Alta Sierra 1: Troilus Sandejas

Ikawalong Kabanata

Ikawalong Kabanata

"Ingat kayo!" I saw Lian's wide grin while we walk away from the crowd.

I tried to smile and for it not to falter. Her question indeed bothered me. I wasn't even able to answer her dahil sa dumating na din si Rios at tila ba sila na mismo ang umiwas na mapag-usapan iyon.

I breathed heavily. Rios' hand is on my waist. Nakita ko ang pagtiim ng mga labi ni Lian nang mapansin ang paraan ng pagkakahawak sa akin ni Rios. Hindi niya tinatago ang kung anumang meron kami. He never fails to make people see how proud he is to be with me. And I think that's enough reason for me to trust him.

Kaya mabilis kong isinantabi ang mga pasaring ni Lian kanina. For someone like her who has every greedy intention to get Rios' attention, malay ko ba kung may bahid man ng katotohanan ang mga sinasabi niya?

The idea that she's feeding me lies is not far from the truth, para mag-away kami ni Rios. I suddenly convinced myself to not mind what she said. Dahil sa paniwala ko, kung may kailangan man akong malaman ay si Rios mismo ang magsasabi sa akin, without me even initiating such topic.

I felt Rios kissed my forehead at tumaas ang kamay niya. His calloused hand covering my bare arms, medyo malamig na din kasi ang samyo ng hangin dahil gabi na.

"Let's get inside the car, mahamugan ka na..."

Naulinigan ko ang maliit na tili ni Mela na ikinangiti ko. Malakas niya kong itinulak kaya lalo akong napayakap kay Rios. He just manly laughed at lalo pang hinigpitan ang pagkakayakap sa akin habang ramdam ko ang panaka-nakang pagpatak niya ng halik sa ulo ko.

"Yiee, respeto naman sa amin ni Markus. Kami na talaga ang walang uyab, kami na." Markus just shrugged his shoulders while Mela looks giddy.

Nakakatuwa kung paanong ang dalawang ito ang mga number one supporters namin ni Rios. My face heated nang tusok-tusukin ni Mela ang tagiliran ko at mabilis akong umiwas dahil doon at lalong sumiksik kay Rios. She knows how ticklish I am! Rios' arms and built covered me against Mela habang tumatawa-tawa din. He held me like I'm some precious perishable. We're like teenagers being teased by annoying highschool classmates.

Bahagyang nanlaki ang mga mata ni Mela. Like my reaction is a give- away to whatever she's trying to figure out.

"Yay! Buo pa ang kiliti ni 'day! Hanggang momol pa lang kayo? Wala pang..." Sadya niyang binitin ang mga salita.

I heard Rios chuckle while I am still puzzled. Ang pag-iling naman ni Markus ang lalong nagpakunot ng noo ko, like Mela just said something inappropriate. Wait, did she?

My face instantly heated! I swear I am blushing profusely right now. My gosh, Mela! How could you? Is she seriously asking if Rios and I had sex already? Unbelievable.

"Mela!" tili ko.

"Really? Rios ano ba! Ang bagal naman!" Mela and her tactless mouth,

"Let them have their own pace, Mela." Natatawang saway naman dito ni Markus, nakasandal ito sa hood ng Range Rover nito.

My face heated more at lalong nagsumiksik sa mga bisig ni Rios. I can't even lift my head to face him. I'm scared that my flustered face will also be a give away that at some point, we almost did the act. Kaya pinili ko na lang magtago sa yakap niya para hindi Makita ni Mela ang pamumula ko.

"Just don't mind her, she loves to tease..." bulong niya sa tainga ko na ikinanguso ko na lang.

"Totoo? Even petting?"

I faced her with my curious face, really clueless. "Huh?"

"Ang inosente naman! Alam mo na..."

"Mela..." Rios said warningly while grabbing me for a hug again.