Lies and Deception ✔ (Haciendero #4)

Ikadalawampu't Tatlong Kabanata

Kabanata 23

Boyfriend. Again.

My father is here.

Umalingawngaw ang pagtawag niya sa pangalan ko sa kabuuan ng living room. Walang pasabi siyang pumasok ng mansyon bitbit ang isang lalaking hindi ko kilala. Nakasunod sa kanya ang maids na mukhang aligaga sa tensyon ng bagong dating. They left before the scene began to unfold.

Naghiwalay ang labi namin ni Raius. Inayos ko ang aking sarili bago humarap sa matanda at sa kasama nito.

I did the same thing to Raius... my boyfriend. Again.

That kissing solidified the confession, it was safe to say he's back in my life. This time, it's the better version.

No lies and deceits.

No mistaken identity.

A fresh start for the both of us.

The thing that mattered, we both like each other. Probably, more than the attraction we felt before. I'm not a fan of courting, it wasn't part of my vocabulary. I date whom I want and whenever I want.

Naglahad ng kamay si Raius na tinanggap ko naman.

"Wow..." I stood and smiled sarcastically.

"I'm honored to be visited by my father dearest. Who's that pokemon? New bodyguard?"

The guy isn't his newly-hired bodyguard by the way he took offense of my comment. Napataas naman ang kilay ko. Wala naman akong masamang sinabi. I just asked, there was nothing wrong with the job. Hindi nakakababa ng pagkatao.

"I'm not---"

"Hindi kita kinakausap. Shut your mouth, I don't want to hear another word." It took only one glance for him not to speak.

Parang nabahag ang buntot ng binatang kasama ni daddy. He has no right to talk when clearly he isn't even invited into my home. Sampid lang siyang isinama ng ama ko sa pamamahay ko.

This isn't their territory. It's mine. I'm not welcoming to trespassers.

"I should be the one asking you that, who's that man you're kissing earlier?"

Sumulyap ako kay Raius na seryosong nakikipagtinginan kay daddy. Ipinulupot ko ang aking kamay sa kanyang braso, lumawak ang aking ngiti.

"Meet my boyfriend, dad. His name is Raius." I introduced him to my father.

Ngumiti ako. "I already told you, you shouldn't be exhausting yourself setting me up with some men you barely know, I can manage. There's nothing I can't manage, by the way. I was able to raise myself without parents, so finding a man to marry wouldn't be a problem."

His cheeks became flushed with my words.

Napahiya siya sa sinabi ko? Wala akong pakialam. I only voiced out the truth.

My father shifted his gaze to Raius.

"What's your job?" tanong ni daddy sa kanya.

"He's good in farming. For the mean time, he works for me as my personal driver, my cook, sometimes, my assistant..." I answered for my boyfriend.

He could speak for himself well. Ayoko lang magkaroon ng interaksyon sa pagitan nilang dalawa kaya ako na ang sumagot para kay Raius.

Nawala ang ngiti ko nang marinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa sa gilid ni daddy. Kumunot ang aking noo.

Hindi ko maintindihan ang bagay na nakakatawa. Inirapan ko ito, naiirita ako sa pagmumukha niya.

"You're a respectable actress, a high maintenance woman, don't you think you should elevate your standards?" Ngumisi ang lalaki.