His Broken Gem

HBG 15

Stella's POV

"Finally! You're here," masiglang bati ni mommy nang makapasok kami sa loob ng bahay. They're all waiting in living room while talking about some matters. Agad akong nangilabot sa matalim na tingin ng lola ko. She looks strict but she's actually my caring and loving Lala.

She's still intimidating despite of her age. She's already in her 80's, unfortunately she can't walk due to her age. Her personal nurse is right beside her, all the time kasi may maintenance siyang iniinom. Mom and Tita Victoria, Daddy's sister were also there. I didn't know na nakauwi na pala si Tita Vic from New York.

"Yeah, we're sorry for late arrival," I apologize on our behalf as we were late for 2 minutes.

"Stella! My favorite niece! It's good to see you darling. I miss you," Tita Vic said in her Aussie accent. She has been living for Australia since year 4 until college. She finished her masteral at New York and stared her own business.

"I'm your only niece, Tita," I sigh as I reminded her of our family tree. She's still single in the age of 39, she's also look 10 years younger.

"Oh! Silly me," she laughs as she jokingly smack her head. She gives me a kiss on my cheeks bago humarap sa kasama ko? Tita looks at me, waiting for me to introduce him.

"Aren't you going to introduce the man who's with you?" my Lola suddenly stated. Tita was looking at us confusedly. Maybe she was not informed about me having a boyfriend.

I sigh as I was about to turn around and call him, when he suddenly appeared beside me. He slightly bows his head at the elders and introduce himself. I was caught off guard when he snakes his hands on my waist pulling me closer to him.

"I'm sorry for the late introduction ma'am, I'm Sebastian Alistair Cortejo, Stella's boyfriend," he introduce himself. I glance at Lala and notice her unfazed look. I bit the inside of my cheek, hoping that Lola would not suspect anything. I heard Tita Vic gasps, covering her opened mouth. Glancing from me and the man beside me.

"Stella's boyfriend?!" she asked looking at Mom. Mom just nodded her head. "I didn't know Stella was in a relationship! Nice to meet you hijo, I'm Stella's aunt."

Tita Vic was so busy asking question about us but Lala remains silent on her spot. After a while, she speak.

"Cortejo? Are you perhaps acquainted with Samuel Cortejo of Cortejo Industry?" Lola follow-up question. Napatingin naman ako sa gawi ni Sebastian but he also has a confused look on his face.

"I believe that's the first time I heard that name, ma'am," Sebastian respectfully answered.

"Really? You kinda look like him in his younger years aside from the hair and eyes," Lola muttered as she observed Sebastian from head to toe. "If you're not acquainted by him, then what do you for living?" Lola asked.

Sebastian didn't answered right away. I can feel cold sweats in my forehead despite of the air-conditioned room. Why does she have to ask that? I just wish that Sebastian will not talk about his job at the bar. Thankfully, before Sebastian can even speak, Tita Vic notice the tension in the room and invited us to the dinning room.

"How about we head to the dinning and have our dinner first? It's bad to keep the food waiting," she inquires as she pointed at the dinning. Lala didn't object so we take it as a cue to go. Her nurse push her wheelchair towards the dinning area. We took our designated seat as the practice of our family tradition.

The maids started to serve the dish and distributed the drinks. We just eat in silence since hindi gusto ni Lala ang maingay sa hapag kainan. Sebastian was sitting beside me. He looks calm and compose as if he's use to this kind of situation.

"Mr. Cortejo?" tawag pansin ni Lola kay Sebastian. Nagkatinginan naman kami nila Mommy at Tita dahil do'n. It's the first time that Lola talk during dinner. Ni-hindi pa kami tapos sa kinakain namin.

"Yes ma'am," he answers immediately.

"How did you and my granddaughter met?" she asked. Sebastian look at me briefly. Shoot! We didn't discuss about this part! How should we answer this question?

"We met from a business meeting, Lola—" I tried to answer but my Lola immediately cuts me off.

"I'm not talking to you, Stella. Can you wait until your name was called?" she firmly said, warning me to keep my mouth shut. But I can't take the risk of being caught, kaya kahit nakakatakot ang mga titig niya ay nagsalita pa rin ako. I will just find a way to avoid this situation.

"But you are asking about our relationship, my relationship, so I have the right to talk. And also, aren't we eating right now? I thought you don't like to chitchat during meal time?" I reminded her as I took the table napkin and dab it on my lips. "And also, we don't like to discuss about how we met, so it's up to you if you'll accept us or not. I'm not gonna force you," I added, I make it sound like no one can change my mind so I hope they'll respect it and leave the topic aside.

Lala put her utensils down as she gives us a suspicious look. "Why are you so edgy about me asking about how did you guys met? Are you hiding something, Stella?" she asked, not refusing to back down.

I gulp as she does question. I knew it! She won't really buy this b*llsh*t. At first, she asked about his job then she asked about us. She'll gonna corner us until she'll get her answers.

I was thinking of something when I saw a fork with cake in it in front of me. Napatingin naman ako sa may hawak no'n at nakita ang nakangiting mukha ni Sebastian. I frown at this act. What the hell is he doing? Tiningnan ko ang reaksyon nila mommy at nakitang napatingin din sila sa gawin namin. Binalik ko ang tingin ko kay Seb na nag-aantay pa rin. Nakangiti pa rin siya at ginalaw ang tinidor na parang sinasabihan ako na kainin ko 'yon. It leaves me no choice but to eat it.

