What Comes After Dark (Montrearde Series #1)

Chapter 4

ILLUSIONS

"Aldana, hey. I want to invite you to have lunch with us."

Lumapit sa akin ang modelo kanina. Ang kanyang kaibigan ay nasa likod lang niya, tahimik na pinagmamasdan kami ng kasama.

He carried her duffle bag on one shoulder. Nahanap ng mga mata niya ang paningin ko. He locked gazes with me. Naginit ang pisngi ko sa mabilis naming titigan.

"Please? Minsan lang naman ito. I want to get to know you." ngumuso si Zhaniel at namungay ang mga mata.

Hilaw akong ngumiti kay Zhaniel at sa kasama niya. Pinandilatan ako ni Raegan sa likuran niya. I sighed and agreed to have lunch with them.

Sabay kaming tatlo palabas ng building. Zhaniel suggested the Italian restaurant sa kabilang kanto. Tahimik ako sa backseat ng sasakyang dala ni Raegan. Zhaniel was the only one talking about how her day went. Panay ang nakawan namin ng tingin ni Raegan sa rearview mirror.

Nanliit ako sa kinauupuan ko. Sa labas ako nagtuon ng pansin. I want to avoid seeing the two, lalo na siya. Ilang billboard at signages na nalagpasan namin ang binasa ko para lang maisalin ko ang atensyon ko sa ibang bagay.

Malakas ang kutob ko. She is his girlfriend. If whatever I have in mind is true, at magkasama kami kagabi then, that makes him a cheater and me... his one-time mistress.

"I should tell Giovanni to recruit you as a model for a perfume commercial na tinanggap nila. I'm sure the company would love to have you in their advertisements and magazines."

I noticed how the man beside her gave her the side eye. The name Giovanni rang a bell at the back of my head. Umismid ako. The corner of my lips rose upon seeing Raegan's reaction. I kept glaring at him dahil sa inis at galit ko sa kanya.

I feel guilty for Zhaniel having to end up with a man like him. She's sweet and gentle, hindi siya nababagay sa lalaking cheat! And she doesn't deserve a coworker who slept with her man.

"Can I have your number nga pala? So Giovanni can directly call you at para na rin may saved contact mo ako." dagdag niya.

"Zane, I think you should give her Giovanni's business card instead." suhestiyon ni Raegan sa kanya.

"What? Don't be rude, Raegan. Aldana's now my friend, and besides it's more convenient that way."

Humalukipkip ako at nagtaas ng kilay. Nagtama ang paningin namin ni Raegan. I can see the frustration in his face.

"Thank you so much for the offer, Zhaniel. I'll make sure to do my best para hindi tayo mapahiya." kumindat ako sa kanya.

Agad kong tinipa ang contact number ko sa telepono ni Zhaniel. I didn't give it second thoughts dahil wala naman akong pinagkakaabalahan maliban na lang kung inaatasan ako ni Mommy.

Pabalik balik ang tingin ko sa dalawang nasa harapan ko. Raegan uncomfortably shifts in his seat once in a while.

Tahimik kaming kumain nang dumating ang pagkaing inorder namin. Si Zhaniel ang unang nagsalita at nagtanong sakin tungkol sa buhay ko. She was keen in getting to know me hanggang sa napunta sa kurso ko ang usapan.

"Architecture is not really for me," tumawa si Zhaniel. "Gusto ko rin sana mag Archi before, but Papa doesn't think it's best for me."

"It's not all about obligation, Zane." bulong ni Raegan.