Si Torpe at Si Feeling

Chapter 17: Torpe

Chapter 17: Torpe

Gumising ako nang maaga. Hindi naman kasi komportable ang sahig with comforters and pillows only. Si Jared knocked out parin sa loveseat ng basement, nanlalamig dahil sa aircon.

Nilagay ko sa kanya ang kumot ko at bumalik sa kitchen area. I made myself at home and cooked pancit molo for his possible hangover.

"Avy ang aga mong gumising ah.." Narinig ko si Jared sa pintuan.

"Alas syete na kaya.." Ngumiti ako habang inilapag ang soup sa mesa. "Kumain ka na. Meron ba kayong juice sa ref?"

"May orange at strawberry diyan." Sagot niya. "Kumuha ka lang."

Kumuha ako ng strawberry juice at umupo sa harap niya.

"Pasensya na, I deliberately used the things in your house. Nakikitulog na nga lang ako..." I said as he ate in front of me and he hushed me.

"Walang problema naman." Jared shrugs his shoulders. We ate in silence, until J decided it would be nice to turn on the radio.

In time naman, kpop ang pinaplay sa radio.

"Ooh! It's Dope!" I squeaked as I began dancing along while I washed my bowl. "Ay tapos na pala..."

Tumawa siya sa nasabi ko, turning the dial to the next station. One Direction naman ang pinaplay doon.

"Get out, get out get outta my head..." I hummed.

"And fall into my arms instead.." He smiled at me and I grinned back. Soon, nagsasayawan na kami when Backstreet Boys started playing.

"Look what we have here, Tom-tom.." tawa ng isang lalaki sa pintuan, welcoming himself in. "May girlfriend ka na?"

"Tan?!" Napakamot siya sa ulo ko. "Pano ka nakapasok?"

"Binigay ata ni tita ang susi sakin. Sabi niya bantayan ko daw ang baby boy niya..." Jared glared at Tan. Ngumiti siya sa direksyon ko. "I didn't catch your name?"

"I never threw anything to begin with." I blurted out before grimacing in embarrassment, as he laughed in response.

"She's funny, Thomas." Tan laughed. "I'm Christian. Cousin ng jowa mo."

"Avery." I shook his outstretched hand, nodding in acknowledgement. "Let me share a secret, hindi pa ako tinatanong ng cousin mo, so hindi ko siya jowa..."

"Aw really 'red?" He shook his head. "Ang torpe mo talaga!"

Jared just rolls his eyes at his cousin.

"If that's the case, then magaayos na ako para makauwi na ako..." I nodded at both of them while heading to the laundry room. I picked out my dry clothes at nagshower. Pagkalabas ko, both are looking at me.

"Ayos na?" J asks and I nodded.

"Tayo na at maihatid ko na ang prinsesa mo..." Christian chuckled, twirling the keys in his hand.

Sumakay kami sa sasakyan ni Christian ng tahimik. Air supply played in the background while we drove to my house.

"J, Salamat ha?" I said to him when we pull up in front our house. "Thank you dahil pinatulog mo ko sa bahay mo for the night. Thank you sa ride, Tan."

"No problem, milady." Tan saluted from his spot at the driver's seat.

"You're welcome." He smiled a bit. "See you after sembreak, Avy."

"After sembreak." I smiled back bago ko sinarado ang pinto at kumaway as they drove off.

Pumasok na rin ako after composing myself. I see my two other siblings and their spouses on the sofa, my nieces and nephews na naglalaro sa floor at ang parents ko, Mama greeting me with a warm hug, or at least that's how I can describe it.

"Avery, why did you not come home last night?" Papa sternly asked. "Nag-alala ang mama at ang mga kapatid mo."

"Oh so ngayon na nawala ako, nag-alala kayo?" I whispered as my siblings looked away.

"See, i told you magagalit siya." Charry commented. "Hindi kasi kayo nakikinig Papa eh."

I nodded sa nasabi ni ate Charry. Sino nga naman ang masisiyahan sa idea ng arranged marriage?

"We can postpone the wedding until you and Bryce had graduated if you want, Avery." Papa breathed, looking at me.

I feel small. I have respect for my parents, but it's now plagued with fear. I don't want him to control me like how he has done to my siblings. Ate Charry wanted to be a physical therapist and my kuya Kyle wanted to be an NBA player, but dahil may pagka-control freak ang tatay namin, naging accountant at seaman ang profession nila. Luckily, they learned to like their jobs, but they never had gotten to a point where Papa would control their lovelife. So why me? Dahil Bryce Cruz saw the opportunity? At ginamitan niya ng connections? Like how magkababata kami dahil business partners si Mr. Cruz at Papa?

Bryce kasi eh, malamang siya ang may gusto nito. Spoiled kasi... I liked him, but that's it. He was a good child. Pero pagkatapak ng high school ay naging playboy na. Wala na akong naitulong o magawa.

"Papa ayoko talaga..." Nagmakaawa ako sa harap nila. "Ayokong ikasal sa kanya, ayoko po ikasal sa kanya or sa ibang hindi ko gusto..."

He just sighed, kaya pumasok nalang ako sa kwarto ko.

I just laid down with a frown, refusing to cry. Ayokong umiyak, sasakit ang ulo ko at magiging puffy ang mukha ko. So once again, I stood up and took my guitar, strumming randomly through different choruses of songs I've performed habang tumitingin sa bintana.

Jared, he seems to have been concerned to what I have felt. He gave me company, which was good enough for me. Hindi naman kasi ako humihingi ng payo... I'm glad that he was there to offer comfort and support. He's respectful, kind, smart and cheesily, ang knight in shining armor ko. When he defended me from creepy assaulters, stood in the way when Bryce wanted to flirt with me, and took me in noong naglayas ako kagabi, parang nahuhulog at nahuhulog parin ako sa kanya. He's shown his care, concern, and most likely, love. I'm happy that he really likes me, only if hindi lang siya torpe.

If there's anything, mas gugustuhin ko sana na parang si Jared ang mapapakasalan ko sa huli.