(WRITTEN SERIES #3)
Having their hearts broken after an expected affair, Penny and Clifford unexpectedly found comfort from each other. But as the bond between the two of them deepens, secrets resurface as conflicts wreck havoc to their present. Can...
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PENNY
UNABLE to say 'no' to my parents' offer, Clifford joined us for dinner tonight. And I must say — this is the most awkward scene I have ever experienced in my entire life.
We were sitting side by side, a few seats away from Mom and Dad who were seated at the end of the table. Apat lang kaming kumakain dahil naghapunan na pala ang mga katiwala namin dito sa mansyon.
"S-Salamat po pala sa hapunan," Clifford thanked and I internally cringed he bowed slightly. Wala naman kaming ibang lahi para guman'yan siya.
Nakangiting tumango lamang si Mom habang patuloy pa rin sa pagkain si Dad.
Occasionally, lagi kong iniimbitahan ang mga kaibigan ko na pumunta dito sa mansyon, but only when my parents aren't home. Why? Because it's an awkward mess kapag nagkataon na magkita sila! And all hell breaks loose tonight because Clifford's the first one to experience this kind of fate.
"Are you kids dating?"
Muntik na akong mabilaukan dahil sa tanong ni Dad. On the other hand, parang tinakasan ng kulay ang mukha ni Clifford. He's sweating for shit's sake!
"Dad, no—"
"I'm not asking you, Princess," Dad retorted firmly, shutting me up. "I'm asking your friend."
Awang-awa ako nang tumingin ako kay Clifford. He looks like he's having a mental crisis right now! Dumadagdag pa sa kaba niya ang tingin ni Dad.
"H-Hindi po..."
"What's with the stutter?"
"Dad, you're scaring him!"
Tumingin sa 'kin si Dad kung kayaʼt napabuntong-hininga ako at umayos ng upo.
"We're just friends, Dad," I repeated. "Don't put malice on it."
He was about to talk back when Mom caressed his shoulder. Sa huli, napabuntong-hininga na lang si Dad at inayos ang natabingi niyang necktie.
"Okay, then." He picked up his utensils and started eating again. "It's better to be friends. You should focus more on your studies. Relationships only serve as a distraction for reaching your goals."
My mouth gaped open, but no words came out of it. Instead, I only hung my head low as my hand rested on the table, folded into fists.
Hindi ko alam, pero napatingin ako kay Clifford na nasa tabi ko. I saw him looking at my clenched hand, forcing me to hide it under the table .
Itinaas niya ang kaniyang tingin papunta sa mga mata ko kaya pumilit na lang ako ng ngiti at nagpatuloy sa pagkain.
After what seems to be an endless cycle of intense discomfort, natapos na kaming kumain. Mom and Dad bid their farewell to Clifford as they went straight to their room upstairs. Clifford said that he'll just walk home but my parents insisted that our driver would escort him.
