Chasing in the Wild (University Series #3)

03

"Bakit mo tinakasan ang bodyguard mo, Elyse?!" 

Napanguso ako habang nakayuko, pinaglalaruan ang daliri ko. Nakaupo ako ngayon sa malaking sofa at sa harapan ko naman ay si Daddy na naka-corporate attire pa. Gabi na nang makabalik siya galing sa work. I thought Kuya Roel wouldn't tell anything kay Daddy! Mali ako! He betrayed me! 

"I wanted to... Uh... Eat somewhere," pagdadahilan ko, hindi pa rin makatingin.

"Then eat with your bodyguard around! Bakit? Hindi ba pwede 'yon, Elyse?!" He was scolding me so bad. 

"I wanted to be alone." I pouted more. 

"And when you're alone, what do you do?! Nagwawaldas ng pera!" 

Sumimangot ako lalo at tiningnan saglit si Daddy na galit na galit ngayon. Agad akong umiwas ng tingin sa kaniya at nanghingi ng tulong kay Mommy na nakaupo rin sa kabilang sofa, nakikinig sa sermon. Hindi niya 'ko tinitingnan para mapigilan niya ang sarili niyang makisali. 

"I was just treating myself because... it was my birthday." Tumingin ako sa kisame para umiwas.

"Your birthday?!" Daddy scoffed. "Ilang araw ba ang birthday mo? You went shopping a week before your birthday, three days before your birthday, a day before your birthday, on your birthday itself, after your birthday, and even two days after your birthday! You're making my head hurt!" 

Huminga ako nang malalim at pinalobo saglit ang pisngi ko para pigilan ang sariling magsalita dahil baka mas lalo lang siyang magalit. I looked like a puppy being scolded by its owner. 

"Money is great, Elyse." Daddy sighed. "But money could make you greedy, and I don't want you to end up like other people. You need to control yourself."

"I won't be greedy, Daddy, please. I promise I won't do it again," I tried to calm him down. 

"I already heard-" 

Napatingin kami sa pinto nang bumukas ito bigla. My eyes lit up when I saw my brother at the door holding a book in his hand, and a phone on the other hand. Napatigil siya nang makita ang sitwasyon namin. 

"What's happening?" nagtatakang tanong niya sa akin. 

"Tumakas ako sa bodyguard ko, Kuya, and then, I don't know how, but we suddenly talked about money!" pagkukwento ko, mukhang kinawawa pa. 

"You deserve that." Kuya Shan laughed.

"Kuya!" 

"Shan, what brings you here?" Tumayo si Mommy. "Nag-dinner ka na ba? I can prepare food for you-"

"I just needed something from my old room," my brother cut her off.