Reclaiming the Stars (Agustin Series #1)

Kabanata 27

Kabanata 27

"Nawala lang ako saglit, ang dami na agad kaagaw," he whispered.

"What?" tanong ko sa kanya. As usual, he did not spoke a word. Palihim n'ya lang akong hinila pabalik sa table nila.

He was gently holding me. I've never been held like that for a long time. As if he owns me. As if I am his world.

"Hi, Architect!" bati ng isang lalaki. "I'm Kino, Lorenzo's classmate," he was about to shake my hand para agad din niyang ibinaba ang kamay n'ya at nahihiyang ngumiti.

"Hands off." Nabaling naman ang tingin ko kay Lorenzo. I saw him mouthing words but I'm not sure if my vision was accurate.

Kakaunti lang ang tao sa table nila kumpara sa table kanina. Jewel is sitting adjacent to me at ang ipinagtaka ko ay hindi na n'ya suot ang kaninang inis na mukha. She's now smiling, weirdly, at me.

By table ang pagseserve nila ng pagkain at kami ang unang binigyan. We started eating, and I was a bit uncomfortable dahil hindi masyadong pamilyar ang mga kasama ko sa lamesa. Sobrang dikit naman ng upuan ni Lorenzo sa akin kaya hindi ko masyado magamit ang kaliwa kong kamay sa pagsubo.

He was silently eating while giving me his share of food.

"Ang dami na," I pointed out when my plate was overflowing while his has only like a half serving left.

We finished eating with Kino filling the table with tons of stories from their college life. Nakikitawa ako kapag binabanggit nila si Lorenzo na parati raw hindi sumasama sa mga gala nila.

In the middle of the laughter, my phone rang. Kinuha ko iyon mula sa pouch ko at nakitang tumatawag si Dim. Iniwan ko si Crispin sa may-ari ng building.

"Priya, where are you right now?" bungad n'ya.

"Don't worry Dim, Crispin is in good hands," pagpapakalma ko sa kan'ya dahil nagulat ako sa kaseryosohan ng pagbati n'ya.

"Where? Are? You?" madiin n'yang tanong.

"I'm at a reunion, why?" kabado kong tanong.

"Who are you with?" I excused myself from the table and went outside. Nag-aalalang tumingin naman si Lorenzo. Lumayo ako doon dahil medyo malakas ang tunog.

"I'm with... Lorenzo," I slowly said. "Ade's here too."

"Tell Ade to bring you home. Ngayon na Priya," seryoso n'yang sabi.

"What? Ano bang problema mo Dim?" I started to grow pissed off. Bigla bigla nalang tatawag tapos paalisin ako dito. I am having fun!

"Reporters might be on their way there. Hindi maalam ni manager 'yan," he tightly said.

"And so? Ano namang pakialam ko sa kanila?" I still couldn't get a hold of the situation.

"Na-check mo na ba ang phone mo?" medyo mahinahon n'yang pagtatanong.

"What? Why?" I checked my phone pero wala namang kakaiba. That's when I noticed na wala pala akong internet connection. I glanced back out of frustration and saw Lorenzo quietly standing behind me. Nakikinig pa yata sa usapan namin.

"Give me your phone," I commanded. Naguguluhan n'ya akong pinagmasadan pero iniabot din ang cellphone. I logged in to my social medias at nagulat ako sa sunod sunod na notification.

Filled with horror, I still clicked one. Someone mentioned me in an article. Nanginginig ang mata kong binasa iyon.

Architect Priyanka Guevarra's Scandal With Model Dimitri Silva Went Viral