Beautiful Monster

Chapter 5: The guest speaker

Chapter 5: The guest speaker

I was about to reply on Lei's text message when I heard a footstep. Then, I saw him, the fake Nathan. Wala na ang mga ngiti niya. He's now the Nathan I knew. Serious face, no emotions and mystery eyes.

Umusod ako ng kaunti ng maghugas rin siya ng kamay. "Uso mag-excuse." I said in an annoying tone tapos ay kumuha ulit ako ng tissue dahil medyo nabasa ako ng maghugas siya ng kamay niya.

"Uso tumabi."

I rolled my eyes. Okay, the real Nathan really came back. Tapos pag balik naming mamaya dun sa table, magbabait-baitan na naman siya.

"You hate me, right? Bakit ka sumama pa sa min? You should've turned down being Constantino." I crossed my arms, waiting him to answer.

"I was about to but I remember my promise to Nicholai." He answered while his attention is looking at himself in the mirror and fixing his hair. "Kung gusto mo ikaw nalang ang umayaw. I won't mind if any other ladies will take your place." He turned around on me and leaned against the sink. "Iba pala ang mga ganda ng mga taga-probinsya. Pabor sa 'kin kung aayaw ka. May nakita ako kanina sa Hacienda na magandang babae. Natural. Simple. Walang arte –"

I cut him off, "I'm Irene Desylvia and no one ever takes place on what's mine. I was chosen."

"I was chosen too." He said in an innocent tone, "Okay. Let's just accept it. Magdala ka nalang ng alcohol sa Santacruzan. I'll bring one too. Baka maubusan ka pa e." He sarcastically laughed.

My jaw clenched. He's really getting on my nerves.

Nagsimula na siyang maglakad pabalik sa table namin ng bigla niya akong tawagin. "Ah, siya ng pala! Sabay tayo pumunta sa Graduation."

I furrowed my eyebrows, "Why should I go with you?"

"Because you're not used to ride a bus?" Then, he smirked on me. I saw in his eyes that he knows something on me. Like my world who turns upside down. Then I remembered something... His message on my facebook.

[How's your Dad work?]

Bumalik ako dun sa table naming when I saw all of them laughing to their hearts out. Lalong-lalo na si Nathan. Umupo ako sa tabi ni Marian at patuloy pa rin sila sa pag-tawa. I have no idea what is it all about but seeing Nathan laugh is really unbelievable.

I was expecting na aalis na kami after nilang magtawanan pero Nathan ordered some desserts na dahilan para mas tumagal pa kami don. I can't relate to what they're talking. Saka, wala ako sa mood para makipagtawanan. Nasa mood ako para tadyakan 'tong katabi kong si Marian dahil kanina pa namumula ang braso ko kakahampas niya. Sobra-sobra kasi siya kung tumawa.

Nathan offered us to take home. Gabi na kasi at bukas na rin daw balak ni Dad balikan yung sasakyan namin dun sa may vulcanizing shop. Unang inihatid si Marian sa bahay nila. She's living simply. Semento at walang pintura yung bahay nila. May mga bata na naglalaro sa labas at madaming kalat. I can say na nakatira siya sa may squatter area. But want thing I know for sure, swerte siya sa mga magulang niya. Nang makababa siya ng sasakyan ni Nathan ay sinalubong siya kaagad ng Mommy at Daddy niya that made me jealous.

My Mom and Dad got divorced when I was 4 years old. I was too young when I saw Mom packed her own bags and left home. After 10 years, I just heard news about Mom getting married to her first love. Then year after, Tita Julia came.

"Maraming salamat hijo." Pagpapasalamat ni Dad kay Nathan. He just smiled as an answer to my Dad. Naunang pumasok sa loob sina Dad.

Papasok na sana ako ng tinawag ako ni Nathan, "Irene!"