He Was My Cousin

Chapter 11

Happy Valentine's Day! ♡
Sorry, sabaw update.

Chapter 11
Co-exist

"Aya, wake up!"

Nagising ako dahil sa marahang pagyugyog ni Vienne sa may balikat ko. Pagtingin ko ay naka-bathrobe siya at may tuwalyang naka-ikot sa kanyang ulo. She's probably fresh out of shower.

"Hmm?" I murmured, still half-asleep.

"We're having breakfast in ten minutes!" magiliw niyang sabi.

I shot my eyes open again. "I'll just take a quick shower then..." I said, my words slurry. I'm really sleepy. Anong oras na nga ba ako nakatulog ulit? Five? Five-thirty? I think it was six already!

"Okay, make it quick!"

Paglabas ko galing shower ay nagulat ako nang makitang nando'n pa rin si Vienne. I was sure the ten-minute mark has already passed. Dapat ay kanina pa siya bumaba.

"Tara na?" she said after I finished combing. Basa pa ang buhok ko at hindi ko na iyon pinatuyo.

Breakfast, like the past few meals in the Montemayor residence, was a feast. But unlike before, there were numerous empty seats.

"Nasa'n 'yung magkakapatid?"

"Nasa'n sina Morgan?"

Sabay naming tanong iyon ni Vienne. Napataas ang kilay ni Kuya Arthon sa akin, "Kailangan talaga si Morgan ang babanggitin?" He laughed. "Nasa bahay nila. They're having breakfast, too."

I silently got on my seat and eat my breakfast. Kaunti lang ang kinain ko dahil hindi naman ako mahilig mag-breakfast. It's our last day here at ayaw ko lang talagang ma-miss ang meal na 'to na magkakasama kami. My eyes flew to the empty seat beside Vienne. I wanted to ask if where he was, too. But I know it wouldn't be right... especially in front of my cousins.

Matapos iyon ay nagsi-datingan na rin ang mga Fajardo. Napa-iwas ako nang tingin nang makita kong nandodoon din si Paolo, kasunod nila. Turns out, nakipag-usap pala siya sa magkakapatid tungkol sa probable deal bilang supplier ng asukal ng A Beautiful Flower Cafe, iyong cafe ni Paolo.

After that, my cousins and the Fajardo brothers took a dip in the pool. Sinaway pa nga sila ni Ate Shine dahil nagbabad na naman daw kagabi. My cousins reasoned out that they haven't tried the pool and jacuzzi in the Montemayor residence.

I decided not to join them. Kinuha ko ang laptop ko at pumwesto sa veranda. Mula roon ay tanaw ang garden ng mansyon. I checked my e-mail and immediately downloaded all the sent lesson plans for next week. Noong Friday kasi ang deadline ko for my teachers at pina-send ko na lang thru e-mail dahil wala ako roon upang i-approve.

I was half-way through the third one when I saw, from ny peripheral vision, a hand putting down a cup of coffee in the table... just a few inches from my laptop.

Tumingala ako upang tignan kung sino iyon. My body froze in an instant.

I quickly tried to recover. Tumayo ako. "Will you work here? Si-sige, sa t-taas na lang a-ako." Sheez, why stutter?!

His forehead cringe and he almost showed a tweak of worry. Umupo siya sa upuang katapat ng akin. "No... just continue working. It's okay," aniya. Bumalik ako sa pwesto ko. He then said, "That's your coffee," sabi niya sabay nguso sa tasa ng kape na nilapag niya kanina.

"Thanks..." I said. Gusto ko sanang tanggihan iyon ngunit nakita kong may sarili naman siyang kape. Who would drink it if I won't?

I continued working, trying my best not to think about his presence. 'Pag nakatitig ako sa laptop ko ay pakiramdam ko pinagmamasdan niya ang bawat galaw ko. But then when I look to his side, he's not even minding me at all.