Wretched Choices

Chapter 38

#WretchedChoicesWP

Chapter 38
Offer

Pursing my lips while holding a bouqet of flowers arranged in a basket, I rocked back and forth on the front porch by using the tip of my toes and heels. It was a good thing I decided to come here thirty minutes earlier than the time we agreed on.

When I met Chance's family before, I was confident enough to present myself in front of them. So now, I had no idea why I was feeling shy and embarrassed on meeting Archer's mother. It's just a harmless and casual dinner. Archer said that his mother just wanted to chat with me.

Hindi ko nga lang alam kung may ideya na ba ang mama niya sa namamagitan sa aming dalawa. I mean, we may not be officially a couple, but we're in a mutual understanding.

Muntik ko nang mabitawan o maihagis ang hawak na basket nang biglang bumukas ang pintuan. I almost had a mini-heart attack, like my heart fell straight out of my chest.

Archer looked also shocked when he saw me outside of their house, specifically at their front porch, but not as intense as I was.

"Oh? Nandito ka na pala," puna niya. "How long have you been standing there?"

Was not sure if I should tell him the truth, I bit my lower lip. "Uhm..." I trailed a bit. "Ten minutes?"

Ang totoo niyan ay hindi ko na rin alam kung ilang minuto na ako nasa harap ng kanilang bahay. I just really couldn't bring myself to ring the doorbell, especially when I was too early.

He looked utterly speechess. "Bakit hindi mo agad sinabi?" He quickly glanced on his wrist watch. "How long are you planning to stand there? Until 6PM?"

Alas-sais ng gabi talaga ang aming usapan. Ngayon, bente minutos na lang ang natitira bago mag-alas sais.

I smiled sheepishly at him, but he only sighed dramatically.

"Inutusan ako ni mama na bumili ng cake para sa dessert natin mamaya," bigla niyang sabi. "You can come inside already. Nandoon siya sa kitchen. I'll be just quick."

He opened the door wider, stepped aside and gestured me to come inside.

"Uhm..." Muli akong nahihiyang ngumiti. "Puwede bang sumama muna ako sa'yo para sabay na tayo bumalik?"

Ilang segundo ring nagtagal sa akin ang kanyang titig. Bago pa makapagpasya ng desisyon ay nahagip ng tingin ko ang kanyang ina na papalapit sa amin ngayon.

With a fast reflex, I stood straight and slightly bowed my head upon her arrival.

"Keiandra!" My name excitedly came out from her lips. "Ang aga mo namang dumating!"

Mas lalong dumaloy ang hiya sa aking katawan. I forced a natural-looking smile.

"Napaaga nga po," nahihiya kong sabi.

Wala na akong maisip na dapat pang idagdag na sabihin. Archer's mother was still smiling at me though. Mabuti na lang at sinalo ako ni Archer nang maisipan niyang magsalita.

"I'll take Keia with me, Ma," Acher told his mother. "Bibili lang kami no'ng cake na pinapabili mo pagkatapos ay babalik agad kami."

"Ha?" Tita held my arm and stepped in front of me like she was trying to hide me from Archer. "You can go out alone. You don't have to take Keia with you. Dito na lang siya sa bahay."

Bahagyang nanlaki ang aking mga mata. Gusto kong umapila pero agad kong kinagat ang aking labi para mapigilan ang sarili sa pagsasalita.

Archer glanced at me, and I used my eyes to plead him for help, but he just smiled and nodded. I had a feeling that he wanted to tease me, and he was very successful with it.