GANGSTER LOVES

CHAPTER 25

"It's better if you don't like him," she said. I raised my eyebrows at her wrinkling my forehead, screaming how confused I am after I heard what she said.

"What do you mean?" I said, still having my confused face.

Mom glanced at me and diverted her attention back to the book she was reading after. "Remember this Shazney. You're not engaged with him for love, for affection or whatsoever. It's all for business. And once you started liking him, you will be weak."

I unconsciously folded my fist while looking at her mad. She said all those as if it's nothing. As if she's talking to jackass person and will carelessly agree with her. How could she say that to her daughter? How could she say that as if she's a cold hearted person? As if she never loved someone?

"How could you say that?" I muttered. Almost a whisper.

"You'll understand me when the time comes."

"Okay ka lang?" Napaigtad ako dahil may biglang kumausap sakin. Doon ko lamang napagtantong nasa isang restaurant kami ni Kaisler. We headed here after we sent Rix off the airport. Yung iba ay may iba ring pinuntahan o di kaya ay nagsi-uwian na.

"H-ha?" Wala sa katinuan kong saad. Umiling-iling iya sakin tapos ay hiniwa niya ang steak na nasa plato niya at tinuhog ito gamit ang tinidor niya tapos ay ini-angat niya ang kaniyang tingin sakin.

"What are you thinking?" He said tapos ay sinubo ang ini-slice niyang steak. I pursed my lips and recalled of what I am thinking awhile ago.

"Wala lang. Wag mo ng pansinin," I said while shaking my head and diverted my attention to my food.

"You better not to be thinking of other man," he warned. I lifted my head and looked at him.

"Seriously?" I muttered. His tone is the same when he told me that if I like some other guy he will kill that guy. I wanted to laugh at him because I find him corny but his gaze is too deep and sharp so I shut my mouth up instead.

"Don't forget that you are now officially mine," aniya habang nakatuon ang atensyon niya sa kinakain niya. I took a deep breath.

"That's what you said... but did I agree?" Napatigil siya sa pagkain niya at tiningnan ako ng nagtataka or more like nagulat siya sa sinabi ko. Magkatinginan lang kami 'non ng halos limang segundo. Hindi ko alam kung bakit at hindi ko maipaliwanag kung bakit ako kinikilig kung paano siya magreact sa sinabi ko. He looks cute with those widened eyes and o-shaped mouth. But his facial expression changed after that 5 seconds and looked at me in disbelief as if he realized something.

"Shazney," tawag niya sakin. Ngumiti ako sakaniya. Isang pilyang ngiti.

"Hindi mo ko ma-gets, noh?" Nakangisi kong saad. Mas lalong kumunot ang noo niya.

"What?" Aniya. We totally stopped from eating. Umiling-iling pa siya na parang may naiisip na bagay saka muling nagsalita. "Did you just rejected me?"

Bigla akong natawa nang marinig ko ang sinabi niya. So ayun nga. Hindi niya nga ako na-gets dahil iyon ang naisip niyang ibig kong sabihin kanina. Mukha namang sumasama na ang aura niya kaya tumigil na ako sa pagtawa pero mukhang nahuli na ako sa pagtigil ng pagtawa dahil tumayo na siya at nag-walk out.

I gasped when I saw him went out from the glass door. Agad naman akong tumayo para habulin siya.

"Kaisler!" Sigaw ko habang sinusundan siya. Hindi ko na pinansin ang ilang taong napatingin saamin at dali-dali kong hinawakan ang kamay niya at iniharap siya sakin. Nakakunot pa rin ang noo niya nang humarap siya sakin. I combed my hair with my hands expresing how frustrated I am.