The Ravages of Time

Kabanata 04

Kabanata 04

Dinner

I don't know if it's just me but I kind of felt the ambiance we all have right now is awkward. Awkward for the silence which is currently eating us and awkward for the sudden change of Mom's attitude.

And of course, awkward because Tariq's sitting next to me...

How dare my mom let this boy sit next to me?

I gulped as I felt my chair is going to eat me up. Nasa kaliwa niya ako at katabi niya ang kapatid niyang babae sa kanan. And he never let his elbow touch mine when we were eating. He is just quiet while smiling at everyone!

Samantalang nasa harap ko naman si Kuya na walang ginawa kung 'di ang maging tahimik at sumang-ayon lang kay Mom.

"Starting today, Manang Nora, since ikaw na ang Mayor Doma, you need to report to me every weekend about how my children were doing the whole week..." Mom looked at me. "... Dahil nga sa pinalayas ni Sonnet si Manang Eva, ikaw na ang gagawa no'n."

I rolled my eyes secretly.

Ang alam ko taga-linis si Manang Nora hindi reporter.

But I somehow felt relieved na si Manang Nora ang gagawa no'n unlike noon na lagi na lang susulpot si Manang Eve at makikiusyuso sa kung anong gagawin ko.

I suddenly stiffened when I felt his elbow accidentally touch mine. I know it's just nothing when someone has done that but he's odd. I felt like electricity was flowing throughout my body.

I looked at him, but he was just eating silently as if nothing happened!

Am I just overreacting?

I cleared my throat as I reached for the glass of water and drank all of it.

"By the way, Sonnet..."

I looked at her.

"And... Tariq."

My forehead suddenly creased at Mom and my heartbeat started to race.

Why would she mention me and Tariq? Does she know something about us?

"Po?" tanong naman ni Tariq.

"May nakapagsabi sa akin na lagi raw kayong dalawa magkasama," she said which made smirked.

Her being updated with my life is no longer new. She probably asked anyone in this house to spy on me or worse she hired a private investigator for me and Kuya.

She's probably threatened na baka makipagkita si Kuya kay Oren. She didn't even know that the two broke up or maybe she knew now and was glad for what happened.

"We're classmates, what do you expect?" I answered while smirking while the maids were just listening quietly.

"Right, classmates. But I somehow don't like that you two might become friends. Tariq? Ayaw kong maging kaibigan mo si Sonnet," she added, which made my lips frowned.

"Opo, Ma'am—"

"Why? Can I not be friends with him?" I asked. I know tension is building up between her and me.

"No, because he's a maid's son—"

"So? Hindi ko alam na standard na rin ang social class at parent's occupation ng isang tao sa pakikipagkaibigan. Kapag mahirap, hindi ko pwedeng maging friend? Pero kapag plastic, puwede? What the fuck?" I cursed, complaining.

She's toxic. Toxicity is eating her up! That doesn't make sense. Nagmula rin naman siya sa hirap base sa mga kuwento ni dad noon pero siya itong hindi marunong lumingon sa pinanggalingan niya.