Kabanata 6
Pretensions
I didn't know how we remained calm and composed. Palabas kaming magkahawak kamay at pinagtitinginan sa lobby. He didn't have time to call for the valet that we used the lift to go to the parking lot.
Mabilis ang parehong galaw namin, pero hindi niya nakalimutang pagbuksan ako ng pintuan sa sasakyan. When he slid inside, he immediately pulled me closer for another round of hungry kisses. Para namang inasahan ko na iyon dahil agad akong nagbigay sa kanyang mga halik.
His hands were all over me. I was pushed behind my back, at walang kahirap-hirap niyang binaba ang backrest ng upuan ko at inatras pa iyon habang naghahalikan kaming dalawa! We were in the middle of getting lost from the kisses and his touches when we both heard our phones ringing!
Ipinagpatuloy niya ang halikan at tila wala siyang narinig na tumutunog. Kaya lang, nasulyapan ko naman ang cellphone ko at medyo kinabahan ng nakita na si Mama ang tumatawag. She doesn't call me very much. Lalo pa ngayong alam niyang may date kami ni Royce!
"Royce, Mama's calling," I whispered in between kisses but he didn't say anything.
Instead, his kisses moved from my lips down my neck.
"Royce," I whispered again, kahit medyo na-carried away pa sa halikan.
I'm just really bothered, dahil sa pangalawang tawag ni Mama, ingay ng phone ni Royce, at sa dumaan sa harap ng sasakyan naming kilala pa namang reporter.
"Someone is outside," I whispered.
"My car is heavily tinted," he whispered huskily.
"May tumatawag sa'yo. At si Mama rin, tumatawag sakin! It's her third call."
Inabot ko ang cellphone ko. Nakadagan pa siya sa akin nang nagkatinginan kami at nagpasya akong sagutin iyon. It's horrifying to think that it may be an emergency. Aurora Veronica Rockwell will never call me unless there's something important.
"Mama."
Umayos si Royce at tinulungan niya pa akong ayusin ang backrest ng upuan. We're both still a bit flustered from what we've done but I need to sound fine.
"Sky! Where are you?"
"Uh, n-nasa date with Royce, Mama-"
"Totoo ba 'tong kumakalat na naghalikan daw kayo ni Royce sa restaurant? May iilang blurry pictures na kumakalat ngayon. It was sent by a dear friend. I don't know about the other news sources but I'm pretty sure it will be published anytime soon!"
Napahilot ako sa sentido at napapikit. Dumilat lang nang narinig naman si Royce.
"Good evening, Sir," pormal na ngayon ang tono niya.
Pagkatapos ng ilang sandaling katahimikan niya at pakikinig sa katawagan, nagkatinginan na kaming dalawa. I knew then who's calling him.
Papa was pleased about it. At ganoon din ang sinabi ni Mama sa akin na makakatulong daw ang nangyari na matabunan ang spekulasyon na pinapakasal lang ako ni Papa kay Royce dahil gusto niyang maituwid ako. I can't believe it. They then ordered us to come home so we can talk more about it.
Tahimik kami ni Royce habang nagmamaneho siya patungo sa village. I have nothing to say and my mind is haywired. Before the calls from my parents, I kind of thought that we were both too carried away to think about our actions. Ngayong tumawag sila, sumasagi sa isipan ko kung sinadya lang ba ni Royce iyon para paluguran si Papa o totoong mga halik iyon.
I suddenly thought about that one night with him. I still don't know if he's telling the truth or not but I want to believe him. Na pinili niya ako sa gabing iyon dahil nagustuhan niya ako, hindi dahil anak ako ni Brandon Rockwell, at na alam niyang ipapakasal din naman ako ni Papa sa kanya.
