One Last Time

Kabanata XIX: CHILDISH.

CHILDISH.
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       PAGKATAPOS kong i-charge ang cellphone ko at ayusin ang susuotin ko para sa kasal bukas, bumaba na ako. Pinuntahan ko si Levi sa veranda sa likod ng guesthouse. I know he's there because he told me where he was going when I asked him. Bago kasi ako umakyat sa guestroom, nakita ko siyang papunta sa kung saan.

A strong wind and the rustling of mango tree leaves greeted me as I reached the veranda. Sinikop ko ang buhok kong bahagyang kumalat sa malakas na hangin sa kanang leeg ko.

It's already past one thirty in the afternoon. Hindi pa rin bumabalik sila Tita Rose at Tita Asul na pumunta sa likod ng villa.

Gustong usisain ni Tita Asul ang venue ng kasal kaya dinala siya ni Tita Rose doon. Kasama nila si Jessie at Shay. Renz left, may kailangan daw puntahan. Meanwhile, Levi chose to stay in the guesthouse, so I stayed too.

Tita Rose and Tita Asul didn't insist on taking me with them. Maybe they wanted Levi and me to have some quality time together.

I flitted my eyes around and easily found him. He's standing next to the veranda railing, his back facing me, while he's talking on his phone. Probably it's about work kaya hindi ko muna siya nilapitan agad.

I just took my eyes off him for a moment and focused on the yard in front of the veranda.

There's a big mango tree planted near the front that shades the entire yard. There's a net hanging over half of the yard na sasalo sa mga manggang kusang nahuhulog dahil nahinog na ang mga ito sa puno. Adjacent to the mango tree is a metal spiral staircase leading up to the flat rooftop of the veranda. There is a small fish pond surrounded by big rocks. In one part of the garden, there is a metal shelf displaying potted succulents.

I heard footsteps coming from the side kaya napalingon ako doon. My forehead creased. Mag-isa lang siyang bumalik? Nasaan sila Tita Rose?

Pero mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko sa seryosong ekspresyon nito habang palapit ito sa'kin.

What now? I asked internally na matamang nakatingin sa kanya habang pinapanood ang paglapit niya sa'kin.

"Hello..." Shay shot me a serious look as she stopped in front of me. It's the first time she talked to me mula nang dumating sila kanina.

"So, you're Kuya Levi's new girlfriend?" she asked in a brash tone, and I couldn't help but raise an eyebrow at that. Magkapatid nga sila ni Renz, parang ang laki din ng galit nito sa'kin kahit wala naman akong ginagawa.

"Yes, that's me. Any problem with that, little girl?" I said sarcastically. I didn’t like her approach, so I couldn't help but be sarcastic.

Shay's face immediately darkened. "Don't call me little girl, I'm already a teenager!"

I smirked. Hindi ako mapagpatol lalo na sa mga bata. But this young lady is different. Her surly attitude towards me is really getting on my nerves. "Oh really? You look more like a 10-year-old to me."

Shay crossed her arms. "You know what...I don't like you. I still prefer Ate Annika. She's prettier, smarter and kinder than you. I wish she’s still Kuya Levi’s girlfriend instead of you.”

I chuckled sarcastically. Hinawi ko pa ang buhok ko sa gilid at binalewala ang sinabi niya. "No one's asking for your opinion and besides, there's nothing you can do about it because I am already your Kuya Levi's girlfriend."

"You witch! I really hate you!" Shay glared at me.

I was taken aback when I even saw tears forming in her eyes. Nagsimula siyang humikbi dahilan para medyo mataranta ako.