Chapter 34

Umangat ang tingin ko kay Sir Yves nang maglapag siya sa table ng gatas. He just came from work just to check if I'll eat properly. I said he didn't need to but he insisted.

Gusto ko rin naman.

I don't know where he got the urge to come here though. He knows that I like him at kapag patuloy niyang gawin 'to, aasa lang ako!

“I prefer milk in the morning,” I said and sighed while flipping through the pages of the magazine.

“Milk is better to drink at night. Inumin mo na 'yan..”

I'm pretending that I'm not interested in what he's doing right now. Nagkukunwari din akong matamlay. I want him to just take care of me even when he's already tired, for sure. I'm being selfish, I know but I just want to feel that he's really concerned about me.

"Is this still a part of your job as my professor?” kunot-noong tanong ko sa kaniya. I faced him while he's sitting beside me in front of the table. "Na binabantayan at inaalagaan mo ako ngayon?”

Tumango naman siya kaagad. "Yes.."

Tiningnan ko naman ang kabuoan niya nang tumayo siya. I noticed that he's wearing a plain white shirt now paired with a black pants. I want to hug him right now and I'll never let go of him.

“Ang sweet mo naman palang professor, Sir. Sina Sir Psalm and Sir Jameson? Are they sweet, too? Aalagaan din ba nila ako? Sabi mo parte pa rin ng trabaho mo ang alagaan ako. I'm sure, gano'n din sila. Right?” I sarcastically told him. Napairap na lang ako nang umiwas ng tingin.

“No. They're busy..”

“And you're not?" kaagad kong tanong sa kaniya. I smirked. “Oh please! 'Wag ka nang mag-deny! You're just fooling yourself, Sir Yves!”

Tumayo rin ako para sana lapitan siya pero biglang nag-ring ang kaniyang phone. He's looking at me while he's talking to someone.

“Excuse me. I need to go. May bisita ako..”

I sighed and nodded. "You should rest, too. Salamat...”

He just nodded at me and smiled a bit before he left me again. Napabuntong-hininga pa ulit ako. I looked around me. I don't want to just stay here. I want to check if he really has a guest at hindi siya nagkukunwari para takasan ako at mga tanong ko.

I slowly opened my door as I heard few noises outside. I think it's coming from Sir Yves' unit. Kumunot naman ang noo ko nang makita si Regina sa hallway. Sa tapat mismo ng unit ni Sir Yves.

Hindi ako lumabas. I'm just waiting for them to talk. It's obvious that he doesn't let her go inside his unit as she's just standing outside while they're talking.

“Alam kong may mali akong nagawa sa inyo pero Yves, hindi ko kayang hayaan ka lang masaktan na naman nang dahil sa kaniya! Wala akong karapatang sabihin 'to pero dapat iwasan mo na siya! Please!”

Kumunot ang noo ko nang marinig 'yon kay Regina. Again, just like last time — I don't really understand what she's saying.

“Hindi pwede, Regina," rinig ko namang sabi ni Sir Yves. I'm not really seeing them clearly from here 'cause they're a bit far away.

“Bakit? Dahil ba mayaman siya? Kailangan mo ng pera para mapagamot mo si Lola? Pwede kitang tulungan! Iwasan mo lang siya!”

"I won't avoid her not because of her money but because until now, I still have feelings for her. Hindi dapat kami ang iniintindi mo. Kung ako sa 'yo, hanapin mo na lang ang ama ni Xian para hindi mo na kami guluhin pa..”

Mas lalong kumunot ang noo ko sa narinig kay Sir Yves. I closed the door of my unit as I went inside. I slowly sat down when I realized what I just heard from him.

He still have feelings for her? Sino siya? Is she the reason why he doesn't like me?

Malinaw na hindi si Regina ang tinutukoy niya. Kung hindi siya, sino?

. . .

I fixed my royal blue formal dress as I waited for Mom to arrive. I'm already here at the restaurant that she told me through a text message. It's exactly 7 in the evening. Kanina pa siya late.

"May I know your order, Ma'am?”

I looked at the waiter when he approached me. “Just give me water. Hinihintay ko pa ang kasama ko. Thanks.."

