The Lovely Promisor

Chapter 12.

Chapter 12.

"Huuu," 

Pagkabasa ni Aein sa mensahe sa kaniya ng stepsister niya, mabilis siyang nagbihis at pumunta sa unit niya. Nagpakawala siya ng mahinang buntong hininga saka binuksan ang pintuan sa unit niya.

Bumungad sa kaniya ang halos walang lamang bahay. Ang sala niya ay meron lang isang pirasong mahabang couch, at ang kusina niya na konektado rito ay mayroon lamang isang kawali at isang lutuan. Kaya mabilis niyang nakita ang kapatid niya na nakatayo at mukhang galing sa kwarto niya.

"Giana," she calls her name. Her stepsister did not even respond to her and just looked at her, up and down, with despise.

"Where the hell have you been?" Matalas ang boses na tanong niya sabay lakad papalapit kay Aein, napaatras naman si Aein ngunit mabilis ang kilos ni Giana na nakarating kaagad sa harapan niya. 

Hindi alam ni Aein kung ano ang nakikita ni Giana, matagal itong tumitig sa kaniya kaya wala siyang ibang magawa kung hindi yumuko at umiwas ng tingin.

"This is… You look a bit different than before?" Giana said and put her hand on her chin, she crosses her arms and puckered her lips as if she was deeply contemplating the changes in Aein's appearance. "Oh well, not that I care." 

Aein flinched, she step back and looked at Giana in confusion. She hadn't paid much attention to her appearance so she was feeling weird after hearing Giana her say that.

"That aside, where have you been, my dear little sister?" Nagbago ang tono ni Giana, nanliliit ang mga matang tinignan niya si Aein na parang dinuduro niya ito. Napalunok naman si Aein.

"Hmm," Giana suddenly approached her once again and reached for her hair. Aein's hair felt rough and raspy in Giana's soft hand. Not only that, but Aein's shabby choice of clothes made her look lowly in contrast with Giana's expensive dress. "Let's see, did you-- wait." 

"Ah!" 

Malakas na inda ni Aein nang bigla na lang higitin ni Giana ang kwelyo ng damit niya. Taka niya itong tinignan at nakita sa mukha nito ang gulat na ekspresyon.

"You-- where did you get this clothe?" She asked, seemingly shocked after seeing Aein's clothe.

"Where? This is mine." Mabilis na sagot niya. Pero ang totoo ay kasama ang damit na suot-suot niya ngayon sa mga hinanda ni Hux para sa kaniya. Hindi niya alam kung bakit, kailan at paano, pero may nakahanda nang damit para sa kaniya si Hux sa kwartong nilaan nito sa kaniya.

Magaganda ang mga damit na hinanda ng binata para sa kaniya kaya nahirapan siyang pumili ng idadamit. Her family knew that she was broke as hell, to the point that she couldn't even afford to feed herself three times a day, so wearing those expensive clothes will be too expensive. So instead, she had asked Hux to let her borrow an old and cheap shirt of him.

"Yours? Are you kidding me?" Singhal ni Giana saka malakas na tumawa, umatras siya ng ilang hakbang saka nakangiwing tumitig kay Aein. "Gosh, I was wondering where have you been and how are you able to manage the expenses in keeping this empty house of yours for years. Now that mystery had been solved."

She said while throwing Aein a knowing look, she could also see an expression of disgust and incredulity in her face. Aein was confused.

"What are you--" 

"Just make sure you're not getting any dirt from going around, okay? Mommy will call you another time to request for a meeting, try making sure you appear better." Sabi niya sabay lagpas kay Aein, narinig niya pang nagsalita ito bago tuluyang lumabas. "I guess you finally know how to make better use of your face and body." She said in a belittling voice before leaving.