Missing Chances

Kabanata 11

Kabanata 11

"DARU, ito na ang kutsilyo, kuha ka na lang." Tita smiled after taking a slice of cake to eat.

I smiled sweetly and nodded.

"Salamat po, Tita."

She smiled back at me, nakita kong pinuntahan niya ang mga anak at bumaba ang tingin ko sa hawak na kutsilyo.

Slowly, I shifted my gaze and saw Chance standing on the other side of me, nasa may harap din ng cake. I saw how he gulped harshly when he saw me holding the knife.

"Uy, bakla, pahingi rin." Kalabit sa akin ni Zirena kaya bumaling ako sa plato niya.

I frowned when I saw her plate. "Kakasya pa bas a sikmura mo kinakain mo?" I asked. She laughed and nodded.

"Ako pa ba? Na-train ko ang dragon sa tiyan ko." She even tapped her stomach kaya natawa na ako. I glanced at Scira who's been checking her nails.

"Scira? Cake?" I asked. She lifted her gaze at me and shrugged.

"No, I'm on diet. Marami na akong carbs na nakain."

I nodded, medyo tinaas ko ang kutsilyo. I saw how the damn jejemaster's eyes widen when he saw me approaching. Iniwan ko ang mga pinsan at nagtungo sa may puwesto niya para kumuha ng cake.

He licked his lower lip when our eyes met, marahan akong lumapit doon at tumabi sa kanya.

"Baby doll..." mahina niyang tawag nang makalapit ako, I felt him slowly touched my waist. "Baby, let me—"

I sliced the cake hastily almost in front of his crotch, bigla siyang napaatras at nang lingunin ko siya ay nawalan na ng kulay ang kanyang mukha.

"Opps..." I muttered and covered my mouth. "Sorry, I missed." Bumaba ang tingin ko sa pantalon niya.

Hindi kami nakapag-usap ni Chance, I saw him trying to go near me pero kung hindi ko siya sisimangutan ay nand'yan naman ang mga kamag-anak ko kaya hindi siya makalapit. I even saw Kuya Deion watching me kaya hindi rin ako naging magulo at baka malaman nina Kuya ang tungkol sa amin ni Chance.

"Anak, would you join the pageant?" Napabaling ako kay Mama Lena, my grandmother, nang maramdaman ang hawak niya sa aking siko.

"Hi, Mama." I smiled at her, kissing her cheek. "Pageant po? I'm still not sure, Ma. I received offers from sponsors po kaso..."

"You should join, Daru." Biglang lumitaw si Papa Jer, my grandfather, kaya lumaki na ang ngisi kong lalo at yumakap.

"Hi, Papa!" I cheered and hugged him. He laughed and messed with my hair, nang pakawalan niya ako ay at saka akong muling kumapit kay Mama Lena.

"Join the pageant, would you like to, anyway?" he asked and I noted how my Lolo still looked handsome, the same as my grandmother. Their Brazilian blood is so strong that even at their age now, their looks never faded.

They're aging like fine wines, habang tumatagal ay mas gumaganda.

"I want po sana, kakausapin ko pa sina Papa po." I smiled and nodded, bumaling ako kay Mama Lena na pinapanuod ako at ngumisi. "Grabe, Mama Lena, 'yong dugo mo nasa ugat ko talaga..." I said at sabay-sabay kaming nagkatawanan.

I had fun with my family, get togethers like this never bore me. Nakikita ko si Chance na kausap din sina Kuya Chiel na pinsan niya pero nagkakatinginan kaming dalawa.

"Talk..." he mouthed from a distance pero ngumiwi lang ako at inangat ang hotdog on stick na hawak ko.

I took a bite on the hotdog harshly while staring at his face at nakita ko na napatikhim siya at nag-iwas ng tingin, humahawak sa batok.