Art In His Breath (Japan Series #2)

Chapter 34

Chapter 34

"I'll go now, ah? Makisabay ka na lang kay Rhett! Para maging close din kayo!" Ellai said.

"Oo na, oo na," I replied then glanced at the white blinds and saw Diamond return to the room.

"A'ight!" As she gave me a hug, she whispered, "Hindi ka makakatakas sa'kin! Tuloy ang blind date, imomove ko lang!"

Inangilan ko siya nang bumitaw sa yapos.

"Umalis ka na nga at puntahan na ang boyfriend mo!"

Her eyes dilated then she grimaced. She started defending herself from what I had said. Sana pala ay hindi ko na iyon sinabi. Nagtagal pa tuloy siya kabubunganga sa akin.

I was alone, fixing my desk, when my door opened. Handa ko nang salubungin ng tukso ang kaibigan nang iluwa noon ang Mommy.

"Mommy?"

She walked towards and spread her arms for a hug but I just stayed put. Kinailangan pa tuloy niyang umikot sa aking desk mayakap lang ako.

My attention was glued to the lady who entered my office next to my mother. She nonchalantly perched on the couch and eyed me, a monotonous smirk was pasted on her face.

"Bakit po kayo nandito? Ni... D-Dyana?"

"Wala lang! Nothing special! We just missed you!" sabi ng ina t'saka sinulyapan ang panganay na anak. "Right, Dyana?"

"Yeah..." Then she laughed. "And also, 'di ba nga Mommy nasabi ko sa'yo na nakipagparticipate sa Workshop ni Riem iyong lalaking gusto ko? I want to see him. It's been weeks since we last saw each other."

Lalaking gusto niya?

Si Diamond?

Lumayo si Mommy sa akin at umupo sa upuan na nasa harapan ko. Ang puwesto niya ay malayong nakapagitan sa aming magkapatid hence she didn't have to exert much effort to eye us alternately.

"Ah, yes, yes! Iyong isa sa mga teaching assistant mo, Riem! What's his name again, Dyana?"

The sides of her lips instinctively crooked skywards. "'My! This is embarrassing! Baka kapag nalaman ni Riem, sabihin niya! Baka akalain pa ni Diamond na obsessed ako sa kan'ya!"

"So it's Diamond!" Mommy rhapsodized.

"Oops!"

My mother bounced from her sit in arrant effusion. "Riem! Do you know someone whose name is Diamond? He's in your Workshop, your sister told! Maybe you can help your ate! She talks about that boy all the time. Baka ka-close mo? Ilakad mo!" Kinindatan niya ako at pinakitaan ng thumbs up.

I forced a smile.

I know what that means. Alam na alam ng ina kung gaano karupok ang lubid ng samahan at turingan namin ng una niyang anak. Now, she is trying to fix and improve it.

Siguro kung iba ang sirkumstansya, matutuwa ako't malulugod. Subalit ngayon na kung saan dawit na naman si Diamond, na siya pang dahilan ng huli naming awayan ng kapatid, hindi ko maarok kung ano ang marapat na marama.

"Mommy... mukhang ayaw ni Riem. 'Wag mo na siyang pilitin. Nakakahiya pa..." mapanglaw nitong iniyuko ang ulo.

Napasimangot ang kaninang galak na galak. "Riem..." aniya sa malambing na tono.

Napasinghap ako.

"Mommy, hindi ko naman po kasi ka-close si D-Diamond-"

"He once became a client of yours, right? We all know how close you are with your past clients. Ikaw pa ba, Riem?" Dyana smirked insultingly. "Malandi," she mouthed.