What He Feels

-5-

Chapter 5:

“Danielle, may bisita ka sa baba. Clyde daw ang pangalan.”

Dali-dali akong tumayo sa pagkakahiga at inayos ang sarili ko.

What the hell? Ano namang ginagawa niya dito? Paano niya nalaman ang address ko? Hindi pa naman siya nakakapunta sa bahay dati, a?

I rushed downstairs without even thinking. Nakita ko namang maayos pa ang mukha ko sa salamin kaya hindi na ako nag-isip pa.

True enough, CK was there. Clyde Kristoffer Santos, the man who was a waste of my time, is sitting on our sofa like a prince and my parents are adoring him dearly.

I don’t get it. Bakit?

“O, ayan na pala siya, e.” Mama was all smiles when she saw me walking towards them. She looks at me so meaningfully. Mama, if you only knew. This man broke my heart.

CK looked at me and smiled. Kitang-kita ko ang sugat sa labi niya. Kiro must have punched him really hard. Well, good for him. Like I said, kulang pa ‘yon sa pananakit niya sa akin noon.

Hindi ko alam kung anong ineexpect niyang gagawin ko ngayong nakita ko na siya ulit. Hindi naman siguro siya nag-expect na magtatalon ako sa tuwa at yakapin ko siya ng mahigpit ngayong nakabalik na siya galing sa Japan, ‘di ba? Dahil hindi iyon mangyayari.

I sat beside Mama. She’s pushing me to sit beside CK pero what the hell? I can’t be too close with him. Seeing him still opens the wounds that have already been healed. Now, it would take a long time before they heal again.

“He’s got some gifts for you, Dani.” Papa told me before looking at CK. “Hijo, come on, give him your gifts.”

I wanted to roll my eyes at all of them badly. Bakit ganun? When will my parents act like normal parents do? Bakit parang ansaya saya nila na may bumisita sa akin? Hindi ba dapat ay strikto sila dahil ako lang ang anak nila at dapat ay pinapahalagahan nila ako?

Pero, bakit ganito? Bakit parang atat na atat silang magkaboyfriend ako?

CK stood up and started giving me gifts. I bet ito ‘yung mga pasalubong niya from Japan. O, bakit siya nandito? Akala ko ba we were never meant to be? Ang labo.

“I bought these from Japan.” He started lining up the gifts on the center table.

O, anong magagawa ng mga pasalubong na ‘yan? Mabubura ba niya lahat ng masasamang alaala ko sa kanya? Does he really think na bibigay ako dahil sa mga regalo niya?

“Oh!” Mama exclaimed. “Ito ba ‘yung newest make up from Japan?” She picked up a certain cream I don’t even give a damn about.

CK chuckled and nodded. “That’s the hottest make up in Japan, Tita.” He replied so politely I want to laugh so bad.

Tita? Seriously? After leaving me like that, nagagawa pa niyang maging feeling close sa magulang ko? Astig din itong isang ‘to. Antigas ng mukha, e.

Mama squealed a little over excited about that damn make up. “Are you giving this to me?” She asked me.

I looked at her and just nodded. Ayoko na rin namang patagalin pa ang usapan. Sobrang bilib lang ako sa mga magulang ko dahil parang wala silang napapansing kakaiba sa akin. Hindi ba nila napapansin na ayoko sa mga nangyayari ngayon?

“Pa, tara na sa kwarto. Let’s leave the youngsters here.” Mama called Papa as she held the cream so dearly. What the hell? She’s acting like she couldn’t buy one! She can buy tons of that! Ugh!

Papa nodded at me and smiled at CK. “Kapag may kailangan kayo, sabihin niyo lang kay Carol, okay?” Bilin niya ang I just nodded.

I watched my parents go upstairs first before looking at CK. “What are you doing here?” I asked.