Comrades in Action Book 1: Lacon DeLevigne

Chapter thirteen

Pareho kaming walang imikan pagdating namin sa bahay. Nagulat pa si mama Rena ng makita kaming sabay na pumasok sa sala.

"O, magkasama pala kayong dalawa, kumain na ba kayo?"

Si Nick ang sumagot, "Hindi pa po mang."

"Aba'y pasado ala una na ah. Ano ba't ginugutom mo iyang asawa mo Nick? Hala, halina kayo at ipaghahanda ko kayo ng makakain."

Nakita kong bahagyang sumimangot si Nick.

"Susunod po kami mang." Sagot nito.

"Bilisan niyo, tiyak na gutom na gutom na ang asawa mo, kanina pa tapos ang tanghalian akala mo ba?"

"Si Alleck ho?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

"Nasa itaas hija, sa kwarto niya. Pinatulog ko muna dahil masyadong napagod kanina sa paglalaro."

"Ganon ho ba.."

"Oo. Nawili ka ba sa pamamasyal?"

"Mukha ho. Nagtagal po siya sa talon kanina.."

"Nakita mo yung talon? Paano mo nalaman ang papunta roon ng di naliligaw?" Manghang tanong ni mama Rena sa akin.

"May nagturo po sa akin.."

"Ah.. mabuti at nakita mo kahit mag-isa ka lang. O siya, iinit ko lamang sandali ang ulam."

"Sige ho.."

Naiwan silang dalawa ni Nick sa sala. Ito ang unang bumasag ng katahimikan.

"My mother is right... the falls is found in a secluded area. The path going to that place is kind of tricky. A first timer such as yourself wouldn't be able to find it alone.."

Saglit akong natigilan.

"W-what exactly do you want to say?"

"No one pointed you that area. Tell me.. who accompanied you to that place?"

Napalunok ako sa klase ng pagtatanong nito sa akin. Like I'm some criminal being interrogated. Umawang ang aking bibig but no words came out.

"Who, Dreena?"

I couldn't do anything but to answer.

"A.. friend showed it to me."

Nick's frown deepened, "A friend?"

"I met him when-"

"Him? Are you trying to tell me that a guy accompanied you in that secluded area, and you swam in the water for god knows how long only wearing a skimpy bikini in the presence of that man you've just met?"

I know he could see it in my face that his assumptions are correct. Still I nodded.

And now he looked pissed.

I gulped, suddenly nervous that no words came out of my mouth.

He just stood there. He ran his hands through his hair in frustration.

"Huh! How un-fucking-believable!"

"Nick!" I gasped at his cursing.

"Tell me. Who...?" Nagtitimping tanong nito. His jaw tenses. His fists are clenched at both of sides as if it's the only way to control himself from strangling someone.

Now I'm suddenly afraid for Mason's safety.

Napalunok ulit ako. I bit my lip.

"Who, Dreena!"

Napapitlag ako sa matigas at mariing pagkakatanong nito.

"His name is Mason.."

Oh! This is awful! I felt like a child being scolded by her father!