A Thousand Wounds

Wound 8

Wound 8

A small gasp escaped from Nina's lips when I entered the restaurant with Michael.

"Oh my," I heard her whisper as I took the seat beside her.

"Cleyton?" rinig ko namang usal ni Michael when I pointed my gaze in their direction. Gulat na gulat ang binata habang nakatitig sa kaniyang kaibigan.

"Ikaw nga, pre! What are you doing here?" tuloy pa nito.

Kumunot ang noo ni Cleyton. "I should be the one asking you that. What are you doing here, Michael?"

"Ahh.. I'm with Belle," he spoke, followed by his mischievous grin.

Nabaling sa akin ang tingin ng dalawa. Michael winked at me while the man beside him stared at me sharply. I arched my brows then I bitchily rolled my eyes at both of them.

"How about you?" Michael coolly asked his friend.

I sighed, which caught his attention. "Michael, this is my cousin Nina," I introduced my cousin.

"Oh hi," he warmly greeted her.

"Nice to meet you," tila nahihiyang tugon naman ni Nina. Marahan akong napailing nang tudyuhin ako ng aking pinsan sa tagiliran.

"And him," turo ko kay Cleyton sa kaniyang tabi. "..is her boyfriend."

Michael's eyes popped. Salitan niyang tinitigan ang magkasintahan at liningon si Cleyton gamit ang gulat na mukha.

"Really? You're dating Belle's cousin?" he blurted out.

"I can't believe you, pre! Ni hindi mo man lang sinabi sa amin."

Nangunot ang aking noo sa kaniyang sinabi.

"What do you mean, Michael?" I asked him.

"He did not tell you about us?" Nina followed.

Napakagat-labi si Michael nang madungawan ang litong-litong itsura ni Nina.

"You did not, babe?" Nina asked in disbelief as she pointed her queries to her boyfriend.

"I.. I.." Cleyton uttered. Then, when he glanced at the two intruders intently staring at them, which is Michael and me, he stood up.

"Let's talk outside, babe," he held Nina's hand as they made their way outside the resto.

Napailing na lamang ako. Kababati lang nila, pero heto't may panibagong away na naman.

"I can't really believe him."

Nabaling kay Michael ang aking pansin nang magsalita ito. He is shaking his head in disbelief.

"Why can't you watch your mouth?" I stared at him sharply.

Itinaas nito ang kaniyang dalawang palad, as if surrendering himself. "Hey! Don't look at me like that! It's not my fault that I don't really know about them. Perhaps, Andrei too."

"I heard the two decided to keep it a secret, but it's just so unbelievable that he did not share it with you. Akala ko ba bestfriends kayo?"

Humalakhak ito at nagkibit-balikat.

"Akala ko rin eh.." he darted his meaningful gaze towards mine.

"He's such a jerk. How can he forget to mention it to you? Ganoon ba niya kagustong itago ang pinsan ko?"

"Sinabi mo pa. He's such a coward. I can't believe he'd result to this," naiiling na sang-ayon nito.

"Why are you with my cousin, Michael?" Nina asked while we are digging in for lunch.