Bad Times at Sunrise (La Fortuna Series #3)

Kabanata 23

Kabanata 23

Showman

"Sabby!"

My face distorted in both nervousness and annoyance when she jumped and clung onto Ico's back like a monkey. Imbes na suwayin ay tinawanan lang siya ni Ico. I facepalmed because they're both giggling together now. Ano ba talaga ang silbi ko rito? Outcast?

"God," reklamo ko, "ang aga-aga, ha."

"Baba na, love," marahang utos sa kaniya ni Ico.

He was cooking breakfast, causing the summer house to smell like bacon and eggs. Sab's looking at the pan over his shoulder while smiling like a madwoman. Bumuntong-hininga ako bago umupo sa silyang malapit sa center table.

I tucked my chin over my palm and watched Sab as she fondled over Ico's slightly wet hair. Ico couldn't grip her thighs properly while holding the spatula so he placed it on the counter top first then secured her. Nang naayos niya na ang pagkakasampa ni Sab sa likod niya'y naglakad sila tungo sa 'kin, nagtatawanan pa rin.

"Sab, matatalsikan ka ng mantika," aniya nang mapaupo na ito sa silyang katabi ko. My heart thumped a bit faster when he flashed a cute smile. "Stay here with your Ate and be a good girl like always, alright? I'll cook your favorite food."

"Fried chicken?" Her eyes twinkled in excitement.

He nodded, pinched her cheek, then kissed her there. Napanguso ako. Nakakainggit naman!

"Yes, baby. Hintay ka lang, okay?"

"Okay!"

"Sana all, baby," bulong-bulong ko nang naglakad si Ico pabalik sa niluluto niya.

I think he heard it because halfway toward the kitchen stove, he turned to me with a face saying, 'What did you say?'. Napatuwid ako ng upo bago hilaw na ngumisi.

"Wala," I dismissed. "Luto ka na ng umagahan natin."

"Sure ka?" He arched a brow. A ghost of a smile passed across his face, making me blush a bit. "Ba't parang may mali sa mukha mo?" dagdag niya.

Sumimangot ako, pero dahil nabahala sa puna niya, inayos ko muna ang buhok ko. I scowled when I realized he was playing with me. Ugh! Araw-araw na lang bang ganito? Ako na lang palagi ang pinagti-tripan nila ni Sab! We've been here for three days and nothing's changed!

"Anong mali? Nag-ayos naman ako kanina, ah?"

"Wala naman," kibit-balikat niya. He grinned. "Mukha ka lang kasing kulang sa lambing."

I snorted and looked away. "Edi lambingin mo..."

He laughed it off but I was so sure he noticed my tomato-red cheeks. Ganito palagi. Sab and Ico would spend time together and I'd be there with them, 'yon nga lang, para lang akong hangin sa kanila. I don't know what happened, but they just suddenly clicked, like negative and positive magnets combined. Pinaparinggan ko silang naiinggit ako pero ang totoo, masaya akong nagkakasundo sila.

Huwebes ng gabi at napagdesisyunan naming mag-movie marathon. We were watching Frozen for the nth time this week, but Sab's absorbed expression made it seem like she was watching it for the first time, still. Nasa gitna siya namin ni Ico habang maingay na ngumunguya ng popcorn.

On the TV, Ana and Hans were dancing while singing 'Love is an Open Door'. Manghang-mangha naman si Sab habang nanonood. Meanwhile, I wanted to focus on the movie but my attention fixated on Ico's hand on the sofa's backrest.

Sobrang lapit pa rin namin sa isa't-isa kahit pinagigitnaan kami ni Sab. Mukha siyang nakaakbay sa 'kin dahil nakadantay ang kamay niya sa itaas ng backrest. I swear I could feel him drawing circles on the tip of my shoulders. O baka nagkakathang-isip lang ako?