Splendiferous (Legazpi #1)

Nineteen

19.

The next morning, after taking a bath, I made sure that I'm all ready before going out of my room. As I walk out, I suddenly felt that I stepped on something. My eyes landed on the floor where there's a stem of rose lying on it. I bent down to reach for it and smelled it's sweet fragrance which made me smile.

I headed towards the dining room for breakfast and saw Aleezah already eating her french toast. She greeted me a good morning when she saw me and I did the same. I sat down in front of her and placed the rose on one side of the table so that I could get some bread.

"Bigay ni kuya?" tukoy niya sa rosas.

"Nasa labas ng kwarto ko," nagkibit balikat ako, hindi pa rin tinatanggal ang ngiti sa mga labi.

I was about to take a bite on my bread when someone from behind placed a cup of coffee in front of me. I tilted my head only to see Xerxes in his uniform smiling at me.

"Good morning," he greeted and kissed the side of my head.

"Morning," I smiled at him and felt my cheeks burn from his gesture.

"Sweet sana kayo tignan kung hindi lang nakapanglalaki si Arleigne," singit ni Aleezah habang nakangiwi kaming pinagmamasdan.

I giggled at her comment and just continued eating my breakfast. Xerxes sat down beside me as he ate his own food. Tahimik lang kaming kumakain hanggang sa may naramdaman akong may humawak sa isa kong kamay na nasa ilalim ng mesa. Tinignan ko iyon bago ako tumingin kay Xerxes ngunit nasa pagkain niya ang kanyang atensyon.

Halos hindi ako mapakali sa kiliting nararamdaman at parang gusto nang tumalon sa tuwa ng aking puso dahil sa ginagawa niyang paglalaro sa aking mga daliri.

Natigil lamang iyon dahil sa isang litanya ni Aleezah na siyang ikinasama ng mukha ni Xerxes.

"I miss Arlszent."

I heard Xerxes scoff so I glanced at him but he just rolled his eyes. Palihim ko siyang sinanggi sa hita gamit ang akin bago siya pinanlakihan ng mata ngunit binigyan niya lamang ako ng inosenteng tingin.

"Miss ko din," dagdag ko at sinangayunan si Aleezah na ngayo'y natutuwang makita ang reaksyon ng kapatid. Pareho kaming nagpipigil na tawa sa aming pwesto.

"Should I also say that I miss him?" he sarcastically asked that made me and Aleezah laugh aloud.

"Kaibigan mo, ginaganyan mo," I teased. "Bakit ba kasi ayaw mo para kay Aleezah si Zent?"

"Sino bang gusto mo para sa'kin, kuya?" dagdag na tanong ni Aleezah.

"Wala," simpleng sagot nito.

"My kuya's overprotective," Aleezah chanted repeatedly until we went outside of the house to drive to school.

I was about to open the door of Xerxes' Audi when I remembered something. Nilingon ko si Xerxes at tinanong. "Baka ito naman ang mapuntiryang sasakyan mo?"

"Hayaan mo na," walang pakielam nitong sagot. "'Yan naman ang pinakamura kong sasakyan."

My eyes automatically rolled upon hearing his words. "Mura pa sa'yo halos ilang libong dolyar."

"Mas mura pa nga 'yon kung para sa'yo," makatotohanan nitong saad.

Napailing na lamang ako dahil totoo naman ang sinabi niya. Ang mabuhay kasi sa ganitong napakarangyang pamilya ay talagang hindi nakasasagabal, sisiw lang talaga ang kahit na anong halaga ng pera. Ang pinagpapasalamat ko lang ay hindi kami ni Zent pinalaki ng matapobre. Gayundin itong sina Xerxes at Aleezah, kahit na medyo may pagkayabang nga lang itong si Xerxes ay hindi naman maitatanggi na may soft side pa rin ito.