They Don't Know About Us

Part 6: Ray-Ban Meta

2022, Tiago Faulkerson Mansion
Kathryn's POV

Mataman kong tinitingnan ang sariling repleksyon ko sa salamin, tinatago ang kaba sa dibdib habang hinihintay makabalik sa loob ng guest room si Alden. Hindi ko na siya inaway kasi magaganda yung mga damit na dinala niya tapos yung mga sealed packages pa ng underwear ang isinama. Don't mind me... hindi naman ako nag-iinarte kanina, nahihiya lang talaga ako sa thought na sya pa nag-asikaso ng mga personal na gamit ko kahit di ko naman sya inutusan. May bonus pang blow dryer.

Miminsan lang ako umuwi sa bahay naming dalawa pero kabisado nya ang mga gamit ko. Yaya is living in our conjugal house narin and hindi ko na sya pinauwi sa sarili kong bahay. What's the point? Concern na concern sya kay Alden kasi wala raw kasama. Mas gusto nya dun edi dun na sya. Ayaw na nyang sumama sa pent house ko. 🙄 Nagtampo? Lol.

"Kathryn, hinahanap ka na ni Lolo Tiago."

"Before we go there, can we trust everyone? Baka ano.."

"Don't worry, nakapagsign na lahat ng Non-Disclosure Agreement. Besides, intimate party naman to. Piling visitors lang ang nandito na hindi namin kamag-anak."

I breathed deeply one more time and stood up. His gentlemanly behaviour includes offering his arms to me for a walk. I'm getting used to it, yes. "Remind me to contain any alcohol that will be offered to me."

"Sure thing, honey."

I subconsciously crinkled my nose. "This," I pointed to our arms clinging together, "I have mustered, but the term of endearment? Boy, I need a lot of practice."

"Best Actress of the Year still needs to practice? C'mon."

"Psh."

He chuckled.

.
.
.

Literal na hindi humiwalay sa tabi ko si Alden kahit pa panay ang aya ng mga pinsan nya sa kanya na makipag-inuman. Laking gulat ko nga sa atmosphere ng buong celebration. Akala ko pormal and puro business ang topic. Lolo Tiago is a different brand. Palatawa, palabiro, family-oriented, simple, walang ere. Pag magtatanong sya sa mga anak at relatives nila, puro personal. Napansin ko rin na si Alden ang paborito nyang apo pero sabi naman nitong katabi ko, mukha lang daw sya ang paborito since sya ang matagal na hindi nya nakasama since sa US sya nanirahan.

"Kathryn Chandria," Lolo was to pour in some wine to my glass kaya I lifted it, "your husband told me you have work tomorrow kaya hindi kayo dito matutulog ngayong gabi."

Tumingin muna ako kay Alden bago sumagot. Wala kasi akong maalala na we talked about my schedule for the week. "Ah opo, 'lo. Sorry po."

"Don't be. Marami pa namang next time."

"Hon," tawag ni Alden sa akin. "Gusto mo ba ng leche flan?" He nervously asked.

"Please?"

Nilagyan nya ng leche flan ang plate ko and pasimpleng kinuha ang wine glass from my grip. He drank it in one go. "RJ hijo, kay Chandria yung wine na ininom mo."

"Ah.. Lo' ayoko po sana malasing ang misis ko."

With that, Lolo Tiago and everybody around the table threw us a knowing look. Shit.

"Sabagay," wika ni Lolo Tiago. "Booze dulls the senses."

They were teasing us na. No harm intended naman since everything was playful teasing lang.

Kung may napansin ako ngayong gabi, that's how light and easy Alden is with his clan. Professionally speaking kasi, parang seryoso sya palagi lalo na't hindi sya palangiti. Even if kaming dalawa lang, madalas he talks to me in a straight face.

"Honey, try this," isinuot sa akin ni Alden ang Ray-Ban Meta smart glass nya. He taught me how to take photos and record from it.

The next thing I knew, nasa labas na kami kasama ang mga pinsan nya and we're all checking out all the photos and videos his smart glass took.

"Sorry about the honeymoon teasing inside a while ago," he told me habang abala na lahat ng pinsan nya kaka-try sa smart glass.

"Thus, the sudden flex of Ray-Ban," I answered.

"Yun lang naisip ko to save your tomato face in there. Lame ba?"

"Hmm.. magaling naman."

"Is this the part where I will blush and grab your hand?"

"Sapak, you want?"

He burst out laughing. Why is his laughter so contagious it primed me to smile and join him?😭😭😭😭😭😭