Chapter 16
He gives me a peck of kiss in my lips before moving his lips away. Ang mga kamay ko ay nakakapit pa rin sa leeg niya. I felt like both of my knees turned jelly. Gusto ko nalang isubsob ang mukha ko sa dibdib niya dahil sa nangyari. I was about to speak again when I felt him kissing my forehead gently.
"Lunch is ready. You need to eat first, you haven't eaten anything yet."
Tumango ako. He lifted me up from the counter. Kaagad akong bumalik sa upuan ko at naghintay siya na hainan ako. Bakit parang wala lang sa kanya ang nangyari kanina?
Nakakainis! How could he be so prim and decent looking after what happened?!
Nang masinghot ang niluluto niya ay kaagad na kumalam ang tiyan ko. It's beef stew and some side dishes paired with rice. Kumuha siya ng utensils at binigay sa'kin iyon. After, he sat at the chair in front of me. Sinimulan kong lantakan ang ulam na niluto niya. He really is a good cook. The food that he cooked has a right texture and the beef is not overcook nor undercooked. His recipes are really condemnable. Napakunot ang noo ko nang may mapansin, "hindi ka ba kakain?"
"No, I already ate something." He casually said and then his eyes diverted to my lips again.
Nang makuha ang sinabi niya ay pinaningkitan ko siya ng mata.
"You're such a perv!" akusa ko sa kanya. But instead, he just shrugged his shoulders, trying to stop himself to let out a grin.
Hindi ko nalang siya pinansin at tinuloy ang pagkain. I also tried the side dish that he made and I couldn't help it but to take bite after bite.
"I'll be training you for a month under your company. The sales of the company plummeted rapidly this year and it had come to my notice that someone has been shadowing these deeds all along." Wayde explained. "What?" hindi ko makapaniwalang tugon. The company has been running for lots of decades and then this happened? I looked at Wayde with disbelief.
"I hired someone. I'll be checking all of the employee's background profiles to assure. Roseanna is the primary suspect, but there's still people alongside her." Seryosong saad ni Wayde.
Ipinikit nito ang mga mata at humalukipkip.
I finished the food before looking at him.
He's the only person that my dad can be trusted with, and he must be carrying the burden that our company has caused. Patong-patong ang mga problemang kinakaharap niya.
Wayde needs to double time in order to manage the company on both sides. I'm carrying his surname and that makes him one of the stockholders in the company. A big part of it. My guilt is consuming me as I saw him like this. Napabuntong-hininga ako at mukhang napansin naman niya iyon.
"Don't look at me like that. Make me proud so that my hard work will not be put to waste, wife." Those words of encouragement made me inspired to learn more.
I will not disappoint the both of you, I promise.
"Excuse me ma'am pero may bisita po kayo ngayon" ani ng isang maid. Nagkatinginan kami ni Wayde. Another one?
"I wasn't expecting anyone, but let the person come in."
Being confused, it didn't last long when I heard a familiar voice shouting my name. What is he doing here?! Kailan pa siya nakauwi rito?
"Celestiaaa! I need your help." Kaagad akong napalingon sa pinanggalingan ng boses.
"Clayton? What the hell are you doing here?" kaagad niya akong dinaluhan nang mabungaran.
"Celestia! I need your helpppp!" Tila maiiyak na siya at niyuyugyog pa ang balikat ko. Tumikhim si Wayde kaya agad nitong napukaw ang atensyon ni Clayton. Clayton's mouth opened when he saw him.
"Y-you told her already?" tumango lang si Wayde sa kanya at sumimsim sa kape nito.
Kaagad kong piningot ang tainga niya nang may naalala. How dare him hide those secret from me! Napahiyaw naman ito at humingi ng tulong kay Wayde na hindi man lang siya tinapunan ng tingin. "S-Sorry naman! Pero may mas mabigat akong problema ngayon kaya tulungan niyo ako." I let go of him. Umupo naman si Clayton sa katabing upuan ko.
"What is it?"
"It's about..." tila hindi niya matapos-tapos ang sasabihin.
"About what?"
Clayton swallowed hard before answering. I can also notice the sweat that is dripping from his forehead. Para siyang sumuong sa malakas na bagyo papunta rito sa bahay. "It's about Laren."
Napukaw agad ang atensyon ko sa sinabi niya.
"What about her? Inaway mo na naman ba siya?" Clayton shook his head and looked down.
"Akala ko ba hindi lang totoong yung sinabi mo?! She's leaving the country, Celestia!"
So nagkatotoo nga ang sinabi ko? Sa halip na magulat ay tinapik ko ang balikat niya para pakalmahin si Clayton.
"What are you planning to do, then?" I calmly asked.
