My Destiny (Book 1)

MD 37 - AT THE SEASIDE

| LUCAS LEDESMA |

Kasunod ang tatlong staff na may dala ng cakes na orders ko, bumalik ako sa table namin. "Dito na lang po," I instructed the staff. Nilagay lang nila ang cakes sa mesa at umalis na rin. "Kain po... tayo," my voice became softer at the last word. Napatanong ako sa sarili. May nagawa na naman ba ako? Tita Lucy was all smiles, parang ang saya-saya niya but Yesha? She looked... flustered and shocked. I shouldn't be minding it but, napapaisip talaga ako kung may nagawa ba ako.

"Ang dami naman nito, hijo," Tita Lucy commented.

"Kasi po," I glanced at Yesh. She looked somewhere else. "Hindi ko po alam kung anong gusto ni Ye—I mean... hindi ko po alam kung anong gusto niyo. Kayo po nila Ellie."

"That's considerate of you, Lucas. Thinking about what Yesha will like." My eyes widened. "I mean 'yong gusto naming tatlo. Right, Yesha?" She turned to her. "Isn't he sweet?"

Yesha rolled her eyes. "Magastos. 'Yon siya, 'Nay. Magastos!" diin pa niya. "Apat lang tayo tapos siyam na cakes binili niya? Shunga talaga. Pati yata magbilang, hindi niya alam." She faced me. "Be sure to hire an accountant in the future. Baka maubos 'yang yaman niyo nang wala sa oras."

Hinilot ko ang pagitan ng mga mata. Kahit pala nandito nanay-nanayan nila, gano'n pa rin siya. Hindi man lang niya ako binigyan ng kahihiyan. Sanay naman akong nagbabangayan kami pero sana naman huwag sa harapan ni Tita Lucy! Nakakahiya, eh.

Tita Lucy's gaze jumped from Yesha to me then back at Yesh. "Concern ka kay Lucas?"

Halos maibuga ni Yesha ang buko juice na iniinom. "What the freaking hell, 'Nay?!" She looked so mortified. Grabe naman! Is it really that impossible for her to care for me? "Anong paki ko sa letsugas na 'yan?!"

Great! Inaaway na ako sa harap ni Tita Lucy, tinawag pa talaga akong letsugas. Okay! Mukhang imposible ngang mag-alala siya para sa 'kin. Ano ba kasing naisipan ko at sumama pa ako sa kanila? I ditched my friends for this? Damn, I must be out of your mind!

"Naisip ko lang naman kasi iniisip mo future niya, eh. That means you're concern, right?"

Yesha put up her hands, surrendering. "I'm done with this conversation," she said. Mukha nga. I wonder kung anong pinag-usapan nila habang wala ako. Ilang minuto lang 'yon pero parang ubos na ubos na ang pasensya niya.

"Huwag ka nang mag-alala sa future ko," I replied. "Years from now, I'll be an accountant myself. That's what I'll take in college."

She looked at me weirdly, like I spoke in a language she's not aware of. "And you're me telling this because?" she asked, eyebrows up.

"Para hindi ka na mag-alala," I answered nonchalantly. Kanina pa niya ako pinapahiya, eh. Hindi naman pwedeng hindi ako gumanti. I can do that—at least, subtly. Ayoko naman isipin ni Tita Lucy na masama ako. Speaking of her, I actually saw her suppressing her smile. Looks like she's fond of annoying Yesh. Mukhang okay lang naman palang asarin ko si Yesh. That's great, then.

"Kahit mamulubi ka pang letsugas ka, wala akong pakialam!" Yesh replied.

"Talaga, Lucas, you're planning to take Accountancy?" Tita Lucy asked, ignoring Yesha's sentiments. Ako naman ang lihim na napangiti. She looked like she was about to walk out! "Maybe you can be Yesha's pa—"

"'Nay," Yesha cut her off. And I was taken aback. Kung kanina, wala lang sa kanya na inaasar siya nito, ngayon hindi. Her voice was laced with warning. And Tita Lucy actually instantly obliged—which I think was weird. Parang may mali.