"I don't see Stella as a sweet person. It never even cross my mind that she'll receive somethng from anyone," Lala intervene. I sigh at muling pinunasan ang bibig ko.

"I'm not hiding anything, Lola," I said confidently and stand up. "I didn't come to be interviewed about our relationship. I came here to introduce him to you as a respect. Now, if you'll excuse us," I respectfully said before turning around, wanting to leave the place.

"Stella!" I hear Mom said, but I just ignore it. When I was about to take step, Sebastian speaks up.

"It's been my pleasure to be invited here and I have a high respect to all of you..." he started. I felt his hand holding mine turning me around to face my family. "I just want to say that I'm really serious about dating your granddaughter, but if she chooses to be private about us then I'll respect her decision. And I hope you too," he added as he bowed his head and say his goodbye.

He drag me along with him until we reach the car. Natauhan lang ako ng bawiin niya ang mga kamay niya mula sa pagkakahawak sa kamay ko.

"You know, I can just invented ba story about our meeting," he stated as he look at me.

I rolled my eyes, as I search the keys of my car in my bag.

"No, we can't take the risk. As you can see, my grandmother is a very strict person so she won't buy anything we'll said. And also, she knows me so just a single mistake and we will be caught," I explained.

I was about to open the door at driver's seat when he took the keys from my hand and drag me to the other side. He opended the door for me and makes me go in.

"I'll drive," he said before closing the door. Hindi na ako nakipagtalo pa.

Kinabukasan ay nasa bahay pa rin ako, it's actually nice to just stay at home. But I know I have to go back to work soon. Ina-update din ako ng secretary ko about work and so far they're doing fine without me. Mika and Shy were out buying stuff for Shy that she can use at school. I gave her a budget for her things, she's my scholar, anyway.

I turned around when I heard the door at back closes. Sebastian was dress in a white suit and slacks paired with a black leather shoes.

Is he going somewhere?

"Where are you going?" I asked him. He looks at me, blankly as he fix his things.

"Work," he simply answered. I scoffed as I heard what he said. Nilapag ko ang laptop sa coffee table ko at hinarap siya.

"You're still going to work there?" I asked in disbelief.

"Oo, may problema ba?" he rebutted. I huffed as I cross my arms in front of my chest.

"Quit, I'll talk to some of my business partner to give you a position in their company—"

He didn't let me finish my sentence as he laughs and cut me off. "Iyan na naman? Ilang beses ko ba sasabihin na ayaw kong magkaroon ng backer sa pag-aapply ng trabaho? Hindi mo ba maintindihan 'yon?" he asked, annoyed.

"I'm not backing you up! I'm just helping you to find a decent job," I explained.

I heard him sigh and put his things on the table. "Parang gano'n pa rin 'yon. Saka isa pa, hindi ba desente ang trabaho ko ngayon? Hindi naman illegal ang trabaho ko ah?"

Natuptup naman ang mga labi ko ng sabihin niya 'yon. Hindi naman sa sinasabi kong hindi desente ang pagbabartending, it was just that... Nevermind.

"Bakit ba gustong-gusto mo pa ring magtrabaho do'n? Gusto mo bang makita ulit 'yong babaeng 'yon?" I changes the subject but immediately rejected it. I chooses the wrong topic. Why did I ask him about that?

"Babae?" he asks confusely.

"Don't act like you don't get what I mean," I stated.

"But I don't really get it."

I sigh. "Okay, remember you called her 'Love'?" I asked him.

"Love?" he repeated.

"Yes, the girl you called love last night..." I said. "We were just starting our deal yet you're already flirting with someone, you even call her, Love? You're so corny," I added, grimacing my face showing that I'm disgusted by the pet name.

"Lav? You mean Lavenia?" he said, smirking.

L-Lavenia? Is that her name? Kaya ba Lav ang tawag niya?

I heard him chuckled kaya naman pinukulan ko siya ng matalim na tingin.

"Wait, I guess you're misunderstanding something. I'm not flirting with her, and also I didn't call her love like L-O-V-E, it's Lav, L-A-V," he corrected. I want to wipe that annoying smirk from his face.

'Oof, that's embarrassing,' Megan commented. I just ignore her ang cleared my throat.

"I didn't asked you to explain what her name is," I defended pero tinawanan niya lang ako.

He took a step forward until he reaches the sofa, where I am standing right now. He lean forward so I instinctively lean backward.

"If you're jealous, just tell me... Because I'll explain to you that you don't have to be jealous because I am yours..." he whispered, emphasizing the last 3 words. I flinch when he suddenly give me a peck on my left cheek.

"Bye...Hon," he teased and move backward. I watched him leave the unit still in dazed.

"Bye, Hon!" I heard someone teases as the door closes. I just realized that Mika and Shy was standing near the door.

Para silang mga kiti-kiti sa gilid habang inuulit ang sinabi ni Sebastian. I rolled my eyes and grab my laptop, but they keep on teasing me.

"Shut up!" I snapped before entering the room and my face reddened.