Sweet Nemesis

Chapter 9

#OLASweetNemesis

Chapter 9
Red Carpet

Halos umirap ako nang makitang nag-aabang si Keno sa living room. Naabutan ko siyang kausap si Daddy. Their topic seemed to be entertaining for my father. Ngiting-ngiti siya habang kausap ang bodyguard ko.

"Excuse me, Sir," I heard him say, and he stood up to meet me halfway when he saw me.

I nonchalantly pushed my luggage toward him. Natigilan siya sa paglapit upang pigilan 'yon sa pag-abante. Napakunot ang noo ni Keno at tinapunan ako ng matalim na tingin.

I shrugged my shoulders and walked to my father, ignoring him as much as I could. Wala akong pakialam kahit sabihin niyang nag-a-attitude na naman ako. If he thinks I am, ipapakita ko talaga sa kanya kung paano ako mag-attitude para alam na niya ang difference sa susunod.

"You're going to the charity ball tonight?" Dad asked and kissed me on the cheek.

"Yes, Dad."

"Hindi ba't mamayang gabi pa 'yon? What's the rush?"

"I booked a suite sa hotel. Doon ako aayusan ng glam team ko," sabi ko.

"Okay, then. Are your cousins attending as well?"

"Kuya Xavi's busy with DVH, and Kuya Knoa's wasting another woman's time to attend social events," sabi ko.

Natawa naman si Daddy. "You should stop hating on Knoa. Let him have fun. Bata pa siya."

"He's older than me, Dad," sabi ko na lang. Hindi ko na idinuktong na kahit mas bata ako ay hindi na siya mapakaling ipakasal ako. "Anyway, I have to go. I don't want to get caught in a traffic jam."

"Be careful on your way. Send my regards to Carlo Tan."

Tumango ako't tipid na ngumiti. Hindi ko na ulit nilingon si Keno at diretso na akong naglakad palabas ng bahay. Binilisan ko pa lalo ang paghakbang dahil ayaw kong maabutan niya. But when I reached his car, I realized it was all in vain. Sayang ang effort. I still had to wait for him to unlock his car before I could enter. Bakit ba kasi hindi na lang ako ang nagmaneho sa sarili ko ngayon?

"Are you in a hurry?" tanong ni Keno nang makalapit na rin sa sasakyan.

"If it wasn't obvious..." I answered languidly.

Keno took a deep breath, stretching his patience as much as he could. "Are you still mad?"

"I'm not mad. Nagmamadali lang talaga ako," sabi ko na lang at itinuro ang sasakyan. "Puwedeng pabukas na? Ang init dito sa labas."

"Okay..." He breathed, and I heard the locks click as he did.

Umirap ako't pumasok na sa sasakyan nang mapansin kong balak niyang pagbuksan pa ako ng pintuan. Mabilis ko rin 'yong isinara. He proceeded to load my suitcase into the back seat before he entered the car.

Ramdam ko ang titig niya sa akin nang pumasok. Humalukipkip ako't tumingin sa labas ng bintana. Muli naman siyang bumuntonghininga bago pinaandar ang sasakyan. And before he stepped on the gas, itinapat niya muna ang aircon sa akin.

"Para hindi ka na mainitan," sabi niya.

Damn him. Nang-iinis pa ata siya lalo.

Bakit ba sa harap ako naupo? I should've sat in the back seat and drawn the line between us!

Fortunately, there was no traffic in sight, and we got to the hotel earlier than expected. I wasn't forced to interact with him in any way. At ayaw ko mang aminin, medyo nawala ang init ng ulo at iritasyon ko dahil sa aircon na nakatapat sa akin.