Downfall of the Ace (Series of Epitome 1) : COMPLETED

13

Kabanata 13

Court

"Anong plano mo? Are you going to confront him na?" si Solaire habang pinapanood akong maglagay ng make-up sa mukha. Nakahiga lang siya sa kama ko. "This better lead to a confession from him. Sawang-sawa na akong makita nagseselosan kayong dalawa. So dumb."

"It depends, Laire. Hindi lang naman tungkol sa amin ang dapat na pag-usapan. There's studies, family, or the future."

"Future," she scoffed. "Ikaw ang future. Malandi ka! Pa-humble pa."

Cali has always been good to me. Simula nang na-interview ko siya, naging close na kami. He never made me uncomfortable. If ever he made me so, he's the one who adjusts. Ang problema lang, mabait siya sa lahat. Hindi ko alam kung ang mga pinapakita niya ay sa'kin lang niya ginagawa o pati rin sa iba.

I feel like he's so high and so hard to reach. When I met his family, I knew they are respected by people. They built their names in the industry. Ang alam ko nga, gagawa sila ng sarili nilang firm. Well... that's what I heard from the gossips. But if ever they will make their own firm, Cali will be harder to reach for me.

I checked my outfit through the vanity mirror. I was wearing a light blue flowy dress. I put on a light make up so I won't look pale.

"I ain't sure about that. He's giving me mixed signals. I can't just assume."

She stood up from the bed and walked towards me. She held my shoulders and sighed, "Kung wala kang magagawa, ako, mayroon."

Lumabas siya sa kwarto ko, sumunod naman ako sa kaniya. We were both heading towards the restaurant. Nandoon na ang mga kaibigan ko, pati ang magkapatid na Najarro. When we reached the table, dinner was already served. Puro seafoods ang karamihan noon. I won't complain dahil mahilig ako roon.

Umupo si Solaire sa tabi ni Creed. The only vacant seat now is beside Cali, I don't have a choice but to be seated there. When everything got settled, nagsimula na kaming kumain. As usual, Cali put rice and viand on my plate. He also filled my glass with water.

"Sana all," bulong ni Cyrielle habang nakatingin sa'min ni Cali. Nagulat ako nang biglang umubo si Isaiah at humawak pa sa kaniyang dibdib.

"Are you okay, Iah? What's wrong?" nag-aalalang tanong ko sa kaniya.

Tumayo si Solaire at kumuha ng tissue. Iniabot niya iyon kay Isaiah at hinagod nang marahan ang likod nito. Nang kumalma ang binata, saka lang umupo si Solaire.

"Nothing. Just continue," he waved his hands at me. Nagkatinginan kami nila Solaire at Creed. We all knew that something is off but we chose to pretend that nothing has been bothering us.

"Kumain ka na. We'll talk after this," bulong ni Cali sa aking kaliwang tainga.

"Okay," I gave him a small smile.

We were eating peacefully. Maya't-maya ang kuha ko ng pagkain sa platter. Marami akong nakain dulot ng pagod sa island hopping kanina. Patapos na kaming kumain nang mag-ring ang phone ni Cali. Nakuha noon ang atensyon ko.