Chaining Lockets

Kabanata 7

"H-hindi ko kaya gusto si Locket!" I exclaimed. "I-ikaw...ikaw ma-issue ka!"

He suddenly laughed at me, "what? I never said anything like that. Ikaw lang ang nagsabi."

My mouth parted, napatakip ako sa bibig ko at napasulyap sa mga magulang ko.

Mom is smirking, si Dad din ay natigilan nang marinig iyon at nasa ere lang ang sinisimsim na kape.

"I-I don't..." I trailed off. "Dad, hindi ko siya bet!" I lied in nervousness.

The dining room is quiet, I was waiting for Dad's violent reaction since he's always like that...sila ni Chiel noong may mga boyfriend o fling ako noon but...none.

Instead, he smiled at me, his blue eyes glistened playfully as he sipped on his coffee.

"Lt. Dmitrov, huh?" he raised his brow at me. "Good choice, princess."

My jaw dropped, I looked at him unbelievably and gasped.

"Are you seriously..."

"Well, I knew that man for years now. Great job at work, promoted at a young age because of his great performance. Responsible and a good man...and another plus now, he tempted my high maintenance daughter into working as an assistant." He smiled.

Gulat lang akong nakanganga sa kanya, "how..."

"Lawyers talk to police at times, kambal." Tawa ni Chiel, "sara mo ang panga mo at baka mapasukan ng langaw." He slowly closed my parted mouth kaya napatikhim ako.

"Seryoso?" sumulyap ulit ako kay Dad na nakangisi pa. "Okay...okay lang sa'yo na gusto ko si Locket?"

"See? I'm right!" hagalpak ni Alchiel kaya suminghap na ako at hinampas ang braso niya.

"Brutal mo talaga, Crest Veronica." Reklamo niya pa sa akin pero ang atensyon ko ay na kay Dad lang.

"Dad?" I called and he nodded and shrugged.

"Based on your exes before, mas okay ako kay Lt., mabait na bata 'yon." He said and glanced at me, "but it doesn't mean I'll just be okay with it, I'll still check on you two. You have to be a good girl too, okay? H'wag mo pasakitin ang ulo ng mga tao sa presinto."

"I don't," ngumuso na ako. "You're so mean to me."

He chuckled, inabot niya ang buhok ko at ginulo.

"Alright, take care. Goodluck sa work mo, I'm gonna talk to Lt. too to thank him and about you and please, I know you like Lt. Dmitrov, still, be a mahinhin girl. Does he like you too?" he asked.

I pouted, naisip kong muli ang usapan namin ni Locket at nakagat ang labi ko. I caught my Mom's teasing stares and my cheeks flushed, si Dad ay tumitig lang at nag-abang ng reaksyon ko.

"Well...that's between us na, Dad." I said shyly. "But I'm gonna tell you if...ano, if basta!" nag-init na ang pisngi ko at napapaypay ng mukha.

"Crest Veronica niyo...inlababo." Chiel teased kaya hinarap ko na siya at iritadong pinagpapalo.

"Stop fighting," Dad chuckled. "Let's eat."

It was a very good thing my Dad is good with me and Locket together. Hindi naman sa feelingera ako o ano pero I'm just happy because he's good with Locket and he's okay with me working in the precinct.

My parents were off to Davao today for a case meeting, like usual. Ako nama'y mamaya pa ang pasok kaya excited na ako but Clyte and I has something to do before I go to work.

"Punta kayong sementeryo?" Chiel asked when he saw me putting my lipstick on, dumungaw siya sa akin sa salamin.

"Oo, samahan ko si Clyte-Clyte at nami-miss ata si Tita Ritch." I smiled.