Kaagad namang umalis ang waiter sa harapan ko. Naiirita na ako. My mother is taking a long time preparing herself!

Namilog naman ang mata ko nang biglang makita si Rylan. He's only wearing a plain three-fourths long sleeves that he pairs with black slacks.

Tumayo naman ako. "What the hell are you doing here?"

"Please, don't make a scene. I just want us to talk. Maupo ka..”

My brows are furrowed while I'm looking at him. Masama ang tingin ko sa kaniya nang sapilitang umupo sa harap niya.

“Now what? Just make it fast. 'Wag mong sayangin ang oras ko. May i-mi-meet pa kami ni Mom," naiirita kong sabi sa kaniya.

“I just want you to know that I still love you despite everything that happened. So please, if you still love me, too.. pwede naman natin 'tong ayusin.” Iniwas ko kaagad ang kamay ko nang subukan niyang hawakan. "Just give me another chance. Let me prove myself to you again. Please. It's just a mistake..”

"Just a mistake? It's a mistake that ruined us, Rylan! You had sex with another woman! Sa tingin mo, tatanggapin pa kita ulit? Oh come on!” I sarcastically laughed at him.

He held my hands again. He's about to shed tears. “Please, let's fix this together. Tatapusin ko ang namamagitan sa amin ng babaeng 'yon. Just please---"

“Ngayon mo pa lang tatapusin? You should've done it dati pa lang! And if you really love me, hindi mo naman talaga gagawin 'yon," I added and smiled wearily. “But I don't care. Wala na talaga akong pakialam, Rylan. Wala na rin tayong dapat ayusin. Umalis ka na..”

Ako na mismo ang tumayo nang hindi pa siya umalis. I no longer care if we create a scene here. Naiinis ako! The night is already ruined because of him! Maybe, he was the one that Mom referring last time na kikitain namin sa restaurant! They planned this all!

“Please, umalis ka na. I don't want to see your face anymore,” mariin kong sabi sa kaniya. I'm trying my best to remain calm as much as possible.

“Come back to me. Aayusin ko 'to..”

I looked at him weirdly as he started to cry and he even held my wrist but because I'm avoiding his hands and he keeps on holding me — I suddenly got tripped. Nanlaki naman ang mata ko sa kaniya.

"What the freak?!”

Mabuti at kaagad siyang nilapitan ng ilang waiters at guard para hilahin. Nagulat naman ako nang makita bigla si Mom sa harap ni Rylan.

"I let you talk to her but look what you did! I don't know what's going on between the two of you! But whatever it is, you fix it! 'Wag ka lang manggugulo!"

Rylan looks like he's already out of his mind while Mom is scolding him. Mom apologized to the people around us for what happened. Katulad ko, ayaw rin niya ng gulo. I know her. Mabuti na lang at pinaalis na si Rylan. Lalapitan niya pa sana ako.

Tinulungan naman kaagad ako ni Mom nang mapatingin sa akin.

“What happened, darling? Anong ginawa sa 'yo ni Rylan? Sinaktan ka ba?" She looked at me worriedly.

Umiling naman ako. "He keeps on pestering me."  My forehead creased when I saw a very familiar man beside Mom. "Mom, sino 'yang kasama mo? He's the one I'm telling you last time! The one that I saw! He really looks like Dad!”

"Let's talk about it later. Let's just find another restaurant.."

"Dito na lang tayo, Mom. Nagpa-reserve na tayo rito," I told her and she just sighed. Napatingin din siya sa kasama kaya napatingin din ako roon.

The middle-aged man is also looking at me. He smiled a bit and when he did that, he exactly looks like my father! They're like identical twins!

I awkwardly smiled at him. Magaan ang loob ko sa kaniya kahit papaano.

“What's your name, Sir? Or should I call you Tito?"

My mood suddenly changed when he sat down in front of me — beside Mom.

“Alindra!”

Nagulat naman ako nang tumaas ang boses ni Mom. "What?" nangingisi kong tanong.

"It's okay, Minerva." Tumaas naman ang kilay ko nang hawakan ng lalaki ang kamay ni Mom sa ibabaw ng lamesa. "I'm Fredrick, hija. I'm your Dad's cousin. Matagal tayong hindi nagkita..”

