LOVING THE PROSTITUTE #1

CHAPTER 33

I keep singing while he's driving. Wala naman siyang sinabi tungkol doon. He let me sing kahit halos sirain na ng boses ko ang mga tainga niya.

Tumigil ang sasakyan niya kaya nagtaka akong tumingin sa kanya.

"We're here," sabi niya nang mapansin ang pagtataka ko.

Ginala ko ang tingin sa labas and I was amazed and shocked. We're in a beach. Dito 'yung sinasabi niyang pupuntahan namin?

"Ba't tayo nandito?" I keep looking around. Ang ganda ng paligid. May malaking building sa medyo kalayuan dito na sa pagkakahula ko ay hotel. Kung saan natutulog ang mga turista sa tuwing gusto nilang manatili rito ng mas matagal.

"Family reunion," tipid niyang sagot na ikinaharap ko sa kanya.

A what? Ba't niya ako dinala kung gano'n? Siguradong dadalo ang ina niya. It's a family reunion after all.

"Family reunion? What the heck, Luca? Ba't mo ako sinama?" natatarantang sabi ko. Oh, no. I don't want to see his mom again. Ano na lang ang sasabihin niya kapag nakita ako? That I broke my promise?

No, I never promised anything. Ang pinag-usapan lang namin layuan ko si Luca. Which I already did. Wala naman kaming napag-usapan na hindi na pwede akong bumalik. She never mentioned that. Just stay away from Luca and that's it. We didn't talk about how long.

He looked at me like it's all nothing to him. "Why not? Gusto kitang isama and you agreed anyway."

"Dahil hindi mo sinabi kung saan ang pupuntahan natin," giit ko. I gritted my teeth in annoyance.

"Because I know you wouldn't come with me if I told you."

Is he serious? Fine. He won. Edi sana naman sinabi niya para nakapagdala ako ng panlangoy na mga damit. I can't just swim wearing my jacket ang pants. That's so weird. O baka naman sinadya niya talaga para hindi ako makapagdala? Knowing him, he hates it whenever I wear something exposing.

Pinakatitigan ko siya para mabasa ang nasa isip niya. I creased my forehead. I knew it. He really planned it.

Hindi siya nag-iwas ng tingin at hindi nagpatalo sa titig. I shook my head defeated. Fine. I hate him again this time.

"You really did this on purpose, didn't you?"

He looked at me innocently. Oh, boy. He's acting like a fool again. Alam ko ang bawat ekspresyon niya kaya hindi niya ako maloloko sa painosenteng acting niya.

"Did on purpose? Come on. I don't know what you're saying."

Okay, okay. Hindi talaga 'to aamin kahit ipilit ko pa.

"Then I need one piece. We're in a beach so don't expect me to just lay on the bed and stare at ceiling the whole time," hamon ko.

Nawala ang inosenteng mukha niya at napalitan ng matigas na ekspresyon. Naging seryoso rin ang tingin niya at diretso akong tinitigan.

"No. You can swim without wearing that shit."

"Can I swim naked too?" Tumaas ang gilid ng labi ko sa reaksyon niya. Sumama ang mukha niya at naging mas seryoso ang itsura. I'm just kidding him of course. Though kaya kong lumangoy kahit walang kahit na anong saplot. I don't have anything to cover anyways.

Wala naman talaga akong planong gawin. Gusto ko lang siyang inisin. He's always got irritated every time we talk about me wearing something exposing. Ganyan siya makareact.

"Shut up, Denise. Don't even start." He gritted his teeth in annoyance.

"What?" maang-maangan ko. "I just want to wear one piece or swim suit. Luca, it's swimming we're talking about. What do you think people wear when they swimming? A fucking jacket and pants?" I said sarcastically.