Kiss or Slap

K

____________________Chapter K

Namawis ang mga kamay ko habang nakatago ang mga ito sa likuran ko. I was anxious and the sound of my black shoes against the floor is making me uncomfortable, the more I step, I am becoming more aware that mas lalo akong papalapit kila Keith. Hiyang-hiya ako habang hilaw na nakangiti.

They caught me watching them! I was busted! Kung pwede lamang magpalamon sa sahig ay kanina ko pa ginawa...

"Isha. Why are you here?" Keith asked, he was crossing his arms, and his eyes were half closed.

Tumingin sa akin iyong babaeng maganda at ngumuso. She smiled mischievously at Keith bago ako sinulyapan. "Isha? Is it her?"

Nalilito ko siyang tinignan. Keith nodded at her before turning to me to follow up his question.

I purposely avoided his eyes and scratched my head. "Uhh..ano kasi.."

"I'm glad you're here," umpisa noong babae, pinuputol ako. Lumipat ang tingin ko sa kanya at sinalubong ako ng kanyang ngiti. "I really, really wanted to meet you."

Keith sighed and offered me a chair. Nagpasalamat ako at naupo roon habang pinapanuod nilang dalawa. He was crossing his arms on his chest with a little ghost of accusation in his eyes.

"I'm Zaja. Keith's younger sister."

Upon hearing that. Parang isang bulang naglaho ang sari-saring pakiramdam na kanina ko pa kinikimkim. She is his sister! Hindi niya girlfriend!

How could I possibly accuse Keith of something like that so easily?! Hindi siya 'yung tipo na makikipaglandian pa rin kahit may girlfriend na! Geez, what was I thinking?

"H-hi."

"I've heard so much about you," sinulyapan niya si Keith. "Lagi kang kinukwento ni Keith sa akin."

Napalunok ako. I knew it already. Ayos na. My dilemma is over... so can I escape now because this is too awkward?

Imagine, I just mentally accused random assumptions to Keith, and that is making me guilty kaya sobrang naiilang ako ngayon. Keith watched me with his half closed eyes, slightly showing his accusations. Para bang kung wala lang si Zaja ay kanina niya pa ako pinagalitan.

Zaja is his younger sister. What am I thinking?!

"Talaga?" Hilaw akong ngumiti sa kanya.

She nodded blithely, "Gusto mo?" She offered the chocolate.

Umiling ako. I like chocolates but it is too awkward to even chew or eat it in front of Keith. Kanina pa siya nakatitig, mas lalo tuloy aking kinakabahan.

Tumikhim siya bigla. Sumubo naman ng isa pang piraso ng tsokolate si Zaja at nginuya iyon habang nakasara ang mga bibig.

"The holidays are approaching. Ano'ng balak mo?" Seryoso niyang tanong sa kapatid.

"Go home and act like everything is fine." Zaja answered nonchalantly.

"Can you do that?"

"Of course, I can," Zaja smiled. "Iyon na ang ginawa ko simula noong nalaman ko. Paano'ng hindi."

Keith sighed. "Are you even comfortable here?"

"Keith. Ilang buwan na ako rito. Malamang ay nasanay na ako. It's enough that you are using your own allowance to pay for everything. Magdedemand pa ba ako ng high-end na hospital?"

Nagulat ako roon sa narinig, at the same time, I felt confused. Are they seriously talking about that in front of me? But regardless, is Keith...spending his own allowance to support Zaja's hospital bills? What about their parents? Nasaan sila?