Hidden Obsession

CHAPTER 28

My knees were shaking as well as my palms were sweatingly cold. I let out a deep breathe while waiting for us to move. Ito naman ang gusto ko 'di ba? Pero bakit ako kinakabahan?

Tiningnan ko si Hope na walang emosyon sa tabi ko. His eyes were blank. Just how he asnwered me with a flat 'no'  when I asked him if I there was someone looked like me.

He asked me if I really wanted to know and get along with his family and I replied 'yes' right away. Ang sabi niya pagkatapos ng graduation ko, ipakikilala niya ako. I just graduated yesterday. And now, here we were, on our way to their mansion.

Lalo akong nakaramdam ng kaba nang pumasok ang sasakyan sa garahe ng mansion. Ang ganda kaya ng mansyon. If felt so alive but melancholic at the same time. I was wondering why Hope didn't like it here.

"Hey," untag niya sa'kin pagkahinto ng sasakyan. Nauna siyang lumabas at sumunod naman ako. Hinarap niya ako pagkalabas. "Don't worry too much. They might act weird but trust me. Sa akin ka lang magtiwala, okay? I knew my feelings better than they do."

Kahit hindi ko alam ang sinasabi niya ay tumango ako. If my husband told me so, I'd compromise. Nawala ang malamig niyang emosyon. Warm took over his eyes aa he smiled.

Hinalikan niya pa ako sa noo bago kami pumasok sa mansyon. Kung gaano kaganda ang labas ay mas maganda ang loob. I looked around the whole place. There was nothing in the wall but golden curtains and a portrait painting. Ang ganda ng mag-asawa. Marahil ay sila ang mga magulang ni Hope.

"Hi!" Mula sa kusina ay lumabas ang ate ni Hope. She's really beautiful but intimidating even though she looked gentle and soft. Mayroon siyang aura na ma-i-intimidate ka.

Nakangiti siyang lumapit sa amin. Sinalubong niya ng yakap si Hope bago bumaling sa akin. Saglit na nawala ang kaniyang ngiti nang tumitig sa akin ngunit binalik din agad pagkakurap ng kaniyang mga mata.

"You must be Lorah."

Hilaw akong ngumiti sa sobrang kaba. "Hi, po. Good evening."

"I'm Sayrna. You can call me Ate Sayr." May lumapit na lalaking luntian ang mga mata. He must be Hope's brother-in-law. "And this is my husband, Al." Bumulong ito sa ate ni Hope bago tumango ang babae. Napahawak naman ako sa aking tiyan nang tumingin siya roon.

"Dinner's ready. Doon na tayo mag-usap. Hope?" Bumaling siya sa kapatid. Sa mga mata ay nangungusap ito. "Mag-uusap tayo mamaya."

"Let's give this to him, okay?" I heard her husband said lowly before they went to the dining hall.

Lumingon naman sa akin si Hope. "Let's go?"

I nodded my head and walked with him.

Maraming pagkain pero hindi ko nagawang kumain nang maayos. Kinakabahan ako lalo na sa tuwing tumitingin sa akin ang kapatid ni Hope. It felt like she wanted to tell me with a lot of things but she refused to talk.

"Hope invited me to have dinner with you in your new house but my doctor didn't permit me. Maselan kasi ang pagbubuntis ko ngayon. I hope you don't mind kung dito lang tayo."

I immediately shook my head. "Hindi po. It's fine with me. Mas okay nga po na dito." I sipped an ample amount of water on my glass.

Ngumiti naman siya. "Ikaw ba? Hindi ka ba nahihirapan sa pagbubuntis mo? Ilang buwan na 'yan?"

Uminom muna ako ng tubig para makasagot nang tama.

"Almost four months na po. And regarding with my pregnancy, hindi naman po masyadong mahirap."

"That's good." She looked relieved.

"Tita Selene!"

Napalingon kami sa babaing kapapasok lang. She smiled upon seeing the young girl. Lumapit siya rito at hinalikan sa pisngi.