Endless Love (Book 1 of Boundless Love Trilogy)

CHAPTER 05

CHAPTER 05

It didn't take long enough for us to have dinner.

Alam na ni Daddy. Pero hanggang ngayon, kinakabahan pa rin ako. Hindi ko alam kung paano ko sasabihin kay Mommy at sa mga kapatid ko.

"Alora," dad called my name out while we were eating. "Why don't you tell them what I saw in your room just now."

Mom looked at me. "Ano yun anak?" tanong nito at tumingin sa akin.

I stayed silent for a moment then spoke and faced Dad with a slightly frowned face but he was just teasingly looking at me.

"Ah, yes. That."  Tumango-tango ako.

He gave me a questioning look.

I took a deep breath. "May nagbigay po kasi sa akin ng bouquet kanina sa campus. Pero hindi ko po alam kung kanino galing."

Mom gasped. "Wow! This is amazing!"

Nagulat ako sa reaksyon niya. "Amazing?"

"Yes! Syempre, anak. Hindi mo naman maiiwasan na may magbigay sayo ng mga bulaklak diba? Lumalaki ka eh. Ano naman binigay niyang mga bulaklak?"

"Let me guess," nagsalita si Kuya Leonne. "Tulips, 'no?"

Nalaglag ang panga ko sa sabi niya.

Alam kong alam ni Kuya Leonne na mahilig ako sa tulips. Pero hindi ko naman inaasahan na makukuha niya kaagad iyon!

Mommy squealed like a little kid. "Oh my gosh! This is so exciting, Alora Lilliene!"

"Yeah right. Ano kaya magiging reaksyon ni Ate Gianna 'pag nalaman niyang may nanliligaw sayo." sabi ni Kuya Leonne.

Yvonne was just silently eating her food. Walang pakialam sa nangyayari. Habang si Dad naman ay naka-ngiti lang sa akin.

"Mom, 'wag kang oa, please? Hindi ko nga kilala kung sino ang nanliligaw sa akin eh!" saad ko.

"Aba! Syempre kahit naman hindi mo kilala, you should be happy! Ibig sabihin niyan, anak. Maganda ka!" natatawang aniya nito.

Natawa si Dad sa sinabi niya. "Kaya pala tuwang-tuwa ka noong niligawan kita."

Mom glared at him. "Oh shut up. I know you loved me."

"Mom!" my siblings and I spoke at once.

"What?" she gave us a questioning look.

"Stop being so 'lovey-dovey' , Mommy. It's disgusting." sabi ni Yvonne.

"Oh really? Hindi niyo pa kasi naranasan. Hintayin niyo ang Ate Alora niyo. 'Pag nagkaroon ng boyfriend yan. Baka sabihin mo rin 'yang "disgusting" sa kanya."

"Mom!" I pouted. "I won't have a boyfriend."

"Asus, ikaw pa ba? Sa ganda mong 'yan anak? I doubt that."

"Whatever, kain na lang tayo." sabi ko para tumigil na kami ngunit walang naging epekto iyon.

Dahil buong hapunan ay ang pinagusapan namin ay ang manliligaw ko. Tuwang-tuwa nga sila sa akin kaya naman tinawagan pa si Ate Gianna para lang sabihin ang balita.

Si Mommy naman kasi eh!

Pati tuloy ang Ate Gia napapatawa dahil sa pag-sutil sa akin nina Mommy at Daddy.

Well, at least hindi na ako magaalala pa at nasabi ko na. Magaan sa pakiramdam at masaya rin ako na nasabi ko sa kanila kaagad.

Kinabukasan, maaga akong gumising dahil maagang pupunta si Zairen dito para sunduin ako.

Naligo at nagayos na rin ako bago bumaba. Mahuti na lang at tapos na akong mag-ayos nang mag-text si Zairen na nasa labas na siya ng bahay.

"Good morning, sleepyhead." he greeted me as I opened the door for him at six in the morning.

"Good morning, Zai," I greeted him back. "Ang aga mo naman. Pasok ka."

He entered, I then closed the door. We then went straight to the kitchen and sat on the dining table for breakfast.

"You really didn't have to prepare a lot." he said when he saw all the food on the table then sat down.

I sat beside him. "It's not much, Zai. Kain na tayo. Baka ma-late pa tayo."

"Late?" he said then served me rice on my plate before he served his. "I don't think that word's present in our dictionary, Alora."

I laughed. "Well, I guess you're right."

Tinanong niya kung ano ang ulam na gusto ko at inilagay iyon sa plato ko.

Another thing I love about Zairen is having breakfast with him. Madalas naming gawin ito dati. But because of our conflicted schedule, we rarely had breakfast together. Minsan dito siya kumakain at minsan naman pumupunta ako sa bahay niya.

"Do you want coffee?" I asked him.

He shook his head. "I'm good with water. Mamaya na lang sa campus. Bilihan kita."

Napatawa ako. "Zairen the Great will buy me coffee? Just wow!" pabiro kong saad.

He smiled. "I'm serious," then faced me. "Your favorite white chocolate mocha will be on the way."

I shockingly gasped. "Paano mo alam yan?! Sinabi ko ba yan sayo?" Pinalo ko ng pabiro ang braso niya.

"You always order white chocolate mocha when we go out on coffee shops. Lalo na yung coffee shop malapit sa campus. You love their coffee there." he answered.

"How did you know that!" pabiro ko siyang kinurot sa bewang.

"I'm observant, Alora. Ako pa ba? Lagi mo akong kasama. Syempre alam ko talaga." pagmamayabang nito.

Umirap ako. "Tse! Kumain na nga lang tayo. Para kang ewan, Zairen Observant!"

He laughed. "Bakit naman Zairen Observant?"

"Sabi mo observant ka diba. Edi, Zairen Observant na lang itatawag ko sayo. Baka yun na lang ipalit ko na pangalan mo sa contacts ko."

He gave me a confusing look. "Ano ba pangalan ko sa contacts mo?"

"Zairen Sungit." I confidently answered.

"Bakit naman 'Zairen Sungit'?" he pouted. "Mabait kaya ako. Hindi ako masungit, Alora."

"Yes, you are. Madami nga ang natatakot sayo sa campus kasi masungit ka."

He snickered. "Masungit pero naging kaibigan mo naman. Buti pa ako maganda ang pangalan mo sa contacts ko."

"At ano naman ang pangalan ko sa contacts mo, Zairen Sungit?" I teased but then my jaw-dropped with what he answered.

"My Alora Lilliene." he answered then looked me in the eye like I was a priceless jewelry that made his eyes glisten through his glasses.

Napatahimik na lang ako. "K-Kain na lang tayo. I have to prepare some of my things." nauutal kong saad.

He hummed then nodded.

Tahimik na kaming kumain na dalawa at nagsalita lang ako para magpaalam na aakyat ako para kunin ang gamit ko.

As I got inside my room and went to my bathroom. I came to think about what he said and my name in his contacts.

"I'm observant, Alora. Ako pa ba? Lagi mo akong kasama. Syempre alam ko talaga."

"My Alora Lilliene."

Could it be him? No. We're best friends.

But it is possible, right?

ARTEMESTELLE