Dubious In Love

Chapter 7

Chapter Seven:

I KNOW HE’S looking at me. My face is flushed and so I decided to act that I am busy eating when in fact, I couldn’t even bare to swallow any of it. Mamaya, mamaya ka sa akin Kuya.

Pinuno ko ng pagkain ang bibig ko at mahinang nginuya. Bending my head and focusing to the food in front of me. Until I felt something was stock in my throat making me badly to throw up. Without looking, I grab the water in front of me and drink a mouthful.

“Adorable,” Hamsini utter. I look at her abashed and she just grin.

The lunch went smoothly and lively because of the Secáda brothers and their jocular behavior. We stayed a bit before deciding to bid our farewell. Hamsini got my phone number then give me a hug. We also exchanged some ‘see you again, and pleased to meet you’. Her brother Hutton tried to pull me for a hug but was pulled away by Harmon. Natawa na lang ako sa kakulitan nila.

Humiwalay sa amin ang magkakapatid habang sumama naman sa amin si Veo. Nasa unahan nila ako ni Kuya at nasa likuran ko sila. I smiled wickedly when I notice how the people, specifically the girls twisted their necks as they look at this two hot-stuff.

“Wait, princess. Titingnan ko  muna kung meron silang gelato dito,” napalingon ako ng marinig ang boses ni Kuya.

Gelato? Is it some kind of ice cream, right? Hindi siya mahilig sa malalamig.

Nakita ko siyang tumigil sa harap ng mini store at pumasok, it has a lot snowflake design and some sort of cones in different colors. Huminto ako sa paglalakad at gumilid malapit sa mini store na iyon. Veo go to my side, give me a subtle glance before looking away.

“You are drawing to much attention, Aedel.” He scoff.

”No, it’s you Veo. You and my brother are drawing to much attention.” mabilis kong tugon.

I saw how his eyebrows arched so I pouted my lips and pointed the direction of some girls looking at us—I mean to him, ogling. Sandali niya iyong tiningnan at muling ibinalik sa akin. He was looking at me then his brown eyes suddenly drop down on my lips that is still pouting. Unti unti ko iyong ibinalik sa pormal at patay malisyang umiwas.

"Kailan ang birthday mo?" si Veo.

Nagkibit balikat ako at tumingin sa kawalan. I felt something on my chest, something heavy and foreign. Walang kahit sino man ang nagtangkang magtanong kung kailan ako pinanganak. When I was in Peru, every time my birthday comes, my friends greeted me through mails and electronic texts, while Tío and Tía just leaved me a cake and a letter in a table for they are gone early for work but there's no vocal greetings involved. Not even once.

Hindi sila nagtatanong kung kailan, they just know. At sa apat na taon kong paninirahan dito sa Pilipinas, every time na birthday ko, hindi ako pumapasok o di kaya di ako nagpapakita sa mga kaibigan ko. Hindi naman sila nagtatanong kasi normal lang naman na umabsent ang isang estudyante, hindi ba? Binabati rin naman ako nina Kuya at Lola kahit nasa ibang bansa sila, pero hanggang messages lang at sa mga susunod na araw ko pa babasahin dahil sinasadya ko talagang hindi mag online sa araw na iyon. I don't know why, I just felt doing so.

And someone happens to ask, nakakapanibago.

"Tuesday. This coming tuesday. May trabaho ka ba sa araw na iyon?"

I saw how his lips quirked up. "Meron,"

Natahimik ako. I guess hindi siya aatend at kapag yon nga ang mangyayari malabong maging escort ko siya, not that I expect him kasi andiyan naman si Kuya. Pero... parang ganun na nga.