ZWCS#5: Beautiful Goodbye

Chapter Four

Magkahawak kamay sila ni Alexus na pumasok sa restaurant kung saan naroroon ang mga kaibigan nito at nag-aantay sakanilang dalawa. It's Thiago's big day, kahit pa hindi naman talaga nila alam kung ano ang sinecelebrate nito. He just texted them and told them that he's throwing a dinner tonight.

"What's up man?" Tanong ni Alexus kay Thiago soon as their fists bumped.

Ngisi lamang ang isinagot ng huli. Ipinag-hila siya ni Alexus ng upuan, natigilan siya sa akmang pag-upo nang makilala niya ang lalaking nakaupo sakanyang harapan. Wearing his famous carhartt jacket in color black above a white undershirt at hindi na niya kailangan pang hulaan na cowboy boots din ang siyang suot nito.

"Nga pala, brad. He's River Eudela..." Itinuro ni Travis ang katabi. "Kilala mo na ba siya?"

"Yeah, we've already met. Aquish introduced us. Nasaan na nga pala si Aquish?" Alexus asked as he guided her to sit down.

"He's on his way." It was River who answered. "Anyway, this is my cousin Arki."

Muli at lihim niyang sinulyapan ang lalaking nasakanyang harapan na ipinakilala ni River bilang Arki.

"Archimedes Villavicencio." Dagdag pa nito. "He just accompanied me here, isinama ko na ako na kasi ang naboboringan sa buhay nitong pinsan kong ito."

"Alexus, Alexus Vorstaken." He said with a smile. "And this is my girlfriend, Generose Rocamora."

"I know her."

Lahat at napabaling ng tingin dito, even Alexus gave him a glance before he turned to look at her with his eyes asking. "You do?"

"I-"

"I do." He cut her off.

Napalingon naman siya dito, he gave her a sly smile.

"She's the rude girl I met the other day," binalingan nito si River. "sa café mo."

Agad na nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata sa sinabi nito. She felt her cheeks heated in embarrassment.

"That's new... Rosas was never dubbed as rude." Namamanghang sabi ni Travis.

"Well she is now." Arki shrugged.

Alexus chuckled and held her hand, kissing the back of it. "My love was never rude, that's I'm sure of. Why she's the nicest person..."

Her heart fluttered, she smiled at him matapos ay inirapan niya si Archimedes nang mag-tagpo ang kanilang mga mata.

Sa buong durasyon ng hapunan ay wala siyang ibang ginawa kundi ang iwasan ang mga tingin nito, she give all her attention to Alexus gaya ng siyang lagi niyang ginagawa.

Kahit pa naiilang siya sa tahasang pag-titig na ginagawa nito ay hindi siya umiimik. She didn't bulge because she didn't want to give him the satisfaction that he bothers her with his stare.

In the middle of their dinner ay napag-usapan si River, bilang bagong kilala palang rito ng mga ito.

"I just moved in from Los Angeles, kailangan kasi ako ng mommy ko lalo pa ngayon na she's ill." Pagkkwento nito. "And so I decided to continue my studies here, ilang units nalang naman iyon ng culinary."

"You made a good decision na sa Vanderbilt ipagpatuloy ang studies mo." Aquish said.

"I'm actually hesitant at first, gusto ko kasi sana na sa probinsya nalang dalhin si mommy for some fresh air. But my cousin here?" Binalingan nito ang pinsan na nanahimik lamang habang umiinom ng brandy sa baso nito. "Ipinagdadamot yata samin ang bayan ng Villavicencio, he said na mas mabuting malapit sa magagandang ospital si mommy to keep her monitored. By the way Alexus, sa ospital niyo pasyente ang mommy ko."