I smiled a bit. "Oh? So we've met before? Hindi ko po matandaan, Tito. How about you and Dad?"

Nakita ko namang nagkatinginan silang dalawa ni Mom. Mom is looking so nervous. "Hindi pa. We're both busy. Lalo na siya.”

“If you want to, I can talk to him so you guys can catch up.” I sipped on my wine that the waiter served a while ago. "Right, Mom?"

She cleared her throat. "Uh, anak. Your Tito and your Dad.. they're not in good terms. 'Wag mo munang ipilit na magkita sila.”

"Is that so? Sorry..”

Tumango naman si Tito Fredrick. Again, they both looked at each other. We're still waiting for our foods to be served. Nag-uusap sila pero hindi ko na pinakinggan. Si Mom, hindi ko alam kung bakit parang kinakabahan.

“Mom, Tito. Excuse me. Restroom lang," I told them. Tumango naman silang dalawa. I'll let them talk first while I'm retouching my makeup.

Nagulat naman ako nang makita si Regina sa loob ng ladies' restroom. She's washing her hands. She's not looking at me but I know that she felt my presence because she suddenly became tensed.

Nilapag ko naman ang clutch bag ko sa sink para mag-retouch. I'm applying my blush when she caught my attention.

"Anong ginagawa mo rito? Kasama mo ba si Yves?” she asked while looking at me in the mirror.

Tumaas naman ang kilay ko. "Ikaw? Bakit ka nandito? As far as I know, only elites are allowed to be in this fancy restaurant. Then, why are you here?" I chuckled at myself and shook my head. "Just kidding. Anyway, I'm not with him. Bakit?"

Umiling naman siya. "Akala ko magkasama kayo. Nga pala, waiter ako rito.”

"Oops! Correction! Waitress dapat not waiter," I told her and smiled sweetly. Pinagpatuloy ko na ang ginagawa habang nakatingin sa salamin. I want to annoy her. "And.. may restroom naman na para sa inyo ah? You know.. for employees."

Ngumisi ako nang hindi siya nakakibo. She looks stupid while standing beside me. She's so stiffed right there! Gusto ko na lang matawa! I don't know why she's really getting into my nerves!

Oh, maybe I'm jealous! Not because I'm insecure and she's better than me! Of course not! Nagseselos lang ako dahil mukhang malapit sila ni Sir Yves sa isa't-isa!

That's it!

"Si Yves..”

I raised a brow at her when she suddenly spoke again after a few minutes.

"I like him, Regina," I told her without any hesitation.

Nabigla naman siya pero kaagad siyang nakabawi. "Pero professor mo siya. Estudyante ka niya."

I rolled my eyes and smirked. "I know. I'm not stupid and so what? I don't really care. At hindi naman habang-buhay, professor ko siya."

She looks so stunned that she can't speak anymore. I showed her my sweet smile as I fixed my hair.

"Mauuna na ako sa 'yo. Sana hindi ikaw ang mag-serve sa amin..”

I calmly walked outside to leave her looking so stupid. Napahinto naman ako sa hallway nang maalala ko ang pinag-usapan nila ni Sir Yves na narinig ko no'ng nakaraan. Parang may kumurot sa puso ko nang maalala ko ulit 'yon.

Sir Yves is in love with someone else and I want to know whoever she is!

Freak!

My forehead creased when I saw that Tito Fredrick held Mom's hand for a moment while they're talking. Hindi ko na 'yon pinagtuonan ng pansin pa at dumiretso na sa table.

"Oh, sweetheart. What took you so long?” tanong kaagad ni Mom nang makaupo ako.

Taas-noo naman akong tumingin kay Regina na kalalabas pa lang ng restroom. "I just saw a friend, Mom. Nag-usap kami, so..”

Friend? Gusto kong umirap!

Umiling na lang ako. I didn't expect that I would see her here. Apparently, she's working in this restaurant. Now I know.

I suddenly lost my appetite!

. . .

"Oh! Hi, Tito Alesso!”

