Secretly Dating!

Secretly 27

“Tell me, old man, are you coming near Clarice to your benefit? Don’t you dare.” Nanlilisik ang mga mata ni Miguel habang nakatingin kay Attorney Lim, at bigla akong kinabahan ng bigla siyang lumapit dito kahit na halos matutumba na siya sa kalasingan.

Pero higit sa lahat, bakit old man ang tawag ni Miguel sa kanyang ama? Dala ba ito ng kanyang kalasingan o lihim na galit?

“You’re drunk, Miguel.” Kaswal na sagot ni Attorney Lim ngunit alam naming pareho na hindi ito ikatutuwa ng kanyang anak.

I gulped nervously when Miguel laughed at his father’s comment, as if mocking him. Hindi ko na ininda ang mga nanunudyong mga mata ng ibang bisita dahil sa tensyong nararamdaman ko sa pagitan ng mag-ama.

“So what if I’m drunk, are you afraid I reveal things you don’t want me to?” Miguel scoffed. I blinked and turned towards Attorney Lim, his facial features didn’t change though—he’s still the same superior and distant man. How could he remain calm despite his son’s frustrations?

Nevertheless, I felt like I needed to do something about the tension. Kailangan kong hilahin si Miguel palayo sa lugar na ‘to, kung hindi ay baka pagpiyestahan na kami ng Media tulad ng dati. It can’t be helped though since Miguel was once in the Entertainment industry.

“Miguel, I think we need to go. Tama si Attorney Lim, lasing ka na. And who knows what you will do when you’re intoxicated?” I told him, trying to grab his arm but he snapped it away. Halos mawalan ako ng balanse ngunit hindi naman ako natumba. Sa ginawa niyang yun ay pareho kaming nagulat. He opened his mouth as if to say something, but closed them anyway. Muli siyang lumingon kay Attorney Lim but this time, I used my body to block his sight.

“I told you not to go near that man. What are you doing now?” He hissed, clenching his fists at his sides. I can’t believe I came to love this man, this man who loathed his father from north to south. Ito ba talaga ang lalaking minahal ko? Come to think of it, what part of him did I fall in love with? He’s the exact opposite of my dream “godly man.”

“Why, Miguel? Bakit ayaw mo akong lumapit kay Attorney Lim?”

My question caught him off guard, making him suddenly lost at words. His eyes became agitated, as if suddenly remembering a traumatic past, yet he didn’t say a word. Nakita ko ang pagbagsak ng kanyang mga mata sa lupang tinatapakan niya, nakatiim-bagang.

“I’m sorry about this, Attorney Dela Cerna, but I’d appreciate it if you don’t meddle with our business. Maybe he wants to say something to me, and I want him to say it now.” Narinig kong sabi ni Attorney Lim kaya naman napalingon ako sa kanya. He poured out a casual smile, assuring me that it’s okay whatever words came out of Miguel’s mouth. Pero ayoko. Ayokong lumaki ang isyu ng mag-ama at pagpiyestahan na naman ng buong news.

“I’m sorry, Attorney Lim, but I think Miguel needs rest. He’s too drunk.” My words were final and with that, I grabbed Miguel’s right arm and forcibly drag him away from Attorney Lim…and away from everyone’s scrutinizing sight.

“What are you doing?” Miguel asked when he came back to his senses, pero wala na siyang magagawa dahil nailayo ko na siya sa kanyang ama. We’re almost at the gate.

“Taking you home.” Sabi ko habang hinihila siya palabas ng gate.

“You can’t order me around!” His tone became aggressive but I don’t give a care. Sanay na ako sa paiba-iba niyang mood. He’s always like that, anyway.

“Oh yes I can, because you’re drunk. You’re so drunk even though I said you shouldn’t!”

“And you’re talking to that old man even though I said you shouldn’t!” He yelled back to a point that I stopped from my pace, our pace.