Mistaken Scandal (Montero Series # 1 ) English Version Available on Hinovel

Chapter Sixteen

Love has already consumed you even before you realized it.

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Chapter Sixteen

[Fia's POV]

"I couldn't believe na nagtagpo muli ang mga landas niyo at mukhang magkasundo na kayo ngayon?" parang hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Tita Sofia. "Para kayong mga aso't pusa noon," she suppressed amusely and arched an eyebrow at Kayden who just sat by my left side. Doon kasi siya kumain sa table ng mga kabanda at kabarkada niya nung highschool. His friends even dropped by our table earlier to greet me with a vile look on their faces. Good thing, Kayden made me change my dress. I wasn't comfortable of how the way his friends looked at me.

I took a sharp inhale and tensely played my fingers under the table when suddenly, I felt a warm hand slid under it. Muntikan na akong mapalundag sa pagkabigla but I managed to keep still.

"We were too young back then, mom. People changed," Kayden answered jokingly and gazed at me, his hand now filling the gaps in between my fingers. "Diba, Fia?"

"Uhmm...Opo," I almost choked and looked at his mom who was sitting right in front of me on the table. Nasa kanan naman niya si Tito Gab.

I cleared my throat and resumed talking. "I...uhm...accidentally saw him in his steak house because I happened to eat there with my friends. Pla-no talaga kasi ni Mommy na magpatayo ng restaurant dito sa Pinas. Gusto ko sanang makatulong kay Mommy in a way... That's why I asked Kay-den for help..."

I queezed Kayden's hand and tried to let go but he wouldn't. Mas lalo niyang hinigpitan ang pagkakahawak sa kamay ko. Nilalaro laro pa niya ang mga daliri ko. He was circling and rubbing my thumb with his thumb while his face was masking a very good show. Was he crazy? What if Cassy sees our hands under the table? Bahagya pa namang nakaharap si Cassy sa kanan ko at pinapadede si Bubble who she shockingly told me na anak pala niya from a guy she doesn't want to talk about.

And I felt so guilty of lying. Lalo pa at nasa kaparehong mesa lang namin si Elijah. He was just two chairs away from Tita Sofia's left side. Katabi ni Tita sa left side niya si Mikho, next to Mikho was Rafael...then there's Elj. Next to Elj was Veronica who was clinging so closely to him at kanina pa ako pasimpleng binibigyan ng maitim na titig.

"I'm glad that you've asked for Kayden's help. And by the way, I've also told your mom that your Tito Gab could help you with the construction too," napalingon siya kay Tito Gab. "Diba, dad?"

"Yes, Angel," Tito Gab smiled at me.

"Thank you po," I answered politely and tried to let go of Kayden's hand again. Gladly, he let it go this time.

Hindi narin muling nagtanong si Tita Sofia. Nabaling na ang ang usapan sa ibang bagay. Tita was currently asking question on Mikho about his life inside the seminary.

And the longer I stayed at my seat ay mas lalo akong hindi nagiging komportable. I could see from my peripherals that Elj was staring at me, but I was just too afraid to take a side way glance. Hindi ko alam kung ano muli ang mararamdaman ko kapag ka natitigan ko muli siya sa mga mata. Buo ang loob ko na kausapin siya kanina pero parang pinanghihinaan ako ng loob. It pains me to see him with Veronica. And it pains even more to think of the doing the right thing.

But same as earlier, I wasn't able to help myself. I simply glanced at Elj and confirmed that he was really looking at me. I wanted to look away pero hindi ko magawa. He too didn't even try to avert his eyes elsewhere.

Nagsisikip na naman ang dibdib ko. Why was he giving me that look na parang nasasaktan siya? Does it pains him to see me too?

Nararamdaman din ba niya ang bigat ng nararamdaman ko ngayon?