Running After The Dusk

22

Halt

"Ay nako, ate girl akin na nga yang phone ko baka malaglag pa yan! Magalit pa si mudrakels, waleychi na yern na pambili."

Kulang na siguro yung salitang 'shocked' para mailarawan ko kung paanong nagulat ako sa biglaang pagbago ng boses ni Vino. Did my Dad just caught me in an act where in I wasn't supposed to be?

Lumingon ako kay Vino para bigyan siya ng anong-gagawin-natin-look. But he, looking carefree just shook his head at ginantihan ako ng chill-ka-lang look. Gusto kong matawa pero hindi pwede dahil nasa gitna kami ng isang sitwasyon na walang dapat pagtawanan.

"Just go ride." He whispered before pulling his hands up to his waist.

I looked at Dad and tried to smile— at that moment, I was hoping that my smile won't look stiff so he won't think of something suspicious going on.

Wait, wala naman kaming ginagawa diba?

We're just taking a picture–oh, okay scratch that. May ibang kilig na sensasyon akong naramdaman nang dumampi ang mainit niyang balat mula sa malalambot kong pisngi. But still, what's there to be nervous of? Hindi niya naman kami nahuling naghahalikan pero bakit kung maka react ata ako ay ganon mismo ang nangyari.

"Oh, Dad sorry I-I just met with a... with a friend... yeah, a friend. D-diba sis?" Hinila ko si Vino sa tabi ko at pinanlakihan siya ng mata, he pushed his tongue to the insides of his cheek and flashed a grin before looking at Dad.

"Yes sir, Nako my apologies po, ito kasing unica hija niyo sir biglang lumabas kaloka! Napalabas din tuloy ako." Pigil hininga akong nakatingin sakanya dahil baka mamaya ay bigla nalang akong matawa.

Dad took a deep breath and smiled a little. Nakahinga naman ako ng malalim nang abutin niya sa akin ang isang disposable cup. Saka ko lang naalala na nagpa order nha pala ako ng coffee kaya rin siguro siya napalabas dito.

His brows furrowed when Vino and his gaze met. Gusto ko sanang isipin na baka tinatandaan niya lang kung saan niya nakilala ang lalaking katabi ko ngayon but I haven't introduced Vino yet so for sure, naghihinala na siya kung sino tong katabi ko. Even though I can see the contentment in his eyes, I know for sure that Dad won't buy that excuse of mine.

I suck at lying!

"I think I saw you before. Have we met?"

Parang gusto ko nalang hilahin si Vino pababa sa dagat para lang makaalis nung mga oras na yon. Sa sobrang lakas ng tibok ng puso ko ay daig ko pa ang runner na tumakbo ng limang kilometro.

"Nako sir, ganon talaga kaming mga bakla, magkakamukha. Hahaha diba sister?" 

I nodded right away. 

Huminga naman ng malalim si Dad bago tumawa. One of our bodyguards also laughed at the back. Samantalang ako, hindi ko man lang magawang tumawa dahil sa sobrang kaba. I don't even know why am I feeling this! Wala naman kaming ginagawang masama pero pakiramdam ko meron. 

Nagpicture lanh naman kami, bakit ba napaka OA ko?!

"You seem to have new friends now, are you?"

Thank God, he doesn't sound suspicious.

"Just recently."

Tumango uli si Dad bago pasadahan nanaman ng isang tingin si Vino. Parang tahimik niyang kinakabisado ang bawat parte ng mukha ng lalaking katabi ko ngayon.

"Anyway, have fun. Halt, get back inside when you're done."

"Yes dad." Before I could even exhale my nervousness, Dad turned back and in a blink of an eye, he was facing at us again.