His Mischievous Heart

Chapter Nineteen

Liam

"Kuya, wait!"

I looked behind me and saw Austin running from the kitchen. Narito ako sa bahay ng parents ko dahil birthday ni Papa kahapon. Nag-handa si Mama at sinigurong pupunta ako.

I talked to my father last New Years Day. Dito ako nag-celebrate dahil ayaw nang pumayag ni Mama na hindi ulit ako pupunta. I thought it's better to talk to my father anyway.

It turns out that that woman threatened my father to give her money. And that my mom knew it all along. They already had a confrontation before, and my mom gave her permission for my father to meet that woman the last time.

"What is it?" tanong ko.

"I need Chucky's pictures," aniya.

Chucky is my mom's dog.

Since hindi magaling kumuha ng pictures si Austin ay ako ang pinagkukuha niya simula pa noong New Year. May gagawin kasi siyang photo album ni Chucky.

Kinuha ko ang phone ko para mag-send ng pictures sa kanya. Bago ko pa 'yun mabuksan ay nasa tabi ko na siya para makitingin.

Binuksan ko ang gallery ng phone ko at nag-browse ng pictures. Dahil may sariling album ang pictures ni Chucky ay sa albums na lang ako nagpunta.

Napatigil ako nang hilahin bigla ni Austin ang kamay ko.

"Whoah! You have a new girlfriend? She's pretty!" sabi niya.

I stared at him, puzzled.

Tinitigan niya pa ang picture.

"Ah, it's the same girl. Just a new haircut. Her new hairdo suits her."

I looked at the picture he's talking about. It's latest picture of Gen that Mica have sent me with caption 'May pinaglalaban ang friend natin'.

Austin's right, her new hairstyle suits her.

Well, she's pretty, so anything will suit her.

"Gaano na kayo katagal?" tanong niya.

Hindi ko na tinignan si Austin at binuksan na lang ang album ng pictures ni Chucky.

"She's not my girlfriend," I said.

Natahimik sandali si Austin.

"She has a photo album in your phone," aniya.

Tumango lang ako at nai-select ang pictures ni Chucky para mai-send. Kinuha ko ang phone ni Austin para mai-airdrop ang pictures.

"Nakita niya na ba 'yang pictures na 'yan?"

Tumango ako.

"She was the one who asked me to take her photos. And I created an album cause I don't want my photos unorganized," sabi ko.

"Did you send those photos to her already?"

"Yup. I did," I looked at him. "What's with all these questions?" Medyo inis na tanong ko. It's not a big deal if I have her pictures in my phone. I just can't delete them though I already sent it to her.

Nagkibit lang siya at tinitigan ako sandali.

"Nothing," aniya pero parang may gusto pa siyang sabihin. Hindi ko na lang pinansin ang tingin niya.

Inabot ko ang phone niya sa kanya. "I sent the pictures," sabi ko saka tumalikod.

Naglakad na ako palabas. Narinig ko pa ang pagpapa-alam ni Austin kaya hindi lumilingong kumaway ako.

~*~

I parked my car inside the apartment complex where Gen is staying. Buti na lang, nadala ko sa charm 'yung may-ari, hinayaan akong mag-park sa loob tutal wala naman daw ang sasakyan nila.