Platonic Hearts (Compass Series #1)

Chapter Fifteen

Roadtrip                  

“Did I say that you can leave na?”
  
Napaigtad ang tenga ko sa boses ni mama. Mabilis akong lumingon sa kanya sa kitchen bago napayuko. “S-Sorry po, ma…”
     
Pinagtaasan niya lang ako ng kilay bago bahagyang binagsak ang mug niya sa lamesa. “Are you in a hurry? Anong pinagmamadalian mo?” her brows were roughly furrowed in her face while staring at me suspiciously.

I glanced at the door before clutching my books tightly on my hands. “Wala po. Si Rhysand po kasi, baka susunduin niya daw ako ng mas maaga…”

“Susunduin?” she asked. Her brows raised even higher. “Since when did he start fetching you? At may  sasakyan na ba siya? Hindi man lang nagpapaalam sa amin...” she snorted. 

Bumagsak ang balikat ko. “Ma, ngayon niya lang naman ako susunduin. And yes, he finished his driving lessons already. He’s currently using his brother’s car.” Matuwid kong sagot.

“But still, hindi nagpaalam sa akin o sa papa mo.” Matigas niyang giit.

I prefer to stay silent after her words. Hindi ko na gugustuhing magkasagutan pa kami dito, and I didn’t know should take this a big deal. Usually, kapag tungkol kay Rhysand ay hinahayaan niya nalang kami. She has known him for quite a while, sometimes I feel like Rhysand already earn her trust. But now, I don’t why but I feel like she’s staring to doubt him for some reason.

Kinuha niya ulit ang mug niya sa lamesa at pinasadahan ako ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa. She took a sip of her coffee before pointing at me from head to toe. “Anong ayos ‘yan? You don’t look like going to work or school. Saan kayo pupunta?”

Napaayos ako ng tayo. “Roadtrip lang po, ma…  U-Unwind…” I was too shy to even mutter the word. Madalang ko lang ‘to sinasabi sa kanya dahil hindi ko naman ito ginagawa. It’s just Rhysand offered a treat and it’s hard to decline. Lalo pa’t kakabati lang namin.

I’m not wearing anything much. Simpleng dress lang at boots. It’s something I would wear typically, but I want to try this. Gusto ko rin namang magbihis ng… kakaiba naman bukod sa mga damit na parati ko nalang sinusuot.

“Unwind?” she slightly laughed, as if I said something funny. “Wala ka na bang ibang gagawin?”

“I’m done with my assignments, ma… Napatulog ko na rin po si Dian.”

“And your other sisters?”

“Gumagawa po sila ng mga projects…”

“Good.” She sighed and took another sip of her coffee. “Fine. Basta huwag kang lumampas ng curfew. You know the consequences for that. And please, magpaalam ka sa papa mo. Huwag kang bastos sa amin, Aria.” Utos niya bago ako tinalikuran.

I sighed before heading to the living room. Nilapitan ko si papa na nakaupo sa couch bago lalapit sana sa kanya nang tinaasan niya lang ako ng kamay. Hindi niya man lang ako tinitigan at sinenyasan nalang ako na umalis na. He then returned his hand on the newspaper his holding. Tinakpan na niya ang sarili niya roon bago pa man ako makaharap sa kanya.

I bit my lower lip. “A-Alis na po ako, pa…” Tanging sambit ko nalang at tumalikod na.

As a child, their small gestures actually hurt me. Kahit noong una pa man, alam ko na iba na ang pagpapalaki sa akin bilang panganay. Rhysand would say I was raised too harshly, but I would say I was just raised more disciplined than my sisters. Minsan nagtataka rin ako kung ano rason sa likod nun. Kung bakit ganito nalang ang pagtrato sakin ng mga magulang ko.

But I know, questioning my parents about that would do no good to me.

Nawala ang mga iniisip ko nang masilayan na ang sasakyan ni Rhysand sa labas. Mabilis gumuhit ang ngiti sa labi ko nang bumaba na ang bintana ng sasakyan niya. His arm immediately swung out the wind before I could see him. His wearing his sunglasses. Hindi ko na naanig ang pa kung ano ang suot niya dahil muli na siyang pumasok. Tumikhim ako bago nagsimula ng lumabas.