Kabanata 7

Background color
Font
Font size
Line height


Derek and I kept on texting that day and onwards. I have no experience in having suitor but I had some boys who I used to text secretly with. Kaya naman sanay na sanay ba akong makipagtext ng patago lalo na kapag nariyan ang mga pinsan ko.

He asked me for a date next Sunday since I'm free that day and my cousins are going somewhere. Sa Evergreen ako inaya ni Derek at pumayag naman ako. Since Sunday, aalis yata ang mga pinsan kong lalaki. I heard they're going to Roweda because of Asher.

"Saan ka ba kasi pupunta?" Collin asked me. Dala dala niya ang aso ni Worth na nakalaylay ang dila.

I fixed my plaid longsleeve tied on my belly. "Kila Farah. Mag aaral kami."

"Tapos na exam, ah?"

"Syempre para sa quizes, Collin!"

Ngumuso siya. "May quizes pa kayo? Its almost sembreak, Ate."

Tumikhim ako at bahagyang nagtimpi ng konti. "Meron pa din, Collin." Tumayo ako at kinuha ang bag ko mula sa sofa. "Sige ha? Alis na'ko. Tell Damien I'm out!"

"Anong oras ka babalik!" She shouted back when I turned my back. Sinenyasan ko na ang driver namin na ihanda ang sasakyan namin.

I waved my hand. "Mabilis lang! 1 hour!"

"Huh? May one hour bang review?"

Actually hindi naman one hour ang usapan namin ni Derek. Feeling ko lang hindi ako masyadong magtatagal doon. He said its just a simple lunch so, why not?

Sinilip ko ang relo ko at nakitang halos alas dose na. Late ako ng 20 minutes pero ayos lang naman dahil sinabihan ko siyang malelate ako. I was struggling picking between my Marc Jabobs or Burberry hand bag. Speaking of handbags, its been a long time since I bought one.

Sumilip ang driver namin galing sa bintana nang bumaba na ako. He looked at me curiously. "May bibilhin ka, Ma'am?"

I shook my head. "Dito ko na hihintahin si.. uh, Farah. Malapit lang naman kung kanila dito. I'll just text when I have to go home."

Kumamot siya sa batok tsaka napilitang tumango sa akin. Bahagyang kumintab ang kaniyang walang buhok na ulo habang tumatango. "Sige, ma'am. Ingat po."

I nodded and smiled at him. Nang makaalis siya ay tsaka ako tumalikod para puntahan si Derek sa nasabing bistro na kakainan namin.

Dumapo ang mata ko sa itaas ng bistro. Kitang kita ko iyong gym na madalas ko puntahan para bisitahin sila kuya dati, pero ang totoo ay sinisilip ko lang si Leander sa dance studio niya. Speaking of his studio, I looked at it. Walang tao sa labas. Ngayon lang uli ako nakapunta dito. I wonder is Leander is there.

Nagbikit balikat ako.

I was a bit guilty to lie to Collin and my driver. Lalo naman kay Farah na ginagawa ko pang dahilan para makipagkita kay Derek. But anyway, this is the first and the last time. Pinagbigyan ko lang si Derek kasi gusto naman raw niya maexperience na makadate ako sa weekends.

I immediately saw the dashing Derek seating on the corner with a glass of water in front of him. He was creasing his forehead while staring at his phone, maybe waiting for me to text because he kept on texting me on the car a while ago.

Naupo ako sa harapan niya. Lumitaw si Nympha na paborito kong waitress dito sa bistro. She smiled at me and stopped when she saw who I'm with.

Nginitian ko si Nympha bago lumipat ang tingin kay Derek. "Hi!"

He scanned me and flash his boyish smile. "Aga mo naman," It was sarcastic.

I rolled my eyes. "I told you, I'm going to be late. Nag order ka na ba?"

Tumango siya at tinago ang cellphone. "Kanina pa." He looked at my clothes. "Anyway, you look pretty! Nakakahiya naman kadate ka."

Medyo nagulat ako pero natawa din. "Mas nakakahiya kadate ka. You look dashing."

The food was served. He ordered a bunch of food for me. He was also talkative and I liked it because I neved felt bored with his company. Puro naman games ang sinasabi niya pero ayos lang, nasasanay na ako sa kaniya na ganoon.

The door opened. Hindi ko sana iyon papansinin pero nang makita ko si Leander Salazar kasama si Theo na parehong malaki ang damit at jeans ang suot ay natigil ako kakanguya sa pagkain ko.

