His Invisible Halo 19 Chapter 18

My mind can still recall what he did earlier. Hindi ko alam kung bakit kahit anong gawin ko, hindi iyon mawala sa isipan ko. The first time he hugged me from the back, I don't freakin' understand why  my heart suddenly beats too fast. It's only him who can make me feel that way.

"Who are you thinking? Kanina pa malalim ang iniisip mo." puna sa akin ni Ersy. She also told me that she's calling me for three consecutive times but I am not responding.

"S-si mommy. Wala pa kasi akong nabibiling regalo." pagdadahilan ko.

The next day, I just avoided him. Mabuti naman at hindi na nagkrus ang mga landas namin dahil ayon kay River ay may pinagkakaabalahan din ito.

"How's your day, Remy?" Draven asked. We go out for a lunch and I'm sure that Asher will be jealous again once that he knows about this. At teka, bakit ko nga ba sya iniisip?

"Wala akong pakealam sa kanya." I heard someone laugh. Doon ako natauhan na nasa harap ko nga pala si Draven.

"That someone who are you thinking must be a lucky guy." He commented. Hindi ko maiwasang mainis sa sarili ko kung bakit ako nagkakaganito. Nababaliw na yata ako.

"Sorry, Draven. Everything went good. Actually, kakatapos lang namin sa individual reporting." sagot ko naman.

We didn't saw each other the whole day and I think, that's better. Pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko na kakayanin yung pakiramdam kapag may ginawa na naman syang kakaiba sa akin. I should hate him but what I felt right now is different. Nahihiya and at the same time, kinakabahan.

Before sleeping, I decided to wrap my gift for my mother tomorrow. I bought her a bag since she really love collecting this stuffs. There's also a small initials of her name there na sinadya kong palagyan.

My phones beep right after I finished what I am doing.

Asher: Are you still mad?

At ito na naman yung walanghiya kong sistema na nagwawala. Pinigilan ko ang sarili kong huwag syang replyan pero hindi din ako nakatagal.

/Hindi. Bakit naman ako magagalit?/

Asher: I still owe you an apology. Sorry, I don't totally share what's mine.

Here he is again! Nakakatangina mag isip kung bakit sya ganito ngayon. Hindi ko maiwasan ang paghaharumentado at halos magpatak na yung cellphone ko sa sahig. Ganito ba talaga sya magkagusto sa akin?

/Napakaseloso mo namang kaibigan./

I know I sounds stupid because of my reply. Ayoko lang talaga na umamin sya sa akin ngayon dahil pakiramdam ko ay hindi ko kakayanin. I need to ask Mara about this. I want to know if he's really like this when it comes to his girl friends o baka namimis- interpret ko lang. Ayoko ng maging assuming dahil pakiramdam ko ay nagkakatotoo na.

Asher: You know how much I hate that word 'friends.'

Ibinaba ko na yung phone ko dahil hindi ko na alam ang ire-reply ko. Alam na alam nya talaga kung paano ako hindi patulugin. Wala pang isang minuto ay umilaw ulit ito.

Asher: What took you so long to reply? Are you texting someone?

/Inaantok na ako./

Asher: Goodnight then. And see you tomorrow.

Napakunot naman ang noo ko sa reply nya. I was about to tell him that I am not here tomorrow pero biglang namatay yung phone ko. Lowbat na pala.

Maaga pa ng sinundo kami ni daddy dito sa apartment. The way he smiles is very different right now. It is still clear in my mind the exact day and place where they met. There's no exact words that can describe how much she loves mommy even if they're not given a chance to have a child. They still treat me like their own and I am very much thankful for that.

Mommy just want a simple celebration like the previous years. Usually ay kami lang tatlo pero gusto nya ngayon na imbitahan ko yung mga friends ko. Nang tumigil na kami sa harap ng bahay namin ay hindi ko maiwasang mexcite.

"Is that Asher?" Ersy asked. Napatingin ako sa direksyon kung saan sya nakatingin.

What the freakin' hell! What does this jaw dropping handsome and angelic guy doing here!?

Mommy immediately walks towards me leaving Asher with Daddy.

"Nak, ang bait naman ng boyfriend mo." kinikilig na wika nya. I still wonder why he is invited since it's a family celebration. Just the three of us and my bestfriend, Ersy.

"Mom, how many times that I will tell that nothing's going on between us? He's not my boyfriend." paliwanag ko. I don't know the reason why they really like Asher for me. I didn't introduce my 2 ex boyfriend with them that's why I never expect that they will be like this.

"Your daddy and I will not get mad, anak. At isa pa, umamin na ang batang iyon na boyfriend ka nya kaya hindi mo na kailangang i-deny." nanlaki naman ang mata ko dahil sa sinabi ni mommy.

"Mom, happy birthday po. May kailangan lang po akong gawin." hinalikan ko yung pisngi ni mommy at pagkatapos ay galit kong hinawakan ang kamay ni Asher para kausapin. Nang masigurado ko na hindi na nila kami maririnig ay tsaka ko sya hinarap. I don't want to act rude. Gusto ko lang talaga linawin ang lahat.

"You're parents are actually kind." he commented. Oo nga. Sa sobrang bait nila ay agad silang naniwala sa kasinungalingan ng lalaking ito.

"Why did you say that to mommy? Do you know how happy she was earlier? Baka umasa iyon na boyfriend nga kita kahit hindi naman." I mumbled while still avoiding his stares.

