OBSESSION TRILOGY 1: Hunger [REPOST]

Chapter 16

Nakailang sulyap na ng tingin si Alice sa pinsang si Amanda habang umiinom ito ng kape at nagbubuklat ng isang floral magazine.

Kasalukuyan silang nasa dining room ni Iraya, college friend ni Amanda at isa sa nagmamay-ari ng flower farm. Hinihintay nila itong dumating dahil ayon sa kasambahay na nagpapasok sa kanila, pumunta lamang ito saglit sa isang kliyente sa siyudad.

Hindi mapakali si Alice habang pinagmamasdan ang mga kamay na nakabalot sa mainit na mug ng kape na hindi pa niya nauubos.

Mula pagkagaling sa stop over café ay hindi na siya kinausap pa nito tungkol sa "small incident" na na-witness nito. Mapapalagay na sana ang loob ni Alice kung hindi lang sa mga makahulugang tingin at ngiti na ibinabato nito nang ituloy na nila ang biyahe.

And now her cousin was acting like nothing happened, damn her.

Tinitigan niyang muli ang pinsan ng mataman. Di nagtagal ay napansin siya nito.

"Hmm. Bakit, couz?"

Nanliit ang mga mata niya. "You're seriously asking that?"

Amanda blinked her eyes innocently. "Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng sinasabi mo."

"For god's sake, Amanda! You're killing me here!"

Sa wakas ay tumawa ito at nakangising tumingin sa kaniya. "Someone's so prickly today."

"Don't joke around. Tell me kung ano'ng nakita mo kanina." Mabuti na lamang at wala doon si Trent. Naroon ito sa farm at kausap ang kasosyo ni Iraya sa trabaho na si Maxwell.

"Hmm. Nothing much. Isang napakaganda at interesting na tanawin lang naman." Nangingiting uminom ito ng kape.

"You... You saw us k-kissing!" Namumulang bulalas niya.

"That and more." Her cousin was now grinning like a Cheshire Cat.

"Wag na wag kang magbabanggit ng kahit na ano tungkol diyan kahit na kanino, Mandy. I'm warning you."

Amanda sighed. "Ewan ko sa'yo, Alice. Hindi mo naman 'yan maitatago forever kaya mas mabuti pang malaman na ng iba. Especially the De Santis clan! Oh, well. Kahit hindi mo pala sabihin ay malalaman na rin nila. Trent wouldn't want to keep this a secret, would he?"

Napasapo ng pisngi si Alice habang pinakikinggan ang mga sinasabi ng pinsan. Tama ito. Gustuhin man niyang itago iyon pansamantala, she knew Trent's pride would totally object it.

At marahil ay hindi na masosorpresa ang pamilya nito because she knew he'd been dropping hints everytime they were with the family. She had also been spending a lot of time with his relatives now and they were all asking her if they were dating.

God! The peace of mind she had found earlier began to shake and crumble against the possibilities running havoc in her mind.

"One advice though, Alice. You should never keep this... this growing affection as a secret. Because Trent wouldn't like it one bit. He's planned to pursue you in public now. There's no backing out anymore." Amanda smiled at her.

Those words rang in her head like both a foreboding and a threat.

What would a woman do if faced with the overwhelming possession of a predator?

Alice closed her eyes tightly and thought she'd go crazy

***

"Raya!"

"Mandy! Buti naman hindi kayo inabot ng dilim sa daan."