Barcelona Escapade

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Brag

Chapter Twenty-Eight
Brag

"I'll bring Alethia back to Manila," anunsyo ni Jayren nang makalabas kaming muli sa garden nila.

The moment we went out, Mamá sauntered her eyes at me. If it hadn't because of Jayren who spilled our intention, mukhang balak niya pa akong taasan ng kilay sa ginawa naming pag-excuse kanina.

"May problema ba, hija?" nag-aalalang tanong ni Andromeda Vastia. Humawak pa siya sa palapulsuhan ko nang makalapit.

Umiling ako. "Wala po."

Jayren sighed. "She's not feeling well." Humarap siya kay Mamá. "Enjoy yourself here, Architect Castellón. Ako na ang mag-uuwi sa kaniya."

"Oh, really? Bakit hindi mo rito palipasin ang gabi, Alethia?" Andromeda said excitedly. "Jayren has an extra room to offer!"

"Ayan din ang suhestiyon ko kay Clementine," dagdag pa ni Kuya Miguel.

"Mama," suway niya. "She needs the comfort of her own room. Iuuwi ko na lang." Bigla niyang hinapit ang baywang ko ngunit dahil nakatingin sina Mamá ay pinigilan kong huwag magulat doon. Mamá casually pursed her lips. Bakas sa mata ang interes sa inakto ni Jayren. "I'm going back."

Bago niya pa makalimutan, kinuha niya na sa ina ang kahon kung nasaan ang dalawang kwintas. Tiningnan niya ako habang kinukuha 'yon.

"We're taking this." Napakagat ako sa labi. He looked down at me and held my waist down. "Say goodbye to your mother. I'll just ready the car."

Tahimik akong tumango, hindi nagpapahalata. Hinarap ko agad si Mamá at Andromeda nang lumayo siya.

"We're going," I said as I looked down.

"Take care, hija," si Andromeda. "Make sure to wear our gift so that everyone would know you're together!"

Napangiwi ako.

"Mind how you act, Clementine," paalala ni Mamá. "In few days now, everyone in the corporate would know about you."

Tahimik akong tumango para hindi na siya magsalita pa. Pagod na akong makarinig ng ano pa kaya ngumiti na lang ako ng matipid, as if all these don't bother me. At all.

"We're going then," paalam ko.

Besides Mamá, I have to make a talk with Jayren too. My heart thumped nervously after realizing what he just said... and what I just spilled a few minutes ago. Hindi niya na nasundan pa ang sinabi dahil pinalabas niya kaming muling dalawa. He only said we'll talk more of it on my way home.

Mas lalong kumabog ang dibdib ko.

Fuck, I told him! I told him when he's not supposed to know that! But he also told me he knows that prior to my spill.

"Alam... mo?" nauna akong magsalita nang magtabi kami sa kotse. I waited for him to answer. Nag-drive muna siya palabas ng mansiyon bago ako nagawang sagutin.

"Assumption."

Umawang ang labi ko.

Am I obvious?

"You never really liked all these. I began thinking you might have someone else," klaro niya at saglit na lumingon. Umiwas ako ng tingin. "If you didn't tell me, I might not have believe it."