His eyes met mine and I almost chocked but I had to control myself because that would be embarrassing. I quickly grabbed the glass beside my plate while Derek was still telling his story about his video games and his friends.

"I'll teach you sometimes— And oh, speaking of teacher, hindi ba tuturuan mo ako ng jetski? Nangako ka!"

Nilingon ko si Derek. "H-huh? Ah! Oo! Uhm.. Titignan ko kung kailan ako libre at kung kailan wala sila Kuya."

He nodded and smirked. Nilingon ko sila Leander na pumapanhik na ngayon sa counter area. I saw him giving us glances and he even did it obviously. Matalas ang tingin niya sa mesa namin habang panay ang turo ni Theo sa mga menu sa itaas.

Galing sila sa studio? Siguro. Halos araw araw yata iyan nagprapractice. I heard they won in their dance competition in Freytown. Sasabak rin daw sila sa Roweda. Si Seidon ang nagkwekwento 'nun.

"Kailan mo ba ako ipapakilala sa mga pinsan mo?"

I almost choked with what Derek said. I cleared my throat and sipped on my water a bit. Doon niya nakuha ang atensyon ko. He laughed when he saw me panic with what he just asked.

Tumawa ako. "You know my brother's strict. I can introduce you when you're ready for his punches."

Humawak siya sa dibdib ng dramatiko at nag acting na nasasaktan. "Grabe naman. Suntok agad?"

Tumango ako. "Kaya mo ba?"

"Well, Zeth, I can bear those punches if that means he'll accept me. Iiwasan ko na lang ang suntok niya hangga't kaya ko." Tumawa siya. "Pero hindi rin.. pakiramdam ko mas malupit iyon kay Pacquiao."

I laughed with him.

Natigil ang tawanan namin nang may padabog na naupo sa tabing lamesa. I automatically sat straight when I sniffed a very familiar perfume. Teka nga, do I smell something wrong?

Nilingon ko iyon. It was Leander alone. I saw Theo in the counter, ordering something. Si Leander ay prenteng naupo sa katabing lamesa at halos ipatong pa ang paa sa lamesa dahil ang yabang.

I silently sniffed his perfume on my side. Wala sa sarili akong ngumanga. It was very familiar because that was my perfume! I mean, the perfume I used on his pants when I washed it. Iyong pabangong sinabihan niya na amoy maarte!

Derek cleared his throat. "Nag gygym iyon di'ba?" He asked, still referring to my brother.

I nodded and played with my fork. "Yeah. Sa taas lang nito."

"Ah, ganoon ba? E'di kailangan dito din ako mag gym!"

"And you'll talk to him?" I laughed. "Anong sasabihin mo?"

"Na nililigawan na kita?"

Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi ako natawa doon. Umayos ng upo si Leander, nakita ko sa peripheral view ko. He took out his phone and I saw him scrolling a bit on it. Nakalabas ang isang hita niya at marahan iyong ginagalaw na akala mo may hineheleng bata sa hita niya.

Ngumiti ako kay Derek at sumubo sa pasta na hindi ko na ginalaw mula kanina. "I bet you can't do that, Derek."

"Are you testing me? Syempre, kaya ko! Ikaw lang ang inaalala ko, baka kasi ayaw mo pa."

"Ang tapang mo pala, ah?" I joked and laughed.

"E'di sasagutin mo na ako niyan?"

Imbis na sumagot ay itinawa ko na lang iyon. Nilingon ko ang lamesa sa kabila nang naupo si Theo doon.

He was about to talk when he saw me. Kaagad siyang kumaway sabay tingin sa kasama ko.

"Hazeth!" He called.

Hilaw akong ngumiti. "Theo.."

Nagkatinginan kami ni Derek. He raised his eyebrow and looked Theo and Leander. Napatingin din ako kay Leander na binaba na ang cellphone at tumingin sa amin.

I saw his shameless look on us. He stared the Derek with pure judgement. Lumipat ang tingin niya ay hindi ko alam kung bakit ako kinabahan kaagad. Hinangin naman kaagad ang tingin niya sa akin na parang ayaw niya pa akong tignan! Aba!

"'Di mo kasama sila Conrad? Nasa Roweda sila, ah! Nambababae!"

I shrugged to Theo. "I know. Hindi naman ako mambabae kaya bakit ako sasama?" May halong tawa iyon.

"Ano pala? Manlalalaki?"

Sabay sabay kaming huminto nang magsalita si Leander. Nagkatinginan kami ni Derek. He just cleared his throat and sipped on his water. Ako nama'y hindi malaman kung ano ang irereact doon.

