To Pay The Price (Belle Ville Series #2)

Chapter 17: Creos cousins

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

Creos cousins

"GOOD morning," bati ko sa kanila pagdating ko sa dining area.

Bakit ang kaunti yata ng tao? Sina Adheb, Tech, Vizcell, Denver, Feem, Bell at parents nila Bell at Feem lang ang kumakain ngayon sa mesa. Wala yata 'yong mga babaeng pinsan ni Bell saka 'yong mga Tito at Tita niya wala rin.

"We're having lunch, love. This isn't breakfast." Bell chuckled, tapping the vacant chair beside him so I could sit.

Napapikit ako bigla dahil sa sobrang hiya sa kanilang lahat. Grabe. Tanghali na pala tapos kung makapag-good morning ako. Ugh.

Marahan akong umupo sa tabi ni Bell at wala sa sariling tumitig kay Feem. Bakit kasi 'di ako ginising ng babaeng 'to? Kaibigan ko ba talaga siya?

Napunta kay Bell bigla ang atensyon ko nang lagyan niya ng pagkain ang plato ko. Nilagyan niya rin ako ng soup sa separate bowl.

"Coffee?" alok niya. Nahiya akong um-oo kasi lunch na tapos magkakape pa ako.

"It's alright, Ra. I'm also having coffee every lunch," Tech said when he noticed my hesitation.

"Wait. Why are you so nice to Rara, Bell? As far as I could remember, you don't like her for Denver," Tech added, making everyone's eyes shift to me.

Oh. Great.

This is awkward . . . and embarrassing.

I dated Denver in the past, and now I'm dating Bell. They should not know about me and Bell. I'm afraid they might judge me.

Ako na sana 'yong sasagot sa tanong ni Tech pero hinawakan ni Bell bigla ang kamay kong nakapatong sa ibabaw ng mesa.

Nanlalaking mata ko siyang tiningnan at sinenyasan ko siyang bitawan ako pero mas hinigpitan pa niya ang pagkakahawak sa 'kin.

"Move on, Tech. Stop mentioning Denver's name. Rara's mine now."

Bakas sa mukha nilang lahat ang pagkagulat. Pero sina Denver at Feem, tuloy-tuloy lang sa pagkain.

Napakagat ako sa labi ko dahil sa sobrang kaba. Lahat kasi ng mata nila, nasa akin.

Hindi ko alam kung ano'ng sasabihin ko. Pinagpapawisan tuloy ako sa sobrang kaba ko.

"Hey, don't be nervous, Rara. I'm just asking. I'm not going to eat you," Tech said, making it more awkward for me. It's not nice hearing the word 'eat' from a womanizer like him. He's honestly the worse version of Bell, by the way.

"I wasn't informed that your standard for girls became that low, Bell. How could you date your cousin's ex?" Tech scoffed, laughing while shaking his head.

Padabog na binagsak ni Denver 'yong kutsara at tinidor niya sa plato niya. Umigting ang panga niya. "Shut up, Tech. What the hell's wrong with you?" madiin na sabi ni Denver. "Do you really have to say that?" dagdag pa niya. He's obviously irritated with Tech's behavior.

But Tech ignored him.

"Who's your next target, Ra? You can come to me when you and Bell break up. I'm also a Creos so I thin—"

"F*ck you, Tech," galit na sabi ni Bell kasabay ng biglaang pagtayo niya.

"Bell—honey, calm down. Okay?" Bell's mom finally said something when Bell was about to grab Tech's collar out of anger.

Hindi ako makagalaw o makapagsalita dahil sa sinabi ni Tech. I didn't really expect that he'd say that to me of all people. Tech and I used to be close. Not exactly that close, but he used to root for me and Denver. He wasn't fond of Feem when she was dating Denver.