Quest For Justice

CHAPTER 33: Trip To Lameria

Love is not all about what the eyes see.

Magkatabi sina Cassandra at Jarred sa upuan sa eroplano. Gusto sana kasi ni Jarred to buy premium tickets pero gusto niya ay economy lang dahil 'yon ang tickets na nabili nina Myka at Jelo. Akala niya ay bibili ito ng premium pero economy rin ang binili nito.

Jarred helped her to put her luggage in the overhead bin. Ayaw pa sana niyang magpatulong pero inagaw na ni Jarred ang luggage niya. Napaangat na lang siya ng tingin dito habang ginagawa iyon.

Nang matapos ito at nagbaba ng tingin ay halos magdikit ang mga tungki ng ilong nilang dalawa.

"Hey, don't block the way." Isang puting emerikano na walang manners ang biglang sumita sa kanilang dalawa.

"Sorry." Binigyang daan ito ni Jarred pero siya ay hindi.

"Don't you know how to say, excuse me?" She glared at the foreigner.

Jarred grabbed her arm.

"I'm sorry. She's not normal." Jarred tittered. Hinigit siya ni Jarred pagilid.

Tumikhim lang ang foreigner at dumaan na.

She rolled her eyes at naupo na. "Akala mo kung sino malaki naman ang tiyan."

Jarred laughed. Naupo na ito sa tabi ng bintana.

"I told you to take the premium flight." He looked at her.

"Jarred, I'm just a kasambahay." Inirapan niya ito.

"Sa arte mo'ng 'yan? Sa Australian accent mo? Lumaki ka sa Australia no?" Jarred was low-key investigating her.

But, it was true. She grew up in Australia. She went back to the Philippines after graduating elementary there.

Mabuti na lang at malayo ang inuupuan nina Rima at Jelo sa kanila. Doon kasi ang mga ito nakupo sa unahan. Kaya hindi maririnig ng mga ito ang usapan nila.

"Gumagawa ka ng kwento, Jarred. Mahilig lang ako manood ng Peppa pig." Nag-iwas siya ng tingin.

Jarred's forehead creased. "Ano 'yong Peppa pig?"

She turned to him. Marahan siyang napatampal sa noo niya. "My gosh, Jarred. Hindi mo alam 'yon? It's a family of pork who speak English in Australian accent."

"Pork? Karne?" He wrinkled his nose.

She laughed when she realized her mistake. "I mean pigs."

"It's not Australian accent. It's a British accent." A little girl about 6-year-old, sitting with her mother on the other side of their seats interrupted them.

She laughed. Jarred laughed too.

"Gawa-gawa ng kwento." Panunuya ni Jarred sa kanya.

Pinandilatan niya ito ng mga mata at tinadyakan ang paa nito. Sabay humalukipkip at sinandal ang likod niya sa kinauupuan.

Napangiwi naman si Jarred sa sakit at hinablot nito ang buhok niya.

Pinilit niyang alisin ang kamay nito sa kanyang ulo pero hindi naman ito masakit dahil hindi naman nito hinahatak ang buhok niya. "Bitiwan mo."

"Bakit mo ko tinadyakan?" He titled his head.

"Jarred, isa. 'Wag mo akong paabutin sa tatlo. Let go!" She slapped his hand.

Binitiwan naman nito ang buhok niya. Sabay silang napatingin sa mga katabing pasahero na nakatingin sa kanila. They didn't even notice the steward standing beside them na may tulak-tulak na snack cart. The steward giggled.

She ignored the people and fixed her hair.

"Ano'ng inaayos mo sa buhok mo, wala namang pinagkaiba." He chuckled.

Inambaan niya ito ng suntok at agad naman itong nag-cover gamit ang ma-muscle na braso nito.

Umubo ang steward. "Excuse me po, ma'am, and sir. Here are your snacks."

The steward put their snacks on their respective folding tables.

Ngiting-ngiti ang steward habang pinagsisilbihan silang dalawa.

She frowned. "Miss, what's the problem?" Tinitigan niya ito sa mukha.

Umayos ito ng tayo at pinagpatong ang mga kamay nito sa bandang puson. "Ang sweet niyo po kasing mag-asawa, ma'am." The steward smiled.

