Every Tick of Serendipity ( Ruler of Fate Series #3 )

KABANATA 26

Kabanata 26

The twenty-sixth tick

"Anong—" He was cut off when Daddy cleared his throat.

Napatingin kaming lahat sakanya, "Let's settle this as we eat." sabi niya, habang nilalagyan ng rice si Mommy sa plate. "With no raising your voice." He said, before giving me a glance, and Kuya Zyler too.

I pursed my lips and let go of Kairos' hand. Tumingin ako sakanya at ngumiti. I leaned closer and tugged at the hem of his sleeves. "Boyfie..."

"Kakain hindi manlalambing, Nyxene." Napalitan ang ngiti sa mukha ko nang inis dahil sumabat nanaman si Kuya.

Sinamaan ko siya ng tingin. "Just eat nalang diyan. Kuya Xavier is good nga with us, eh. Look, oh? Hindi naman siya nagre-react like you." I smiled as I mentioned and turned my head to him. "Right, Kuya?"

He ate the pierced meat of the chicken with his fork and stared at me. Mas lalo akong ngumiti sakanya, kahit nagsisimula na akong kabahan sa loob. His eyes went to Kairos, which made me bite my lip. "Mag-uusap tayo." Walang halong diin o galit niyang sinabi. Kalmado lang 'yon bago niya ipagpatuloy ang pagkain, na mas lalong dumagdag sa kabang nararamdaman ko.

I gulped and tried my best to smile. "See?" I stuck my tongue out, teasing him and his overly protective ego.

He leaned closer to Atlas. "Bantayan mo 'yan sa school, ah? Kapag tumakas... Sumbong mo kaagad sa'kin."

My forehead creased, and I was about to protest, but Kairos held my waist and squeezed it. My cheeks immediately turned burnt red because of what he did. Nang tignan ko siya ay nakatutok na sa'kin ang mga mata niya.

He pulled his hand back and pointed my plate using his eyes, by glancing down at it. "Just eat..." Mahinang utos niya.

I pouted, my nose scrunching as I grabbed my utensils. Tahimik at like a child ko siyang pinanood na abutin ang lalagyan ng kanin para pagsandukan ako. "Stop na..." I made an 'x' on the top of my plate with my spoon and fork. "That's so dami." Sabi ko nang halos mangalahati na ang kanin sa plato ko.

He didn't argue and just reached for the bowl of chicken curry. Nilagyan niya ako ng ulam, at kagaya kanina nang maramihan ay pinagkrus ko ulit ang kutsara at tinidor ko para patigilin siya.

Napatingin ako kay Mommy nang sikuhin niya 'ko. She looks like nakabawi na siya sa gulat. "Baby... Sabi ko kahit two months or even a month lang manligaw si Kairos..." Her head tilted. "I didn't expect na sasagutin mo kaagad within this day." Natatawa niyang sinabi.

I pouted my lips. "Kuya Zyler doesn't want me to have a suitor, eh... So—"

"Parang kasalanan ko pa ata?" I heard him scoffing as he said that.

I turned my head to him and showed him a smile. "I'm not blaming you naman, Kuya."

He raised his brow and pierced the chicken with force. "Bakit? Thankful ka ba? Kasi kayo na ni knbk?" Masungit niyang sagot.

"Knbk? Who's knbk?" Daddy asked, which made Kuya Zyler smirk.

"Nickname ni Kairos 'yon dati... Knbk." He chuckled and sipped on his drink. "Si Kairos na binasted si Amber..." He looked at me. "Kairos na binasted ka."

My forehead creased. "Can you get over that?" I rolled my eyes. "He's now my boyfriend, okay? It should be 'knbkn'..." I giggled. "Kairos na boyfie ko na."

"Anong akala mo? Payag na ako?" He scoffed and pointed the fork at me.

My feet stomped under the table. "You said, na hahayaan mo na me sa kung anong gusto ko, ah? Why are you acting like this nanaman ba?"