Searching the Stars (Montereal Series #1)

[30]

Dahil kasama naman si Trent, he insisted that we just ride his car papunta sa mall. Gustong-gusto rin kase ni Joax, kaya pumayag nalang din ako. Mukhang tuwang-tuwa kase si Joax kay Trent.

"Tito Trent, your car looks really cool!" Joax said, looking around the car.

Trent chuckled. "Why you want it? I can give it to you, if you want?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Kung magpamigay siya nang kotse parang laruan lang ah! Sabagay, mayaman nga naman sila. Parang sila na nga ang pinakamayaman na pamilya sa Pilipinas. Barya lang sa kanila ang bumili ng ganitong kagandang kotse. Sa dami ba naman ng mga businesses nila.

"Trent, baka totoohanin nung bata." bulong ko sa kanya.

He smiled. "Hindi 'yan."

I looked back at Joax who is thinking about something. Probably what Trent said to him. Umiling naman siya.

"No, I'd rather work hard than to be given things easily, but thanks though!" Joax replied.

Tumawa ako. Nakakatuwa talaga si Joax. Minsan pakiramdam ko ako talaga ang nanay niya, halos ako na rin nagpalaki dyan eh, sa dalas namin magkasama. Mature talaga siya mag-isip, kabaliktaran nang tatay niya. Siguro sa nanay niya siya nagmana sa paraan ng pag-iisip.

When we arrived at the mall, dumiretso na agad kami sa gustong kainan ni Joax, dinner na rin kase ako at gutom na yung bata.

Hawak-hawak niya ang parehas na kamay namin ni Trent habang naglalakad sa mall. Mukha tuloy kaming pamilya dito.

Sa bawat daan namin, napapansin kong napapatigil at napapatingin ang mga babae kay Trent, napakagwapo naman talaga kase, mang-iiwan nga lang...

Dinala namin si Joax sa favorite niyang chicken restaurant. Tuwang-tuwa naman yung bata. It's a kiddie restaurant kaya mangha-mangha siya nakikita niya. The servers also looked cute with their costumes.

I raised my hand to order. The girl smiled sweetly us. Her smile looked more genuine though when she saw Trent. Bakit? Ngayon ka lang ba nakakita ng gwapo?

"Uh, I'd like to order this." sabi ko at tinuturo sa kanya 'yon. "And this..."

She wrote my orders yet I could notice how she's glancing at Trent.

"Okay, anything else, Ma'am?" she said. She turned to Trent. "How about you sir?"

I noticed the change in her tone when she asked that to Trent.

Trent told her his order while Joax is playing on his side. Mukhang kinikilig pa yung babae habang ngumingiti at nagsusulat.

"Okay! Your order will be available in 5 minutes!" she cheerfully said before going back.

I resisted the urge to roll my eyes. Halatang-halata kase na gusto siya nung babae. Makatingin kase e. Tapos yung tono pa niya, wow.

"Tita Mommy? Are you okay?" Joax asked, forehead creased. Napansin ko rin na nakatingin sa akin si Trent. How long was I thinking about that?

"What? Yes, I'm okay." sagot ko sabay ngiti.

Joax pouted. "Mukha po kase kayong galit."

Umiling ako. "No, baby. I'm not mad. This is nothing." I noticed Trent's stares at me, so I looked away.

Nagsimula na kaming kumain nung mga paborito ni Joax dito. Favorite restaurant niya kase talaga 'to. Dito ko siya madalas i-treat. At talagang may libreng ice cream pa! Lagi kaming kumakain ni Joax dito at parehas lang naman ang order pero walang libreng ice cream! Hmp, I'm sure it's because Trent is with us.