Isla Velarde #1: Raging Waves

WAVES 13

Chapter 13
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Shiruo woke up by the sound of his phone ringing. Nang tingnan niya ang oras ay alas singko pa lang ng umaga. Marami pa siyang oras para matulog dahil ala-otso pa ang pasok nila sa opisina.

“Ma? Why are you calling me this early?” Baffled at his mother’s sudden call, Shiruo stand up to go to the balcony, not wanting to disturb Hanna who’s still sleeping like a baby.

“It’s all over the news, Shiruo. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Shiruo pinch the bridge of his nose, trying to comprehend what she was talking about. Napahilot pa siya sa sentido sa nakalilitong pinagsasasabi ng kaniyang ina.

“Mama, hindi ko alam kung ano ang ibig niyong sabihin. Can you get straight to the point? Kulang pa ako sa tulog.”

Kulang talaga sa tulog si Shiruo dahil ala-una pa lang ay ginising na siya ni Hanna para lang kumain ng vanilla cake.

“Malihim ka talaga kahit kailan, Shiruo, anak. Bakit hindi mo naman sinabi sa amin na si Xaviena pala ang nililigawan mo?”

Shiruo glance at the bed. Hanna moved a little but still sleeping soundly.

“What?” Napatikhim si Shiruo.

“You know I’m not gonna be mad about it, anak, right? Xaviena is a good catch and I think you look perfect together. Saka, may pinagsamahan naman kayo sa industriya. I like her for you.”

Mas nadagdagan pa ang pagkalito ni Shiruo sa mga binibitiwang salita ng kaniyang ina. He wonders where his mother get that idea.

“Ma, I don’t know what you are talking about. Since when did I court Vena? Kung saan niyo man nakuha ang chismis na iyan, better check some facts.”

“Wait, you mean to say that Xaviena isn’t the woman you are courting? I thought she was since she also had a vacation last month and it’s near the family island. I just kinda thought of it.”

“It’s a different woman, Mama. It’s not Vena.” Mas lalong nagsalubong ang mga kilay ni Shiruo dahil kahapon pa palaisipan ang mga katagang binanggit sa kaniya ng babae.

“Then, how do you explain the picture? Don’t tell me it’s fake and edited.”

Shiruo took a deep breath. Gising na gising na siya ngunit hindi magandang balita ang bumungad sa kaniyang umaga. He’s still in control of his emotions though, thanks to Hanna whom he never misses to glance over from where he’s standing.

“What picture are you talking about, Ma?”

“Well, it’s all over the news, anak. There’s a photo of you kissing and it’s confirmed in the company that it happened yesterday.”

Bumuka ng kaunti ang bibig ni Shiruo, gusto niyang magmura. When he said that Xaviena is bad news for him, he literally meant that thing. He’s completely certain that no one would dare to spread a photo of him kissing a woman but Xaviena herself.

“It’s true that she kissed me but I would never dare respond to that. Lumayo kaagad ako sa kaniya nang bigla na lang niya akong halikan. That woman is a witch, Ma. Don’t listen to her if ever she said something unbelievable,” wika niya sa ina.

“All right then, I’ll be going now. I’m sorry to have disturbed your morning, little mochi.”

Shiruo chortled hearing that pet name again. Dahil pinaglihi siya ng ina sa pagkaing iyon ay ganoon na rin ang tawag niya sa kaniya.