Waiting Until Dawn (Bittersweet Series #1)

CHAPTER 12

Chapter 12

Hindi ko alam pero 'yon na yata ang pinamakahaba naming dinner kasama ang mga Cavallero. Na-miss ba nila ang isa't-isa kaya halos maubusan sila ng kwento at sasabihin?

Nagtungo ako sa garden at umupo sa isang bench doon. Hindi pa nakakaalis sila Reese kaya naman hindi pa ako umaakyat sa taas dahil ang sabi ni Mommy ay ihahatid daw namin sila hanggang labas. Pero paano kung wala pala silang plano umalis?

I opened my phone to text Thalee but instead of sending one to her, I opened a message from an unknown number. Kunot-noo, binasa ko ang mensahing iyon. I read it so many times but... I still couldn't believe it!

From: Unknown Number

Beige, meet me tomorrow at Café Tid. My name's Mavi and I'm your brother.

I mean, isn't it ridiculous?! This stranger is claiming himself as my brother? I-I'm an only daughter and even though I want a sibling, I would—I would never believe this!

Pinatay ko ang cellphone ko at umalis sa garden. Dere-deretso lamang akong naglalakad na hindi ko man lang namalayan na nasa harapan ko na si Reese. Kung hindi niya ako hinawakan sa magkabilang braso ay baka nabunggo na 'ko sa dibdib niya.

"Hey, are you okay?" I looked up on him. Mahigpit ang hawak ko sa cellphone habang mariing nakatitig sakaniya. Slowly, I nodded and tried to stifle a smile. 

"Of course, I am! So... where are they?" I asked as I looked around.

"They're at the pool area." Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinawakan. I watched him intertwine our fingers. I heaved a deep sigh as I slid my phone inside my pocket.

Inaya ko siyang pumunta sa pool area para naman makita nila Mommy na nakikisama ako kahit pa-paano. Nang makarating kami roon ay nagtatawanan sila habang umiinom ng red wine. Mommy gestured me to go to them, so I did. Hindi ko namalayan na magkahawak kamay pa rin kami ni Reese. Kung hindi ko lang nakita ang tingin ni Tita Eleanor sa kamay namin ay hindi pa ako bibitaw.

I acted as if nothing happened nang nakaupo na ako sa tabi ni Mommy. She's sitting on one of our sun loungers and Tita Eleanor as well. Si Daddy at Mr. Cavallero naman ay nakatayo sa gilid ng pool habang may hawak na beer at nagkekwentuhan.

Reese walked towards my father and his. Daddy handed him a beer and he accepted it politely. I drifted my attention back to my mother when she started to talk about me. Tita Eleanor looked so formal while sipping her red wine.

"Of course, Beige will be taking our company! Sino pa ba ang mamana kung hindi siya, right?" Mommy chuckled and then she called Daddy. Pumunta tuloy si Daddy sa 'min kasama si Reese at Mr. Cavallero. Umayos ako at ngumiti bago nagsalita.

"Mommy, uhm, do you mind if I—"

"Honey, Lorenzo and I talked. I suggest them sleeping here tonight!" Si Daddy sabay tawa kasabay si Mr. Cavallero. Nanlaki ang mata ko sa narinig. Ibig s-sabihin ba noon, pati si Reese ay mananatili rin dito hanggang bukas?! Ganoon na ba ka-close ang mga pamilya namin at may nagaganap na nz sleep-over?!

"Oh, that's a good idea! You know, hindi na nagagamit ang guest room namin but we still want it clean." Mommy stood up and called one of our helpers to inform them about the sleepover. I froze there, not knowing what to say.

"D-Dito kayo matutulog?" 'Yon kaagad ang tanong ko kay Reese nang tabihan niya ako sa sun lounger. I licked my lower lip as I reached for an empty wine glass. Kinuha ni Reese ang wine at nilagyan niya ang hawak kong glass. Uminom ako roon at nilapag din sa katabing lamesa.

"Yes, is that okay for you?" Tiningnan niya ako kaya wala sa sarili ako napatango.

Oo naman, ayos lang! Bisita sila at madami kaming bakanteng kwarto kaya bakit hindi magiging okay?