Kabanata 20
Kiss
I almost turned like a statue when he went near our table. Kanina pa siya nakikisalamuha. Kahit malayo, natatanaw kong tingin siya nang tingin sa lamesa namin.
Nang nagkatinginan kami, ngumisi siya.
"Salamat po sa pagpunta ninyo," pormal niyang sinabi sa mga magulang ko.
Anton is also near him. Palapit na rin si Senyora na natagalan lang dahil may kinakausap.
"Yes, this is Lucianna's first time to come to a Mercadejas party again," sabay sulyap ni Mama sa akin.
Pagkatapos nang sinabi ni Mama, doon ko lang din natanto iyon. For years, they didn't push me to join any of the Mercadejas party. Kahit pa naririnig kong wala naman ang magkapatid dahil nasa ibang bansa o may ibang ginagawa.
Now, I came here without any issues or second thoughts. I didn't even think about what happened then. I don't know how people get over their own trauma but to me... I realized it's this way. I live with it... sometimes forget about it... and when I remember, I remember it as a memory of the past.
Hindi ko alam kung kailan nagsimula o paano. Pero siguro nakatulong sa akin ang totoo. That Orianne, whatever happened to her, isn't dead. She's in hiding. It wasn't a mistaken identity. It wasn't my fault. And my life isn't in danger.
I have lost years thinking otherwise. But if I dwell on those lost years, I will lose more. So maybe I should really start living now...
"Kaya dapat engrande rin ang birthday niya!" si Senyora nang nakalapit na kay Mama.
Nagtawanan silang dalawa. I then glanced at Uriel who's watching me. Parehong pansin iyon ng mga kapatid ko at sa kung anong milagro ay hindi nila ito pinuna.
"Are you enjoying the party, Lucianna?" Anton asked.
I smiled at him and nodded. "Oo naman."
"By the way, I saw your painting of me at home. It was perfect, I love it."
Namilog ang mga mata ko, hindi inaasahan iyon. Medyo nahiya pa. "T-Talaga? Thank you."
Uriel is now frowning at his brother. Anton smirked. Ang dalawang kamay ay nasa likod nang binalingan niya si Uriel.
"Nakita ko rin iyong kay Uriel. His was nice, but I like mine better. So thank you..."
Uminit ang pisngi ko sa papuri at sa kahihiyan na rin nang maalala ang ginawa kong para kay Uriel. Nakakahiya na nakita pala iyon ni Anton.
"You should thank me for not burning your painting down," si Uriel sa kapatid.
Anton smirked. "Really? You have plans of burning Lucianna's work down, Uriel?"
Kumunot ang noo ko kay Uriel. Nagkatinginan kaming dalawa. His parted lips now pursed.
"Why don't you go back to Ilocos?" hamon ni Uriel na medyo hindi ko naintindihan.
Napalibutan ako ng pamilya ko buong party at si Uriel naman, sa dami ng bisita, hating hati ang atensiyon. Nang umuwi kami, sumama sila ni Anton sa paghatid sa amin sa labas. The party is still crowded but my parents are tired and they want to work tomorrow.
Hawak ni Uriel ang pintuan ng SUV namin. Nasa loob na ako at tinatanaw niya.
"Pumunta rin kayo sa birthday ni Lucianna, hijo."
"Opo, Tita..."
"Hindi ito nakapagbirthday ng engrande sa nagdaang panahon. Ngayon pa lang."
I didn't even plan that out. It was my mother's sudden idea. O siguro dahil sa mga hamon ni Senyora.