"I don't know, kaya nga pumunta ako rito diba?" Clayton said worriedly.
"It's just for temporary right? Hindi naman siguro siya aalis ng matagal 'run. You'll wait for her right?" matagal siyang nakatungo bago sumagot.
He pursed his lips and whispered. "What if she'll find someone there?"
"Lagot, edi sorry ka nalang." I saw the panicked in his eyes kaya binawi ko kaagad ang sinabi ko. "Assurance, Clayton. Give her an assurance that you'll wait for her, but don't put your expectations too high. Hindi natin alam kung ano ang mangyayari sa magdaang mga araw. We might met people along the way in the near future."
"But I only want her. And losing her would be a big downfall to me."
Clayton is not just about joke after all. I never thought that we would met in unexpected time and in an unexpected place. Ito ang unang pagkakataong nakita ko siyang hindi mapakali. So weary and worried.
"Kaya ka pumunta ng Punto Sierra, diba? To chase for her."
"Yeah, I just never thought that it would went this way. My father is starting to train me to be part in the company. I might leave Punto Sierra sooner than I expected."
Pareho kami ng sitwasyon ngayon.
"Focus on the growth of your company before welcoming her into your life, Clayton. Prove something first before asking for her hand. If you want to marry her in the near future, be sure to fill her stomach first before asking for her hand," ani Wayde. He's reading something in his little notebook while crossing his legs. Nakasuot siya ng reading glass niya ngayon.
"M-Marriage? We're not even in the couple stage yet."
Ibinaba ni Wayde ang hawak at nag-angat ng tingin kay Clayton. "But you'll going to marry her right?"
Unti-unting tumango si Clayton, "Y-yeah, but it's too early for that now. She will be going to US months from now. You're right, we're still young. Lot's of opportunity would come ahead, mas mabuting mag focus nalang muna ako sa pagpapatakbo ng kompanya. But I would run after her, no matter what."
"Saan mo nilagay ang Clayton na kilala ko? So much had already changed, huh?"
"I think that's what love does to us. It's either it makes us a fool or it makes us the happiest person alive." Clayton whispered and chuckled.
Love. It does makes us a fool and happiest person at the same time. I tapped Clayton's back lighly and mouthed him a 'goodluck'.
If you're loving the book, nel5s.org is where the adventure continues. Join us for the complete experience all for free. The next chapter is eagerly waiting for you! "You shocked me so much. I thought your in Punto Sierra as of now."
"After the fiesta yesterday, nakatanggap ako ng tawag sa ama ko. He wants me to return immediately," bumuntong hininga siya at tumingin sa mga pagkain. Tumayo siya at kumuha ng plato sa rack at naghain ng kanin para sa sarili niya. "Pakain ako ah, I've been hungry the whole time. Oi Beef stew! Masarap to ah!" "Wayde cooked it, of course." Taas- noo kong sabi sa kanya. Napatigil naman ang paghain niya ng ulam at lukot ang mukhang tumingin kay Wayde.Published by Nôv'elD/rama.Org.
"Ano ba ang hindi mo kayang gawin?" kumuha siya ng kutsara at nagsimulang kumain. "Huhuhu Kaya naiinlab sa'yo lahat eh." "To be like you."
"A-ano? Hoy! Compliment ba yan o insulto?"
"Why do I need to choose if I can choose both?" I can sense his smug expression towards him.
Gumatong naman si Clayton, "Pasalamat ka at masarap 'tong beef stew mo! pero teka! Hindi ka 'ba kakain? Baka mapagkamalan akong makapal ang mukha ket di naman." "No, I already ate something delicious awhile ago." Wayde mischievously smiled and looked at my lips. Kaagad akong nag-iwas ng tingin dahil ramdam ko ang pamumula ng pisngi ko. Clayton didn't seem to notice and just continued eating.
"O 'edi sige, madali naman akong kausap. Buti naman pinagluto mo asawa mo 'no? Kesa naman siya palutuin mo, baka puro apoy nalang madatnan mo sa bahay. Gastos din yun."
I glared at him at tinampal ang braso niya.
"Hey! I'm not a bad cook as before. I can already fried a fish. Hindi pa yun sunog at hindi rin hilaw ah!" Proud ko pang sabi at nag-angat ng tingin.
"Yeah, right. Frying a fish and wondering why's the eyes popping out." Ako ang asawa niya pero bakit pinagtutulungan ata nila akong dalawa?!
"Atleast, I cook it right! But whatever, I can still learn to cook or even take culinary. Who you kayo sa'kin kapag ako marunong magluto." I defended myself. Clayton just mimicked it while Wayde just shrugged his shoulders. Napapangisi pa sila at pinagtawanan ako. Hmp! magsama silang dalawa.