Fleeting Moments

Chapter 10: Photo

#HHFM Chapter 10:

Photo

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"Nagpakabait ka ba?" Tita asked Ryo, her eyes narrowing. Ryo frowned and pouted.

He threw me a glance, and I quickly averted my gaze to focus on helping Raianne unpack her things. I cleared my throat and pretended to be busy by looking at the stuff Raianne bought from New York. I could still feel Ryo's eyes on me, and if it weren't for his mother who's hugging him by the doorway, I would have scolded him because he just wouldn't stop staring at me. Like I always have something on my face since the beginning of the year.

"Oo, 'My. Bakit ako lang tinatanong mo? Si Frankie ba, 'di mo tatanungin kung nagpakabait din?" he asked, making my brows furrow in confusion and in annoyance. I looked at where they were, and he arched a brow at me. I quickly removed the bitchy look on my face when Tita turned to face me. Masuwerte talaga si Ryo na nandito ang nanay niya. And what the heck was he saying? Ang bait-bait ko kaya! Siya nga itong laging nagpapainit ng ulo ko!

"Frankie's nicer than you, and I trust her," Tita said, making me smile a little.

While removing the tags and folding Raianne's newly-bought clothes, I glanced at Ryo with a triumphant grin on my face. Lalo lang lumalim ang simangot niya dahil hindi siya kinampihan ni Tita. She's right, though. I'm way nicer and well-behaved than Ryo.

It had been a few hours since Ryo and their driver picked them up at the airport. I was still sleeping so I wasn't aware that they already arrived. Pagkagising ko, kagigising lang din nila. Raianne pulled me to her room and asked me to help her with her new clothes, na hindi ko alam kung bakit napakarami na para bang lahat ng laman ng walk-in closet niya ay papalitan na niya.

"Inaantok ako," Ryo grunted. The mattress bounced when he lay down beside me. Agad akong umisod nang maramdamang dumikit nang bahagya ang ulo niya sa hita ko. Kitang-kita ko kung paano umangat ang isa niyang kilay roon.

I pursed my lips and didn't look at him. Nananadya ba talaga siya? Simula yata noong tinabihan ko siya sa kama, namimihasa na siya. He slept in the room where I was staying, hugged me, and kissed me on my cheek. What was worse was that he has been acting like it was no big deal. Tapos ang hilig niyang asarin ako na 'affected' daw ako. Kung hindi ba naman siya tanga e. We didn't talk for a month when we broke up. Imposible namang nakalimot na siyang break na kami. May Talie na nga yata siya e.

"Kuya, my dress!" eksaheradang sabi ni Raianne. Nadaganan kasi ni Ryo ang isa niyang bestida. Ryo rolled his eyes as he switched positions, before lying on his side, facing me. I stood up and shifted on my seat para talikuran siya.

"Nag-e-emote ka na naman?" I heard him mumbling behind me.

Hindi ako sumagot. Napairap na lang ako nang maramdaman kong may kumakalabit sa likuran ko. Ang kulit!

Raianne must have noticed the annoyed look on my face because both of her brows rose. Bahagya siyang napatingin sa kapatid at pabalik sa akin.

"Kayo na ba ulit?" she blurted.

I stopped folding her clothes. "No," sagot ko kaagad. Lumundong muli ang kutson. I looked over my shoulders and saw Ryo na mukhang mabilis na napaupo dahil sa sinabi ng kapatid niya.

"Well, Kuya?" Raianne added which made me gasp. Kailangan niya pa bang tanungin si Ryo? Sumagot na ako, a!

She only smiled at me innocently while I shook my head.

Nilingon ko si Ryo na nakakunot ang noo at masama ang tingin sa kapatid. His gaze softened when he looked at me. Napangiwi ako at mabilis na umiwas ng tingin nang mapanguso siya.