Feelings Gone Gray

"Does she know about us?"

I bit my lower lip and sighed, regretting what I've just said. Damn, it sounded like we're having a secret affair.

He nodded, failing to stifle a smile. Anong nakakatawa? Baliw.

"Kailan pa?" Tanong ko ulit.

"Since the first day you approached her." Sagot nito.

What the hell? That early? Ibig sabihin, alam na ni Molina ang koneksyon namin ng pinsan nito bago pa man ang first date namin?

"What exactly did you tell her?"

"Same thing you told your friends."

"Then, how did (I pause because I feel awkward for whatever reason) she know about us?"

The last two words of my sentence just made me feel uncomfortable.

"I warned her not to date you."

What the fuck? Warned her? What did he fucking mean by that?

"She's not dating a criminal, you fucker." I hissed at him.

"I don't want both of you to get hurt."

"Isn't it part of a relationship? At sino ka ba para magdesisyon para sa'min? She maybe is your cousin, but she's not a kid anymore. Can't she decide on her own?" Sumisigaw na sabi ko rito.

"She can, Peyton. Isn't she still going out with you?"

Bakit tila nahihimigan ko ang panunumbat sa boses nito?

"Then what it is to you?!"

He stilled while leaning on the kitchen counter. I decided to confront him nung matapos kong ligpitin yung mga ginamit namin sa inuman.

His eyes remained on me. At this moment, I'm not sure what's written on them anymore. I just know that his gaze is heavy.

"I don't like seeing you two together." He straightly said that to me without any bit of uncertainty.

Literal akong napanganga. At natahimik. Imagine my incredulity when I heard his statement. I instantly froze on my spot.

"Just who are you to decide that?" I said when I found my voice again after past a minute or two.

Ito naman ngayon ang natahimik. Pero sa nakita kong ekspresyon sa mukha niya, mukhang may gusto naman itong sabihin, pero hindi niya lang ginawa. Tss. Some things never change. Ganun naman talaga ito noon pa.

He shut his eyes while massaging the bridge of his nose, his other hand gripping the edge of the kitchen counter.

Nung una nagtaka ako pero kalaunan ay bigla akong nag-alala. He looks like he's struggling inside and is painfully battling with it.

"Hey, you alright? May masakit ba sayo? Alin ba, ulo mo? May lagnat ka pa ba? If you need anything, just tell me. Kailangan mo ba ng gamot?"

Fuck. Did I sound like I'm panicking? I mean, he doesn't look okay!

"You tell me." Anito.

"Huh?" Naguguluhang tanong ko.

Anong tingin niya sa'kin? His personal physician? Pa'no ko naman malalaman? May sakit na nga, gago pa rin.

"Come here."

I dunno what made me shiver. Was it his piercing eyes? Or his commanding voice?

If this is just the usual ordinary day, I would be screaming at his face for how haughty he is. Like, how can he order me inside my own house? But since he isn't feeling well, I'll let it pass this time.