In Screaming Color

Chapter 10

Bea's POV

I prepared well for dinner, exerting a lot of effort since I'm making Mom's special pasta recipe. I brought Trey to the grocery store with me to gather my needed ingredients. Even calling my Mother in her office as I push the cart and look for the things she's enumerating. I made a lot to feed us more than it should. Expecting that she would like it and would refill her plate nonstop since this is one of my favorite.

And yet, I haven't received any reactions from her. The only thing we could hear in my condo unit is the sound of our utensils clicking. And this is driving me crazy!

We usually converse between bites and well, tonight is quite different. She's quiet. Extra quiet and even if we had our moments like this, it never felt awkward.

But tonight, gosh! I can't even tell if she wants me to speak or not, to try to have a conversation, or should I just shup up nalang. And even if she wanted me to speak, I really don't know what to say. I sighed loudly. Trying to catch her attention and I saw her flinch. Perhaps, she was distracted from her thoughts and wasn't expecting a sound. Not even loud breathing.

"Nagulat ka? Sorry."

"Okay lang."

She nodded and went back to playing with the pasta on her plate. It's starting to get dry the same thing that's happening to mine. And I'm actually starting to lose my appetite.

"Hindi ba masarap? Hay. Luto nalang ako ng hotdog, wait-"

I said coldly and was about to stand up when she held my arm.

"No need, the pasta is enough, Bea. Siguro pagod lang ako kaya wala akong gana."

"Pagod? Hindi naman tayo nag overtime. Baka binigay sayo ni Ria yung workload niya ha? Nako talaga ang babaeng-"

"Ano ka ba? Syempre hindi. Pagod lang, Bea. No reason at all, pagod lang talaga."

She gave me a half smile. Those smile that even if she forces too much it doesn't still reach her eyes. Not even her cheek.

I nodded even if I'm not satisfied with her reasoning. I know something is bothering her. What could it be? Did I do something wrong? Hm..

Was it about our lunch that got cancelled because of Therese? Hay. Fine, my fault. But I insisted naman for her to come with me, with us. Yet she started acting cold and bitter then.

Can it actually be true? Is Therese right about her thoughts? Is Jho really jealous of Therese? But why?

I shook my head slightly. Not wanting Jho to notice how disturbed I am of my thoughts. Ideas that was created by Trey.

"So how was lunch?"

We said in unison and it made me laugh but she was all pokerface so it made me stop at the middle of a 'ha'.

"Sorry."

Did I just apologized for laughing? Really?

"Okay naman."

We said in unison again. Answering our questions to each other. This time, I didn't laugh. Not because I felt stupid the first time it happened, but because i'm starting to feel a little pissed of what I am being treated.

"You can be more honest than that, Jho."

I said. A little tension showing off in my voice. This made her look at me for a few seconds before looking down. She didn't say anything so I continued,

"Because to be honest, I don't think I deserve this cold treatment you're trying to do here. If you don't like what I made for dinner, just say so. Stop this rude act of yours."