Chasing That Holy Feeling

Chapter 13: Isabela

Dama ko ang mga mapanuring mata na nakatingin sa akin kasama ng mga body guards na pinadala ni Daddy. Ang mga usap-usapan sa di kalayuan na tindahan kung saan ang eskinita na karaniwang pinapasukan ni Alivia ay may mga taong nagkumpulan at nag-uusap.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minuto akong nanatili doon hanggang sa makita ko na lumabas si Alivia. Bitbit niya ang bag na bigay ko sa kanya sa kanyang likod at sa kaliwang kamay ay ang pulang bag na ang hula ko'y laman ang iba niya pang gamit at damit.

Agad kong tinanguan ang isa sa mga body guards ni Daddy bago siya kumilos at nilapitan si Alivia.

"Alivia, manliligaw mo ba iyon? Aba'y naka-jackpot ka ng mayaman!"

Kantyaw ng isang babae na bitbit ang isang bata sa kanyang bisig. Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya at alam kong ayaw 'yon ni Alivia. Isa sa mga ayaw niya ay ang maparatangan siya na kumakabit sa mga taong nasa paligid niya para sa pera. Weirdly, I have known her opinion in that aspect based on how she reacts every time I give her something. Kahit simpleng pagkain pa 'yan ay alam kong ayaw niyang tanggapin dahil sa sasabihin ng iba.

But honestly, we shouldn't live our lives based on what people might say. Life is short. Kung husgahan ka man nila ay hanggan doon na lang naman 'yon. After all, at the end of the day, it will always be you who has a say on everything you do and not the people around you.

Binaliwala ni Alivia ang komento ng kapitbahay niyang iyon hanggang sa lumapit siya sa akin kasabay ng body guard na bitbit na ang bag niya.

"Sir Leighton, saan ho ito?" magalang na sabi ng body guard na hindi ko alam ang pangalan.

"Pakilagay na lang sa kotse niyo. Puno na din kasi ang sa akin."

Tipid akong ngumiti sa body guard at binalingan si Alivia na ngayon ay blangko na naman ang ekspresyon. I can't see anything but her gloomy eyes.

I clenched my jaw and held myself back not to talk because I know she doesn't want this simple gesture. She doesn't want any of this attention. But I can't seem to understand that. There's a little voice inside me that wants to spoil her: be it in food, clothing or anything she needs.

I bet she's living a peaceful and rich life with her parents before they died. Her mom came from a well-off family and I doubt it if she'll tell me she's used to this kind of life. Yes, maybe she's grown used to it because life didn't give her much choice but that doesn't mean it'll hold me back for giving something. Kahit na magsinungaling siguro ako ay gagawin ko iyon wag lang siyang mahirapan.

Sabihin na nilang bulag ako at lito pa sa nararamdaman pero ano naman ngayon? Bahala na kung si Alivia ba o si Isla. If Isla doesn't want me in her life, andyan naman si Alivia. Why should I settle for her?

Ridiculous idea, Leighton! Fucking stupid!

"Ready to go?" I smiled at her and she gave me a look full of disapproval.

"I told you not to do this." She spat. Authority was evident in her voice.

"Dad instructed me to do this. Besides, isa lang naman tayo ng pupuntahan." I lied and opened my car's door for her. "Get in. Don't mind your neighbors gossiping."

Pumaikot ang kanyang mata at nalaglag ang panga ko sa ginawa niya. I never saw her acting this grumpy in front of me. Weirdly, I find it... amusing.

I smirked at her reaction before nodding at the body guards, telling them that we're leaving.

Sa byahe ay naging tahimik sa Alivia. It's like she doesn't want to ride in my car for some reasons. There are things again that she's not saying and my curiosity is killing me just by thinking of those things.