Love Until It Hurts (Monteverde Series 4)

19

            "I don't suppose I get some details?" I tried.

            "Nope. It's a guy thing. Babalik din kami mamaya, okay?" Hinaplos niya ang pisngi ko kaya napilitan akong tumango at bumitiw ng kapit sa kamay niya.

            "Okay."

            "I love you, Sam," he announced slowly and ardently. "My sisters will keep you entertained. That is if Daze doesn't drive you nuts first."

            He loves me. I know that now because I can feel it.

            May sasabihin pa sana siya pero pinitik na siya ni Kuya Vane sa balikat. "Let's go, lover boy Zady boy. Mamaya na kayo maglambutchingan at baka mainip na si CEO at si Speed Racer. You know how it gets when the CEO gets antsy."

            "Alright." Zade stood up and gave me a glance. "See you later, babe."

            He lets go of another smile and dang it... Zade is just beautiful, inside and out, in every angle. I could spend all day marveling at the kind of man that he has now become. I am delighted that I got to meet him before and that I get to meet the person he will continue turning out to be in the future.

            I will never get tired of rediscovering him.

            "Whiz kid, hurry up."

            "Shut it, movie star."

            Natawa na rin ako habang pinapanood silang maglakad palayo. Naupo naman malapit sa akin si Ate Xiana at si Daze. The latter took Versace -- also known as Vera -- in her arms and played with her. Tinitigan ko si Ate Xiana at parang bigla na lang akong nahiya sa kaniya.

            Ang ganda niya, sobra. Si Daze rin naman ay napakaganda kaya lang mukha siyang maldita. 'Yung ganda ni Ate Xiana ay pang-diwata, parang ang sarap niyang tignan dahil ang bait ng mga mata niya. She radiated kindness and she was the perfect epitome of a beauty queen. Regal, intelligent and refined.

            "Kamusta ka na, Sam? Hindi kita nakausap masyado kagabi dahil ang gulo ng dinner. Mom and Blythe were so talkative, 'no?" nakangiti niyang tanong sa akin.

            "I'm doing well, Ate. Ikaw, you're so blooming."

            "Gano'n talaga kapag in love. You glow more. You glow differently. Kahit naman maloko si Vane ay mabait 'yon. He loves me so much and I love him, too."

            Daze snorted. "Sam, you should have seen Ate in person no'ng hindi sila ni Kuya VJ. Believe me, mas blooming siya no'n. Ngayon kasi, mukha na siyang laging may sakit ng ulo."

            "Daze..." saway niya sa kapatid.

            "What? Just saying." The latter balanced Vera on her own two feet on top of her lap. Vera cackled happily and started clapping and spitting at her.

            "Bagay kayo ni Kuya Vane," I commented. "I can see that he cares for you so much."

            "That's soooo not true." Daze smirked. "Ipaako mo na lang si Vera do'n sa British na may gusto sa'yo tapos iwan mo na si Kuya VJ."

            Ate just took Vera's chubby hand and shook it. "But my baby won't like that, won't she? You love Daddy, don't you? Don't you?"

            Vera giggled. "Daddy, love love!"

            "HMP!" Daze rolled her eyes. "Hindi ko alam sa Daddy mo kung bakit ka ipinangalan sa isang luxury brand. I still think the name Amari suits her better."