Barcelona Escapade

Chapter Twenty-Three: Proximity

Chapter Twenty-Three
Proximity

Tahimik ako sa gilid ni Mamá at hindi nagsalita sa kaniyang sinabi dahil gusto kong isipin ni Mamá na okay lang sa'kin iyon. That's it. I've anticipated this would come out her mouth and only one solution has been going in and out of my mind: it's not to make it work.

Lumandas ang titig ko kay Jayren na nasa ina ang tingin dahil nagsasalita ito at halatang tuwang-tuwa sa sinabi ni Mamá. Tumikhim ako ng mahina at pinipilit ngumiti sa tuwing nahahagip din ni Andromeda Vastia ang titig ko.

"You would surely get along well!" rinig ko pang komento niya. "Jayren would like to know you deeper, Alethia. You seemed like an incredibly fascinating woman!" Sumilay siya sa anak. "You think so too, right, Jayren?"

Ngumiwi ako, tumitingin kay Jayren. Hindi niya na tiningnan ang ina at sa'kin piniling ilahad 'yon. His tight jawline shaped when he pursed his lips.

"She seemed like one," he said, showing some signs of interest. "How old are you?"

Kumunot ang noo ko sa tanong niya pero nagsabing, "Nineteen."

And how old is he again? 22? And he's already a young working professional?

"Make your dating work," Faustino Vastia said in a suggesting tone. "Alam kong maraming pinagkakaabalahan ang dalawa pero maglaan din kayo ng oras para sa isa't isa. Jayren can always go over Alethia in Manila if she'd like. Doon siya umuuwi, hindi ba?"

"Hindi ba siya abala sa trabaho?" si Papá.

"I can handle," Jayren replied.

Tiningnan ko siyang muli dahil sa sinabi. It seemed like one. He seemed like someone who can supervise his time appropriately, very dedicated and steadfast. Kaya nga naiisip ko ring baka hindi niya gustong pumasok pa sa mga ganitong bagay.

"I wouldn't want to be a burden, Mr. Vastia," pinilit kong tumawa habang nagsasalita. Bahagyang tumaas ang kilay ni Jayren sa sinabi ko. "Jayren can do his things, I'll do mine."

"Yeah, I'll do you," direkta niyang sabi na nagpakurap sa'kin. "That's how we'll work it out."

My breathing hitched.

Wow, Jayren, you can just not put me before you needs. I can handle myself!

Reagan cleared up his throat a bit kaya medyo napalingon ako sa kaniya. Nandiyan pa pala siya, ang kapatid at magulang niya. I just feel so sorry if they can't indulge themselves with this damned discussion.

"Jayren arguably wants things to work effectively," Reagan began and looked at me amusingly. Gusto ko siyang talasan ng tingin dahil mukhang ipinapalabas niyang pabor siya sa ideya pero nabawi lang 'yon ang dagdagan ang sinabi. "But if it failed, I'm sorry to say but that's when to give up."

Mula sa gilid ko, sinulyapan ko sina Mamá at Papá na tumaas ang kilay. Reagan grinned slightly. Pinangtinginan din siya ng mag-asawang Vastia.

"I'm stating possibilities, Mr. and Mrs. Castellon," rason niya. "In every input, you should assess both sides of output: the good and the bad."

Tumango si Faust Vastia at pinagsiklop muli ang mga kamay. "Reagan is right. It's indeed the reason why you should work things out. To make sure you're ending up with the good."

Tumango roon si Mamá bago magsalita.

"Jayren's workplace is here in Laguna," sabi niya at bahagya akong nilingon. "As a businesswoman myself, hindi ko hahayaang maistorbo ang trabaho ng anak ninyo, Faust. Clementine here has passed the five branches of Querencia University in the country, including Laguna."