The Fall of Alexander the Great (Monteverde Series 3)

31

Chapter Thirty One

"Relax." Alexander chuckled as he held my hand. Ngayon lang nagsink-in sa akin na makikilala ko na ang mga magulang niya. Parang mali yata ang desisyong ito. Masyado akong nagpadalos-dalos at nagpaapekto sa hindi masyadong kagandahang Abigail na 'yon.

"Seryoso ka ba talaga sa akin?"

His face darkened. "Never question that, Blythe. Seryoso ako. Alam mo 'yan."

"Bakit kailangan ko pang i-demand na ipakilala mo ako?" May halo pa ring pagkairita ang tanong ko sa kanya. His face was unreadable once more.

"I was waiting for you. I want to take things slow. You've never been in a relationship before and I haven't been either. I was scared that asking you to meet my parents will cause you anxiety. I don't want to scare you away because things are moving quickly for both of us," he replied, now slightly annoyed.

I sighed. "Okay, I'm sorry."

"I'm a bit annoyed na nagpapaapekto ka sa sinasabi ng iba. Abigail is nothing."

"Sorry na."

He threw his hands in the air. "Ano pa nga bang magagawa ko, hindi naman kita matitiis? Pasalamat ka talaga, Blythe Oenone."

"Are we okay now?" alangang tanong ko. Maybe I really did overreact a while ago. The whole drive ay ang sungit ko kay Alexander dahil wala ako sa mood. Umiikot kasi sa utak ko ang mga patutsada ni Abigail. Nakaramdam ako ng guilt dahil alam kong dapat hindi ako nagduda sa intensyon niya sa akin.

He loves me. I should put faith in him.

He crossed our distance and kissed me. "Let's go meet my parents."

"Now na talaga?" Napakagat ako ng labi. "Puwede magback out? Gusto ko na lang pala magshopping. May bagong release na bag ang Louis Vuitton tapos balita ko may stock na sa Greenbelt..."

"Blythe." Kinastigo ko ang sarili. Mamanhikan pala ha.

"Can't we stay inside the car for a minute or two? Or an hour?"

"You're going to charm them, love."

"How can you be so sure?"

"Because you're simply amazing." He reached for my hair and tucked the loose strands at the back of my ear. "At napaamo mo ako. That's no easy feat."

"Paano kapag hindi nila ako nagustuhan? Paano kapag sinabi nilang layuan kita." Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. "Or worse! Paano kung sabihan nila akong magpablack ng buhok?"

Nagkandahaba-haba ang nguso ko. Pinaglaruan ko pa ang kurbata niya pero tinanggal niya roon ang kamay ko. Pinisil ko ang ilong niya at tinaasan niya naman ako ng kilay bago tinanggal ang kamay ko.

"Calm down. You're going to be okay." I stared at the mansion in front of me and took one courageous sigh. "Come on. Let's go. They're waiting inside."

Naramdaman ko ang panlalamig ko at ang pagpapawis ng mga kamay nang tuluyan na kaming makalabas ng kotse. The large double doors were opened by a helper and we walked inside. The floor was polished marble and my heels clinked against it.

Nginitian siya at kinawayan ng isang helper na nasa malawak na receiving area. "Nako, Sir Alexander. Mabuti naman at nakauwi ka na. Paniguradong magagalak si chief nito." Tinignan ako ng babae. "Hello po. Magandang hapon."
"Magandang hapon din po." Bumaling ako kay Alexander at bumulong. "Who's chief?"

I heard footsteps ahead. I raised my eyes and saw a man walking down the marble stairs. They wore the same neutral expression and they had the same regal stance. His hair had white blending in with the black.