The Way I Loved You (TOA Series #1)

Chapter 18

"T-This is the girl?" the woman asked, looking just as surprised as I am. By the looks of it, she seemed to remember me from before as well.

Juancho nodded. "Yes, Kane. This is Sharina. I'm courting her... at least, not yet legal."

I gulped hard as I stare at the familiar beautiful woman. Our interaction last time wasn't really good because she got mad at me for intervening in her business which I thought was wrong. But I did not expect that I'll see her again. And of all places, in Juancho's car, really?

Sino siya at anong koneksyon niya kay Juancho?

"Sharina," Juancho called me. Napakurap-kurap pa ako bago nagawang bumaling sa kanya.

"H-Ha?"

He smiled. "This is Kanaffer, my sister."

"It's Kane," the girl stated rather firmly. Nakaangat na ang isang kilay at mukhang nakabawi na sa pagkakabigla.

Ako na lamang ang naiwang gulat pa rin sa nalaman. Noong nakaraan, gandang-ganda ako sa babaeng ito at aaminin kong hanggang ngayon naman ay hindi pa rin nagbabago 'yon. She has sharp features which I cannot deny that looks familiar. That enthralling dark eyes and proud nose...

Iyon pala ay dahil kapatid niya si Juancho! No wonder they share the same eye color.

At... ano? Kapatid niya ang babaeng ito? Iyong... pinakialaman ko noong nakaraan?

"S-Sister?"

"Yes," he answered and examined me. Napakunot ang noo niya nang makita ang itsura ko. "Are you okay? You look flabbergasted. Do you know my sister?"

I felt nervousness arising inside my chest. Heck, I don't know if I should tell him that I know her sister and tell him what she did or not. Hindi ko gustong magsinungaling kay Juancho subalit ayaw ko rin namang ilaglag ang ginawa ng kapatid niya.

Kapatid niya 'to! Baka kapag sinumbong ko siya, mas magalit siya sa akin. Kung ibang tao lang siguro siya ay puwede pa subalit ngayong natuklasan ko na magkapamilya sila ay ibang usapan na. Hatred from any member of his family would be the last thing I want.

Ibubuka ko na sana ang aking bibig upang magsalita nang maunahan ako.

"No, Juan. This is the first time I saw her."

Her voice was stern and firm. For a moment, I thought I heard Juancho speaking. Lalo na noong mga panahong hindi pa kami ganoon kalapit ni Juancho. Napaisip tuloy ako kung ganito rin ba ang mga magulang nila.

Tingin ko naman ay hindi. Nakita ko na si Kap at ang ina nila at palabati naman, hindi gaya ng dalawang ito. May kapatid pa kaya silang iba?

Tumango ako bilang pagsang-ayon. "Oo, Juancho. Nagulat lang ako kasi... ang ganda ng kapatid mo."

I immediately felt bad for lying to this good boy. But then, I have no choice for my goal to establish a good relationship with his family weighs more. And I don't think it's my position to say things such as what her sister did. Sapat na iyong nakialam ako noon nang ipinabalik ko ang kinuha niyang mansanas.

It was a dead silence the whole ride. I could even hear the loud beating of that tensed organ resting inside my ribcage. I only got to release all the tension through an ocean-deep sigh the moment Juancho's sister, Kane, got off the car.

She was emotionless when I watched her walk towards a restaurant nearby. Even though I didn't tell Juancho our bad interaction back in the marketplace weeks ago, I am sure as hell that she doesn't really like me. I could feel it through the darting stares she threw from the rearview earlier.