Chased (In Luv Series #1)

Kabanata 41

Kabanata 41

Debut

After what happened on the resort, we continued our lives individually. No more hangouts and chatting. No more meet ups. Naging abala rin ako sa pag-aaral at pagtulong-tulong sa company ni kuya. My curiosity about what happened on Niccolo's birthday was still there but I made myself busy. I don't want to act like I care even I really am.

I'm enjoying my cup of coffee with my mother on our veranda when my phone rang. I hastily get it expecting someone's call but it dissapoint me when I saw kuya's name on the screen. I breathed a sigh before answering it.

"Hello?"

"Claire, Erik called me last night and he's inviting us to come on Sasha's debut next week." Nagtaas ako ng kilay habang inaalala kung sino iyong tinutukoy niya. I forgot. But not totally. I can remember her, I know. "Sasha's expecting you, you know that. After all, ikaw lang ang ate na tinuturing niya..." Now that he said it.

"Yeah! Sasha! I almost forgot about her. Yeah, I'll come. But is she really turning eighteen now?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"Yes. Isang taon lang naman ang tanda mo sa kanya." Napatango ako kahit hindi naman niya nakikita.

"Fine. Are you coming? Send me the details later."

"Yes. Yes. Bye!"

"Bye!" Agad na dumako ang tingin ko kay mommy na nakaharap sa akin ngayon at mukhang naghihintay na ibahagi ko sa kanya ang napag-usapan namin kanina.

I just smiled at her.

Sasha is Erik's younger sister. We're neighbors back when we lived at Taguig. Magkakaibigan kami at palaging magkakasama kapag may event na ginaganap sa village. Erik is about kuya Patrick's age, I guess.

I never really thought Sasha is finally turning eighteen! I'm just nineteen and I didn't expect this. I'm two years ahead of her when it comes to education and I realized she's enrolled on a K+12 school. Second year college pa lang siya ngayon.

"Sa event hall, Claire." Tumango ako nang salubungin ako ni kuya sa labas. Kabababa ko lang sa kotse na naghatid sa akin sa loob ng dati naming village. Buti na lang kilala pa ako ng guard kaya 'di ko na kailangang magpakita ng invitation card dahil nakalimutang ibigay sa akin ni kuya.

Pagpasok ko sa event hall ay naramdaman ko agad ang aura. Puno ng pulang balloon at roses ang paligid. A mixture of red, black and white.

"Clara!" Nagulat ako nang makasalubong si Erik at Tristan. They both smiled at me. I gave back the smile.

"You're here, Tristan! Long time no see." Tristan kiss me on my cheeks. "Hello, Erik!" I waved at him.

"Yeah. Pinilit ako ni Erik na escort-an ang kapatid niya." Cool niyang sabi.

"Seriously?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ko.

"Huwag kang maniwala diyan, Clara. Ako ang pinilit niya. He's courting my younger sister. Kahit ayaw ko." Napataas ang kilay kong napatingin kay Tristan.

"Omg! Tama nga ako, you're crushing Sasha since highschool." I eyed him. I saw him blushed.

Nagtinginan ang dalawa atsaka binigyan ng magaang na suntok ni Erik si Tristan sa tagiliran. Natuwa ako sa kanilang dalawa. They're still close.

"Anyway, Claire, sa table ka na lang namin. We still have so many things to talk. Sasha misses you so much. I know she'll be happy when she sees you."

Madaling nagsimula ang program. Nang maipakilala ang debutant ay nagpalakpakan ang lahat. Sasha walked down the stairs with grace.

Sinalubong ni Tristan si Sasha sa baba. Everything about the program is smooth. Mabilis ito at walang dead air. Nagbibigay ng messages ang kanyang family nang maramdaman ko ang paninitig ng mga mata sa akin. I searched for the pair of eyes and found Niccolo's. It's his intense eye staring at me. Agad akong nag-iwas ng tingin.