Athaliah's Redemption (Ortega Series 1)

Kabanata 12

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XII - Mama mo

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Panay ang sulyap niya sa akin nang malapit na kami sa bahay at walang trapiko.

"Ibaba mo nalang ako dito. Baka makita kasi ni Ate Dina at ano pa ang masabi niya kay Mommy," I said when we're just about five or six houses away.

I was reminded of it when Ate Dina noticed that I was always driven home by the same car.

He sighed before putting the car's engine into a stop.

Agad akong bumaba. Binuksan ko ang pintuan ng backseat para kunin ang ecobag pero naunahan niya ako. Nagulat pa ako sa bilis niya.

Isinara ko na lamang iyon at hinintay siyang makalapit sa akin bitbit ang ecobag.

Naninimbang siyang tumingin sa akin. Iniwas ko na lamang ang tingin sa kanya at inabot ang hawak na ecobag pero hindi niya iyon ibinigay.

I heard him sigh again. "I'm sorry if I did something wrong."

Ramdam kong nakatingin pa rin siya sa akin.

"Tell me about it... so I won't make the same mistake the next time."

Napapikit ako.

"I-it's nothing... I'm just being irrational." Pinilit kong tumingin sa kanya at ngumiti. "Hayaan mo na, lilipas rin."

He looked at me not believing what I have just told him. Inabot ko ulit ang ecobag sa kanya para makaalis na pero iniwas niya ulit ito sa akin.

"Tell me...please."

I let out some air making a huffing sound. Napapikit ako. "Fine... I hate it when you paid for the bill."

It had been okay for the past weeks when we are in the café because I always arrive first, order, and pay afterwards. Ngayon kasi ay matapos lamang kaming kumain saka lang nagbayad.

Wala akong narinig na sagot niya mula sa sinabi. I got curious and opened my eyes to look at him. Nakaawang lamang ang kanyang labi habang nakatingin sa akin.

Iniwas ko kaagad ang tingin sa kanya. "I told you... I'm just being irrational."

"Why don't you want me to pay for it?"

I sighed again. "Ayokong binabayaran ng ibang tao ang gastusin ko... I don't even let my parents and relatives spend much for me so why would I let other people?" I honestly told him before looking at his direction.

I scowled when I saw him looking amused.

"I think that would be a problem then... because I won't ever let you pay."

Tumingin ako sa kanya at nagtaas ng kilay.

"Why? Because you're filthy rich and you can pay for everything?" iritado kong sabi.

Umiling siya ng mariin. "It's not – "

"And because you already have work?"

Nagbuntong-hininga siya bago nagsalita. "If it bothers you so much, take it as a thank you lunch from me..." He looked at me with his now soulful caramel eyes. "For the gifts you have given me."

Another frustration engulfed me. "You don't even seem to use them," mahina kong saad.

In all the days I have been with him, I never once saw the tiepin or even the cufflinks. Pinapansin ko palagi ang suot niyang suit para sa trabaho at wala ang mga iyon.