She gagged and coughed. Tumuloy na ang steward sa unahang seats.

"Wow, Olivia, ha. Ikaw pa ang dehado sa atin?" Jarred shook his head, smiling.

"Bakit? You saw my true beauty. Hindi ka na-in love?" She lifted her head.

Jarred looked straight into her eyes. "Love is not all about what the eyes see, Oli."

"But a temptation." She smirked.

Jarred shifted his gaze away from her and relaxed back in his chair.

She was so satisfied with how Jarred avoided her gaze. Nagpapahiwatig lang ito na mas malakas na ngayon ang aura niya kaysa rito.

They remained silent because they had both fallen asleep during the flight.

Paglapag ng eroplano sa probinsiya ng Lameria ay noon lang sila nagising.

Pababa ay manghang-mangha siya sa ganda ng panahon na sumalubong sa kanyang pagdating.

She could not hide her amusement at the way she was gaping in awe.

Nang makalapag na ang mga paa niya sa teritoryo ng Lameria ay nakaramdam siya ng kakaibang pakiramdam na parang gusto niyang manatili sa lugar na iyon.

Ilang sandali pa niyang nilalasap ang kakaibang pakiramdam nang biglang may bumangga sa balikat niya.

"First time mo rito?" Jarred smirked.

"I told you I live here. But I am not going to take you there." Binitiwan niya ang dala-dalang luggage para makapag-halukipkip.

"Syempre hindi ka naman taga-rito, eh." Jarred chuckled.

Nainis siya kaya hinampas niya ito sa braso.

"Ate!" Sina Myka at Jelo ay papalapit na sa kanila.

Nang makalapit ay pinagalitan siya agad ni Myka dahil nakita nito ang ginawa niyang paghampas sa braso ni Jarred.

"Kuya, ano na namang ginawa mo kay Li?" Jelo shook his head.

Inakbayan ni Jarred si Jelo. "Ikaw, ano ang ginagawa mo rito?"

Jelo pushed him as his face reddened.

She smiled. These brothers are indeed the sweetest. However, Jarred and Verno were still on each other's bad side. Partida wala pa siyang ginagawa.

She changed her mind. Parang ang lame ng idea na pag-aawayin niya ang mga magkakapatid. She compared it to a mean elementary school girl's idea. In the end, magbabati rin naman ang mga 'yan. Ang plano niya ngayon was to use Jelo. This youngest of the Guzman brothers was the coolest of them all. Wala kasi itong hinahangad. He was not greedy. He was only ambitious of his athletic dream. Jelo was neutral too. Wala itong kinakampihan. He was never on anyone's side. But what if Jelo started coveting a position that only Jarred had been wanting? Even though Verno had no interest in that position, the Chairman had always expected Verno to accept it. If three persons start competing for the same position, the Chairman's plans will be disrupted. Napaka g*go naman kasi nito. Si Jarred ang nagpakahirap, Jarred had put forth a lot of effort for the company, but the chairman wanted Verno to take his place. Si Verno na walang pakialam sa kompanya nila. At least that's what her opinion about it, but that opinion of her didn't matter.

"Ate, tara na." Ipinulupot ni Myka ang braso nito sa braso niya.

She snapped out of her thoughts. When she was about to grab her luggage ay wala na ito sa tabi niya. Hindi niya man lang ito napansin sa lalim kanina ng iniisip niya.

She looked around. "Ang luggage ko, Myk?"

Myka flashed a smile at itinuro nito si Jarred na naglalakad na sa unahan nila dala-dala ang luggage niya. Myka tickled her.

Her brows furrowed as she observed that Myka wasn't holding her luggage too. Mabilis niyang ibinalik ang mga tingin kay Jarred na medyo nakakalayo na nauna na sa kanila, kasabay nito si Jelo sa paglalakad na dala-dala rin ang luggage ni Myka.

Her brow furrowed as she stared at Myka, who was blushing. She had no idea what pills those boys took to switch on their gentle side. Parang kanina lang ay aso't pusa pa sila ni jarred tapos ngayon ay nagpapaka-gentleman na ito. Were people always that complicated to understand?