Maybe because Maica insisted him to love dogs. I don't like them either.
"Okay, that's enough." I get him from the tub and let him changed on his own.
It's already six in the evening so the maids have already prepared the supper. Edrian went out from our room and I saw him ran on Haylee's room. In just a second, the woman opened it and welcomed him with her wide smile. I interrupted them.
"The dinner is ready."
"U-Uh, o-okay."
Back to Haylee's Point of View
This is my first ever dinner with someone! As in ito talaga, nakakailang dahil sa ibang bahay ako makikikain pero wala naman akong magagawa. Para sa pagkakaalam ko, ngayon na nagsisimula ang trabaho ko.
"The wedding will take its place here on Saturday." natigil ako sa pagsubo at tumingin sa harap na upuan.
"P-Pwede bang i move sa Sunday?" kahit takot ay nagsalita ako, tinaasan niya ako ng kilay at nagpunas ng kaniyang bibig.
"And why is that?" nilunok ko muna lahat ng nasa bibig ko bago binitawan ang kutsara.
"May importanteng ganap sa petsang iyon. Pwede ba?" iyon ang araw ng birthday ni Lily, hindi ko pwedeng balewalain iyon. "Hindi naman sa demanding ako pero kailangan lang talaga."
"Okay. We can move it on Monday." teka, Monday? "There's an important thing for me to do on Sunday. Rest when you have finished." saka na siya umalis. Nakahinga ako ng maluwag at tinapos ang pagkain. Magliligpit na sana ako nang pigilan ako ng mga yaya. Ipipilit ko pa sana pero naalala kong first time ko nga pala dito kaya hinayaan ko na lang sila.
Paalis na sana ako nang may pumasok sa kusina. Kung hindi ako nagkakamali, iyun ang nakasalubong ko nu'ng isang araw.
"Ow, hi! We met again, miss Haylee." nagtaka ako nang sambitin niya ang pangalan ko. Tumawa siya at lumapit. "I'm Angelo Rhenz, Dwayne's friend. Nice to meet you M-Haylee. Don't be afraid of me, mabait ako. Since hindi ko naabutan si Dwayne dito, can I have some talk with you?" tumango ako sa kaniya nang hindi nagsasalita. Ngumiti siya at sinabing pumunta daw kami sa sofa.
"Maids, prepare us some tea." utos niya pa bago makaalis sa kusina.
What a wonder. Nakapasok siya kahit hindi alam ni Mr. Chen? Nakapag utos pero kaibigan lang siya? Ganu'n ba sila ka close? Okay, ayoko na lang mag talk.
"Do you know that you look like someone? No offense but I guess, Edrian taught you were his mother cause you have the same look as her." nadismaya kaagad ako, oo nga pala. Paano ako magugustuhan ng isang bata basta basta?
"Uhm, pwede bang magtanong?" he snapped and nodded. "Nasaan na ang mommy ni Edrian?" tumawa siya ng mahina.
"Not that topic, miss Haylee. I know that you are full of questions, let me answer them." kumindat pa siya, kung akala niya ay napopogian ako sa pagwapo gwapo niya, huh, asa siya.
"K-Kasal na ba dati si mr. Chen?" tumawa ulit siya, takas mental ba ito? Ibang iba siya kay Mr. Chen, sa tutuusin.
"No. And if you're wondering why he have a son, he just adopted Edrian. He never loved someone before. That man is hard like rock to fall in love. Edrian have a trauma back then that's why he doesn't want anyone to touch him, lucky you and Dwayne. And if you're asking where are his parents? They're dead." nanlaki ang mga mata ko, talaga?! P-Patay na sila?
"U-Uh, wala na bang kapatid si Mr. Chen?"
"Oh, come on. Why don't you just call his name? Mr. Chen is so professional, cut it up. He does have a sibling but it's a long story. How about you? I already know that you have two sisters. Where are your parents?" napayuko ako at nanginig ang mga labi. Nahalata niya agad. "Oh, sorry about it. Let me change the topic. Do you have boyfriends before?" marahan akong umiling.
"H-Hindi napasok sa isip kong magkaroon ng nobyo." nag init ang aking mga mata nang may maalalang karanasan. Iwinaksi ko kaagad ang memoryang iyon sa isip ko at hinarap na lang si Angelo.
"Oh, I see. There's not much information about you right? Then let me know if what is your reaction when Dwayne offer something like this?"
"H-Hindi ko alam. Ito ang pinakamalapit na option kaya kinuha ko na, at saka nakaramdam ako ng awa kay Edrian at the same time, natuwa din."
"Did you already experience being in love?" umiling ako at uminom ng tsaa. Kahit ni minsan ay hindi ko pa iyun naranasan, kahit crush nga, e. "So you have are same with Dwayne. I wonder what is your relationship in the future. I'm looking forward onto it." tumayo siya at tumingin sa labas.
"It's nice talking to you, Haylee. It was like I was talking to an old friend of mine. I guess I have to visit her grave after talking to you." nangunot agad ang noo ko pero agad ding nawala nang may magsalita sa gilid ko.
"How the hell did you came here?"
"Oh, hi Dwayne. Hindi ka na nasanay, ako lang 'to. Of course I used my charm to the maids. By the way, it's nice talking to your future wife." sa akin naman lumingon si Mr. Chen. "It was like I'm talking to an old friend. Gusto ko tuloy bisitahin ang puntod niya pagkatapos makausap si Haylee." binalik niya din agad ang tingin kay Angelo.
"She's not her, Angelo."
"Of course, I know. I just feel like she is. Don't worry, I don't have the same feelings towards her. I only loved one woman." nangunot na muli ang noo ko. Ano ba itong pinag uusapan nila sa harap ko?
"Now, get the hell out of my house."
"Easy, Mister Chen. Hahaha, I came here to talk to you but it seemed like you already knew what happened to our shareholder. Okay, I'll take my leave now. It's nice to meet and talk to you again, Haylee." nginitian ko lang siya ng tipid hanggang sa makalabas na siya.
"What did he told you?" nakatalikod na si Mr. Chen pero alam kong ako ang kausap niya.
"U-Uhm. Wala naman. Unting usap lang. Can I have a question, mr. Chen?" buong lakas kong tanong iyon. Hindi siya tumango at sumagot pero alam kong naghihintay siya. "Did you hired me to be Edrian's mother because I looked like someone? Is Edrian thinks that I'm her real mother?" hindi ko alam pero nag init ang mga mata ko. Bigla siyang humarap sa akin na magkasalubong ang mga kilay.
"Maybe yes. Because you have the same face as his mother." tuluyan nang gumuho ang mundo ko, akala ko, may makakakita na ng totoong ako. Hanggang ngayon ba naman, anino pa rin ako? Tsaka bakit ba ako nasasaktan na iba ang tingin sa akin ni Edrian? Dapat hindi na ako nag iisip, trabaho lang naman ito.
"O-Okay, thank you for answering my question, Mr. Chen." tumalikod na ako at umakyat ng hagdan. Natigil ako sa pag hakbang nang tumulo ang mga luha ko, agad kong pinunasan ang mga iyon dahil bakit nga ba ako umiiyak?
KAILAN KAYA AKO MATATANGGAP NG ISANG TAO BILANG AKO? LAGI NA LANG BA, HABANG BUHAY NA LANG BANG MAGIGING ANINO AKO?
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Astrid Manunulat
Chapter 05.-Anino.
Beginne am Anfang
