Obnoxious Oxygen

Chapter Thirty Four

"So, how's your mom taking it?" It was mom asking Ethan about how Tita Nisha is handling things about his little sister, Sasa. "I'm sure she's terribly disappointed. I've known Sapphire as someone who's as prim and as proper as your mother."

I've kept my gaze on the plate in front of me, I've eaten half of my doughnut and I'm sure I want another one. I asked Oxygen to bring me these, I'm craving for it since this morning after I wake up. We're on the round table at the balcony of our house, mom is busy chatting with Ethan and not minding Oxygen and the doughnuts I'm enjoying. I don't care, that made it all mine.

"In contrast to that, mom's fine with it. Sapphire is not a kid anymore, she'll always be a baby to us but no longer to the world. Though I'm furious that Dela Paz is running away from the obligation he should be facing."

"It might've scared him," mom sounded sympathetic. "I'm not justifying what he did, don't get me wrong, Ethan. It's just that I've known his parents, I'm trusting that Zanti raised him just as wise and as responsible as he was his age."

My nose scrunched in great annoyance. How can she give fair judgment to Zach and not to Oxygen? Zach impregnated Sasa and is now nowhere to be seen. While Oxygen stood by my side, he didn't run off like Zach did!

I shifted my gaze to his direction, he's silent. He's not looking anywhere but the blank space beside me. After last week, we haven't spoken much. He always ask me about how I was doing, ask me if I need anything or if I want something. But other than that, he's quiet. I know he's not mad at me, he just don't like the decision I made of staying with mom and not moving in with him. When his gaze moved passing me, I smiled. He didn't, he just stared at me. I pursed my lips a little and pout like a kid. That's when mom turned to us, me to be specific.

She raised me a brow and looked at Oxygen. "Check what's going on outside."

"Mom," what I heard irritates me. I gave her a scowl. "Oxygen didn't have to do that. He isn't a hired help-"

But all that I have to say were cut off when he stood up from his seat and without a word, turned his back on us. Ethan did the same, although he excused himself to mom saying that he'll help Oxygen check how the things were going outside.

"What the hell are you doing, Gabbana?" Mataray na tanong sa akin ni mommy. "Ethan is here and all you do is stare at the... oh I don't know what to call him."

The disgust in her voice just made me more annoyed. "He has a name, it's Oxygen."

"And I don't care." She sounded like she really don't. "You better get into your senses. Isn't it Ethan that you like, you should focus on him-"

"Mom, I don't like him." I cut her off.

"You said you do." Matapang niyang sabi sa akin. "You were dreamy of him-"

"Were. That's the exact word, mom." Sinalubong ko ang kaniyang mga mata. "I was in love with him, or so I thought. But that was like what? Years ago. It's different now."

Nanlaki ang kaniyang mga mata sa pagkabigla matapos marinig ang aking sinabi. Nang unti-unti iyong naningkit. "Are you telling me that you're..."

"Yes, mom. I'm in love with someone else." Ako na ang siyang tumapos sa hindi niya kayang ipagpatuloy. "I'm in love with Oxygen."

Shock is an understatement with mom's look. She even blink slowly, like she's trying to take it in. I have no time for dramas like this. I stood up and walked out. I need to see Oxygen, I have to talk to him. Enough with setting aside his feelings, he needs me. And I need him, too, need him more than anything else.

While me on the other hand is feeling quite lifted. I have told my feelings out in front of Oxygen but doing it again for other person to know is just fantastic! Not to mention that the other person I'm talking about is mom.