ROUGE (androgynousxstraight)(bxb) -ongoing

Chapter 42 - Sweetheart

"I'm glad you two are finally okay." Masayang bati sa amin ni Abeline habang kumakain kami sa hapag sa garden ng Mansion. Nagyaya kasi silang kumain kami sa labas ng bahay. Literally, in the garden. Gusto kasi ni Lolo na makita ulit kami dahil 'di na daw kami nakakabisita sa Mansion matapos kaming lumipat ng bahay ni Theo. Idagdag mo pa na palagi kaming abala sa kaniyang kaniyang trabaho kaya wala na kaming panahon pa na makabisita rito.

We both gave Abeline a smile, Theo on the other hand squeezed my hand firmly. "So, kailan ba talaga magiging kayo?" Sunod na tanong nito sa amin na kinatawa naman ni Lolo.

"Abeline don't you think it's quite early for them to be in a relationship?" Tanong ni Lolo sa kaniya.

"Dad." Ngumuso lang si Abeline. "Theo's turning 20 already and Dani's at the right age — they both are." She answered.

"Well, they might be at the right age already but 'wag mo namang bigla-biglain ang mga bata." Sagot ng Dad ni Theo sa kanila. "They should enjoy their teen years muna." Tumingin si Dad sa akin at ngumiti naman ako sa kaniya.

What are they talking about?

I'm actually pretty confused. "You're so old school Abeline." Natatawang sambit ni Lolo. "Dahan-dahan lang." bara pa nito. Wala nang nagawa ang Mom ni Theo kun'di umiling na lamang at pinagpatuloy ang pagkain.

Napatingin naman ako kay Theo, he seemed to be incognizant about it so I continued eating too. Maliit lang ang kinuha kong pagkain kasi kailangan kong limitahan ang pagkain ko.

"Dani, aren't you enjoying the lunch?" Tanong sa akin ni Lolo."I hired one of the best chef in town to cook for today, sayang kung 'di mo matitikman ang pagkain nila." Tiningnan ko lang ito at nginitian.

"I'm sorry po pero I'm in a strict diet." Ani ko rito. Bigla namang nalungkot ang mukha ni Lolo. "My manager doesn't want me to eat a lot." Dagdag ko pa.

"No one will know." Theo butted in. "Eat." Utos nito sa akin. I just squinted my eyes at him.

"Sino ba 'yang manager mo nang mapagsabihan ko? How dare he meddle with your lifestyle?" Mediyo mapangbantang tonong sinabi ni Lolo.

Bigla naman kaming nakarinig ng pamilyar na boses sa likod. "It's me." Ani Hans

Lumingon ako sa likod ko at nakita ko itong may dalang paper bags. Lumapit ito kay Lolo atsaka nagmano. "I bought something for all of you." He smiled.

Hans gave Abeline a big paper bag, and Theo's mom was glad to accept it tapos sa Dad naman ni Theo ay isang maliit na paper bag din na binuksan naman nito. Inside was a watch and Theo's dad thanked him. Bibigyan pa sana ni Hans si Lolo ng regalo pero tinanggihan niya lamang ito.

"I already have all the things you can give to me Hans, just keep that gift." Natatawang inutos ni Lolo sa kaniya. "Just join us for lunch." He added. Tumango lang si Hans atsaka pinatong ang regalo sa tabi nito.

"You're Dani's manager? Since when?" Biglang tanong ni Theo sa kaniya.

"Since he started needing me." Hans smiled at me and I just glared at him.

"Since when did I said I needed you? Si Azenette kaya ang gusto na magka-manager ako." I scoffed at him. Sinamaan rin ng tingin ni Hans si Theo.

"Hans iho, ba't mo naman pinaghihigpitan si Dani sa kaniyang diet? He's already skinny." Lolo butted in all of a sudden.

"Lolo, he's a model."

"There's nothing wrong with Dani's body." Theo answered coldly at Hans who was quick to shake his hand to signal forfeit. Theo was still looking at Hans, furiously.

"Easy there Theo. 'Di ko naman papatulan si sweetheart mo." Natatawang sinabi nito kay Theo.

"Sweetheart?" I asked Theo — Theo blushed and looked at the other way — embarrassed. Bigla namang nagbago ang tingin ni Theo, para itong tataeng ewan.

"He calls you sweetheart when he talks to me about you." Hans answered. Binaling ko ang tingin kay Theo.

"You call me sweetheart?" 'Di ko alam pero bigla akong napa-alik-ik sa narinig ko, Mom and Dad looked at the both of us. Narinig siguro ang sinabi ko kay Theo. "Theo?" Ulit kong tanong rito. Nabulunan naman si Theo kaya uminom ito ng tubig.

Now Theo's in a hot seat.

"Theo." Natatawa ring panunudyo ni Hans kay Theo. Theo on the other hand was blushing.

"Theo, is that what you call Dani?" Abeline squeaked.

Theo took a deep breath. "Yes, I call Dani sweetheart. Now can you all just mind your own business and then eat?" Inis na sinabi nito. Parang pumutok ata 'tong bulkan ni Theo dahil pulang-pula na talaga ito.

I just chuckled at him and held his hand tightly. Napatingin naman ito sa akin at binigyan ako ng saliwang tingin.

Pagkatapos naming kumain ay nagusap-usap lang kami tungkol sa mga bagay-bagay. Until Abeline opened up about Theo's birthday.

"Theo, what do you want for your birthday?" Tanong nito sa kaniyang anak.

"Daniel Rouge." Walang pag-aalinlang sinagot nito sa Mom niya. Napatingin naman ako sa kaniya na nakakunot noo. "I want Daniel to have a break from his work, and for Hans to stop being strict to him." Diretso nitong sagot. Walang-preno-preno.

I squinted my eyes at him. I'm really clueless about Theo's behaviour. "What?" He must have noticed my confusion. "Don't you want that?"

"And also, please can he stop drinking his meds? I want Daniel to remain the way he is." He asked. "That's not too much to ask for, Mom, right?" He smiled at his Mom.

Napa-iling na lamang ang Mom nito sa kaniya. "Well, if that's what you want then."

Theo turned around and smiled at me. I just gave him a faint smile in return.

To be honest, I really appreciate all of Theo's efforts in deciding for my own betterment. I knew from the start that I couldn't say no to what his Mom wanted me to be in the first place, that's why I had always agreed thus had never decided anything for my self. But I'm glad Theo understands me silently.

And that he's doing his best to make me happy.

It makes me fall in love with him even more.

Pero yuck parin 'yung pa sweetheart niya.

© 0626/27/2820

10/26/20 Happy 38.6k reads!!! I LOVE U GUYS! Sorry kung paminsan lang ako makapag-update but I promise you i am working on something (and working on my job right now 😭)