I Brought My Heart To Hong Kong

Chapter Nine: Gatekeep

Chapter Nine
Gatekeep

It was Lola Hilda who recommended Victoria Peak as our first destination to visit. Kung gusto raw naming simulang kilalanin ang Hong Kong, dapat daw dito kami maunang pumunta. Victoria Peak, after all, sums up Hong Kong in a panorama.

Hindi ko mapigilang ma-excite. Pagkatapos ng merienda, kaagad akong dumiretso sa kwarto ko para mag-ayos. Sa kamamadali, muntik pa akong matalisod paakyat ng hagdan kung hindi lang ako nahawakan sa braso.

Ni Jayden.

I took a good look at him to see how his expression looked like he's about to reprimand me for the negligence. He hissed softly before he let go of me.

"At least try not to get a broken bone as a souvenir," he said calmly.

Napanguso ako. Nang umakyat siya sa hagdanan, sinabayan ko siyang maglakad. He glanced at the phone he's holding; as if checking what time it is right now.

"Excited lang, ito naman," paliwanag ko. "Sasama ka naman, 'no? Sa Victoria Peak?"

He doesn't look enthused by my question. Kulang na lang ay humikab siya para ipakitang bored siya. Binilisan niya ang pag-akyat, sinundan ko siya nang dahan-dahan at baka matalisod ako ulit.

"I won't take a no, Jayden," I remarked. "Hindi mo ako pwedeng iwan kasama ang dalawa."

"Bakit hindi?"

"Magiging third wheel ako."

Nilingon niya ako ng may mariing tingin. "Either way, you're a third wheel. Nandamay ka lang, Almira."

Sumimangot ako. Hindi naman niya kailangan ipagsaksakan 'yon!

"So let's be third wheels together?" I asked. He eyed me with skepticism. "Tutal nandito ka naman, samahan mo ako."

"Bakit sinama mo sila rito kung ayaw mo silang kasama?" tanong niya.

Umiling ako. "Hindi naman sa ganon. I just wanted to lend myself time away from lovebirds. Kung tutuusin dapat wala sila sa bakasyong 'to! Hindi mo ba alam na dapat ako lang ang aalis?"

He smirked. "Now I know it."

I blew my baby hairs up as I recall it. "Dapat ako lang ang magbabakasyon kung hindi lang masyadong tinuturing na kapamilya si Zywon. Ngayon tuloy hanggang dito sa pagpunta ko sa ibang bansa, kasama ko siya... pati girlfriend niya.. pati-"

"Pati ako?"

We stopped right in front of my room. Hinarap ko siya na nakapamaywang. He stood nonchalant as he kept his gaze etched on my face.

"I don't exactly have problems with you. Don't worry. Nagpapasalamat pa nga akong nadamay ka rito," I ensured but his rearing brows didn't take it as flattery.

Napailing ako at tinalikuran siya para pihitin ang doorknob ng kwarto. Binuksan ko ang pinto bago siya sulyapan ulit.

"You should get dressed now. You're part of the trip, okay?"

His brows furrowed before he sighed. He stood there for quite a few seconds until he fled the front of my room.

I wasn't able to get a definite answer but when I went down after getting dressed with a black oversized shirt and high-waist mom jeans, I caught Jayden lounging on the couch with Zywon.