He Was My Cousin

Chapter 22

Chapter 22
Straw

"Aya, Paolo's here!" Umalingawngaw ang boses ni Mama mula sa baba. I immediately comb my hair one last time and went downstairs. Nakasuot ako ng kaswal na yellow dress.

"Hi," Paolo greeted me. Tinanguan ko naman siya. It's Saturday. Ngayon ang schedule ng unang taste test sa ABF Cafe at tulad ng sinabi niya sa akin, nandito siya ngayon upang sunduin ako. It's past six in the evening.

"Should we eat dinner first? Nagluto yata si Mama," I suggested to Paolo.

He smiled. "No need. There will be food later," he retorted. "Shall we go?" Agad kaming nagpaalam kay Mama at dumiretso na sa pagbyahe. Malapit lang naman ang ABF sa bahay namin.

Habang nagda-drive siya ay nagnakaw ako ng tingin sa kanya. Thoughts were running inside my head... Wednesday pa kami huling nagkita. I wonder, did their event went well yesterday?

My event in my school went well... Our Buwan ng Wika event was a success. Maraming mga magulang ang nagpunta. They seemed to enjoy the program and the kids were able to perform their respective parts. How about their event at Dugout? Did it turned out well, too?

I reprimanded myself right away. I should not intrude, yes, but I just found myself suddenly wanting to know what's happening to his life beyond the walls of my school. Where does he go after working at my school? Tuwing kailan siya pumupunta sa Dugout? Sa ABF? I wanted to know all those and I know I shouldn't. Ano naman ang pakialam ko sa schedule niya, hindi ba?

I sighed. Paolo cocked his head to my direction, "You okay?"

"Yeah..." Humarap na lang ako sa may bintana para hindi na niya ako usisain pa.

Ilang saglit ang lumipas ay nag-ring ang phone niya. "Hello, Manang Mel--" he stopped when he realized I was there. Napakuha ako bigla ng cellphone ko upang magpanggap na busy. He must not have liked the idea that I was listening to his calls! Lalo na't itinanong ko 'yung tungkol kay Vienne...

Me:
Ellatot, are you available next Saturday?

Nag-type ako ng text kay Ella pero naririnig ko pa rin ang pakikipag-usap ni Paolo sa telepono. It's not like I could filter what my ears could hear!

"Okay lang 'yun. Baka dumaan ako sa susunod na linggo para sabay na rin sa renta ngayong buwan."

"Baka hindi ho." Tumawa siya. "Medyo busy 'yun. Sa susunod siguro."

"Sige ho, papaabisuhan ko na lang kayo kung darating ako. Kung may kailangan pa, sabihan niyo lang ako."

He then ended the call. Tapos ay tumingin siya sa may gawi ko.

"Kung gusto mong hindi ko naririnig 'yung mga phone calls mo, then go somewhere private. Hindi ko naman mafi-filter 'yung naririnig ng tenga ko," mahina kong bulong.

"It's nothing," he said. "I don't mind, really. Landlady ko lang 'yon."

My forehead cringed. "Landlady? I thought you were living in Imperial Towers II?"

He was tapping the steering wheel when he retorted, "I meant the landlady of my apartment building."

"You have an apartment building?" gulat kong tanong. I didn't know about it, but then again, what do I really know about Paolo Romualde? All I knew about him were the remnants of the Paolo Salvatorre I knew.

"Yeah," he said as he turned to the corner.

"Saan? When did you have it? Ilang units? Malayo ba rito?" Hindi ko mapigilan ang pang-uusisa.

"It's not in Manila... I started paying for it on installments when I passed the board exam. Hindi ko kaya ang land rates sa Manila. Then Mom found out about it and asked me if she could buy the land for me because it was my birthday. Ayaw ko, syempre, dahil gusto ko pera ko ang ipambili ro'n. But she was so persistent and I wanted the building so bad... so I let her. Ako na lang ang nagpondo sa renovation."