Chasing Laurel

Chapter 6

Chapter 6
Scarred

"Anong ginagawa mo dito?"

I stared intently on the flower bouquet he's holding. Nakakunot ang noong ibinalik ko ang tingin sa kaniya. He has his famous look again while wearing a light blue button down shirt. Hanggang siko iyon at naka-tucked in sa black slacks at susko! His belt is sreaming a designer's name! Susko! Anong ginagawa nito dito?

"Again, what are you doing here?" inulit ko ito kay Kaiden who's busy eyeing Dave. Nang tingnan ko si Dave ay ganoon din ito kay Kaiden. Susko!

"Kaiden" mariiing tawag ko. Doon niya lang nilipat sa akin ang tingin niya. He handed me the flowers.

"For you" Kaiden simply told before he looked at Dave again.

"Isla?"

Napalingon ako kay Dave. He's eyeing me with no smile on his face.

"Sino ito?" Dave asked.

I was about to tell him when Kaiden speak before I could.

"Adriano Kaiden Santander. I know you'll know me with that name" Halos pukpukin ko si Kaiden sa tono ng boses niya. Maangas at sigurado ang tono nito na para bang sa pangalan palang ay makikilala na siya kung sino siya. Gawain na niya ito noon pa man. This is what Kaiden Santander introduce himself—well sometimes. Hindi na kasi kailangan niya pa magpakilala dahil kilalang kilala na siya. Reason why he's boasting it.

Dave smiled. "Hmm, di kita kilala pare. Wala akong kilala na Adriano Kaiden Santander eh"

I heard Rian chuckled while dealing with our customers. Nakita ko rin ang pagsingit ng ngiti sa labi ni Dave at ang pagseseryoso ni Kaiden.

"So ano? Samahan kita, Isla magbantay? Malapit lang naman bahay namin dito sa inyo kaya hindi problema kung sasamahan kita" Dave faced me as if Kaiden didn't distract our conversation awhile ago. Nalilito naman na napapatingin ako kay Kaiden na hawak pa rin iyong bulaklak na hindi ko pala nakuha. He looked like he will kill Dave; reason why I decided to decline Dave's offer. Ayoko magkasakitan. Ayoko na makakita ng nagkakasakitan and I know him. His patience is so short. Basagulero ito noon at sa tangkad niya ay alam kong madedehado si Dave.

"Ano... Hmm.. Ano, hindi na. Kaya ko na. K-kaya ko. Salamat, Dave" sinubol ko din ito palabas—palayo kay Kaiden. He kept on insisting but at the end, he agreed on me and told me we'll see each other later.

Sinundan ko siya ng tingin bago ibalik ang tingin kay Kaiden. I saw the way he sat as he lay the flowers on the table carefully. He looked like he owns the chair like his own throne. Sinulyapan ko din si Rian. She looked uncomfortable but at the same time, she's eyeing Kaiden like it's the first time she saw a good looking man. Napailing ako.

"Anong ginagawa mo nga dito, Kaiden?" entrada ko pakapasok ko.

"Wala na ba yung bata?" Kaiden asked me instead of answering me. Nakakahalata na ako ah! Kanina niya pa iniiwasan ang tanong ko.

"Anong bata? Dave is twenty-six already! Magkasing-edad kami!"

Kaiden laughed. Kumunot noo ko.

"My bad. I thought he's just twenty. He doesn't look like he's the same age with you. He's small compared to you. If you didn't tell me his age, I would think that he's just a teenager who's still under his momma's skirt"

Tingnan mo 'to. Hayop na judgmental na 'to. Mukhang hindi man lang nito naisip na he's judging a person. Nakangiti pa ito habang naririnig ang mumunting tawa ni Rian sa gilid. He's even proud of his words.

"Umuwi ka na nga!" I pointed the door as if I am a mother telling my child to go home and take the afternoon nap.

"Nu-uh. I'll join you in doing your stuff"