She will be loved (PUBLISHED)

11. If you break it...

“Lola, I wanna work.”

Lahat sa mesa ay napatingin sa akin matapos kong sabihin iyon. I caught Apollo smiling while she was feeding Hera while Lukas looked as if he heard something really absurd. We were eating dinner that Thursday evening.

“But, Laide, hindi pa tapos ang klase mo kay Vinny.” Lola said calmly. I shrugged. Gusto ko nang magtrabaho, hindi iyong maghapon akong nakakulong dito sa bahay. Kapag kasi ganoon, lalo ko lang namimi-miss si Julian. I haven’t seen him in a week now. Nagte-text kami pero di sapat iyon – I want him next to me. I sighed.

“Why?” I heard Lukas. “Ano bang gusto mo, Baby?” Tanong niya pa.

“What are you talking about?”

“Kung may gusto ka sabihin mo, ibibigay ko sa’yo, Baby.” Nakangiti na naman siya sa akin. I saw Apollo shook her head and somehow I know why. I overheard her telling Lukas last night na kaya matigas ang ulo ko at kaya bratty ako ay dahil sobra akong spoiled – isang bagay na alam ko naman. Lukas was actually taking my side. Hindi daw ako bratty, ganoon lang ako pinalaki. I rolled my eyes.

I know that Lukas loves me very much – he’s actually my favorite brother pero alam ko rin na tama si Apollo. I am stubborn and I am bratty – isang salita ko lang kaya kong paikutin si Lukas sa mga kamay ko – na hindi ko naman talaga ginagawa.

“I just wanna work. I’m bored.” Sabi ko sa kanya. He sighed.

“Fine, bukas may transaction ako kay Julian Dela Monte. Sumama ka sa akin.”

Matagal kong tinitigan si Lukas. Did I hear him right? Julian Dela Monte? As in my Julian? I smiled wide.

“Oh, bakit?” Tanong bigla ni Lola. Bigla ay binawi ko ang ngiti sa labi ko. Gosh! Am I that obvious? My cheeks turned red. Kitang-kita kong kumunot ang noo ni Lukas.

“Po? W-wala po.” Sabi ko. Ibinaba ni Lukas ang hawak niyang spoon at saka tumitig sa akin.

“May gusto ka ba kay Julian Dela Monte, Laide?” His tone was dark and dangerous. Kahit si Apollo ay natigilan.

“Lukas…” I saw her touched Luke’s arm.

“Hindi eh, nakita mo iyon, Lola?” Lukas said. “Her face lit up after hearing Dela Monte’s name.

“H-hindi!” I exclaimed. “I was just… ano, happy kasi sasama mo ako bukas sa work. Hindi na ako maiinip.”

I looked at Lola, she was staring at me. Nakakatakot ang tingin nila ni Lukas, para bang hinahalukay nila ang buong pagkatao ko. Naalala ko tuloy noong araw na kinausap ako ni Sheena sa kwarto ko. She said that she won’t tell Sancho pero hindi naman siya nangangako na hindi nga niya sasabihin. Once Sancho asked her, sasabihin niya ang totoo at natatakot ako dahil doon. Pero sa ngayon, parang mas natatakot ako kay Lukas. I know how he gets. I tried to smile.

“Luke…” Apollo called his name again. “Lukas…” In the end, Lukas just sighed. Umiling siya.

“Sabagay… how silly could I get. May asawa nga pala si Dela Monte, paano ka magkakagusto doon. Isa pa, you’re a Consunji – the only girl Consunji – hindi ka naman magiging kabit.”

I almost gasped. I swallowed hard. My heart was beating fast. Luke seemed so sure of whatever he was saying.

“At kung magiging kabit ka man ng kahit na sino, Adelaide. I swear to Dad’s grave. Magiging criminal ang isa sa amin nila Adam.” Nagbabanta ang tinig ni Lukas. Gusto ko na namang maiyak. After a while he chuckled. “Pero hindi mangyayari iyon, baby. You’re our baby, you deserve nothing but the best.”