Sa huli ay iniwasan ko siya ng tingin dahil sa inis. Is he going to tell my cousins about it?

Theo laughed awkwardly. "H'wag mong pansinin 'yan, Hazeth. Pinaglihi kasi 'yan sa bad news."

Leander gave him a glare. Tumawa ako. "Ayos lang." Kahit hindi naman!

I looked at Derek. "Anyway, Theo, this is Derek, uhm.." Kaibigan? No. Manliligaw? I don't know if I have to say that.

But Derek immediately interrupted. "Her suitor. Nice to meet you."

He hand his hand out to Theo. Tumatango ng dahan dahan si Theo habang nakatingin sa akin na may halong pag iingat ang mata. I don't think he'll tell my brother about it. Sana naman ay h'wag. Lalo na kay Seidon dahil iyon ang pinaka close sa kanila.

Theo looked at Leander. "That's Leander. Wala siya sa mood makipag usap kasi gutom na."

"Hi." Leander lazily said and didn't even looked at Derek!

"Salazar?" Derek asked.

"Do I know you?"

"Oh!" Tumawa si Derek. "Dancer ka di'ba? I heard some—"

Leander raised his hand, asking Derek to stop. "Okay. Wala pa ba 'yung pagkain?" Lumingon siya sa counter at iniwan si Derek na nahinto sa pagsasalita.

Tumitig ako sa kaniya. How can he be so rude towards my friend? Hindi ko talaga alam kung maniniwala ba ako kay Theo na pinaglihi talaga siya sa masamang balita. He's so rude as ever.

Umirap lang ako. Sinenyasan ako ni Theo ng patawad dahil sa kaibigan pero tipid lang akong ngumiti. I continued eating with Derek. Habang sila'y inaantay pa din ang pagkain nila.

I quickly finished my food. Si Derek din ay natapos na. Hindi na ako lumingon sa kabilang lamesa para maiwasan ang iritasyon. Pagkatapos nito ay sasamahan ako ni Derek sa isang boutique sa labas para tumingin ng bag na gusto ko dahil inaya ko siya.

I was in the middle of sipping my water when Derek stood up and excused himself to the restroom. Kasabay at tumayo din si Theo at lumakad palabas para pumunta sa hindi ko alam.

Tumuwid ako ng upo nang marealize kung sino ang naiwan sa lamesa nila. We're almost two feet apart yet I can smell his perfume. Nagtatalo ang pabango naming pareho lang naman ang brand pero magkaiba ang scent. Matapos kasi na insultuhin niya ang pabango ko ay hindi ko na iyon ginamit.

He shiftet on his chair, facing me a bit. "So that's your boyfriend?"

I didn't move. I don't know why he's talking to me after what he did to my friend. Hindi ko siya nilingon pero sinagot ko ang tanong niya.

"Manliligaw pa lang. Excited ka?" May halong inis ang boses ko.

I can almost see him roll his eyes. "Bakit? Kailan mo sasagutin?"

"Why do you ask?" I looked at him this time.

Nakapatong ang siko niya sa lamesa habang ang kabila ay nasa likod ng upuan niya. "Does your brother even know anything about this?"

"Hindi. So what?"

"Bawal ka pa mag boyfriend, di'ba? Bakit nagpapaligaw ka?"

"What is it to you?"

"How old are you? 15? 16?" He smirked. "You're not even in your legal age."

"Why do you care?" Nagtiim bagang ako.

He shrugged and curved his lips. "I'm just curious and at the same time, concerned."

Nanliit ang mga mata ko. "Concerned about what?"

"Anong sasabihin ni Conrad kapag nalaman niya 'yan? What do you think?"

"Oh, isusumbong mo ako?" Tumawa ako. "Go ahead. I'm not scared. Samahan pa kita."

He put his fingers on his lips and tilted his head a bit. He looked at me in his own dark way. "H'wag mong sagutin. Hindi kayo bagay."

Tumawa ako, this time, natawa na talaga ako. What did he say? Hindi kami bagay? Kung ganoon, sino palang bagay sa kaniya? Sa akin?.

"At bakit ko naman gagawin 'yon?"

He stood up. Napaatras ang katawan ko sa biglaang pagtayo niya. He clenched his jaw while looking down at me like he was a king. A colossally king looking down on his poor little servant.

"Kasi ayaw ko," He said before turning his back on me.

You are reading the story above: TeenFic.Net