Stolen Moments

05.

Inis akong bumalik sa loob ng bahay at umupo nalang sa dining room, hinihintay na i-serve nila ang dinner.

Bumalik na din ang dalawa mayamaya. Katelyn was staring at me, then she would look back at Zayden. Si Zack naman ay tahimik lang din. Our parents were the only ones who were talking the entire time.

"Time for dessert! I can't wait to taste your cakes, Celestine! I often visit your café and I love your pastries so much!" excited na sabi ni Tita Alice.

I just smiled a bit while my mom asked for our housemaids to serve the cakes.

"Oh my gosh, it's so pretty, anak." Mommy said when the big cake was out of the box.

"I hope you'll like it." I said and started slicing it to serve them. "This is chocolate flavored. Pang sample lang. I prepared bento cakes with different flavors too, para matikman niyo din po at makapili tayo ng flavor para sa final cake." I said as I placed slices on their small plates.

They thanked me, pero hindi umimik si Zayden nang lagyan ko ang plato niya.

"This tastes great." Katelyn said. I smiled at her and she smiled back, gracefully lifting her fork before taking another bite.

We proceeded on tasting the bento cakes after.

"Celestine, these flavors are great!" Tita Alice said after she was done tasting all of the cakes. Everyone loved it. They said I did a magnificent job. I couldn't be more proud of myself. I was giddy while watching them eat the cakes I baked. Humirit pa ng take out si Tita Alice.

I found out that they had dinner here to tell us na ready na pala ang bahay na lilipatan namin ni Zackary. I sighed in defeat as I accepted my fate. Mukhang kailangan ko nang mag-ayos ng mga gamit.

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"Need help?" sumandal si Zayden sa hamba ng pintuan sa kwarto ko at humalukipkip. Napasimangot naman ako at umiling.

"I'm fine without you." sagot ko at padabog na nagtupi ng mga damit ko at nilagay sa maleta dahil lalayas na ako.

"Fine without me, huh? Yeah, I can see that." he said and smiled a bit.

"Talaga. Anong akala mo, sa'yo lang umiikot mundo ko?" pabalang kong sagot, mainit kasi ulo ko sa mga nangyayari kaya hindi ko siya maiwasang tarayan. Sa tingin ko ay lagi naman, sanay na din siguro siya.

"Sabi mo." he said casually and shrugged.

"I never said that." tipid kong sagot at padabog na tumayo para kunin ang maleta ko.

"Oh, now you're denying it? What else do you want to deny next, huh, Celestine?" tanong niya at hilaw na ngumiti.

Nangunot ang noo ko at inis siyang binalingan. "Kung pwede lang i-deny na may kakilala akong gago na katulad mo, 'yun ang sunod kong ide-deny." I spatted and glanced at my clothes again. "And I'm definitely better without you, what makes you think I'm not? Mas umayos nga ang buhay ko 'nung nawala ka-" I stopped midway when I heard footsteps, pagtingin ko sa pintuan ay wala na siya doon. That's when I realized the words I just said. Mahina kong pinalo ang noo ko at napapikit sa inis.

Ano 'yun, Celestine? Anong connect no'n sa mga damit?!

Inis kong tinapos ang pag-iimpake ng mga damit at lumabas ng kwarto ko dala ang dalawang maleta kung nasaan ang mga damit ko. Okay na muna siguro 'to, tsaka ko nalang balikan 'yung iba. Biglaan lang din kasi na sinabi ni mommy na lilipat na ako sa magiging bahay namin ni Zack kapag kinasal na kami. Medyo nabigla pa ako 'nung una pero mabilis ko naman nang na-process sa utak ko. And besides, it's fine dahil mas malapit ang address ng subdivision sa main branch ng bakery ko.