Lumingon naman ako kay Milan nang magsalita siya sa likuran ko. She's talking to Tito Fredrick na nasa labas pala ng unit ko. Apparently, my friends are here because according to them, they're bored at guguluhin nila ako rito.

"Tito! What brings you here? Alam mo rin pala ang unit ko," sabi ko sa kaniya nang makalapit sa pintuan.

"Tito?" Nagtatakang tanong nina Erica sa likod ko.

"I just brought you some foods. Sabi ng Mommy mo, paborito mo raw ang pasta so dinalhan kita. Sinabi rin niya ang address mo.."

I awkwardly smiled as I took the foods that he gave. "Uh, thank you po.”

He smiled back at me. "What about your friends? I'll order foods for them. Anong gusto niyo?"

“Pizza po! Wings!”

Pinanlakihan ko naman ng mata si Erica nang sumingit pa.

“'Wag na, Tito. I'm sure you're busy with your business. Salamat po sa foods. Okay na sa amin 'to," I smiled at him genuinely.

Tumango siya. "Alright. If you need something, just tell me. May number ako sa Mommy mo. Take care, hija..”

I immediately closed the door when he left. Kaagad naman akong nilapitan ng dalawa nang umalis si Tito Fredrick.

“Si Tito Alesso 'yon, right? Then why did you call him as your Tito?" Milan said while opening the box of foods.

I sighed. "He's Tito Fredrick. Pinsan ni Dad. Siya 'yong sinasabi ko sa inyong kamukha ni Dad. I met him at the restaurant last night with Mom. The night that I told you that Rylan pestered me..”

"Pinsan? Parang kambal na sila eh!”

"Hey! 'Wag ka diyan! Your feet are dirty!" I told Erica when she jumped on my couch.

Umirap naman siya. "Arte! Pabalikin mo nga 'yong Tito mo! Mag-o-order na sana ng pagkain eh! Pinigilan mo pa!”

"Yeah. I should've suggested donuts kanina kay Tito. Or milk teas! What do you guys think?"

Hindi ko na napakinggan si Milan sa sinasabi niya nang biglang may mag-doorbell. Nag-unahan naman sila sa pinto.

"Ako na magbubukas! Baka bumalik 'yong Tito ni Alindra!" sabi ni Erica na halos itulak ang naka-heels na si Milan.

I rolled my eyes. "Ako na magbubukas para hindi na kayo mag-away.."

Nanlaki naman ang mata ko nang bumungad sa akin si Sir Yves. He's holding a plant inside the pot.

"Gusto mong alagaan? Para may living things din diyan..”

"Lindra! Who's that?” I froze and can't answer especially when my friends came near me. Nakita kong parehas silang gulat nang makita si Sir Yves sa harapan.

"Sir? Sir Yves?” gulat na tanong ni Erica at tumingin sa akin nang nakangisi. "Dito pala kayo nakatira, Sir.."

Sasagot pa sana ang professor pero kaagad kong sinarado ang pinto na bumubuntong-hininga. I slowly put the pot on the floor as I sat down on my couch. Milan also sat beside me while eating carbonara.

"Dito pala nakatira sa building na 'to si Hottie professor mo ah! Hindi mo sinabi! Gaga ka!" natatawang sabi ni Erica. "Hindi mo pwedeng sabihin na hindi siya nakatira dito! Eh nakapambahay lang si Sir!"

"Yeah and he looks hot ah!" Milan said and giggled. Sinamaan ko naman siya ng tingin. "Don't worry, I won't make agaw him. He's all yours, Lindra..”

Nagulat naman ako sa sinabi niya. Tumawa naman silang dalawa at nag-apir pa.

"What the hell?" I confusedly asked.

"Oh, yes! You're so obvious! We know na you like him!"

My eyes widened after that. "B-But how?"

"The way you look at him.. the way you blush," sabi naman ni Milan.

"At para mo siyang huhubaran palagi!" Tumawa naman si Erica.

I just rolled my eyes at them and didn't speak anymore. I guess I have no escape from them. They knew it all this time! Nakakainis!

At 'yong professor na 'yon! I hate him! May mahal siyang iba pero bakit gano'n na naman siya?

He's just making me fall in love with him more! Paasa!

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