Chapter 4

Bothered

Ang tanga-tanga ko! We had an arrangement and it included no strings attached kaya wala ring information exchange. Walang alaman sa buong pangalan, buhay, o kahit ano pa. All I know about him is that he’s Teo! And mukhang ganoon din sa kan’ya. We only exchanged names and numbers.

Damn it!

I can’t believe I fucked with a Vallero! Hindi lang isang beses! At nasarapan pa talaga ako! I know it’s just the sex I’m after but why am I even reacting like this? Hindi pa nag-iisang linggo na nagkasundo kaming hindi na magkita at ito na agad ang nangyari!

I feel so uncomfortable while he talked with his sisters comfortably. Parang wala lang sa kan’ya! While I’m here hyperventilating. I bit my lip as I turned to Gracy. Nag-uusap siya kay Carlito Vallero, the patriarch of the family.

My plan will still continue. I’m just surprised that he’s actually a Vallero. Kilala ko man siya at aaminin ko, naging mabuti naman siya sa akin, itutuloy ko parin ang plano ko. Maybe, I’ll just spare him. Naging maganda naman ang samahan namin.

The dinner started and I’m feeling anxious. Paano kung sasabihin niya na magkakila kami? What if he’ll tell them we were fuck buddies? Damn it. Hindi pwede. Pero noong pinakilala siya ni Hunyo, he acted like he didn’t know me. I guess that’s a sign na he’ll just pretend.

Nawala rin sa isip ko si Teo or Mateo or whatever his name is. Tinuon ko nalang ang atensyon sa dinner. This is just a family dinner but it looks like someone is celebrating a birthday. Kung sa bagay, there is an engagement happening.

“We’re really sorry, hija. Simula noong nakauwi kami, our schedules were jampacked. Kahit gustuhin man namin na sabihin sa’yo personally ang tungkol sa engagement, we couldn’t. Our schedules were not permitting us,” Tita Riona said apologetically.

Ngumiti ako.

“Naintindihan ko po, Tita. I’m also a business woman so I understand.”

Tita Riona sighed gracefully and smiled.

“You really are a perfect fit for Hunyo. I just hope Hunyo makes a perfect fit for you.”

I licked my lips. Unang tumama sa mata ko si Mateo na nakatingin na pala sa akin. He looked at me warily with his brows furrowed a bit. I looked away and faced Hunyo who is just in front of me.

I swallowed hard. Hunyo is handsome with his neat and clean-cut hair while Teo has this long hair, a bit messy but it only made him look like a god. Hunyo’s eyes are pitch black, itim na itim while Teo has these warm brown eyes, so inviting. They almost have identical bodies, muscles were in the right places. I sighed inwardly. Bakit ko ba sila kinukumpara? I’m marrying Hunyo and I’m thinking about Teo!

Tumikhim ako at ngumiti ng malapad kay Hunyo.

“Well, time will tell us if we are. Pero hindi ko naman itatanggi that I am indeed lucky to have someone like him in my future.”

Nahagilap ng aking mata ang nakakalokang ngiti ni Gracy. Everyone might look at her smirk like she’s a supportive friend but hell, her smile is mocking me.

“You both are lucky to have each other, hija,” wika ni Carlito Vallero.

He’s not the usual talkative person like I thought. Una dumapo ang pagdududa ko sa kan’ya. I smiled at him sweetly as he nodded at me with a small smile.

“I just thought you would be a perfect match for Hunyo since you grew up in States. I mean, pareho kayong nag-aral doon, am I right?”

Tumango ako sa ginang.

“Yes. Naghigh school ako doon. Doon ko na rin tinapos ang college degree and masters ko.”

Tita Riona looked at me like I will be her favorite in-law. Pero kahit anong alis sa isip ko ang masasamang ideya, patuloy ko paring iniisip na ang mga taong ito ay demonyo regardless of how they carry themselves so nicely.

The dinner ended. I actually wanted for it to end quickly. Hindi kaya ng sikmura ko na kaharap ko lang ang mga mamamatay tao. But after dinner was a drink in their bar inside their manor. Kating-kati na ang paa ko para umalis.

“So, when is the announcement of the engagement?” Veronica asked.

Unconsciously, I looked at Teo. I saw him on the far-right side of the island counter, alone, drinking. He poured another drink into his glass and swirled it as he looked at his glass intently. Mukha siyang may iniisip na malalim. Nakita ko pa ang pag-igting ng kan’yang panga.

I watched him for another minute or so until I felt a hand tap my shoulder. Para akong nagising bigla sa realidad. Lumingon ako kay Gracy and she gave me an eye signal telling me that I have been off for some time now.

Napalunok ako. Agad rin naman akong umiwas ng tingin sa direksyon ni Teo dahil nahuli niya akong nakatitig sa kan’ya.

I don’t know why I’m so bothered.

“Is there something wrong, hija?” tanong sa akin ni Tita Riona.

I smiled.

“We can have the announcement at the engagement party. Everybody will be there, especially the media.”

Tumango si Carlito Vallero. Eventually, everybody agreed with my idea. Hunyo seemed like he didn’t notice me spacing out. We planned the engagement party. Pinauna ko nang pinauwi si Gracy dahil lasing na ito. Nang matapos, hindi na ako nagdadalawang isip na umuwi.

Gusto ko nang umuwi. It sickens me that I have to breathe the same air as them. But maybe there are other reasons. Papalabas na ako sa manor nang nawala si Teo sa isip ko. Pero noong pababa na ako sa hagdan, palabas, I saw him with that familiar car of his.

I gritted my teeth. My eyes wandered at the surroundings. Wala na ‘yong sasakyan ko. It will take another hour for my car to come back here and my mind is already guessing what Teo is planning to do.

“I’ll drive you home.”

Kapal ng mukha.

“Why drive me home? Are you my fiancé?”

Nahagilap ng mata ko ang pag-igting ng panga niya.

“I’m volunteering. Pagod si Hunyo.”

“I’ll wait for my car.”

“Your car will arrive at midnight. Mag-aalas dose na.”

“I can wait. Sanay ako umuuwi ng madaling araw.”

My last sentence sparked something in his eyes. I swallowed hard. Oo nga pala, madaling araw ako umuuwi dahil may ginagawa kami hanggang madaling araw… noon.

“I thought we shouldn’t bump into each other.”

Napataas ang kilay ko.

“I thought we’ll pretend we don’t know each other.”

I saw how his adams apple moved slowly. Umiwas ako ng tingin.

“Let me drive you home then we’ll pretend.”

I looked him straight in the eyes. What’s that look? There was something different in his eyes. A glint of something unfamiliar.

“Fine,”

Then, I saw his smirk. That smirk had led me to a lot of pleasure.