Angel With A Shotgun

Chapter 5

5.

Oh my. May dala siyang flowers. Tulips. He brought flowers for me.

At habang palapit ako sa kanya, mas lalo lang siyang nagiging gwapo sa paningin ko. He's just wearing a long sleeve polo na tinupi hanggang siko and typical pants pero nagsusumigaw talaga ang kagwapuhan at kaseksihan nitong lalaking 'to.

Heart, be still. Nandito siya sa harapan natin. Hindi natin kailangang magpaka-obvious dahil nakakahiya. Chill tayo. Chill tayo hangga't maaari.

"H-Hi!" Shit, I can't help it but I really sound nervous.

Is he aware that his smile is jaw dropping? Hindi ko maiwasang maakit sa ngiting sinalubong niya sa akin.

"Am I late?"

"N-No! You're fine!" He's not late but everything's prepared courtesy of Mom, with some assistance from our helpers.

"Great. This is for you, Babe." And he hand me the boquet of tulips.

I tried so hard to act cool, that calling me Babe really didn't get into my nerves. But truth be told, nagwawala ang buong sistema ko. Sobrang nagwawala lalo na ng puso ko na gustong gustong tumalon.

"Thanks. But you really don't have to do this." Ang gaganda ng flowers!

"Of course I should. Para kapani-paniwala talaga."

Oh, yes. I shouldn't forget that this is all an act and it's very far from what I'm thinking.

Huwag kang ilusyonada, Kaesley.

"Tara na sa loob. They're waiting for you."

"Just what I thought." Sumunod na sa akin si Kade nang mauna akong maglakad papasok ng bahay.

Sana maging maayos ang lahat. Sana huwag namang sungitan ni Dad si Kade. Sana totoo na lang 'to. Pero syempre, hindi 'di ba?

Dumiretso kami sa dining room and everything's all set. Nakapwesto na din sila Daddy, Mommy at Lolo Kris na agad napangiti nang makita na kami. Lolo Ninong was invited but he has an urgent work to finish so he didn't come. But he said he's dying to meet my boyfriend.

"Good morning." Confident na bati ni Kade sa lahat.

Dad nodded but Mom and Lolo Kris are smiling.

"So you're Kade. Nice to meet you. I'm Kristoffer, Kaye's favorite Lolo."

Napangiti ako sa sinabi ni Lolo. I'm so glad his perkiness is back. Ang bigat kasi sa loob kapag nakikita ko siyang may sakit at hindi mabuti ang pakiramdam. Mabuti na lang talaga at mabilis ang paggaling niya.

"Nice to meet you, Sir. Kade Arevalo po."

"You guys can sit now so that we can start our lunch. Baka gutom na din si Kade." Sabi ni Mommy.

Ipinaghila niya ako ng upuan bago siya naupo sa tabi ko kaharap sila Mommy and Daddy. Nailapag ko ang boquet of tulips sa dulong bahagi ng table.

"What would you like?" Nalingon ko siya para malaman kung ano'ng pagkain ang ibibigay ko. Ang daming hinanda ni Mommy, iilan lang naman kaming kakain.

He grinned. "Anything that you like."

So I served him food of my choice kasi yun ang sabi niya, eh.

"I'm glad you came. Akala ko talaga busy ka at tatanggihan mo ang invitation namin sa 'yo." Naku po! Nagsimula na ang tatay ko. Tuloy tuloy na ba 'to?

"Nope. I always have time for Kaesley. She will always be my top priority no matter how busy I am."