Planet Acelatoria

Chaptah Tuwenti-nayn

Compensation~

"Wow, mukhang ang sarap nito ah!"

Zain sliced a piece from the chocolate cake that I and Xavier made. Pagkabalik ko sa kitchen island, naabutan ko na sila Zain at Kiefer kasama si Nebula dito.

We are now sitting on the high chairs judging the cake we made. Si Chef Justine na daw ang naglagay ng decorations at kung ano-ano pa ayon kay Xavier. Mabuti na 'yon dahil kung pangit man ang lasa, edi makakabawi naman sa presentation.

Habang tinititigan ko ang cake, naalala kong nagsabi sa'kin si Xavier na ipagbe-bake niya ako nito dati. It was when we were just pretending of our feelings—na ngayon ay totohanan na. I smiled of my own thought.

"Puweh! Ang alat, bes!"

"Oo nga, Clardey. Sigurado ba kayong asukal ang nilagay niyo dito?"

Nangunot ang noo ni Chef Justine at Xavier sa kumento ng mga kaibigan ko. Obviously, they didn't understand my friend's comments.

"They said it's salty, Xavier. You're the one who mixed the dry ingredients. Are you sure it's sugar that you put in the cake?" tanong ko sa aking katabi.

"I'm not. But, I got the sugar from that jar." He then pointed a glass jar with wooden cap.

"Prince, it's salt. I apologize, it's my fault. I should have labeled the container." si Chef Justine. He put away the cake from us. Baka magkasakit pa kami sa kidney kung pipilitin naming kainin 'yon.

Sa huli, nagpahanda na lang si Chef Justine sa mga chefs niya ng mai-aalmusal namin. We ate together in the main dining area. Pagkatapos noon ay agad kong hinatak si Zain at Kiefer sa kwarto ko kasama si Nebula. Pati si Celeste ay nandito rin. Well, I need to tell them the truth once and for all at kailangan ko ring humingi ng payo sa kanila.

Zain and I were on my bed samantalang si Celeste at Kiefer (na kandong-kandong si Nebula) ay naka-upo sa couch.

Huminga ako nang malalim bago nagsalita. "Okay guys, I'll tell you about happend last night."

Alam kong may alam na si Celeste dito kaya ito na rin ang chance ko para magpaliwanag sa kanya at sabihin ang totoo. That's how much I trust her despite of the incident last time.

"All of you here know that me and Xavier were pretending about our husband and wife relationship since the start except for Celeste." nilingon ko si Celeste and she was just also looking at me.

"He don't have feelings for me. And so I am." Zain started squinting his eyes while Kiefer's face became serious.

"But, last night, after the dinner..." I shifted again my gaze at Celeste who's looking calm since she know this part of the story. "He kissed me..." pahina kong sabi.

"Did he forced you to, Clardey?" tiim-bagang na tanong ni Kiefer.

"What? No!"

"So, nagustuhan mo?" Zain raised a brow.

"Yes!" napahinto ako. Mali ata pagkakasabi ko. "I mean—"

"Masarap?"

The heck?

"Zain! He just slightly damped his lips with mine!"

"Disappointed, huh?"

I groaned out of their reaction. Though, I already kinda expected this from them.

"Bro likes you Clardia." Nebula stated. Seems very sure of what he said. Nakaramdam naman ako ng kung anong kumikiliti sa aking tiyan. Hearing that from someone made me so satisfied.