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Chapter 36
I put a cocky smile as I formulated a rebuttal for her. I inched closer to Ate Leila, letting her feel that I would not back down. "I didn't know that you were this desperate. You couldn't wait for the man to propose and ask your hand for marriage... mukhang sapilitan," I whispered back to her.
She is being so possessive of Suriel. Ang tingin ni Ate Leila sa kanya ang parang premyo na pinag-aagawan namin, hanggang ngayon. I feel so bad for Suriel for being treated like a prized possession.
It wasn't about love anymore but more of his physical presence with either of us. Alam kong pareho kami ni Ate Leila na gustong nasa tabi namin si Suriel. Iyon ang nangyayari, kompetisyon sa pisikal na presensya niya.
I hate to admit but I also wanted to be so possessive of him but I am not in the position anymore.
Engagement.
The approval came from his very own lips. Handa na siya para kay Ate Leila. Suriel wouldn't go with Ate Leila to shop for a ring if he didn't agree with the engagement.
Masyado nang totoo at masakit para sa'kin ito. I made a choice that would ruin me.
Naging hilaw ang tawa ni Ate Leila nang humiwalay na siya sa'kin. She explicitly clung her arms on Suriel's and even reached his jaw to kiss. I had an indescribable feeling while she did that to him. I wanted to lash out and push her but in the end my grip on Ven's hand tightened.
Hindi ko mabasa ang ekspresyon ni Suriel. He seemed expressionless. Hinahayaan niya ang pahalik-halik ng pinsan ko sa panga niya at humilig lamang siya nang kaunti para pagbigyan ang ginagawa ni Ate Leila, ang tingin ni Suriel ay diretso lang sa kanya.
Dumausdos ang paningin ko kung nasaan ang kamay niya. Suriel's hand was placed on Ate Leila's waist as though it was his favorite curve of her.
Parang hindi sila nahihiya sa ginagawa nila at ramdam ko ang tuwa ni Ate Leila sa pagsunod ni Suriel sa kagustuhan niya.
That's it. That's it for me.
"Rinoa and I will be looking forward to your engagement party, Ate Leila."
"Sure you will, Ven. I will keep you posted and send out an invitation to your family as well," nangingiti niyang sambit. "Pero kung ako sainyo, pagplanuhan niyo na rin ang pagpapakasal. You certainly know that Ahma likes you for my cousin."
Nahihiyang tumawa si Ven. Napatingin ako sa kanya ng haplusin niya ang likod ko.
"Whatever Rinoa wants, I'll follow," he simply said.
That's another point. Ahma already likes Ven for me. Hindi na mahirap para sa'min ang pagpaplano at baka nga kahit pigilan pa 'ko ni Ate Leila kung gusto ni Ahma na mauna akong ipakasal, 'yon ang masusunod.
Bumaling sa akin si Ate Leila
"Then what do you want to happen, my dear cousin?"
Ngumiti ako. "Baka mabulilyaso kung sasabihin ko pa sa'yo."
I couldn't stand looking at them so I've decided to pull Ven with me. Umalis na kami sa shop na 'yon. Nawalan na ako ng gana para gumala pa o tumingin ng ibang alahas sa ibang stores. Niyakag ko nang umuwi si Ven dahil lumilipad na ang isip ko.
Tulala ako at halo-halong emosyon na ang umiiral sa'kin. All the memories Suriel and I have together suddenly popped up in my mind. It was a painful replay that I couldn't afford to stop.
Ven noticed my abrupt and strange silence while we were on the road but I quickly assured him that I was fine. Sinubukan kong mag-open ng topic para mag-usap kami pero 'di ko kayang magpanggap na interesado pa 'kong magsalita pa nang magsalita.
