Reclaiming the Stars (Agustin Series #1)

Kabanata 21

Kabanata 21

Confusing

Sobrang tahimik sa loob ng kotse at sikip na sikip kami sa likod. Nagpapatunog si Jewel ng kung anong kanta na hindi ko naiintindihan while Lorenzo kept stealing glances from the mirror.

Nasa gilid ng bintana si Johnson, tapos ako, tapos si Jairus at nasa kabilang bintana naman si Jeric.

"Miss Priya, may boyfriend ka?" I almost choked when Jairus asked that. Napatingin sa akin lahat ng tao sa sasakyan.

"Of course she would have a boyfriend. She's a bit pretty naman," Jewel said na mukhang minamaliit pa ang ganda ko.

Excuse me, wala s'yang laban sa mukhang 'to.

"Sorry po, Miss Priya," he apologized.

"It's okay." Then the car went silent again. Nakakahiya na ako pa ang huling umimik. It's giving me anxiety.

Pakinig na pakinig ko ang kaba ko na hindi ko alam kung saan nanggagaling. Malayo layo pa naman ang byahe at dumidilim na. I adjusted on my sit causing the three J's to move. Siniksik nila ang sarili nila sa gilid kaya naman nahiya ako.

"Okay lang. Ipod kayo," I said shyly.

I puffed my breath then my phone rang afterwards. When I saw who the caller is, I immediately felt my blood boiling. Kinalma ko ang sarili ko.

"Hi Priya..." he started. "Katatapos lang ng shoot namin. Kakaunin na kita."

Huminga ako ng malalim. Ramdam kong pinapakinggan nila ako kahit pa hindi sila nakatingin sa akin. Kaya naman ngumiti ako kahit inis na inis na ako sa kaloob-looban ko.

"Priya..." Dim called out again, weighing my anger.

"Pumunta ka sa condo ko. Bukas." I will give this man one hell of a beating. Ipaparamdam ko sa'yo kung paano magalit ang isang Priyanka.

Nag-ubuhan naman ang tatlong lalaking katabi ko na mukhang binigyan pa ng malisya ang pagbabanta ko.

"Mahal ko pa ang buhay ko, Priya naman 'wag ka namang gan–" I ended the call with a fake smile plastered on my face. Sumilip ulit si Lorenzo sa akin.

Naunang bumaba sina Jairus at Johnson na magkalapit lang ang tirahan kaya naman luwag na kami ni Jeric sa likod.

"Ihatid nalang muna natin sila," I heard Jewel talking.

"Mauunang daanan ang inyo," maikling sabi ni Lorenzo sa kanya. I even saw Jewel rolling her eyes but she didn't said a word.

Iimik pa sana ako ng 'para' dahil lampas na sa condo ko pero mukhang walang pakialam si Lorenzo na patuloy pa rin nagdadrive. What is he up to? I slumped back on my seat and stared at the night lights.

The streets are kind of peaceful, even with the light traffic. I took a photo of my view from the car's window and added it to my story with the caption,

peace, will i ever find you?

Ibinaba naman ni Lorenzo si Jewel. Her place is not that far from my condo unit.

"Bye, engineer. Thanks for the ride," she said with twinkle on her eyes, obviously flirting.

"Sure," the oblivious Lorenzo replied. I mentally punched them in my head. Ang sarap pag-untugin.

If we were quiet earlier, lalo na ngayon. Nawala na ang music dahil bumaba na si Jewel. The only thig I could hear now are the sounds of the crickets.