Death Trap Pandemonium (COMPLETED)

Chapter Five

"Please, wala naman siyang karapatang magselos," asik ni Natalia bago umupo sa tabi ni Cess habang si Clyde naman ay naupo sa tabi ni Anthony sa kabilang side.

For a while, the table was filled with idle talk as everyone focused on eating. Napansin ni Ailee na balisang tinutulak-tulak ni Leah ang kanyang pagkain at ilang beses na bumuntong-hininga, dahilan upang mapatingin sa kanya ang iba sa pag-aalala. Ngunit kalaunan lumaki ang diskusyon nila at naisama ang plano nila sa araw na iyon sa resort. Isabela was trying to create an itinerary when Therese said something that caught everyone off-guard.

"You know, I think this is a really great investment. Kung may ganito lang sana ang pamilya namin, kaso Judge si Mom at Marine si Dad, eh," aniya. Inosente siyang bumaling kay Ailee. "Ang swerte ng magiging pamilya mo, Ailee. Lalo na yung mga anak mo, may mamanahin na agad!"

At the other end of the table, Ailee sputtered and choked on her grilled fish. Mikhail awkwardly patted her back while Cess tried to give her a glass of water and laughed heartily.

"Ang advance mo naman mag-isip, Therese," tumatawang sabi ni Nika na nakaupo sa harap niya. "Anak agad? Eh, hindi pa nga nakaka-graduate si Ailee."

"Saka pa'no magkaka-anak 'yan, eh, wala namang jowa," dagdag ni Jean.

"Boom! Wala ka palang love life, eh," pang-aasar ni Aron. "Kawawa ka naman. Yaman-yaman pero no boyfriend since birth!"

Therese simply shrugged. "Kaya nga in the future, 'di ba?"

"Bakit 'di kita ma-imagine na may kargang bata?" pang-aasar ni Shem at umaktong may hineheleng sanggol.

"Can we please change the topic?" Ailee asked, exasperated. "Why are we talking about my maternal instincts of all things?"

"Bakit hindi mo kami ipakilala sa kasama mo?" Leah asked suddenly, eyeing Mikhail appreciatively.

All eyes turned towards Ailee and the man beside her. Sandali nilang nakalimutan na may kasama silang hindi nila kilala dahil sa kagustuhan nilang kumain.

"Cough, may boyfriend ka, cough," Max whispered not-so subtly. Pinagtaasan lang siya ni Leah ng kilay.

"Oh! I'm sorry, I forgot," Ailee exclaimed, slapping her forehead comically. "Guys, this is Mikhail Redentor Bonifacio."

"Nice to meet y'all. But everyone else calls me Mike," he added. Like Ailee, a faint Russian accent could be detected in his voice if one knew to listen for it.

Tumayo si Mikhail at nag-bow sa kanilang lahat. When the towel fell from his shoulders, exposing his sculpted chest, most of the girls and even Champ began giggling amongst themselves, causing Ailee to roll her eyes when she met Natalia's eyes.

This is the reason kaya yumayabang ang mga lalaki, was their silent agreement.

"Childhood best friend ko-" pagpapatuloy ni Ailee.

Her eyes widened when she recognized the voice speaking over her.

"At fiancé ni Ailee," Giovanni declared as he strode into the dining hall with a frown on his face. He eyed the people sitting around the table with an undisguised look of displeasure before landing on his sister.

Sandaling natahimik ang lamesa habang pino-proseso ang mga salitang binitawan ng bagong dating na lalaki.

"Ikakasal kayo?!" bulalas ni JC na tila gulat na gulat pagkatapos ng ilang segundo.

"Congratulations!" sabat naman ni Ashanti na katabi niya.

The atmosphere in the room was an absolute mess that when Clyde started laughing because Kevin kept mock-reenacting Ashanti's one-liner, almost everyone was infected by his annoying but contagious laughter.