Anchored Fault Lines

Chapter 3

Security

Lauricia

Davino walked me to the outdoor dining area. No one was here, not even a single house helper. Kaming dalawa lang at ang mabibigat na buntong-hininga. Binitawan niya agad ang kamay ko nang masiguradong wala nang nakakakita sa amin. I stood just at the entrance of the patio, the light from the kitchen behind me gave us enough brightness—illuminating some of the corners of his face.

Umiwas ako ng tingin.

"Sana hindi mo na sinabi 'yun," I said with full of remorse. "Mas lalo lang silang magagalit."

He remained silent. When I looked at him again, he was already leaning against the bar counter, arms crossed over his chest. While his thoughts are unspoken, the eyes tell me otherwise—it looked tense. His gaze was fixated on me, not even a blink made him look away, and so I frowned.

"I appreciate the gesture."

Finally, he shifted his gaze. "Then, you're welcome."

"But the comment was unnecessary!"

"Tinanong kita, 'diba?"

Davino brought his gaze back at me again. Nakita ko ang pagkunot muli ng kanyang noo, mas lalo ring humigpit ang pagka-krus ng kanyang braso sa dibdib.

"I asked you if you trust me. You said yes."

"I did!"

"Then why are we even arguing about this now?"

"I trusted you to not make it big! Look at what you did back there, why do you have to make a comment? Alam mo kung paano umikot ang isip ng mga magulang ko!"

I gasped—I felt so out of breath!

I saw how his jaw tightened before looking away from me again with his tongue playing the inside of his cheeks while doing so. I know this move. My lips parted only to utter nothing. Napalunok ako agad.

"I did say I trusted you..."

"Then you have nothing to worry about," he cuts me off. Shooting me a glare he said, "Trust me."

"Who I don't trust is them, Davino! Sana alam mo 'yan."

What will happen after this? Papasok pa ba ako sa loob para tanggapin ulit lahat ng sermon ng mga magulang ko? O dito nalang kaya ako matulog sa labas?

Only if it was as easy as what Davino thinks it is—to not worry about it.

I almost wanted to laugh at him, make him feel guilty of what he said back there, but I held my tongue and kept my mouth shut. Naramdaman ko nalang na parang gustong sumabog ng puso ko sa inis. Halos mapunit ko pa ang labi dahil sa pagkagat ko rito.

Madaling sabihin sa kanya na 'wag nalang isipin 'yung sinabi niya sa kanila kasi hindi naman siya 'yung maiiwan dito sa bahay para harapin ang mga magulang ko at saluhin ang galit nila pagkatapos ng gabing 'to.

I do appreciate Davino for always being there—the one-call-away family friend, trustworthy and reliable, and favored by my father the most.

But sometimes, his actions benefit himself more than it did to me.

Back in high school, he would switch our homeworks whenever he finds out I rushed mine because I failed to do it the night before.

That would earn him a bad grade, and my parents will hear about it every family dinner with the Cleantros. Davino will always tell the truth, that I forgot to do mine, and he just made me have his.

In the end, he would volunteer to tutor me until the next periodical examination. My father will give him gifts and pocket money in return—that I don't even know where he spends it with.