Monasterio Series 8: Nights in Casa Vallejo

Prologue

Pre-order for Nights In Casa Vallejo will start on June 2, 2023! Visit KPub PH and Warranj Novels Facebook page for details.

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Prologue

Sa paraan pa lang ng buntonghininga niya, may ideya na kaagad ako kung saan mauuwi ang pagkikita naming ito. I suddenly want to ask myself why I went here. Malayo sa Maynila at kung tutuusin, sakit ng likod at balakang lang ang idinulot sa akin dahil sa tagal ng pagmamaneho ko.

I just went here to suprise him. I thought he would get happy that I'm here.

"I'm sorry, Priscilla. I don't think we can still work this relationship out." he muttered those words while staring intently into my eyes.

Hindi ko alam kung dahil ba sa liwanag na dulot ng buwan na tumatama sa mukha niya kaya tila malungkot ang mga mata niya. O, sadyang magaling lang siyang magkunwaring malungkot.

I sighed calmly. This scene is already familiar to me. I've been experiencing this for a few times. I just thought that he's somehow different.

Maling akala pala.

"Hmm, I wanna know..." I muttered those words while my fingers drumming against the wooden table. I had to remain my composure and show him that I ain't affected. "What made you say that things won't work out between the two of us?"

Nanatiling walang emosyon ang aking mukha. Diretso lang akong nakatitig sa kaniya. Ilang metro ang pagitan namin sa isa't isa dahil may kalakihan ang mesa naming dalawa. We're even in the center of this old restaurant we're into. Kung gagawa ako ng eksena, masiyadong agaw pansin.

"We've been together for just a few weeks, Michael. Bihira pa tayo kung magkita. How easy it is for you to judge that we won't work?" I chuckled sarcastically. "We haven't even tried it yet."

Shit. I might have sounded like I couldn' let go of him. But he's actually a good catch. An engineer who has his own firm. Gwapo, matangkad at maganda ang pangangatawan.

The most important thing is he's older than me. I am now thirty five and he's thirty seven. Not too older than me but that would do. Kaysa naman sa mas bata sa akin.

I would never want to have that kind of relationship where the guy is younger than me. I believe they are immature. Kaunting bagay ay pag-aawayan. I don't want to experience that. Wala na akong panahon manuyo sa tuwing may hindi pagkakasunduan.

"Masiyado ka ng matanda para sa akin, Priscilla."

Those words snapped me out of my thoughts. Sa kabila nang malamig na ekpresyong ipinapakita sa kaniya, hindi ko na naiwasan pa ang pagtaasan siya ng kilay.

"What?" bulong ko saka natawa. "Mas matanda ako sa'yo? May I just remind you that I'm thirty five and you are thirty seven. Suddenly turned dumb now?"

Umiling siya saka tumungo. I saw him letting out a deep sigh before anchoring his eyes on mine again.

"I'm just twenty five, Priscilla."

Tila ako nabingi sa mga sinabi niya, ang ngiti ay mabilis na nabura sa mga labi. Hindi kaagad ako nakapagsalita habang titig na titig sa kaniya. I was waiting for him to say that he was just kidding but it didn't come. Kung gaano kaseryoso ang mukha ko, ganoon rin siya.

"You are just what?" I asked again.

Bumuntonghininga siyang muli, mas marahas. Mas malalim.

"I lied, okay? I was so much attracted to you back when we first met at the bar. I was already hitting on you but you told me that you don't like younger men. Nagsinungaling ako para magustuhan mo rin ako!"