Barcelona Escapade

Chapter Fourteen: Realize

Chapter Fourteen
Realize

If only I could bang my head in the venue's rest room door, I really would. Paikot-ikot ako roon habang hinihilot ang sentido. Just what the heck did I do?

I ruffled my hair, still with the moderation not to mess up my look. My palms rested in the tiled countertop while I looked at myself in the mirror. Even when I'm annoyed with myself, I felt an uncomfortable ache inside me.

What's that feeling about?

Is it because I couldn't stand that I was rejected? What the heck!? Hindi naman ito ang unang beses. Jayden rejected me many times but my frustration today is getting under my skin!

Bakit ko naman naisip na gawin 'yon? Was that to for him force him to tell me who I deserve? Ni hindi niya nga masagot.

I groaned. May lumabas pang babae sa isang cubicle kaya sinubukan kong kalmahin ang sarili para lumabas na ng banyo. What now? What's face I'll show him now?

Bumalik ako sa mismong reception venue bago pa mapansin nina Mamá ang pagkawala ko sa paningin nila. Kunot-noo niya akong sinundan ng tingin hanggang sa makalapit ako sa puwesto nila ni Papá. They were sitting around a table while people were going towards them to greet about my brother's marriage. Nang kami na lamang ang naroon, ginawad na ni Mamá ang atensyon sa'kin.

Napakagat ako ng labi nang mahagip ng tingin si Eros na nadaan ko. Kumalabog ng husto ang dibdib ko, binilisan ko pa ang lakad para lang makalayo. Iniwan ko siya roon kanina dahil nakakahiya ang ginawa ko. He didn't opt to follow because we obviously both don't want that anyway.

"Where have you been with that European?" tanong ni Mamá, pilit itinatago ang kumukunot na noo sa'kin. "Who is he?"

Napansin niya nga sigurong nakasunod sa'kin si Darby kanina. Now, Mamá has her full ears to listen to what I have to explain about.

"Nagpahangin lang ako sa labas, Mamá," sagot ko. "May iba siyang ginawa."

Hindi ko na nabanggit ang talagang motibo niya. Hindi 'yon magugustuhan ni Mamá at baka sumama lang ang impresyon niya sa lalaking iyon. Saka kung sasabihin ko 'yon, paniguradong mababanggit kong tinulungan ako ni Eros para makaiwas.

Tinaasan din ako ng tingin ni Papá. "Don't scoot around when everyone has their eyes on you. Hindi ka pumunta rito para magliwaliw, Clementine," sermon ng Papá.

I sighed, opting to release thoughts of Eros out of my mind. Gustuhin ko man siyang ipakilala sa kanila, tiyak na hindi rin nila bibigyang rekognisyon si Eros. I know my parents more than anyone. Frankly saying, someone like Eros wouldn't ring a bell in their ears. Pati nga sina Fenris ay hindi kilala.

"I know, Papá."

"How's your studies going? Ginagalaw mo ba ang mga librong ipinadala sa'yo?" si Mamá. "Huwag mo lang sabihin sa'king kikontrata mo si Miranda para lang konsintihin ka."

Now tell me why their presence sometimes irk me. However, I can only say that to myself. They had me all under their control, that the slightest words against them will turn like a disrepect.

"May oras po ako para roon," depensa ko na lang.

"She's into it when we're still in Barcelona." Kasabay ng pagsasalita ni Kuya Hugo para makidagsa sa usapan ay ang pag-akbay niya sa'kin. Sinulyapan ko siya at hindi naiwasang ngumuso. Look at this just-got-married guy acting like a youngster and all that. "Mamá, I'll taking Clementine with me, okay? We'll have a quick chat before we part tonight."

Pumirmi ang labi ni Mamá at taimtim lang tiningnan si Kuya Hugo. Papá gave him an approving look and so Kuya Hugo had me alone with him in one corner in the venue. Ate Merliya is busy conversing with her family bunch that Kuya Hugo has this time to speak to me... about something I don't know about.