Tale as Old as Time (La Fortuna Series #1)

Kabanata 4

Kabanata 4

Painting

"Anastacia, I hope you're aware of what you're doing right now."

Inangat ko saglit ang tingin ko kay Rowan. Kumunot ang aking noo nang makitang nakahalukipkip siya at bahagyang iritado ang mukha.

I rolled my eyes and continued pressing the cushion of my compact powder on my cheek. After that, kinuha ko ang nude lipstick ko at in-apply 'yon sa aking labi. Pinasadahan ko ng palad ang aking buhok bago masayang umikot sa harap niya.

"What do you think?" I asked.

Rowan's eyebrows furrowed. "I think you're making a wrong decision."

"Ang OA mo!"

"The one overacting here is you. Talaga bang tumakas ka sa mansiyon nila at bumalik dito sa 'min para lang makapag-handa sa date niyo?"

Napabuntong-hininga ako. I crossed my arms over my chest and slightly protruded my lips. "E anong masama do'n? This is an emergency!"

"Emergency?" He snorted.

"Yes, of course! Palibhasa hindi ka pa nagkaroon ng date kaya ganyan ka ka-kill joy!"

He massaged his temple. Mukha siyang problemado, ngunit ganoon naman siya araw-araw kaya hindi na 'yon iba sa 'kin.

Katatapos lang mag-umagahan ni Chamuel kanina nang tumakas ako sa mansiyon nila upang umuwi rito sa mansiyon ng mga Ysaguirre. Now I was asking Rowan to give Chamuel a call to tell him we'd meet here at the Ysaguirre's. Apparently, there's something really wrong with that for Rowan to be this irritated.

"Bakit kasi dito talaga?"

"Rowan," wika ko 'tsaka pagod siyang tinignan. "Ano sa tingin mo ang iisipin ng ibang mga katulong kapag nakita nila akong lalabas kasama si Chamuel?"

"It's inappropriate—"

"Exactly!" singhal ko, pinandilatan pa siya ng mga mata.

Umiling siya sa akin bago kinuha mula sa bulsa ang kaniyang cellphone. Umaliwalas ang mukha ko, ngunit nang saglit niya akong sinipat at tinaasan ng kilay ay napaayos na lang ako ng tayo.

Rowan, always the stingy one.

"Just because your fellow maids don't know about this stupid rendezvous doesn't make this any less inappropriate, Anastacia. Sana alam mo lang."

I pressed my lips in a grim line. Nanggigigil ko siyang tinitigan ngunit hindi man lang siya naapektuhan.

It's just annoying how he always ruined the mood for me. He's so uptight! I'd bet my whole life he'd never get a girlfriend!

"Whatever! Basta ako, masaya akong magdi-date kami ni Chamuel! And for your information, wala akong pake. Sana alam mo lang din!"

He fumbled on his phone. Hindi niya na ako pinansin kaya tinuon ko na lang ang atensyon sa pagre-retouch at paga-ayos ng damit. I was wearing a floral dress that stopped two inches above my knees. I paired it with my vintage nude boots and some gold accessories. I let my wavy hair down and did minimal make-up.

"Does Chamuel know you're a Raya?" si Rowan na nandito pa pala.

"No. Why? Does he need to?"

"Nothing," tikhim niya. "He's here. Mag-ingat kayong dalawa."

My gaze darted at the black Sedan approaching us. Umikot 'yon sa rotunda. Nang makapark ay lumabas si Chamuel mula roon. He walked toward us in his white Balmain shirt, which he paired with black jeans and a topsider. He was so refreshing to look at.