DATE THY ENEMY | ES:1

36

''Simple lang. He may look mad right now. But he's still very very attentive to you.'' aniya at ngumisi nang makabuluhan. ''Look, he's coming this way!''

I got startled with that. Umiwas ng tingin si Solenn at nagkunwaring kumakain kahit na sinabi niyang busog na busog na siya kanina pa. Napaayos tuloy ako ng upo. I was too afraid to look at my back if ever she's telling the truth.

Pero tila kahit ilang hakbang pa ang layo ay ramdam ko na ang titig at presensya ni Javier. Nanuyo ang lalamunan ko.

Isang marahang haplos sa aking braso, agad na umangat ang tingin ko. Javier de Leon crouched down a little bit to my level. Nasa likod ko siya at dinudungaw ako sa aking gilid. Mukhang pagod ngunit kalmado at namumungay ang mga mata.

''Hindi ka pa kumakain.'' marahan niyang sabi.

''I'm fine, Javier. Kakain din ako mamaya.''

Tumango siya. ''Will you please let me know if ever you needed something? Nasa paligid lang ako binabantayan ka.''

I met Solenn's eyes. She had that expression on her face telling me, I told you so. Umirap ako sa kanya.

''Okay.''

''Babalik ulit ako mamaya.'' he informed me.

Tumango na lamang ako at hindi na nagsalita pa. When Javier was already away, Solenn mouth ran again and again.

''I've never seen him this whipped.'' she said, then act like she wanted to puke. ''Nakakakilabot pala talaga.''

Hindi ko alam kung bakit medyo natawa ako kahit na hindi dapat.

''Don't say that infront of him. He'll get mad.''

''He won't get mad at me. No one in our family can. I have the perks since I'm Solenn Tamara de Leon.'' she boasted with a smirk.

Marahan lamang akong ngumiti.

''Sasabihin ko sanang dahil nag-iisa akong babae sa amin. Pero naalala ko na meron pa palang isa.''

My eyebrows twitched a bit. Parang nabanggit na nga niya sa'kin noon. Hindi ko lang masyadong maalala. I haven't met her yet. Si Javier, Jakob, Rhys at Solenn lamang ang kilala at nakasalamuha ko na.

''Diba nakwento ko na dati? She's Javier's direct cousin, Georgianna Eleanor.'' she paused while talking to think. ''I mean, we are all cousins but Georgianna's mother and Javier's father are siblings. And their direct grandfather is Juan Francisco, the eldest and our most terror Lolo. While I, Kuya, and Jakob are the grandchildren of the kindest and sweetest, which is Juan Antonio.''

Ah, yes, I remember now. She once told me about their family tree. Medyo marami sila kaya mahirap tandaan. Tulad lang din sa mga Montecarlo. They have so many descendants. Sobrang dami din nilang magpipinsan, mas marami ata kumpara sa mga De Leon.

''Didn't you tell me before that your great-grandfather has three children?'' I asked as I sip on my juice.

''Yes. Juan Francisco is the eldest. Juan Antonio, the second one. And Alfia, the youngest and only daughter.'' she explained. ''Though I'm not very familiar with the daughter, I have only seen her in paintings. Well, sabi ni Papa, Alfia Jasmine died very young. So we weren't able to meet her.''

''She died young?''

Solenn suddenly shifted to her seat uncomfortably. My forehead creased at that. I've never seen her act that way.

''Sorry, I was just curious. It's okay if it's something we should not talk about.''

''Well, it's a taboo to talk about her especially in front of the family. Hanggang ngayon kasi ay nagagalit pa rin sila tuwing nababanggit.'' aniya at binigyan niya ako ng isang alanganing ngiti. ''I really don't know the exact reason or details, but I heard from our maids that-''