Monasterio Series 8: Nights in Casa Vallejo

Chapter 18

Madaling sabihin. Kahit sino ay puwedeng magsalita no'n. Minsan, nawawalan na rin ng halaga. Pero oras na marinig mo mula sa lalaking special sa'yo, kakaibang saya pa rin ang dulot.

"Dahil maganda ako? Successful? Matalino? Everything a man could ever ask for a woman can already be found in me. Ano pa ba?"

Humalakhak siya, litaw na litaw ang perpektong mga ngipin. Mas lalo niyang nagiging kamukha si Tito Zadriel sa ganoong galaw niya. Kahit bahagya nang may edad, gwapong gwapo pa rin.

Terrence licked his lower lip and bit it. He snaked his arm around my waist and rested his chin on my shoulder.

"What a conceited girlfriend I have," napapaos ang boses na aniya at bahagya pang kinagat ang balikat ko. "You're right though. Everything I want in a woman is already in you. No reason for me to let go of you, yeah?"

My brow arched as I tried to look at him.

"Are you planning to?" I asked.

Come on, T. Tell me the words!

Mula sa pahalik-halik sa balikat ko ay tiningnan niya ako sa mapupungay niyang mga mata.

"Can't see myself ending this thing with you, Priscilla. Can you?"

That question suddenly held my breath. I don't want to be showy when it comes to how I truly feel towards him. But Terrence has his way of making me all out.

Umiling ako. "No."

The edge of his lips curled into a sexy smirk. Pinatakan niya ako ng halik sa pisngi na siyang ikinangiti ko.

"Hi, Terrence."

Sabay kaming napatingin sa gilid nang marinig ang malambot na boses na iyon. I saw a tall woman, probably as tall as me. She had a pixie haircut. Sa itsura at katangian ng mukha niya, nasisiguro kong may ibang lahi siya.

"Krishna," tawag ni Terrence.

Nilingon ko siya. Titig na titig siya doon sa babae. Wala pa man, hindi ko na nagugustuhan ang paraan ng pagtingin niya dito. Normal naman kung tutuusin. Pero pakiramdam ko, maraming kahulugan.

"I just came back from Los Angeles. I've been chatting you since then but you're not answering me."

Bakit kailangan sagutin? Is Terrence obliged to answer her chat messages?

Maganda iyong babae. Parang modelo at halatang may kaya sa buhay. Malambot rin ang tono ng boses niya. Pero sa hilatsa ng mukha, mukhang atribida rin at may ugali.

Masiyado kang selosa, Priscilla! Kumalma ka nga.

Bakit kasi hindi niya man lang ako tinitingnan na para bang wala ako dito sa tabi ni Terrence?

"I'm too busy to check that." tanging sabi ni Terrence.

I was waiting for him to remove his hand on my waist. If that happens, then I'll definitely leave him here with this woman.

"Oh, I see. You have time this coming weekend? Maybe we can see each other and catch things up?" the woman even smiled!

The audacity!

Imbes na manahimik ay matunog akong ngumisi.

"You aren't blind. Makes me wonder why you are ignoring my presence."

The woman slowly anchored her green eyes on me as if it's really the only time she noticed my presence.

"Krishna, this is Priscilla, my girlfriend." pakilala ni Terrence sa akin.

Tumaas iyong kilay nung babae saka ako tiningnan mula ulo hanggang paa. Nagtagis ang bagang ko, ang mga ngipin ay lihim na nagkikiskisan sa iritasyon.

I was trying really hard to stay calm and let this woman see that I wasn't affected by her presence. Pero sa paggalaw pa lang ng mga mata niya, hindi ko na ma-kontrol ang emosyon ko.