"What should I do then? Papanindigan ko na ba?"

Damn this feeling again!

'Wag kang marupok Kelsey. You're not like this. Don't get attach in everything that he says. Act like you're not affected.' wika ko sa isipan ko.

"Bawiin mo yung sinabi mo."

"I didn't say anything. They asked me if we're in a relationship but I didn't answer so they assumed that we are. Your mom is too happy about that thought so I just let her." he explained. I can't help myself but to get curious about him. Nasaan na yung Asher na cold, blanko ang mukha at tipid kung magsalita? Is he a robot so I could switch him and turned him back to the way he used to?

I'm getting crazy about him.

Hindi ko na ulit sya kinausap pagkatapos noon. He's busy helping my mom and dad to cook. That should be me in his place pero inagaw nya!

"Kel, kawawa naman yung manok." inagaw sa akin ni Ersy yung hinihiwa ko na hindi ko napansin na pinagtutusok ko na pala ng kutsilyo dahil sa inis ko.

"It's so ironic that you're chasing him before but now that he's already beside you, you're pushing him away. Dalagang pakipot ka din ano?" natatawang wika ng kaibigan ko.

"That's a good start, Kelsey. I've never seen Asher being like this. River also told me that there's something strange in him. He often went to the bar to drink these following days. I'm just curious what made him change." she added. I looked at their direction again. I caught him smile a little bit, the thing that he often do.

Like our usual celebration, before having our special dinner, we went to the church. My prayers contained similar to what I've asked God since before. I prayed that He will give my parents a good health a longer life. I also prayed for my real parents and for my family as well as Ersy for being a good friend to me. I can't ask for more aside from my loved one's safety.

"Nakakaproud naman itong boyfriend mo, Kelsey anak." wika ng mommy. Hanggang sa pagkain namin ngayon ay wala itong bukang bibig kung hindi si Asher. She's happy about the gift I gave earlier but I think she's happier than what Asher gave.

"I agree tita. Bagay nga po silang dalawa." pagsuporta pa ng kaibigan ko. I just smiled sarcastically. Mamaya ka sa akin.

"Iho, I can't wait to meet your parents. Paniguradong magkakasundo kami." napailing na lang ako sa dinugtong ni mommy. I can't explained how happy she is while talking about this. If she only knows the truth, I'm sure she'll be very disappointed.

I looked at Asher. He stopped eating for a moment right after my mother's question. Maski ako, hindi ko pa nakikita yung parents nya. Hindi ko din naman naririnig iyon sa mga usap usapan. As well as Mara, hindi ko pa naitatanong sa kanya.

"Sorry, iho. Mukhang nabigla ka sa tanong. Hindi mo naman kailangang sagutin." dugtong pa ng mommy ko.

Asher became silent kaya't napunta sa kay Ersy ang usapan. My parents both like to know more about my friends kaya hindi ko sila masisisi.

"Salamat at nandyan ka para sa anak ko, Ersy anak. Alam ko medyo matigas ang ulo at pasaway itong anak ko." wika ni Daddy. Umiling naman ang kaibigan ko.

"There's nothing to worry about, tito. To be honest, mas masipag nga po itong anak nyo kumpara sa akin." sagot nya. Mabuti naman ay may maganda syang nasabi ngayong araw.

After our dinner, Asher's phone rang kaya't narinig kong nagpaalam na ito sa parents ko. Agad naman akong tinawag ni mommy at sinabi sa aking ihatid sya sa labas.

"Mom, hindi na po kailangan. Hindi naman sya maliligaw." pagtanggi ko.

"Boyfriend mo iyan, anak. Payag naman akong maglabing labing muna kayo sa labas."

Labing labing? Ano 'yon?

"Sige na, Kelsey anak." wika ni daddy kaya't hindi na ako nakapagreklamo pa. Sinamahan ko si Asher papunta sa kotse nya. I was about to turned my back when I notice he's defeaning silence now though I'm used to it since before.

"Ayos ka lang?" I asked. Nagsimula syang magkaganito simula nung mabanggit ni mommy yung about sa parents nya. I'm getting curious but I just chose to zip my mouth since I'm not in the right position to ask. Tumango naman ito bilang sagot sa tanong ko. I thought that he'll get inside his car nang lumapit ito sa akin.

"Do you want me to tell them the truth? If it made you mad then I'll them right away." he exclaimed. Napailing naman ako. All I want is get rid of his way now. Hindi ko alam kung bakit sa tuwing ganito sya tumingin sa akin ay nanlalambot na lang ako bigla. I'm running out of words to tell if I'm directly looking at him that's why I ended up avoiding his stares.

"J-just let me tell them. M-mamaya sasabihin ko na agad yung totoo. I will tell them that we're not in a relationship and everything was just a misunderstanding. Another thing y-you're not my type. And if ever na magkaboyfriend man ulit ako, gusto yung sweet at gentleman. He'll do everything just to make me happy hindi tulad n'ong iba na masyadong cold at seryoso." paliwanag ko. After saying all of that, I was about to go inside when he grabbed my hand. I never expect what he did. He leaned closer to me kaya't napapikit ako. I was expecting him to kiss me so I've waited for seconds but nothing happened. Nang imulat ko yung mga mata ko ay wala na sya sa harap ko. He's already inside his car. My phone beeps kaya mabilis ko itong sinilip.

Asher: Let's have a date tomorrow.

Chapter end