Naked Series #1: Undress My Soul (COMPLETE)

Chapter 23

I can't believe I managed to keep myself calm the whole time. Kahit na nagpa-panic na ang lahat sa akin.

At naguguluhan ako sa akto ni Jacob. He looks and sounds pissed for some reason.

Mamá immediately notice how Jacob called me so she looked at me questioningly. May pinapahiwatig siya sa tingin niya pero hindi ko iyon maintindihan dahil hindi ako makapag-isip ng maayos sa titig ni Jacob!

"Do you know my daughter before I found her, hijo? You called her Mariyah. That was her name before." Mamá asked before I could stop her.

"Yes, ma'am. We were together for almost a year before her disappearance."

Huh? Anong together?!

Nanlaki ang mga mata ko. Awang ang labi, ay marahas akong tumingin kay Jacob na matiim lang na nakatitig sa akin. He didn't even glance to our obviously shock parents.

And the way he said the word 'together' sounds very suggestive to me. Like he meant... something.

"What did you say, Zedric?" Naguguluhang tanong ni Tita Janna.

Mamá gripped my arms making me look at her. Nakatingin din siya sa akin na para bang nanghihingi ng explanation. I didn't say anything because I don't know where to start! Pakiramdam ko nanuyo ang lalamunan ko sa nangyayari.

"I mean it literally." He said with playfulness in his voice.

I frowned and looked at him again but he only raised his brow at me. I pursed my lips in irritation. I think he's playing with me.

"He was my professor, Tita! W-We happened to go to the same place for a vacation after graduation, hence we were together before my family got me."

Mabuti na lang at mabilis akong nakapag-isip ng mairarason!

"O-Ohh, right..."

"We should go now, Tita. Marami pa pong nag-aabang na makabati sa inyo. Congratulations to your family po, and thank you for inviting us! Nice meeting you po!"

Humakbang ako paatras para makaalis na dahil masyado na kaming matagal dito sa lamesa ng mga Mondragon.

"O-Okay... Let's meet again, Hail. I hope it would be soon..." Ngumiti ng makahulugan ang ginang at palipat-lipat na tumingin sa amin ni Jacob.

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Nahahapong napasapo ako sa sariling noo ng maalala na naman ang pangyayaring iyon.

It's been a week yet I still feel the intensity of his stare. The kind of stare like he's undressing my soul.

Mabuti na lang talaga at nakalusot ako nung may sumulpot na panauhin sa table ng mga Mondragon kaya nalipat ang atensyon nila.

I almost run my way home just to get away from my mother's interrogation about what we heard that night. They have no idea 'cause I didn't tell them anything about my past life, bukod doon sa mga alam na nila dahil sa imbestigasyon. Kaya nanghihingi sila sa akin ng eksplenasyon ngayon. 

I was able to get away for the whole week because Mamá was busy managing our other business, while Papá went abroad for a conference with Hellrion. Hillary, on the other hand, started sailing with MV Helena so I won't be seeing her in the meantime.

Naiwan kami ni Luther dito sa mansyon at ako ang naghahatid sundo sa kaniya tutal wala naman akong ginagawa. Mamá refuse to give me work and said I should take a break from it. Halos tatlong taon na daw kasi akong subsob sa trabaho.

So, I decided to reach out Dev a week ago and I was shocked when she told me she's in Santorini. Nalaman kong tatlong taon na siyang naroon, for a reason she wants to personally tell me, at nagplano siyang umuwi ngayon nung sinabi ko na nasa pilipinas na ako. Kaya heto ako ngayon nagmamaneho papuntang airport kasi nagpapasundo siya. I can't stop smiling because of excitement.