Trophy of the Sunsets (Tonjuarez Series II)

TOTS 39

Chapter 39

Kulang na lang malusaw ako sa kinatatayuan, dahil sa hiya at init ng mga titig nila sa akin. Parang nablanko ang utak ko, at hindi ko na alam kung ano ang gagawin para ma lusutan 'to.

Thankfully, Pio came into the picture and laugh so loud. The attention transferred to him and it made the atmosphere lighter. Para akong pinagpawisan ng malamig sa buong katawan!

I just felt the sigh of relief when I noticed that the crowd was slowly drifting their focus away from what happened. Kumakain na ako ng barbecue nang lapitan ako ni Pio at umupo sa tabi ko.

"Himala, ayaw mo tumabi kay Wyatt?" bungad niya sa akin at nangingisi. Inismiran ko siya.

"After what he said earlier? Saan pa ako kukuha ng kapal ng mukha?"

Humalakhak siya. "Intindihan mo na lang. That's the first time he did that, you know..." he said while drinking his juice.

Kumunot ang noo ko. "Ang alin?"

"Being not that reserved. Alam mo... ilang taon na tahimik si Wyatt, at parang nakatago lang sa isang baul. Ayaw ipakita kung sino siya, o iparamdam nararamdaman niya."

My eyes lifelessly wandered around the place. But the attention was all on Pio, the way he described Wyatt, he must know him so much. And cares for him so much. Good thing, he still has loyal friends when I was away.

Napa lunok ako sa sinabi niya, pati rin sa paraan ng tono niya. "He really changed." mahirap kong sagot.

He clicked his tongue and nodded. "More of, hurt. This is the first time, I saw him act like a real human. That he still feels feelings..."

Biglang bumigat ang pakiramdam ko sa sinabi sa akin ni Pio. Siguro dahil alam kong may kinalaman ako doon. But just the fact, that Wyatt experienced that terrible process was already hard for me to accept.

Maybe that's one of the reasons I am here, with him again. I don't want him to feel those feelings again. If my presence can help, then I'll be here.

Twelve midnight na nang mapag pasyahan ng lahat na umuwi. Wyatt initiated to drive me home, I just agreed with him. Wala rin naman akong walang sasakyan, at ayoko na mang abala pa ng ibang katrabaho para magpahatid.

I looked at him as he maneuvered the steering wheel, his left was holding it. While his right hand was on the gear. I wet my lips as I carefully watch him.

"About earlier..." panimula ko, agad naman siyang bumaling sa akin nang basagin ko ang katahimikan.

"Hmmm?"

"Don't do it again," I muttered with the finality in my tone.

His forecreased with what I said. "Care to explain, what you are pertaining to."

I sighed. "Don't say things in front of your employees that they might misunderstand." paliwanag ko.

Sandali itong natahimik, parang napa isip sa sinabi ko. "What's wrong with what I said? What will they misunderstand? That there's something between us?" the irritation in his tone surfaced.

Bumuntong hininga ako ulit at dineretso ang atensyon sa daan. Hinilot ko ang sintido na parang sobrang laki ng problema ko. Nasstress lang ako roon, at ayoko rin palakihin.

"There's something between us, Eanah." he said so wholely and eagerly. I saw how his hands grip tightly on the steering wheel.

"Ang ibig kong sabihin, ayoko na may isipin silang mali." pilit kong paliwanag, hindi niya ata nakukuha ang ibig kong sabihin.

"So, you don't want them to know about us." mabigat niyang konklusyon, kinagat ko ang ibabang labi at pinasadahan siya ng mabilis na tingin.

"I just don't want my personal life to interfere with work."