Chaos in the Cavity of Peace (Love in Mendiola Series #1)

Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

KEECIA

On the weekend, Caine fulfilled his promise of watching the sunset with me. Sa QC pa niya ako sinundo dahil doon ako dumiretso ng uwi nung Friday. Naabutan kong nag-uusap sina Dad, Ahia, at Caine sa may sala habang pababa ako ng hagdan. Caine was sandwiched between my father and my brother. Napa-ngiti ako dahil wala ng tensyon sa pagitan nila. Mas relaxed na rin si Caine na makihalubilo sa pamilya ko ngayon kumpara noong unang beses ko siyang dinala rito. Siguro ay dahil mas kilala na nila ang isa't isa kaya ganoon.

I know Caine has said that he doesn't care about my family's opinions of him but he's also slowly earning their trust. I'm happy that my family's also growing on Caine. Mas nakakasama na rin kasi nila si Caine ngayon dahil nandito siya palagi tuwing weekends.

Naramdaman ata nila ang presensya ko kaya sabay-sabay silang tumingala sa banda ko. Hindi nagtagal ang tingin ni Dad sa akin nang bumaling agad siya kay Caine at pinanood ang reaksyon nito sa akin. Caine's lips curved into an amused smile as he watched me. My heart skipped when I met his gaze. Love and awe twinkled in his eyes. Ngayon ko lang din napansin na may hawak pala siyang bouquet sakaniyang kamay. Magandang arrangement ito ng sunflowers.

"Until ten, Caine," si Ahia nang bumaling kay Caine. "She should be home by then."

Caine only nodded at my brother, never breaking our eye contact. Si Dad naman ay natawa lang sa gilid dahil sa pagka-strikto ng kapatid ko. Ahia's still strict even though he's already warmed up to Caine.

"Sus, kahit wag mo na iuwi!" Atsi suddenly appeared at the footstep of the stairs.

"Tumigil ka, Kriztel." Our brother warned her.

Umirap lang si Atsi. She made a face when she faced me. Tumawa ako. I know she feels for me. Kahit kasi sakaniya ay ganito rin ang trato ni Ahia. We'll never be grown ups in the eyes of our oldest brother.

Agad na lumapit si Caine sa akin nang tuluyan akong makababa ng hagdan. My nose immediately took in his usual scent—he is permeated by the scent of sandalwood and vanilla.

"Hey, beautiful," bati niya. Lumapit siya para maka-beso sa akin. Then he handed me the beautiful bouquet that I happily received.

"Hi," I greeted back. Tapos ay inamoy-amoy ko iyong bulaklak na binigay niya bago nag-angat ng tingin sakaniya. "Thank you for the flowers."

"Pretty and bright, aren't they? Just like you." He smiled and winked at me. Then he held up his arm near my belly. "We're matchy today."

My brows shot up when I realized it. I wore a pastel yellow floral sundress and my hair is up in a half poinytail and tied with a white ribbon, while he wore a button-down polo of the same color. He partnered it with denim jeans. Para tuloy kaming nag-usap kung anong susuotin ngayong araw. Lalo na nang bumaba ang tingin ko at napansing pareho rin kaming naka puting converse, pinagkaiba lang ay high cut yung kanya at yung akin ay hindi.