Chapter 25

KELLY

“WHATEVER I did, I only did it because I want to make sure you’ll talk to me.” Brandon looked very nervous. Hindi niya mabunot-bunot ’yong balahibo ng manok.

Kumunot ang noo ko. “What exactly did you do?” Hindi pa naiinitan ang sikmura ko at gusto ko sanang magkape pero ayaw ko naman siyang iwan dito kung kailan maririnig ko na ang ginawa niya.

“I knew where you were, but every time I try to go to your office, pinanghihinaan ako ng loob. Baka tarayan mo ako. Worse, itaboy.”

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko sa sinabi niya. I’m not going to . . . Okay, baka nga gawin ko ’yon sa kaniya at first sight. May point siya.

“So I thought I’d talk to your parents first. I was expecting the worst, pero tinanggap nila ako na parang walang nangyari noon. Hindi ko alam kung ano’ng sinabi mo sa kanila o kung ano’ng alam nila, and I didn’t want to say anything. Ayaw kong pangunahan ka. My goal is to get you back. Kaya . . . sina Tatay ang palagi kong pinupuntahan. They told me na madalang kang umuwi a