What Lies Between Us (13 Shadow Series: Marcellus Giovanni Kim)

6

I opened my social media just to inly see that Migo left for Korea. May ibang articles pa na connected sa akin. Even some comments are linking us.

I wore an white pants and paired it with a black longsleeves. Nag heels na din ako para elegante ako tignan. Nilugay ko lang ang mahaba kong buhok at tanging lipstick na lang ang nilagay ko.

Migo:

How are you there?

Migo sent that to me out of nowhere, kinuha ko aang cellphone ko para mag reply.

Ako:

I'm good. Uwi ako sa bahay.

With that I put my phone on silent. I was picked up by our driver, hindi naman nag tagal ang byahe kaya nakarating din agad ako sa bahay.

Been so long since I got home. Iniiwasan ko na kasi ang bahay, pumupunta ako dito pero mabilis lang at hindi ko napapasok ang lahat. Kahit ang 2nd floor kung nasaan aang kwarto ko.

Sa garden nakaayos ang dinner, mommy was there. Setting up everything and making everything look perfect. Si daddy ang sumalubong sa akin, pababa ng hagdan, malapad na ngiti ang naka paskil sa mukha nito.

"Hey, dad." I greeted him and kisses him in the cheeks. Humawak ako sa beywang niga at sabay kaaming nag lakad palabas ng garden.

"Don't mind your mommy and your Tita Milicent tonight, okay?" I nodded at his statenent. At ease that he's here, so I won't be harass by any.

The house was filled with loud noises when the Andrade arrive. Hindi lang nag tagal sa pagdating ko. Tita Milicent, his husband. And their two toddlers came in noisy at the house. Sumunod naman si Andre na nakapamulsa. Naka corporate attire pa ito, gaking yata sa trabaho.

"Hello, Anton." bati ni dad sa asawa ni Tita Milicent. Nagkamayan silaang dalawa, Tito Anton just stared at me at nilagpasan ako. Without saying anything, Tita Milicent did a beso with my father.

Tinignan niya ako ng mariin aat ngumiti ng mapaglaro. "G-good evening po." bati ko, smiling back at her. She just looks at me up and down.

Andre was about to hold me but I avoided it. Hindi pwede iyon, they can't see me with Andre when I just flaunted I have a boyfriend.

"You behave, Beatrice. Go sit with Andre." bulong ni mommy sa akin ng makalapit na kami sa lamesa. Mabuti na lang at

We started to eat, may kaniya-kaniyang mundo sila. Daddy and Tito Anton are talking about business, the toddlers are noisy and playing with their food. Si Tita Milicent at Mommy ay naguusap pero hindi ko marinig dahil medyo malayo sila sa akin. Andre is beside me and none of us are talking.

"Do you want me to unwrap you some shrimps?" biglang tanong nito sa akin.

"I'm allergic." simpleng sagot ko. Bigo niyang nilapag ang plato na may mga shrimps. He nodded, I can see it form my peripheral l.

"How are you this days?" tanong niya.

"I'm fine, Andre." sumulyap ako sa kaniya at mabilis din kaagad na bumalik sa pagkain.

"Hindi mo ba tatanongin kung ayos lang ako?" I almost scoff but I stop myself. Not infront of his family, Shobe. I reminded.

"You look fine, Andre. Are you not?" tinaasan ko siya ng kilay.

"So!" Tita Milicent caught the attention of everyone. "Congratulations for having a boyfriend, Beatrice!" she raises heer wine glass. Oh here we come, tinaas ko din aang akin at malapad na ngumiti.

"Thank you, tita." I simple said.

"Where is he? Bakit hindi mo siya dinala?" tanong nito.

"I'm sorry. He wanted to come but he has important things to do in Korea. He might be in here kapag nag dinner ulit next time." I lied, even though I didn't ask Migo to come with me for this dinner.

"That's unbelievable. You're asking him to meet your parents and he dodge it by going to his work? Mas importante ka dapat sa kaniya." humirit si Andre.

Tita Milicent and mommy chuckled at his statement. I clench my jaw, still smiling. "It was very important, I didn't want to meddle. I'm just his girlfriend after all." I smiled.

"Exactly, hija. And he needs to prioritize you. If you date someone, for sure, uunahin ka nila." komento ni Tita Milicent.

"Hayaan niyo na ang boyfriend niya." dad butt in. "He's hard working, I guess? Right, darling?" bumaling siya sa akin, tumango ako para sagoting ang tanong niya. "That man must've been saving to put food in his family's table." daddy chuckled.

"We can meet your boyfriend some other time, Shobe." dad assured me. I mouthed him thank you and smile sweetly at him.

"What's his name again, Migo Kim?" si mommy. "Never heard a namme. Self made, Beatrice?" lumingon siya sa akin.

"He is. But he's a successful international model, my." pagmamalaki ko.

"Walang kapit. Lulubog din yan pagkalipas ilang taon." tumawa si mommy at Tita Milicent. Nilapag ko ang kutsara't tinidor ko at marahang uminom sa wine ko.

"You should settle with someone who's stable, Shob. You know fame, it's gonna fade. Maliban na laang kung malakas ang kapit." si Andre, sa tabi ko.

"He has strong hold, Andre. He have me, so what do you mean walang siyang kapit para sa kasikatan?" I smirk.

"I'm sorry but it seems like you're questioning ny boyfriends capability." pinasadahan ko ng tingin si mommy at Tita Milicent. Dad eyes remained on mine, like it's saying something. Like it's encouraging me to do more of this.

"He's successful even before we met. So I am sure about him. In fact, a lot of luxurious brands are signing contracts with him." I proudly said.

"We are not belittling him, Beatrice." si mommy. "We're just saying what can happen. Are you this narrow minded, dear?" tanong nito sa akin.

"Scarlet, enough." saway ni daddy sa kaniya.

"No, she's disrespectful. Nagsasabi lang naman si Milicent. Tapos she will conclude that we are questioning his boyfriend." tumayo ako at inayos ang sarili ko. "See, Benedict? Your daughter started it." tumayo si mommy at dinuro ako.

"I'm sorry. I need to go." pinigilan ko ang emosyon ko. I exited the place, narinig ko ang pagsigae ni Andre sa pangalan ko pero hindi na ako lumingon.

I want to get out from this bullshit.