Orphic Love

Chapter 36

Chapter 36
Magulang

"Mama," I said as I answered the call.

My right hand was holding on to the steering wheel. Blanko kong pinapanood ang ilang sasakyan na dumadaan. Ramdam ko ang mabilis na tibok ng aking puso dahil sa kaba.

"Nasaan ka, anak? Are you alright?" concern etched in Mama's voice.

Hindi ako nakasagot.

Hindi ito ang inaasahan kong maririnig sa kaniya. I thought she'll ask me about the news right away. Hell, I even thought she would confront me about Aedion as soon as I answered the call.

"Yuri?" she probed.

"Ah, ayos lang po ako, Mama. Nasa opisina pa, papunta pa lang po ako diyan," medyo gulat pa rin.

I heard Mama let out a sigh of relief on the other end.

"Huwag ka nalang kaya munang tumuloy, anak? I think it's better if you just stay at your place for tonight. Baka sundan ka pa ng media papunta rito!" nagpa-panic, tumaas ang boses niya nang sabihin ang mga huling salita.

Isa ito sa dahilan kung bakit pinili kong lumayo sa kanila. So I wouldn't make them worried. But hearing her say all these right now made me feel at ease. Tuluyan nang naglaho ang kabang nararamdaman ko kanina. A smile slowly creeped on my lips while I listened to her. Worried and overthinking. Typical Mama.

"Ayos lang po ako, Mama. Madalas na po akong masangkot sa mga ganitong issues, hindi naman ako pinupuntahan ng media. At kung mayroon man, hindi naman sila umaabot sa punto na pupuntahan ang tinitirhan ko. I'll be fine."

"Are you sure, hija?" puno ng pag-aalala niyang tanong.

"Opo,"

Hindi na rin nagtagal ang pag-uusap namin ni Mama. Hanggang sa matapos ang tawag ay hindi niya binanggit si Aedion o ang issue man. The only thing she was worried about was me.

Was it our conversation? Hearing her worried about me, o ang kaalaman na hindi pa niya alam ang tungkol sa amin ni Aedion kaya biglang gumaan ang pakiramdam ko. Or maybe all of it. I'm not sure. All I know is while I was on my way home, hindi na ako kinakabahan o ninenerbyos sa magiging pag-uusap namin ni Mama.

Malapit na ako sa amin nang tawagan ako ni Aedion. He also heard about the news so he called to ask if I was alright.

"I'm fine. Ikaw? Is everything alright over there?" I asked.

"Yeah. We received a few calls asking about the issue. There were some media personnel outside a while ago. Pinaalis no'ng dumating si Nicole." he said.

Nagpakawala ako ng malalim na buntong hininga. Ngayon pa lang nai-imagine ko na ang mga maaaring lumabas na balita bukas tungkol sa amin.

Damn it! It happened a few weeks ago, pero ngayon talaga nila piniling ilabas ito sa publiko kung kailan marami akong projects. They want to ruin my career so badly.

Lumiko ako nang marating na ang bahay namin. Huminto ako saglit habang binubuksan ang gate para sa akin.

"Nicole knows it's you, right?" I asked. I'm sure she does. One look at the picture, she'll easily recognize Aedion's uniform!

"Oo," diretso niyang sagot.

I sighed once more. "What did she say? She must've been angry because her business got involved,"

Knowing Nicole, I don't think she'll fire Aedion for something like this. Ngunit sigurado na magagalit iyon dahil madalas silang bibisitahin at tatawagan ng media dahil sa issue.

Aedion chuckled. "She wasn't angry, Yuri. She actually looked thrilled,"

My brows furrowed. I maneuvered my car and parked it inside our lot. Hindi pa man ako nakakalabas ay nakita ko na kaagad si Mama na nakatayo sa may pintuan, pinagmamasdan ako mula doon.