Illicit Love

Kabanata 7

"A-Ah, tubig na lang...?"

I couldn't even complete my thought as her piercing gaze met mine directly. My uneasy eyes attempted to flee from hers, but they were trapped. Her way of looking at me is truly infuriating. Every time she looks my way, you feel completely subdued—you simply can't resist, and you're compelled to go along with whatever she intends. Damn it.

"Just give her like what I have ordered." Siya na ang sumagot kaya hindi na ako umimik.

Gusto lang naman kasi niyang kumain ng steak, bakit kailangan pa akong isama? Lakas rin ng amats ng babaeng 'to, e. Kung siya walang gagawin, puwes ako marami. Ganito ba talaga mabored ang mayayaman? Nakakabwesit mga, beh.

May activity pa akong tatapusin ngayon at deadline na noon bukas. Kanina pa ako nagbubuntong hininga dito sa kinauupuan ko dahil sa stress na nararamdaman para sa sitwasyon ko. Wala na naman akong itutulog mamaya nito panigurado. Habang siya naman, busy lang na nagcecellphone at tila walang pakealam sa kanyang mundo.

I reluctantly averted my gaze from her, instead letting my eyes sweep across the opulent surroundings. This place was truly magical, almost otherworldly. This was my very first time setting foot in such an establishment, a fact rooted in the stark reality that my family could simply never afford a meal here.

Unlike them—the people around me—we would have to scrimp and save for years just for the privilege of dining in a restaurant of this magnificence and caliber. Poverty's harsh echo spoke volumes from us, the powerless, the disenfranchised.

That's why a profound sense of bitter envy always surfaced when I observed those who possessed immense power and fortune, yet failed to wield it responsibly. Instead, some cruelly abused their influence merely to sate their selfish desires, never sparing a moment or a glance for the people beneath them—the ones in genuine, desperate need of assistance.

"Enjoy your meal, Madams..."

Napakurap ako nang marinig ang boses ng waiter. Hindi ko namalayang nakaserve na pala sa harap namin ang iba't-ibang pagkain. Kanina, binigay na nila ang appetizers. Hindi ko 'yon kinain o tinikman. Allegric kasi ako sa pagkain ng mayayaman. No joke. Lol.

"Thank you, po," magalang na sabi ko. Matamis ko siyang nginitian bilang pagpapasalamat kaya biglang namula ang pisngi ng waiter habang nginingitian ako pabalik.

"Mister, there are several customers who require your service. Perhaps you would like to go and attend to them?"

Sabay kaming natigilan at napalingon ng waiter kay Ma'am Driana nang marinig namin siyang magsalita. Nakatingin siya sa waiter ng diretso. Ni hindi man lang siya kumukurap. Paano niya kaya nagagawa ang bagay na 'yon? Nahihiyang tumango ang waiter sa kanya bago nagpaalam ng aalis.

"Eat, Zariah... Stop flirting around," sabi Ma'am Driana sakin bago siya nagsimulang kumain.

"Po, Ma'am? Ano pong ibig ninyong sabihin?" takang tanong ko.

Hindi ko kasi naintindihan masyado ang sinabi niya, pero narinig ko naman. Ayaw ko lang mag-assume dahil baka mamaya sabihan na naman niya akong may overactive imagation. Sama pa naman ng ugali niya minsan, palagi.

Dahan-dahan niya akong tinignan at tinaasan ng kilay. "Did I say something?"

Hindi ko alam kung tatango ako o iiling. Narinig ko talagang may sinabi siya kanina, pero mukhang seryoso siya at sa oras na pinilit ko siya ay magmamaldita lang na naman 'yan.

"W-Wala po, Ma'am..."

"Then, nothing. Just eat and finish your food so we can go home already, Zariah," aniya at nagpatuloy na ulit sa pagkain.