Kabanata 51
Ideals
"Have you ever mentioned that to Killian?"
Bumaba ang tingin ko sa mesa nang mabilis na nagseryoso ang maamo niyang mukha. I furrowed my brows.
"I'm not sure, but I... always thought it," I nodded and looked at her again.
Tipid naman siyang ngumiti sa akin.
"I'm not married to him, Layla..." maingat niyang bigkas.
I sighed. "'Yan din ang sinabi niya sa akin..."
"And you did not believe him?"
I shook my head.
"And you don't believe me now, too?"
Napatuptop ako ng labi. She chuckled to herself and leaned on her seat again.
"So I'm assuming even if I have the documents to prove that he's a complete bachelor and I'm legally and wholly bound to someone else...ay hindi ka pa rin maniniwala?" hindi ulit ako sumagot.
She laughed.
"I have... so many things to say! But we're all hungry and I want to prolong Floirendo's agony," aniya saka baling ang tingin sa likuran bago itinaas ang palad.
Mabilis na naglapagan ng mga pagkain sa mesa. Na tila kanina pa inaantay ng kainan ang signal na 'yon.
Boiled, stuffed and buttered seafood, grilled meat and sisig were laid on our table. Palihim kong sinilip ang mesa ni Sir Killian at nakitang ganoon din ang nasa kanya. Umiwas ako nang inangat niya ang mukha sa direksyon namin.
I accidentally met Christie's eyes when I did. She smirked and weirdly feigned it with drinking her glass of soda.
"Kain na tayo!" aniya and averted her gaze. Tumango ako. Sa akin pinaka malapit 'yong platter ng kanin kaya wala sa sarili kong nilagyan ang plato niya.
She sighed harshly. Natigilan ako roon at naabutan siyang seryosong napatingin sa kawalan.
"Sorry," bulalas ko. "You don't eat rice?"
She sighed again at halos pairita pa na itinaas ulit ang kamay. Na para bang may pinipigilan.
"Layla, sorry..." she looked at me. "Pwede bang makisabay daw si Killian na kumain?
Tahimik ko lang siya na tiningnan.
"But of course, kung okay lang sa'yo..."
"Uh, okay lang naman..."
"Thank you," ngiti niya sabay baling sa direksyon ni Sir Killian.
Halos hindi lumipas ang isang minuto. Sir Killian was already pulling a chair beside me. Seryoso ko siyang tiningala dahil doon.
Tatabi siya sa akin? Hindi pwede.
I was about to open my mouth, but Missus Floirendo waved a hand between us.
"Not there, Killian," aniya. "Sit there sa dulo!"
He snapped his head towards her. "Why?"
"What do you mean why? Syempre, we haven't talked much pa tapos papagitna ka na? You're stressing Layla out."
BINABASA MO ANG
Behind Curtains (ONGOING)
Fiksi UmumLayla Lagdaméo was her parents' biggest investment, and their biggest flaw. Panganay, matalino and belonged to a working middle class family, Lala was well-informed of her parents' daily sacrifices just to prioritize her comfort. Ngunit, anong ginaw...
