Kabanata 61
Madam
It was quite a challenge to leave Killian Floirendo inside my house. I had to compromise so he wouldn't follow me around.
Ano na ba ang gagawin ko ngayong mukhang nagiging pabaya na ako? Ngayon nga na inaaway ko na siya para lang tumigil, ay siya pa rin ang laman ng isip ko. Ano nalang kung tumuloy nga siya sa pagbuntot sa akin?
Buong gabi lang siguro ako magiging balisa. I wouldn't enjoy this freaking tomahawk in front of me if that happened. Kaya pinagbantaan ko nalang.
"Ano? It's good, right?"
Tumangu-tango ako kay Fabian matapos niya akong subuan ng steak. He laughed at my reaction.
"Maybe on our next date I should take you to Bondi for real. Hindi lang restaurant."
I laughed at him.
"Ano? Bukas na agad?" he challenged when I neither said yes nor No.
"Sira!"
He laughed. "Or would you rather Singapore? Japan? Korea?"
"Ano 'yan, engineer, hindi pa nga natatapos ang dinner kung sa'n-sa'n mo na ako gustong dalhin?" I teased him, feeling a little bit panicked about the choices.
He chuckled again and leaned on his seat. Sinundan ko ang pag-inom niya ng wine. Nakaramdam na rin ako ng uhaw kaya napainom ako ng tubig. My eyes drifted on the table not far from us.
Hindi gaanong malaki 'yong restaurant. They had private rooms for bigger crowds, pero 'yong mga tables na mga nakakasabayan namin ay kung hindi okupado ng dalawang tao ay hanggang apat naman. So it was weird to see a table only filled by one person.
Na kung hindi panay ang sulyap sa mesa namin ay madalas naman na may tinitipa sa phone.
Matatakot na siguro ako kung hindi ko lang kilala ang taong 'yon.
I sighed when my view of Gerry was disrupted by a couple nearing our table. Napilitan pa ako na ngumiti at makipagsabayan dahil... mga kaibigan pala 'yon ni Fabian. But when the exchange of pleasantries lasted a bit longer, I can't help but space out in between. Again.
"So, ano, Huck? Later? Go kayo?"
Naputol 'yong pag-iisip ko nang narinig ang marahang tawa ni Fabian at pag-iling.
"We have plans—" si Fabian.
"Uy, anong plans 'yan?" singit noong mukhang boyfriend ng babaeng kaibigan at sinulyapan akong nakangisi.
I awkwardly smiled and looked at Fabian. Iritado naman na itong nakangiti ngayon. Kahit ako ay nararamdaman ang hindi magandang disposisyon mula sa kanya. Akala ko nga ay maghahamon na ito ng away, but he just chuckled lightly and shook his head a bit.
"'Wag niyo naman mantsahan diskarte ko!" aniya, still trying to sound fun.
Nahuli kong umirap 'yong babae at marahang sinundot ang balikat ni Fabian.
"Oh c'mon, Fabian, minsan lang naman eh! And Chel's home!"
"Sorry, guys, and please..." he chuckled. "Aren't you guys hungry? Where's your table?"
Sumulyap 'yong babae sa mesa namin. She grinned at me.
BINABASA MO ANG
Behind Curtains (COMPLETED)
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...
