Holding on to His Promises

Chapter 9: Than I'd Ever Thought

Pinagpaalam ako ni Kirby kay Auntie Jessie kaya pinayagan ako na sumama sa kanya sa hacienda. It was around nine o'clock in the morning when we left and then we arrived at the hacienda at lunch time. Sumalubong si Dylan sa kotse na sakay namin nang huminto kami sa mismong harap ng mansion ni Lolo Max. Kirby and Dylan manly hugged each other.

Bumaba na rin ako ng kotse dala ang backpack na naglalaman ng mga personal na gamit ko para sa bakasyon namin rito. Pinanood ko lang silang dalawa habang nagkukumustahan.

I saw Dylan look at me but there was no emotion on his face. Therefore, I looked away and turned my eyes on Kirby. Tumingin ito ng makahulugan sa akin pero hindi ko iyon pinansin. Hindi ko alam kung bakit may tampo ako na nararamdaman kay Dylan. Maybe, because he was ignoring me.

Pumasok kami sa loob ng mansion at naabutan namin si Lolo Max na nakaupo sa rocking chair habang nakatanaw sa malaking bintana ng living room kung saan ay tanaw na tanaw niya ang mga pananim niyang gulay. Nagmano kami rito bago kami tumuloy sa kwarto ni Dylan at nilagay doon ang mga gamit namin.

I'd missed this place. Dylan and I were always having a vacation here every year but this place remained beautiful in my eyes. I loved the fresh air around.

After we had our lunch, Kirby and Dylan decided to play basketball in the huge court nearby. I didn't go with them because it was men's thing that wasn't interesting for me. Therefore, I just slept on Dylan's bed.

It was almost evening when Kirby woke me up for dinner. Like before, we ate together with Lolo Max in a long table. After that, we knelt down in front of the altar and prayed over and over. This was the part that I hated the most whenever we went here. I was sure that Dylan and I felt the same way at the moment.

"Will you two at least talk to each other?" Kirby said while we were currently watching movie in Dylan's room, seated on the bed. Kirby was between us.

I didn't react.

"I'm just doing what your cousin wants," Dylan suddenly talked. "She wants me to stay away from her. Fine. No problem."

Napasulyap ako sa kanya at napailing. "I didn't mean it," I said. Masyado lang akong nadala ng takot ko na hindi ko na siya makasama dahil kapag nalaman ni Mommy na magkaibigan kami, baka isama nila ako sa Amerika.

"No, you meant it," aniya kaya kunot-noong napatingin ako sa kanya.

"No, I didn't mean it!"

"You meant it, Demi."

"I said I didn't―"

Kirby cutted me off. "Wait! Sandali nga!" pag-awat niya sa amin. "Hindi ko alam kung sino sa inyong dalawa ang tama eh. Ano ba talaga, Demi? You didn't mean it or you meant it?"

"I didn't mean it!"

"'Yun naman pala, Storm, eh! Magbati na nga kayo. Para kayong mga bata. Hanggang ngayon ba naman nag-aaway pa rin kayo?"

Sumimangot lang ako at humalukipkip.

"Ano? Hindi ba kayo magsosorry sa isa't isa?"

"Why would I say sorry? I didn't do something," supladong sabi ni Storm.

Napabuntong-hininga ako saglit na pinakalma ang sarili ko bago nagsalita, "Sorry if―" Dylan cutted me off.

"Yeah, that's enough. You don't need to be dramatic here and say a lot of things. You're already forgiven. End of conversation. I need silence to watch this movie," he said in an irritate tone.

Natahimik lang ako at nanatiling nakatingin sa kanya na ngayon ay nakatuon ang tingin sa TV na tila wala sa mood. I just swallowed and looked away because my eyes became warm like it wanted to produce tears.