Lies and Deception ✔ (Haciendero #4)

Ikalabing-anim na Kabanata

Kabanata 16

Ex-boyfriend

Lope Tatiana was staring back at me.

Tinitigan niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa. Her lips parted in awe. Everyone's gaze was fixated on me following Lope's stare, and Raius who was holding my hand. Nagpabalik - balik ang kanyang tingin sa magkahugpo naming kamay.

My whole body tensed, Raius felt that.

Marahan niyang pinisil ang kamay kong hawak niya. He was assuring me everything is fine, but that wasn't the case. Alam ko ang patutunguhan ng usapang ito.

"So, the famous actress visited us after a long time..." Rye commented with a laugh. "This is---"

"I know her," Tumigas ang ekspresyon ng aking mukha. Hindi ko mabasa ang isip ng babae.

"What are you doing here, Lilah? Are you trying to spy, dig my dirt and use it against me?" Tumalim ang tono ng kanyang pananalita.

Kinuha ko pabalik ang aking kamay mula kay Raius, namulsa ako. Ramdam ko ang pagsunod ng mata niya sa akin nang agawin ko ang kamay ko. I could feel the weight of his stares. Hindi ko magawang sumulyap sa kanya.

It was sooner than I expected.

The months I spent in the hacienda was a bliss. Parang kahapon lang nang unang tumuntong ako rito, ang bilis ng panahon... it is my time to leave everything behind.

What happened in San Andres would stay here forever... including Raius.

No matter how painful it could be.

Ngumisi ako. "I don't know... maybe." I shrugged. "But you came home early."

That was part of my plan before. She's too full of herself thinking I would really do that. Bakit naman pag-aaksayahan ng panahon ang kagaya niya?

"Wait," Lorenzo interfered. He was looking at the scene like he was watching an interesting movie. "Do you know each other?"

"Oh, fuck this family, are you guys that stupid?" Hindi makapaniwalang tanong ni Lope sa mga pinsan. "Wala man lang isang nakapansin sa inyo kung sinong kahawig ng babaeng ito? Hopeless case. She's the fucking Lilah George!"

I heard gasps, Lorenzo's gasp was the loudest. He sounded so shocked as if he entered a scene when the plot twist in the movie was finally revealed.

"We called her Michelle. Iyon ang pakilala niya sa amin."

Lope gave her cousin a death glare. "Michelle is her assistant, dumbass."

Lorenzo went closer to my face to even see it for himself.

"How would we know? Hindi naman ako nanonood ng TV. P'wede bang magpa-autograph? Sikat ka pala, e." Tinampal siya ng katabi ko.

Tahimik si Raius, wala akong narinig na reaksiyon mula sa kanya. I was a coward to glance at his direction. I don't want to see his betrayed expression. I don't want to see him hating me. I couldn't stomach his anger.

I want to preserve the Raius I had been with the past months, not the angry version of him.

"Everyone was looking for you..." she said. Huminahon na ang boses ng babae. Iyong matalim na tono ng kanyang pananalita kanina, biglang napalitan ng pag-aalala. She probably remembered the last issue before I disappeared. "Why are you here?"

Of course, they were looking for me to be updated with the latest showbiz happenings. It wasn't that special.

Wala akong sagot sa tanong niya. I knew the place because of her. Alam kong dito nakatira ang angkan niya. And destiny was able to play with me. Napadpad ako sa hacienda, nakilala ko si Raius at ang pamilya nila... at unti - unti akong tumahan. It's still the best days of my life.