My Hot-Tempered Boss

Chapter 25

Gray's POV

"Her boyfriend." I said nervously and paused, "Good evening Sir."

Inipon ko ang lahat ng lakas ng loob ko para masabi lang ang katagang iyon. The truth is, my legs are all wobbly now because of nervousness and I'm thankful enough that I did not stumble. Hindi ko lang ipinahalata kay Ysha but my hands are too sweaty already because of fear. Fear of rejection, perhaps?

And there, I met the cold eyes of her father who's staring hardly at me. Nalunok ko lahat ng laway sa katawan ko. Buo ang desisyon kong sabihin iyon despite of my nervousness because I badly wanted to earn her father's trust.

Damn. I'm not usually this scared. But I just... can't back out now!

Palipat-palipat ang tingin ni Ysha sa amin ng tatay niya na tila hindi alam kung ano ang gagawin.

"P-Pa..."

Her father ignored what she said. Instead, nilakihan lang nito ang siwang ng pinto at tumabi para papasukin kami. Hell! I could hear my heartbeat racing from the inside!

"Pumasok kayo." pormal nitong sabi at lumingon sa batang babae na nakamata lang sa gilid. Ilang pulgada lang ang kulang nito para magkasintaas sila ni Ysha. I bet this is the second child and my sister-in-law. "Yna, ihanda mo ang hapagkainan."

Her father turned and started walking with the crutch (saklay) supporting him. Tinabihan ko naman ito.

"I can guide you, Sir." I suggested.

Sinipat naman ako nito mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Anong akala mo sa akin? Hindi na makalakad?"

I gulped hard because the cold intensity of his stare did not left his eyes.

"T-That's not what I mean Sir... I just think that I can lessen your burden if you'll hold me."

"Ah, burdin? Tinatawag mo bang sagabal ang saklay ko?"

Damn. This is hard.
But I need to show him that I'm sincere, right?

"No. What I mean is I can be a better support than the crutch!"

Napaismid naman ito at kumunot ang noo.

"Wag mo 'kong ma english english!"

Tumawa lang yung nagngangalang Yna at nginitian ako.

"I-translate mo daw sa tagalog kuya. Di ka naiintindihan ni papa hahaha."

Sumulpot naman sa aking harapan ang isa pang babaeng kapatid ni Ysha  at inusisa ang mukha ko, hanggang dibdib lang ang taas nito sa akin. Probably the third child and also my sister-in-law for the record. 

"Kuya, gwapo mo po. Ba't mo pinatulan si Ate Shang?"

Binigyan agad ito ng matalim na tingin ni Ysha and I just awkwardly laugh. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw his little brother hiding in the corner at binibigyan ako ng masamang tingin.

Ouch. So boys in this family are overprotective of Ysha?

I believe that's the case.

Natoon naman ang atensyon namin sa Papa namin nang tumikhim ito. Namin. Should I practice calling him Pa, too?

"Tumahimik kayo!" saad nito na hindi pa rin inaalis ang tingin sa akin. As if he's surveying me.

I'm tensed but I'm not having a bad feeling about his stare.

We became silent for a second and decided to walk quietly to the table. I admit it is small but just enough for six people to dine in.

Katahimikan ang namuno sa hapagkainan. Tension is in the air. Nakita ko ang pagmuwestra ng kanin at ulam ng kapatid ni Ysha. A fried fish and tinola. I was sitted in between Ysha and her little brother samantalang katapat ko naman ang Papa niya na napapagitnaan din ng dalawang kapatid niyang babae.