Mnemosyne's Youth

Chapter 19.

That weekend, I went home. Maayos na sa bahay gaya ng sabi ni Kuya Yelo noong nakaraan. Our parents are okay now, parang walang nangyari. Papa Winter is taking care of Mommy like he usually do and Mom is taking care of the twins.

Pagka sabi ng maids na nandito ako, tumakbo ang dalawang bata papunta sa akin.

"You're here!" Naya squealed.
"Yes baby, did you miss ate?" Sunod sunod s'yang tumango sa tanong ko.
I patted her head, then I felt Maddox hug my leg. Lumingon ako sakanya at ngumiti.

I kneeled and tousled his hair pero mabilis s'yang pumulupot sa leeg ko.

"Aww, miss ako ng baby sungit?" Natatawa kong sabi pero ang bata lalo lang sumiksik sa leeg ko kaya binuhat ko nalang.

Lumapit ako kina Papa at Mommy para mag mano.

"Kumain ka na?" Tanong ni Mommy matapos ko silang batian.
"Yes My, ahm. Can I talk to Papa?"
Binalingan n'ya si Papa na nagtataka pero tumango parin s'ya.

"Sure, amin na muna si Maddox." Kinuha na n'ya sakin ang kambal.

"Maddox baby, come here. Ate will talk to Daddy." tahimik na sumunod si Maddox kahit na nakasimangot. I kissed his cheeks before giving him to Mommy Jel.

The three of them left the living room and only Papa and I remain.

"Pa.." I hesitated, and he just gaze down on me.
"Pinuntahan po ako ni Augutous."
Kumunot ang noo n'ya, bakit? linoko lang ba ako ng lalaking 'yon?

"This coming friday, he said there will be a celebration for the 90th anniversary of Crossaint Hotel."
Nag register sa mukha n'ya ang tinutukoy ko.
"I'm not sure yet, but September Castañeda talked to me about that."

Hindi pa sigurado, nakahinga naman ako kahit papaano.

"We're planning on sending the young one's on the party as the company representative, I was thinking maybe i could send Snow. I didn't know the young Castañeda concluded it would be you."

So it's not really me, but I can't blame the other party on thinking Papa will send me. Ate Snow is out of the country, they probably thought it's impossible for Papa to take his oldest daughter.

"You're too young for that Mnem, and I know you don't like socialising with elder people." Mahinahon ang boses n'ya, pero nakaramdam ako ng panibugho dahil hindi ako ang nasa isip n'yang i-presinta. I'm not too young, I know I can take care of my self. I've been trained to this, bakit hindi nalang ako?

Ako naman ang kasama nila palagi 'dito, why can't he trust me?

I took a deep breath and confidently said.."I'll go Pa, If you let me. I'll go, Ate Snow is busy in Rome, She can't come immediately. I'll take responsibility."

Mukhang nabigla s'ya sa narinig n'ya sa akin. He's looking at me, studying my face, making sure if I'm really serious.

"If you promised me you can take care of yourself." He said after a long silence.

"Opo, but do I need to come with Augustous, Papa?" Hindi ba pwedeng ako nalang?
"Why? I thought you like that man that's why you're insisting." My father said that, straight to my face with his unfazed expression.

"Papa!" nanlaki ang mata ko at hindi makapaniwala sa sinabi n'ya. "Of course not!" I strongly denied.

To my embarrassment he laughed. I made a face.
"Your brother told me a long time ago that you're having a crush with that Castañeda. It's fine, Mnem. You're young, it's normal to have a crush."

"Papa, no! hindi ko na 'yun crush!" napa-palatak pa ako at nag-dabog. Nakakainis naman, panira si Kuya Yelo, pati ba naman 'yon sinabi pa kay Papa!