Comrades in Action: Chase Vonn Book 6

Chapter Twenty five

Dalawang araw na ang nakakalipas mula ng makabalik sila galing medical mission. Bukas na ang huling araw niya bago siya bumalik ng New York sa makalawa.

"Anong oras ang flight mo sa makalawa?"

She looked at her father. "Five o'clock in the afternoon." Kaswal niyang sagot.

"Ihahatid siya ng chopper pabalik ng Maynila, dad." Sabat naman ng kapatid niya ng mapansin nitong wala siyang balak magsalita.

"Hm. Do you need anything sa school? Projects? Allowance?" Tanong nito habang kumakain.

She stopped eating. Really? He would ask her that as if it would lessen his sins to her mom and to this family? She wanted to scoff at him!

"I don't need anything." Mariing sagot niya.

At her peripheral vission, she saw him stiffen at her clipped tone but he didn't react further into it. Una ay dahil nasa hapag sila kaharap ng ibang kasambahay at pangalawa, dahil alam ng lahat na hindi magiging maganda ang kahihinatnan kapag humantong sa sagutan ang usapan.

Clearing his throat, her brother changed the subject.

"You'll be eighteen this year, Ayen. Are you excited with your upcoming debut?"

She almost rolled her eyes at the topic he had chosen.

"That is like seven months from now, kuya. Ang tagal pa."

"Well, time flies by so fast. Next thing you know, you'll be having your own wedding."

"Please..." She said with so much incredulity. "I'll be single until I'm thirty."

Her brother laughed at that. "Thirty? Oh I'm sure your New Yorker boy friend will be devastated!"

Inirapan niya ang kapatid. "His name is Lucas, kuya. And correction, he's not my boyfriend."

"Talaga lang ha?"

Hindi niya ugaling patulan ang kakulitan ng kapatid pagdating sa mga manliligaw niya pero sa kung anumang kadahilanan, gusto niyang itama ang mga maling akala nito. Her eyes unconsciously went to Chase. His focus is on his plate. He looks uninterested with the conversation but still, she found herself saying...

"Wala akong boyfriend..."

Nakita niyang bahagya itong natigilan sa pagkain. Ng magpatuloy ito, hindi nakaligtas sa paningin niya ang munting ngiting lumitaw sa mga labi nito.

Yumuko siya saka napakagat labi. Nawala lang ang ngiti niya ng tumukhim ang kuya niya. Hindi siya tumingin dito. Afraid to find out if he caught her staring at Chase. Ipinagpatuloy na lang niya ang pagkain.

"Go straight to the study room after dinner, Cayden. I want to talk to you about something." Basag ng ama nila sa katahimikan.

"Yeah, about that dad. May gusto din sana akong i-discuss sa inyo. It's kinda important."

Their father nodded. "Let's discuss it later."

Pagkatapos ng dinner ay tumuloy siya sa labas upang magpahangin. But not after snatching a pack of gummy bears from her personal stack. She was munching on it when her phone rang. She frowned when she saw who's on the screen. She accepted the video call.

"Lucas."

"Hey, Beethoven! Damn, I missed you today!"

She rolled her eyes at him. "Nagusap lang tayo kahapon di ba?"

"Yeah, but it already feels like forever..." He groaned which made her chuckle.

"You'll survive. So, how's the competition?"