Cost of Taste | ✓

Kabanata 16

Kabanata 16

I decided to distance myself with Tatiana. Hindi ako mapalagay na baka nga hindi siya tulad ng tingin ko sa kanya. I didn't want her to affect my friendship with Lulia. Kaya ako na lang ang umiiwas.

Malapit na ang pasko at christmas break. Adren's lingering stare is annoying me. Nang hindi ko na matiis ang titig niya sa akin ay nilingon ko na siya.

"Bakit?" tanong ko.

Nasa student lounge kami ngayon. He's waiting for the revisions of their research paper, he volunteered to wait for it since his groupmates have other things to do.

"What do you want for a gift?"

Ngumiti ako nang matamis."You're already the greatest gift for me this year."

Adren scoffed. "You're only saying that because you don't want to spend money on gifting me back."

Tumawa naman ako, medyo guilty sa kanyang paratang. Hindi ko rin naman kasi alam ang hilig niya bukod sa luto ko at sa luto ni Mama. We have a routine of sharing food during break times, it was our bonding moment.

"Be practical, kahit ano lang sa akin." I pinched his nose and he winced.

I think in a month, Adren seems to show some improvements in his expressions and emotions. Alam ko na hindi naman ako psychologist, but I wanted to be his support system. I wanted to be someone he can be open to freely.

Hindi pa rin naman siya sobrang open sa akin, pero kahit naman papaano ay alam kong hindi niya rin akong ginagawang laro. We're dating exclusively but we don't let a lot of people know. Ayoko lang kasi na masyado siyang pagkaisahan dahil ako ang naging girlfriend niya.

"Gusto ka pala makilala ni Mama. Kung may oras ka daan ka sa bahay sa Noche Buena," saad ko nang maalala na tinatanong ni Mama kung sino 'yung naghahatid sa akin.

Muntik na nga niya ako palayasin dahil akala niya may ginagawa akong illegal. Ayaw pang maniwalang boyfriend ko.

He looks at me with wavering eyes. He licked his lower lip and he ran his fingers through his hair.

"Naked truth?" His eyes blinked infrequently. "I don't have a... mother figure."

"I don't know if your mother would like me..." he nervously admitted.

My mouth turned into an 'o'. "Stepmother mo lang ba si Dayanara?"

He nodded. "Uh, yeah..she's not...my biological Mom..."

I could see the conflicted look on his face. He was contemplating whether to tell me or not. Hinawakan ko siya sa kamay, I gently squeezed it.

"It's okay," I assured him. "You don't have to tell me if it's hard for you. Naiintindihan ko, take your time. I'm not going anywhere."

Alam ko naman na may mga pangyayari sa buhay natin na kung sana ay pwede lang burahin ay matagal nang burado sa memorya ng mundo. Life isn't like that though, you have to learn to live with it.

The good and bad memories are still part of your life story. You don't really skip it, you have to go through the bad chapters to appreciate the good ones.

"I love you everyday. It means I love you in your good days and I'll still love you in your bad days." Hinilig ko ang ulo ko sa balikat niya.

He kissed the top of my head. Umangat ang tingin ko sa kanya at nginitian ko siya.

"Hoy pokers ka, nandito ka pa pala!"

Suzette along with Franny came. Humalukipkip si Franny at nakapameywang si Suzy.