Against the Tides

CHAPTER 4

My bedroom is gorgeous as hell, but I can't even focus on praising it or touring around. The moment I met Uncle… that man, Uncle Elias. Thank goodness Dad immediately offered to give me a tour in my room.

“Ano baa!” naiirita kong sabi habang nakatihaya sa kama ko.

Bakit sa dami-daming pwedeng maging kapatid ng tatay ko, bakit siya?

Huminga ako ng malalim para makarelax. There is no need to panic, right? Kasi wala naman akong ginawang masama sa kanya or whatever. Maliban sa first meet namin, kasi in my defense, hindi ko naman alam na tito ko siya! At saka nakakainis din yung ginawa niya sa upper level ko.

Akala ko maiilang ako the rest of the day hanggang dinner, pero buti na lang talaga walang kamag-anak na available at wala rin yung Uncle ko na yun. Safe at last.

This is not a big deal, just small things.

My week has been spent like a daily normal routine. Laking pinagsasalamatan ko na palaging wala yung Uncle ko na yun; I mean, hindi kami nagkakasalubong. Much better.

“What? You must be kidding me? That…I mean, the Elias! Is your Uncle?” I glare at Jas for being dramatic.

Ngayon ko lang kasi naisipang sabihin sa kanya.

“And so?”

“Sayang. You can’t have him because he’s your Uncle.” I show her my middle finger.

Sa dami-dami ng pwedeng isipin na isyu, yan pa talaga.

Tumawa lang siya ng malakas. We were at the side of the school, waiting for my Dad’s driver. Nakiusap siya na kahit ngayong buwan, hatid sunod muna raw ako. Pinagbigyan ko na lang kasi nag-aadjust pa ako sa paglipat namin.

Jas continued to talk about something, especially Elias being my Uncle. Hindi ko na lang siya pinansin at baka mainis pa ako, magkagulo pa, mahirap na.

Napatigil ako nang makita ang isang sports car? Iniwas ko lang ang tingin ko at nilibot sa paligid baka makita ang kotse na palagi kong sinasakyan.

“Amm, Jade.” Lilingon na sana ako kay Jas nang mahagilap ko ang nakabukas na bintana ng sports car.

What the hell is this man doing here? What an entrance. We are being stared at by other students.

“Oh, Uncle. You’re here,” I said in a flat tone. He just looked at me coldly and got out of the car.

I don’t want to ask him why he’s here or what’s going on since I don’t want us to have a conversation. A normal greeting will do.

I looked at his clothes; he’s just wearing a white hoodie and cargo shorts, paired with his Nike slides.

“Is your class over?” He asked coldly, so I just nodded. I can feel Jas staring at us. I know she wants to react to something, but she’s just holding herself back.

“Good, let’s go home.” I sighed and watched him walk toward the other door and open it, waiting for me to get in.

“Bye, Jas!” I waved goodbye to her, and she just happily pushed me. Crazy.

Once I was inside, he closed the door and got on the other side. For several minutes we were just quiet until he spoke, which was unexpected.

“Did you eat already?” I looked at him, and he glanced at me quickly.

“Yeah,” I answered simply, even though I was starving. Our class ended early at 12 p.m., and I didn’t eat at school. I had planned for the driver and me to eat at Jollibee, but suddenly someone else picked me up.

“Well, I haven’t, so let's eat.” I frowned. I wanted to go home because I didn’t want to be with him longer.

I frowned more when we arrived at…Jollibee???

I looked at him in disbelief. It’s not that I dislike Jollibee, but with his aura it just doesn’t suit him. The well-known Elias?

“What?” He looked at me innocently and got out of his car. I was about to get out when I saw him circle around and open my door.

“Thank you,” I said. He locked his car and led the way to Jollibee.

Once we were inside, people were staring at him, especially the women. Well, I’m proud to say my damn uncle is indeed a handsome man. I gave him my order and walked to find some seats. I chose to sit at the back because he was attracting too much attention, and I felt awkward.

After a few minutes, he sits in front of me. He just looks at me coldly; hindi ko maiwasan na hindi mapalunok at maramdaman ang bilis ng t***k ng puso ko. He gazes at me as if he is... memorizing me. I shake my head and look away. Dahil sa gutom, kung ano-ano na ang naiisip ko.

“So you’re the daughter of my brother?” I click my tongue because of how hot his voice is. Parang mga London boys ang boses niya.

“Yes.”

“And unexpectedly, we met at…”

“At the parking lot of my school.” I smiled, recalling our first awkward encounter.

“Look, I’m not the asshole you think I am.” I chuckled. Good thing he knows my first impression of him based on what I saw. But I’m not judgmental, so I’ll stop making him feel like an asshole talaga siya.

“I’m sorry if I made you feel that way. Well, you can’t blame me; I saw how that girl cried because of you.” He nodded and licked his lips—damn.

“No worries, I’m a womanizer, yes. But I don’t force women.” I nodded.

Jade, stop being judgmental. This is not you.

“I’m sorry,” I said genuinely. Kung ano man ang pagitan ng babae, labas na ako doon at hindi alam ang exact story para husgahan siya.

I blush when he chuckles.

“Stop being so formal. You’re 22; I’m just 26.” Yeah, he’s indeed younger than I thought my uncle was in his 40s.

“Yeah, I’m just being respectful since you’re my uncle.” He licked his lips again.

"Save the respect. It's awkward. I look more like your boyfriend than your uncle," he said in his deep, seductive voice with a smirk.