Adoring Your Soul

Kabanata 29

Kabanata 29

Special Day

I saw Ivar leaning on the wall beside the stairs. Nagtaas ako ng kilay upang kuwestyunin ang pananatili niya sa mansion. Maybe he listened to what I and Archer discussed in my room. Saglit na gumalaw ang kanyang panga at iniling ang ulo bago tuluyang bumaba sa hagdan. Nang lumabas si Archer, may naring akong ingay sa bulwagan. Matagal nang wala rito sina Vanelle, at wala rin si Tita Alicia, kaya sigurado akong si Peter iyon.

Rinig kong bumukas ang pinto ng kuwarto. Hindi ko na iyon nilingon dahil abala sa pagsilip kina Ivar. I instantly hated Ivar because of what he said. I didn't know that he'd eventually hate me. I thought he would at least hear my explanation—well, I am not commanding him to hear me out, but he is so insensitive! Bakit hindi man lang niya isipin ang kalagayan ko? Just ask me why I went here, or why am I doing this? Wala siyang ibang ginawa o sinabi, he just block-mailed me and concluded many things that aren't relevant!

I didn't wait for Archer to come near me. Agad akong bumaba sa hagdan at natantong tama ako dahil nakita ko si Peter na nakatanaw sa naglalakad nang palayo na si Ivar. He then glanced at us and looked straight at Archer. Nilagpasan niya ako at kinausap ang pinsan. I didn't get his point because I could clearly hear what he was saying.

"Saan kayo pupunta?"

I turned and stared at him. Tama ako, nakatingin siya sa akin, nanunuya. Patuloy ang pakiki-usyoso niya, habang si Archer, tango lang nang tango, nakataingin sa akin.

"Ah, you don't have to bring your fiancé. Lagi na kayong magkasama. Siguro naman sa dalawang buwan na 'yon, nalibot niya na ang Nasugbu."

"Kailan ka aalis dito?" banat ko, napatigil naman siya.

Archer stared at me. Hindi dahil pinatitigil ako, kundi dahil tinatanya ang reaksyon at kilos ko para sa kay Peter. Maybe he sensed that I was disgusted and annoyed with his cousin. Masyado nang matagal na tumitigil dito si Peter. He should leave.

"Go wander with yourself. I'll go with Lohana." He tapped Peter's shoulder.

Archer walked toward me and held my hand. Unti-unting bumaba ang tingin ni Peter doon. His eyebrows furrowed for a bit. Binasa niya ang kanyang labi at agad na iniwas ang tingin. I rolled my eyes because of his disgusting actions, hindi ko naman maintindihan. Sa halip, tiningnan ko si Archer upang parating a handa a akong umalis, and he should dump his cousin's ass.

Bago pa man makapagsalita si Archer, naunahan na siya ni Peter. "Hindi ba noong nakaraan magkasama na kayo? Aalis kayo ulit? Hindi ka ba nauumay, Archer?"

Mabilis kaming nagkatinginan ni Archer. Medyo kumunot ang noo ko dahil hindi ko naintindihan iyon. I stared at my fiancé and noticed how his jaw clenched. Nanlilit-mata niyang tinitigan si Peter. Lito ko silang tiningnang dalawa.

"Fiancé ko siya at ikakasal na kami. Bakit ako mauumay? If you have a lot of time to waste, waste it on other things. 'Wag sa amin."

Mas lalo lamang kinain ng iritasyon si Peter dahil sa sinabi ni Archer. Then, Archer pulled me to walk away with him. Nang lingunin ko si Peter, nakita kong pabalik-balik ang tingin niya sa amin, iritado.

"Wait," Archer said when his cell phone rang.

Lumayo siya ng kaunti at pinanood ko naman siya. He nodded, his eyebrows still furrowed.

"Okay, so I'll tell her." He was about to go inside, but he glanced at me. "I'll come back, kakausapin ko lang si Mama."

Tumango ako.