UNA ROSA

Chapter 43-The Unusual Mail Delivery

When I picked up Nat from her apartment, the first thing she asked was if I was okay.

I stared at her for a long time, searching my brain for answers.

Should I share the complicated love story of my grandparents?

But before I could open my mouth, Nat placed a reassuring hand on my arm.

"Parang ang lalim nang iniisip mo. Pero okay lang kung ayaw mong sabihin. I'm here to help. Alam mo iyan."

Hindi ko na napigil ang sarili ko.

Nakinig lang siya hanggang matapos ko ang summarized version ng nangyari.

"Oh my God. Parang teleserye ang lovelife ng lola mo. Pero paano mo ibibigay ang sulat? Di ba may pinirmahan ka na contract that clearly states na delivery lang ang gagawin natin and then aalis na din tayo?"

"I was thinking of that on my way here. I have the letter and it's burning a hole in my pocket."

"At sigurado ba tayo na ang celebrant ang tao na hinahanap mo?"

"Do you think Lexie has more than one grandmother na seventy-five years old?"

"It's not possible pero what if meron? Remember, she has two sets of grandmother. Iyong sa nanay at sa tatay niya."

Napaisip ako.

Pero kung sinuman ang Aurora na hinahanap ko, at least alam ko na ang pangalan niya.

"I really have to find a way to sneak inside the event. The only way I will find out is if go there and look for her."

"Paano kung mahuli ka ng security? Worse, paano kung hindi tayo bayaran?"

Nag-isip ako.

I couldn't risk not getting paid for this delivery.

Si Nat at Diana ang nagprovide ng mga bulaklak.

Nang hindi ako sumagot, si Nat na ang nagsalita.

"Ganito na lang. Let's just deal with this one at a time. Unahin natin ang delivery tutal iyon naman ang priority. I will drive on the way there para makapag-isip ka ng gagawin mo."

Habang nasa biyahe ay hindi ko pa din kung paano ibibigay ang sulat.

Tahimik din si Nat.

She had her eyes on the road while I just stared out the window.

Masyadong risky kung lulusot ako sa security.

But this is the only chance I have to give the letter to Aurora.

That is if she's still alive.

Ang biyahe ay mahaba at parang hindi matatapos.

Bukod sa matraffic on the way to Rizal, magulo ang isip ko.

Puwede akong kasuhan ni Lexie ng breach of contract.

Ang hindi pagbabayad sa mga orders ay mas magaan kumpara sa demanda.

Gusto ko pa bang dagdagan ang mga problema ko?

"Nandito na tayo."

Pinarada niya ang truck sa bakanteng lote sa tabi ng refrigerated van na nagdeliver ng mga bulaklak.

There were other vehicles parked there.

Some of them had the names of their businesses written on the side of the vehicle.

The caterer and those who will provide music were already there.

Tinanggal ko ang seatbelt at sumunod kay Nat.