The Mayor's Daughter

Kabanata 16

Kabanata 16

"We both participated in a competition back in college and we were both representing our department. He won as Mr. Intrams, and at that time, he knew I was feeling down because I didn't win and felt like I didn't perform well. Backstage, he tried to comfort me, and that's it, we became friends."

"Sounds like a bromance to me."

He laughed. "Why are you asking nga pala?"

"Nothing. I was just curious."

"Okay. Is there anything else you would like to know?"

Nagningning ang mga mata niya at lumapit pa lalo kay Alexander at saka hininaan ang boses sa takot na baka marinig sila ni Ran kahit na nasa malayo naman ito.

"Do you know about his family? Have you met his parents?"

Nanlumo siya nang umiling ito saka naman humugot ng isang malalim na hininga. Although, Alexander didn't like talking about Ran, he just let her. Napansin niyang nakukuha niya ang atensyon ni Kali kapag si Ran ang kanilang pinag-uusapan. Sa isip isip niya ay okay na rin yun kaysa naman maburyo ang dalaga at pagsungitan siya.

"From what I've heard, he lost both of his parents in a car accident. Nalaman ko lang yun sa iba dahil ayaw naman niyang pag-usapan ang patungkol sa mga magulang niya. Kapatid na babae nalang ang mayroon siya ngayon but I wasn't able to meet her."

Napatango tango na lamang si Kali, sa loob loob niya ay nagulat siya sa nalaman niya. Para bang mayroong kirot sa puso niya nang malamang ulila na pala ito. Kaya ba hindi siya makahanap ng impormasyon patungkol sa pamilya nito? Inalis ni Kali ang isiping iyon at muling itinatak sa isipan na baka may iba pa nga itong rason kung bakit nananatiling pribado ang buhay nito. She thinks maybe he was just playing safe. It's possible.

"I've seen her. She's pretty and seems nice. Anyway, hindi ka siguro mapili sa kaibigan ano?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean-look at him. He's very intimidating and harsh with his words. He doesn't care about hurting the feelings of other people around him. And everytime he stares at me, I feel like I've been judged. That's why I don't like him. There's no way I can't like him." She then crossed her arms.

"Curious lang ako paano mo nakakayanang makipagkaibigan sa mga taong parang isang robot."

"Actually..." he sighed. "We are not friends anymore, but we're casual. Maybe the closeness is still there, but it isn't the same as it used to be."

"Why? What happened?"

Alexander shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know. Bigla bigla nalang siyang naging mailap sa akin simula nung magkanegosyo siya and he never calls me by name anymore. Maybe he realized I'm nothing compared to him. But it's okay, I think we're good now."

See? That guy is really a devil. Totoo nga yung sinasabi nila na magbabago talaga ang tao kapag medyo nakaangat na sa buhay.

When they went home, Kali headed straight to her room and called Pia and Paula. Agad niyang ikwinento ang nalalaman niya niya patungkol kay Ran, well, except for the kiss that happened in her bathroom. She knew once her friends found out about the kiss, they would definitely tease her. Nakatitig siya sa kisame habang nakikinig sa pinagsasabi ng mga kaibigan, hindi pa siya nakakapag-half bath dahil tinatamad siya at iniiwasan niyang maalala na naman ang nangyari kanina. Iniisip niya, siguro mas mabuting doon nalang siya sa bathroom ni Melissa makiligo pansamantala.

"My Dad's friend who is an investigator couldn't also find anything about his family especially about the car accident. Wala naman akong makuhang ibang impormasyon mula kay Alexander dahil ayokong makahalata siya agad." She sighed.