Always Coming Back (Chasing Dreams Series #2) [COMPLETED | Wattys2020]

Chapter 43

Once again, the silence filled my ears. The woman was gone, but Seija was waiting for me to come out. Mahigit isang minuto na akong nakakulong dito sa garahe. And if I lied, he would know.

I let out a sigh and decided to face him. 'Tulad ng hinala ko, nakaupo siya sa hagdan sa patio at naghihintay. He was crouching and his head was facing the ground. He rested his chin on top of his knees and my heart was beating exaggeratedly against my chest.

What's this? It's not like I caught him cheating on me...

"Good evening," I greeted him.

He was spacing out so he only noticed me when I spoke. Nag-angat siya ng tingin at tumayo.

"Harmony, that woman was your neighbor, Kylie. Nagpatulong siya sa paglalagay ng star sa Christmas tree niya at,—"

Itinaas ko ang kanang kamay ko para patigilin siya. "Seija, why are you explaining to me? It doesn't matter if you helped her or I saw you two kissing. It's none of my business."

"Then why were you hiding in the garage?" medyo tumaas ang kanyang boses.

"I didn't hide. I went back in there to give you two some privacy dahil ako ang nahihiya para sa inyo. Hindi mo ba alam? The neighborhood saw what you did there," my sarcasm wasn't helpful.

The last sentence was true. Nahuli ko ang mga kapitbahay na nakasilip sa main door, sa bintana, at sa terrace nila. Ikaw ba naman ang makipaghalikan habang maliwanag na maliwanag ang paligid, eh. For them, it was purely magical.

Nalaglag ang panga ni Seija. See? Hindi niya alam.

"Our neighbors are conservatives. Hindi ko nilalahat, pero iyon ang pagkakakilala ko sa mga nakakita sa inyo. Ngayon, iniisip nila na may relasyon kayo ng babaeng 'yon. You're a public figure so I'm warning you... 'Wag mo hayaang masira ang pangalan mo dito sa pamamagitan ng pagkalat ng tsismis tungkol sa inyo ni Kylie."

His jaw clenched. "What are you trying to say?"

"Panagutan mo ang ginawa ninyo..." Iniwas ko ang tingin ko sa kanya. "Excuse me..."

Umakyat ako sa patio at pinihit ang doorknob. Bago ako pumasok sa loob ng bahay ay narinig ko ang sinabi niya.

"Ang unfair mo, Harmony..."

Kumapit ako ng maigi sa doorknob at huminga ng malalim. Iyon ba ang tingin niya sa akin? Unfair?

"I'm not unfair, I'm just trying to protect you. Hindi natin alam dalawa, pero baka may kumuha ng picture o video niyo ni Kylie. If someone uploads it to the internet and you don't have a backup plan, it would ruin your career. May mga estudyante, customers, at business partners ka... Ano sa tingin mo ang iisipin nila? So, be responsible..."

Naramdaman kong pumihit siya paharap sa akin. Tumawa siya ng pagak. "Sa tingin mo ba may pakialam ako, Harmony? You're not in the place to tell me what I should do."

"Maybe, you don't care about your career or in my opinion at all. But I do..." itinulak ko ang pinto at marahang isinara iyon.

Masama ang pakiramdam ko paggising ko. Hindi naman ako nilalagnat. Nahihilo ako dahil kulang ako sa tulog at pahinga...

"Good morning, Harmony!" pinagmasdan akong mabuti ni Betty pagpasok ko sa dining room.

Her eyes scanned my outfit, too. With the black coat, white turtleneck, denim jeans, and black pumps, I don't look like a person who's going to work at all.

Humikab ako. "Good morning, Betty."

"Plakadong plakado ang makeup at outfit, mo ah? Pupunta ka ba sa South Korea?" aniya pagkalapag sa mangkok na puno ng lomi.