Giovanni Clark: Gone Crazy (Golden Child Series #1)

Chapter 34

"Para silang mga higante sa paningin ko. Ang lalaki nilang tao doon!"

"Are they related to the Smiths and Fabians? They're not familiar though."

"Mukhang mga foreigner kaya baka galing pang ibang bansa."

Napuno ng bulungan ang parteng kinalalagyan ko. Just like that, my lips parted when realization dawned on me.

Malamang, pamilyar ang tatlong lalaki dahil mga pinsan sila ni Gio! Who are they again? Emilio, Lewis, and... Donovan? Kumunot ang noo ko.

Pagkalapit nila Collins at Giovanni sa mga ito, dumiretso ang dalaga sa mga kasing edad na pinsan habang ang huli, bumeso at nakipagkamay sa mga nakatatanda.

The reason why my face contorted was that... the cousins smirked and looked taunting as Giovanni returned to his seat without paying attention to them.

I bit my lower lip as concern rose from my system.

Mukha naman itong okay. May gana pang dumekwatro at sumimsim sa kanyang baso.

Pagkabalik pa ni Guillen sa tabi niya, may sinabi siya rito at mukhang seryoso na.

That's a relief. It appeared that they were engrossed in something else. Why have I so worked up over this anyway?

"Riz," came my brother's baritone voice from behind.

Ramdam ko ang paninigas ng ilang kasama nang lingunin ko si Kuya Orpheus.

"Kuya," lapit ko rito.

Ngumiti siya sa mga bumati sa kanya bago bumaling sa akin.

"Let's go back."

"Okay."

Nagpaalam ako sa mga kasama at nangakong babalik kapag may pagkakataon.

"Bye! B-Balik kayo!"

Tipid naman ang kanilang kaway nang tumango sa kanila ang kapatid bago niya ako igiya sa aming table.

"Saan ba kayo sumuot na magkapatid at ngayon lang kayo nakabalik, ha?" pagsusungit ni Mama.

Dinampot ko na lang ang panibagong served na inumin. Si Kuya na ang bahalang mag-alu sa ina. Hindi rin naman siya nahirapan dahil natahimik na, kalaunan, ang buong lugar.

The technical team turned off the loud instrumental music as they dimmed the lights with some spotlights focused on the stage.

Humigpit ang hawak ko sa baso nang napatanaw roon.

"Good evening, everyone. Let me begin by telling all of you how grateful I am tonight... that you took this time to join me to celebrate my forty-fifth birthday after years of living quietly." Tita Jean smiled.

Her soft sigh was caught on the microphone, causing her to chuckle a bit. She was keeping herself in check, that's for sure. Kaya naman dinaluhan lalo siya ni Tito Vince para alalayan ang asawa.

While Tita Jean pulled herself together, the crowd gave her the proudest smiles and applause. The same goes for Mama. But for some reason, I couldn't bring myself to do the same.

She's still not okay. Why is she forcing herself?

Napayuko ako at nilibang ang sarili sa hawak na inumin.

"I'm sorry about that. I just got emotional seeing your faces right now. You all have a special place in my heart, you know, s-so... this really means a lot to me," her voice croaked, but she hid it with laughter again. "I want to catch up and give you all a tight embrace tonight, so be sure to enjoy yourselves and ready your gifts!"