Beyond His Caution (Lost and Retained #1)

Kabanata 30

Kabanata 30

Went out

Mabibigat ang titig na binibigay sa akin ng kanyang ama. But whenever he's talking to the girl in front of me, his tone changes into soft one.

Hindi ko alam kung anong meron sa babaeng ito at bakit maganda ang pakikitungo sa kanya ng tatay ni Toran. I don't want to put malice into it but is he trying to matchmake Toran with this girl?

Tumungo ako at tinignan ang mamahaling pagkain na nasa table. I have been with fancy restaurants but the food in their table are mostly unfamiliar to me. Si Toran pa ang naglagay no'n sa plato ko.

''May hindi ka ba taste? Hindi ka ba kumakain ng mga 'to? Pwede tayong magpaluto kay Manang..'' ani Toran sa akin. 

I looked at him and saw concern in his eyes. He shouldn't be. Okay lang ako. I feel out of place but it's okay.

I smiled at him and tried eating the food on my plate. 

''Liana, hija, how are you? Ilang taon na simula noong pinakilala ka ni Toran sa amin..'' his Mom said. Nasa magkabilang dulo sila ng tatay ni Toran.

Mahina akong tumikhim. I can feel the look of the girl in front of me.

''Ayos lang po..'' 

''Are you working?'' she asked.

I felt Toran's hand in my back, maybe telling me that he's still here.

''No, Ma'am..''

''Oh! Are you unemployed?'' nag-aalala niyang tanong. ''I can find you a job kung nahihirapan ka!''

''She doesn't need it, Ma..'' singit ni Toran. ''Maraming offers sa kanya.''

''Bakit wala siyang Trabaho, kung ganoon?''

''Ah.. I'm studying po.. Kaya hindi pa ako nagt-trabaho.''

''Really? Masters, like Toran?'' masayang tono ang gamit niya.

Gumaan ang pakiramdam ko nang kaonti dahil sa ngiti niya. She's really nice.

''Hindi po. I'm a first year law student, Ma'am.''

''Wow! Really? That's nice, then!'' 

Sumingit ang ama ni Toran. Muli akong kinabahan.

''In short, you're still unemployed, hija. Women your age can multitask. Look at Rachel,'' he said in a baritone voice.

Napatingin ako sa babaeng nasa harap ko. 

Humalakhak siya. '' Tito naman..''

Napalunok ako. Why am I suddenly being compared to her? We are different. It shouldn't be that way. Tumungo ako dahil sa narinig.

Nilipat ni Toran ang hawak sa legs ko at pinisil. I looked at him. He looks apologetic.

I smiled at him, trying to express that it's okay to me even when its not.

Kumikirot ang dibdib ko sa mga nangyayari. I don't like whats happening but I have no choice but to stay. Hindi ako pwedeng mag-inarte kay Toran at sabihing hindi maganda ang nararamdaman ko.

''It's true, Rachel. You're working and studying at the same time,'' he praised her.

''Well, it isn't that hard, Tito. In fact, I still have a spare time after my classes and work. Mabilis ko kasing nagagawa ang trabaho.''

Tumango ang ama ni Toran at bumaling sa akin. May multo ng ngisi sa labi niya. He looks like he's mocking me.

''See? You can do that, too, hija. My son deserves a hardworking woman whom he can proudly call as his because of her achievements.''