Dwelling Back (Cradles Of The Past Series 1)

23

Hot seat

''That felt so good!!!" Tristan said laughing while buying water for us. We just finished the speedy zipline. It was not long but damn, It did feel good, although I am still shaking right now and couldn't utter a word, I still enjoyed it.

"Come here." Tristan said pulling me closer to him and hugged me tight and rubbed my back and shoulder. "It was fun right? Are you happy?" He asked and kissed my head. I pulled away and looked at him.

"Very happy, very very happy." I replied smiling big at him and reached out to give him a kiss and I felt him smile in between our kiss.

We took a lot of pictures, ate a lot and enjoyed every second of it. With Tristan, it's never boring. We couldn't stop laughing at each other because Tristan would always say a joke and tease me about anything that he can think of.

"Tristan! Stop! Ang pangit ko na." I pouted as he stole a picture of me while we were sitting down resting from rock climbing.

"Anong pangit? If only you could see what I see, shan. Sobrang Ganda." He replied and stared at the picture of me in his phone. "This is one of my favorite picture of you. You look so happy." He said while his tone changed from being too happy biglang nawalan ng gana. "I am happy, Tristan. At dahil yun sayo. You make me so happy." I replied reaching out for his hand at pinagsalikop ang mga kamay namin. He gave me a sad smile and held my hand tighter.

"Just be happy okay? As long as your happy, masaya na din ako." He said and kissed my hand.

"Hey, dad. Yes, nasa school na ako ngayon. Second week of class tsaka hindi ako pumasok nung first week so I can't skip." I said through the phone while walking to our classroom for my first class.

Nakauwi na ako two weeks ago and ever since I've been very busy with my enrollment and our company. Dad has been training me more and more. Gusto nya na palagi akong present sa mga meeting nya and his reason is for me to learn but it's fine tho. I like it also and soon I'll be the one managing everything.

"Okay fine. I won't bother you muna. Focus in school, sweetheart. I love you." Dad said before hanging up and just in time nakapasok na ako sa classroom. I'm in my third year in college now, konting tiis nalang and I'll be earning my own money.

"Wow, pumasok ka na!" Irene said laughing at me because I was absent the whole week last week. "It's okay. I know may hang over ka pa sa cruise ship nyo ni Tristan." She added and blinked at me.

"Ang landi mo!" I replied and joked at her as she laughed even harder. "Nag protection naman siguro kayo, ano? Hindi pa ako ready maging ninang." My eyes widened at what she said and I quickly slapped her arm. "Aray! Ano ba?" She snapped and gave me a teasing look. "Shut up! Nakakahiya ka!"

Mabuti nalang at natigil din si irene dahil dumating na ang prof namin. Wala akong masyadong kilala sa class namin ngayon dahil hindi kami naka enroll sa isang block section dahil late na kami naka enroll ni Irene, she insisted na sabay kami mag enroll kaya ayan damay sya.

"Tristan? How are you? Tapos ka na sa duty mo?" I asked through the phone on my way to my car with Irene beside me. Our classes for today are done and wala naman kaming mga gagawin so we'll just hang out.

It's been two months since our classes started and everything is okay naman. Although mas naging busy si Tristan lately, halos hindi na kami nag-uusap. Palagi silang may meeting and his dad is always calling him. I feel like something is wrong but he's not telling me.

Ayoko din naman ipressure si Tristan kaya I'll just wait for him to tell me if something is wrong.

"Shan, sorry hindi ako naka reply kanina kasi may meeting kami." He replied and I could feel the tiredness in his voice. "Oh, meeting nanaman? Is there something wrong?" I asked concerned while unlocking my car and nauna na si Irene pumasok.

"Ah, there's nothing wrong. Ikaw kumusta kana?" He asked changing the topic. Nagkasalubong ang kilay ko while hearing his voice. "Are you sure? You know you can tell me anything right?" I replied not minding his question. "Baby, I gotta go. Hindi pa kami tapos sa meeting and dad's calling me. I'll just talk to you later okay? And I love you, shan. " He said before hanging up.

"Everything okay?" Irene asked watching my expression. I nodded and turned on the engine. "San tayo?" I asked cheering up, ayoko ma stress. I understand naman, I know nakakapagod ang trabaho nila. "Buffet tayo, gurl. Vikings? Buffet 101? Nakakapagod kasi sa ibang restaurants, nakakalito kung aning o-orderin. At least in buffets they have almost everything." She replied shrugging her shoulders and I nodded and agreed because I'm hungry too.

I drove to city time Square mandaue, it's a bit far from our school plus the rush hour traffic kaya naman pag dating namin sa buffet 101 kain na agad dahil sa gutom.

"So, tell me more about your vacation." Irene said while we were eating. "Hmmm, wala naman masyadong nangyari eh. What matters is masaya kami ni Tristan. Let's just say I had a great time with him." I replied and winked at her while eating my siomai and Japanese tempura. Her eyes widened and burst into laughter "Ang landi!!!"

Ang sarap ng siomai at tempura, as in. Lalo na yung sauce.

We spent our time catching up and I found out my boyfriend nanaman ang loka. All she did was talk about her new boyfriend na sobrang gwapo daw and hot. May bagong victim ang Lola nyo.

"Pero you know what? Gwapo si Justin pero parang walang makakatapat sa pogi mong Tristan! Hay!" She added while we drank our milktea and walked towards my car. I laughed at her and she pouted. "Naku, baka agawin mo sakin si Tristan ha?" I joked and threw some tissue to her. "Gaga, kahit poging pogi ako dyan sa boyfriend mo hindi ako mang aagaw noh. Excuse me lang, I'm not some cheap whore." She replied as we laughed and I rolled my eyes at her.

After that I dropped Irene home and went home and waited for Tristan to call but he never did. Hindi pa ba tapos ang meeting nila? I got in bed after taking my time in the shower. I took out my phone, still nothing.

To: Rose Santiago

Hi, Rose. Just wanted to ask, asan si Tristan?

I clicked send and waited for her reply. My phone vibrated and I opened it immediately.

From: Rose Santiago

Sorry shan, nasa meeting padin kami. He can't reply kasi ano nasa hot seat sya. Nasa labas ako ngayon nag hihintay.

Hot seat?

To: Rose Santiago

What? Why? Anong nangyari?

But before I could click send tumatawag na si Tristan sa akin.

"Tristan? What is happening?" I asked when I answered the phone. I am pacing back and forth already sa nerbyos.

He didn't say anything and I just heard his deep breathing on the other line.

Now I am sure that something is up.

"S-shan, uuwi ako bukas."