Chapter 10 - Exhibit pt. 1
Lily ushered the two inside the house. Before the two could protest they are already inside the living room. She evan grabbed the cake and the coffees. Saying she'll serve them and they just need to wait in the living room.
And right now, it's been five minutes. Wala paring Lily na lumalabas sa kitchen. Five minutes and the silence between them is irritating her already. Her aloof attitude prevent her to talk to him. He was just sitting in their sofa scanning the whole living room silently and she was just sitting in the loveseat. She decided to turn on the tv to divert her attention. It was showing another show na paborito ng kaibigan niya.
"You've got a nice place." Says the man sitting in the sofa
Nilingon niya ito at sinabing, "Lily proudly decorated it."
Napatawa naman ang lalaking ng makita ang reaction ng dalaga, "hindi mo gusto?"
"Nah, I don't care either way. What's with the cake and coffees?"
"Welcoming gift nitong neighborhood natin. I volunteered to do it since you mentioned your friend like cake and coffee. I also assumed that you like it also." Nakangiting pahayag nito
She felt that her heart temporarily skipped a bit. She inhaled heavily bago tumango-tango, "why did you volunteer?"
"This neighborhood got two new residents and the neighborhood president talk to me. Since magkakilala naman tayo. I just volunteered to give you the welcoming present."
"I see. Thanks." She said at binaling ang kanyang atensyon ulit sa tv
"It was rather an excuse," napalingon siya ulit sa lalaki at tinignan niya ito. The man chuckled before giving her a sincere look, "it was an excuse to see you."
An unfamiliar feeling envelop her. Her mouth almost dropped to the floor but she pursed it immediately. She blink twice bago tumawa at umiling "smooth talker" her snide comment.
"It's the truth." Nakangiting pahayag nito still not dropping the sincere look.
It was then, that moment she decided to give in and appreciate him. "Thank you, Aiden. I still bet you got many girls." Tawa-tawa niyang saad.
Aiden Perez was stunned for a second upon looking how angelic this girl can be. He snapped for a second at nakitawa narin. Naputol lang ang kanilang tawanan ng lumabas si Lily mula sa kusina. Serving them the three slices of cake in the platter and the ice coffees in tall glasses with straw in it.
Lily secretly grinned at her friend. Victoria wants to roll her eyes but she choose to smile sweetly at her dahilan ng biglang ikinatakot ni Lily. She wouldn't smile at her like that unless something will happen to her. She gulped for a second at binaling ang tingin sa lalaki.
"Hello handsome neighbor. I'm Lily by the way." She extended her hand hand na maagap naman tinanggap ito, "Aiden Perez"
"Pati pangalan ang gwapo rin." Both of them laugh
Victoria just sat there and ate the cake. She doesn't mind them though. Her focused was at the cake and the tv. Paminsan-minsan naman ay iniinom niya ang iced coffee. Hanggang sa natapos ang pagkain niya ay puro parin tawanan at kwentuhan parin ang dalawa. She decided to go to the kitchen para ilagay ang pinagkainan niya sa lababo.
Kumuha siya ng pitsel at nang dalawang baso atsaka nilagay niya ito sa tray. Hindi parin natapos ang kwentuhan ng dalawa nang datnan niya. When her friend, Lily landed their gaze to each other napangisi naman ito sakanya. Gustong-gusto niya batuhin ang kaibigan ng tray na dala niya but she choose to ignore it. Nilapag niya sa coffee table ang pitsel at ang dalawang baso ng magsalita si Lily.
"I can't go may aasikasuhin kasi ako bukas. But," Lily looked at her and gave her a sweetest smile "Vee, can go. You'll go right?"
Questioning look was plastered at Victoria's place. Instead of answering her mas lumala pa ang pangiti nito. Wala sa sariling tumingin siya sa lalaking katabi ng kaibigan niya sa sofa. Napatawa naman ito.
"Vee, always love to go to art exhibits. She always find it interesting and besides I find it boring. You two can go. Ayoko naman gawin niyo akong third wheel lang sa ganda kong to? No way!"
Upon hearing those words from her friend. She immediately knew what was the conversation all about. It's a fact that she always loved to go to art exhibits. She find it rather interesting upon analyzing the art pieces and why are their made in the first place. But, "are you solding me out?" she said in monotonous tone and squinted her eyes.
"Me?" sabay turo naman ng kaibigan niyang parang hindi makapaniwala sa kanyang sarili, "no way!" exaggerated nitong sabi na parang masaktan.
'This bitch just sold me out.' sa isip-isip niya she mentally shake her head at binaling ang tingin sa lalaking aliw na aliw ang tingin sa kanilang dalawa
"Anong klaseng exhibit.." she paused for a second para humugot kahit hindi niya naman alam kung bakit "..Aiden?"
Napapalakpak naman si Lily at na parang nangaasar at ginatungan pa ito nang, "yiiiiiiie! First name basis!"
"Lily Rose Veras." she said upon giving her a sweet smile na nagpatikom dito ng bibig but she grinned and form her hands into little hearts. Buti nalang at hindi ito napapansin ng lalaki kasi nakatingin lang ito sa kanya ng nakangiti, "Well?" baling niya dito at hindi pinansin ang gagang kaibigan niya.
"Paintings ang attraction ng exhibit but they also do have potterys." ngiting sabi nito nagkapagtataka lang talaga hindi ba ito napapagod sa kakangiti? Kanina ba kasi ito ngumingiti at tumawa.
"Papayag 'yan!" singit naman nung isa na kanina padin ngumingiti tumigil lang ito nang tapunan niya ng masamang tingin.
Binalik niya ang kanyang attensyon sa isa at saka tumango.
Pagkatapos nun ay nagpaalam na ang lalaki. Hinatid niya ito sa gate nila dahil wala namang iba ang maghahatid dito palabas. Agad kasing tumayo ang isa at nagkunwaring iniligpit agad ang mga gamit. They bid each other goodbyes and nag-usap sila kung anong oras sila aalis bukas.
When she entered her house nakatayo ito sa hagdanan widely grining ear to ear.
"You sold me out." she said in a matter of fact tone
"I sold you out." Tumatawa nitong sabi, "friend ako na bahala mag-imbestiga bukas. Enjoy ka bukas ha?" mapangasar nitong gatong at kumaripas ng takbo sa kanyang kwarto.
Lintik lang talaga ang walang ganti. Victoria grabbed her phone dialing a certain number.
BINABASA MO ANG
Project: Ignitus
AcciónVictoria Isabella Dieu, a woman who's known to all organizations yet still remain a mysterious figure except to her people and now she's back. She's back for her one mission that will flip everything in its place. (Former Bullets: Forgotten Prince)...
