151 Flowers For You ✔

CHAPTER 21

"What do you mean by that, Ackley?"

He looked at me with a questioning look, but parang naramdaman kong kinakabahan din siya. "Let's eat," Mom called us before she and Tita went to the table. 

"Never mind that," I smiled at para naman siyang naka-hinga ng maluwag. Seriously, what's wrong with him again?

Dad fixed the table and placed our foods. Tinignan ko naman si Dalton na may maka-hulugang tingin kay Dad, and it looks like he has something going on inside his mind. Because like Ackley and Kaid, he's also unpredictable and somehow a mystery kahit kapatid ko siya. 

Well, I guess, that is what they have in common.

Dad called Dalton at parang zombie na sumunod naman ang kapatid ko habang hindi pa rin ina-alis ang tingin kay Dad. He sat beside me, so I nudged him on his elbow. "What?" he asked, irritated.

"Why are you looking like that to Dad? Papatawarin mo na ba siya?" I somehow felt excited dahil sa sinabi ko. Pero nawala iyon when he winced.

"Of course not, Dariantha. Hinding-hindi ko kailanman papatawarin 'yang hayop na 'yan." Is it just me or there really is a fire na nasa mga mata ni Dalton?

"What do you want, Dariantha?" Halos mapatalon ako sa gulat when I heard Ackley asked me, whispering a bit.

I looked at the foods on the table. "They all look good, para tuloy gusto kong tikman lahat. But it's my diet."  Suddenly, parang may ilaw na nag-pop up sa tabi ng forehead ko. "This day will be my cheat day for this week."  I chuckled with that thought.

"Hey?" 

Nag-spaced out yata ako. "I just want the steak, Ackley." Naglagay naman siya ng stak sa plato ko. "Thanks," I smiled. Later, I will taste all of them if I can.

We started eating quietly until Tita broke the silence. "So, saan niyo gustong pumunta pagkatapos kumain? Kids?"

"Hindi na kami kids," I heard Dalton whispered, eating. It looks like narinig din 'yun ni Mom because binatukan niya si Dalton. Yup, kay Mom kami nagmana when it comes sa pagbatok ng tao.

When they noticed that no one among us three want to suggest, si Mom na lang ang sumagot. Kaya lang naman ayoko mag-suggest because I don't know this place, it's my first time here. "What are the other places here, Acaleigh? Sorry, first time lang kasi namin dito, e," Mom chuckled a bit.

"Aside sa park at sa mga hut, mayroon ding mga rides dito. May gubat din pero safe naman daw 'yon based on the person na naka-usap ko kanina bago tayo pumasok."

I suddenly got excited upon hearing 'yung sinabi ni Tita na gubat. Para kasi sa akin, puwedeng maging adventure 'yon kapag pumunta kami, e. And yup, I love adventures as much as I love flowers!

"Saan niyo gustong pumunta sa mga nabanggit ko?" Tita asked us again.

"Anywhere," Ackley answered.

She turned to Dad. "Ikaw, Honey? Saan mo gusto?" 

Even if Mom hid it, I still saw a bitter smile formed on his lips. Napa-buntong hininga na lamang ako. Also, alam ko namang walang balak manira ng pamilya si Mom, so I trust her. I trust her that she won't ruin Ackley's family, even if we were the first family of Dad. Kasal na si Dad at Tita Acaleigh, e. Kaya nga, Ackley's surname is Fernsby now, instead of Belvoir.

"Let's ask Dari and Dalton first, Hon." Dad then turned to me and asked where do I want to go.

I was about to answer when Dalton forestalled. "Hindi siya pupunta kahit saan. She will stay here."