Passionate Serenade

Chapter 10

Delavina Elleanor Salvedo

"Where do you want to eat lunch?" Phoenix asked me as he drove my car off towards the parking lot's exit.

Natapos ang Church service eksaktong 10:45am, malapit nang mag lunch. Si Phoenix na ngayon ang nasa driver's seat habang ako na ang nasa passenger's seat, he insisted to drive my BMW, noong una ay ayaw ko pa pero nang simulan niya akong kulitin ay hinayaan ko na siya.

"I don't know" Sabi ko dahil wala pa akong naiisip na kainan.

"What about we eat on your restaurant?" Napangisi ako sa suggestion niya.

"Sure!" Natutuwang sabi ko sakaniya saka sinabi ang daan patungo sa restaurant.

Hindi katulad kaninang papunta ng Cavite na nag-uusap kami, ngayon ay hindi na.

Hindi ko tuloy mapigilang isipin ang nangyari kanina. For the third time ay nakita niya nanaman akong umiyak. Isa pa ay mahihiya na ako sakaniya, mukhang hindi din siya nagdadalawang isip na yakapin ako. I like his comfort, it somehow feels good.

I smiled as I looked outside the window. It makes my heart jump in happiness how Phoenix was so focused on the Pastor's talk earlier, he was listening seriously. This was the first time I attended to Church with someone and it really makes me happy seeing how Phoenix respected the Church we went to.

Napawi ang ngiti ko at napabaling kay Phoenix nang tumunog ang cellphone niya, gamit ang isang kamay ay kinuha niya ang cellphone niya sa small compartment na nasa baba lang ng radio.

He took a glance on the screen before looking at me, making my brows furrowed a bit. Bakit sakin siya natingin?

"It's Tita Damina" Napa-ayos ako ng upo nang marinig ko ang pangalan ni Mommy.

"Huh? Why is Mom calling you and not me?" He just shrugged his shoulders before answering my mother's call.

"Hi, sweetie! Are you busy?" Malambing na boses ni Mommy ang bumungad samin ni Phoenix, rinig ko dahil naka-speaker 'yon.

"No, Tita. Why po?" I want to laugh at him for being cute by just saying 'po' to my Mom, but I stopped myself.

"Oh! I thought you were!" Mom laughed elegantly, napanguso ako, "Anyway, my daughter, Delavina, said that you both are floormates?"

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sinabi ni Mommy. Phoenix looked at me with furrowed brows and confused expression. Oh, gosh! Wala nga palang alam si Phoenix sa ginawa kong palusot sa mga magulang ko! I just bit my lips nervously.

Saglit na lumiit ang mga mata sakin ni Phoenix bago niya ulit ituon ang tingin sa daan.

"Yes, Tita" I sighed in relief with his answer.

"Do you have plans later for dinner?" Tanong ni Mom na ikinakunot ng noo ko.

"None so far, Tita"

Ang titipid ng sagot niya sa Nanay ko! Hindi manlang lumagpas sa limang salita, parang gusto niya na iisang salita lang ang isagot sa kausap pero since si Mommy ang kausap niya ay hindi niya magawa.

My Mom giggled, "Great! We will be having a dinner later, you're family will be there, it will happen in our mansion. I just want to ask you a favor, if that's okay with you?"

"Sure, Tita. What is it?"

"Can you fetch my daughter—" Napatigil si Mom sa pagsasalita nang malakas akong napasinghap at mukhang narinig niya 'yon! Agad kong tinakpan ang bibig ko para pigilan ang sarili na magsalita, "Oh... You were with someone? Are you on a date? Am I interupting something, hijo?" Nanlaki ang mga mata ko sa sunod sunod na tanong ni Mommy.