Hue in my Palette (Hue Series #1)

Hue #12

Soon it will be M.D. and I am looking forward to it.

"You know what, ikaw lang ang spoiled brat na kilala ko na marunong mag-sorry so okay apology accepted," sabi niya sa normal na tono, may maliit na kurba sa gilid ng labi.

"Spoiled brat?" Hindi ako umangal. Totoo naman.

I was, well I am still. The only difference is that I know how to use this privilege of being a spoiled brat. I can get everything I want. I don't even have to cry to get it. And that's probably the reason why I learned to be grateful because I know not all were the same as mine.

My parents also taught me that getting everything I want comes with great responsibility. That I should also learn to care for others. Of course, to apologize when I did something wrong.

"Yeah. I admit it. But who's the other spoiled brat?" I raised my brow, sounding jealous.

"Hmm. There's a lot but there's one at your back," sabay kaming tumingin sa direksyon na sinabi niya.

May dalawang babae na nakasuot ng nurse uniform na mukhang nagtatalo. Medyo malayo sila kaya hindi ko marinig ang sinasabi pero malapit na silang magsabunutan.

"That's Madrigal and Delos Rios. Mamaya ay magsasapakan na sila...but Delos Rios is the spoiled brat and Madrigal's always the peacekeeper. Sasapakin na niya mamaya si Delos Rios."

"And, why?"

He shrugged. "None of our business...for now. Let's go, my mother is waiting."

Hindi ko na pinansin. Good luck na lang sa kanila. Sumunod na ako sa kanya. Doon na nabuo ang kaba sa dibdib ko habang papalapit. Ang dami ko nang iniisip. Paano kung ayaw nila sa akin tapos bigyan nila ako ng isang milyon para layuan ang anak nila? Pero masyado naman mababa ang isang milyon, bilyon na lang siguro?

Kidding aside...what am I going to do? This is the first time I experienced this. Nakilala ko na rin naman ang Mommy ni River noong fuck buddy kami pero syempre iba ngayon—dahil gustong gusto ko talaga si Treston!

"Good morning, Ma," bati ni Treston sa Mama niya na nakaupo na sa kama habang nakasandal ang likod nito sa headrest. Nakapatong ang kamay nila sa maliit na lamesa tapos may tubig doon.

"G-good morning, anak..." sagot nito tapos hinalikan siya ni Treston.

Nanahimik ako sa gilid dahil hindi ko alam kung ano ba ang dapat na sabihin ko. Biglang naputol ang dila ko. Hala...kailangan na maayos ang mga salitang lalabas sa bibig ko dahil baka magulat sila.

Oh, crap! Paano ko ba gagawing malumanay ang boses ko kasi para akong laging naghahamon ng away? Ang hirap naman nito.

"Is she the girl you were talking about?" sabay silang tumingin sa akin.

Amp! Talking about means kinu-kwento ba ako ni Treston sa Mama niya. Ano naman kaya ang sinasabi niya? Gosh! Sinasabi ko na pakipot lang talaga si Treston. I am sure na gusto niya rin ako. I can't wait for 100th day...sana bumilis ang pagikot ng orasan.

"Yes, Mom. She's the one cooking the food for you. She's Naia, and Naia, she's my mother," Treston introduced.

It was an awkward smile at first. I didn't know how to react. I was stiffed while waiting for her mother's reaction but as soon as she smiled...I felt relaxed.

"Hi. Nice to meet you po," yumuko ako at ngumiti sa kanila.

"Nice to meet you, Naia. You can call me Tita Trisha," she said.

"Yes, Tita Trisha."

Uhm...natulala pa ako. Ano nga ba ang susunod na sasabihin ko? Tumingin ako kay Tres tapos wala siyang sinabi. Hinayaan niya lang ako. Of course, I need to do well, especially that he allowed me to meet his mother even though I wasn't sure why he allowed me to. Mamaya ko na lang siya tatanungin.

"Uh, here...I cooked something for you."

Agad na kinuha ko ang hawak ko na bag tapos tinulungan ako ni Treston para ilagay sa lamesa ang mga tupperware na may lamang pagkain. Dinamihan ko talaga ito para may makain pa sila mamaya.

"Thank you for this. Gustong-gusto ko talaga ang luto mo kaya nga lagi kong sinasabi kay Tres na ipakilala ka na sa akin. Ang kulit-kulit. Kung hindi pa ako magtatampo ay hindi ka niya ipapakilala." Ngumiti sila. Aww...ang ganda, nakuha ni Treston ang hugis ng mukha pati na rin ang mata sa kanila.

"Nako, sanay na po ako kay Treston. Siguro po...ang dami niyang sinasabi na bad tungkol sa akin," sabi ko. Umupo ako sa dulo ng kama.

Isa-isa kung binuksan ang mga tupperware tapos inabot sa kanila ang kutsara. Tumulong din si Treston tapos siya na ang kumuha ng kutsara para alalayan ang Mama niya habang ako naman ay nakatingin lang sa kanila.

"Did you eat?" Inabot sa akin ni Treston. "Hindi kita susubuan kaya gamitin mo kamay mo..."

"Tres...ang sungit mo na naman..." Tinapik siya ng Mama niya. "She likes you."

"Ma..." Treston just made a small smile. "Kain ka na lang po."

"Kain ka rin. Ako na lang magsusubo sayo," I joked and to my surprised Tita Trisha agreed.

"Haynako, iha. Gawin mo nga 'yan," sabi niya nang nakita sa akin. "Alagaan mo 'tong anak ko. Kunwaring matigas lang yan, but he's fragile."

"Halata mo nga..." I giggled. "De bale, alam ko naman po na laging busy si Treston kaya ako na lang po ang mag-aalaga sa kanya kaso hindi naman niya po ako gusto."

Tumawa ang Mama ni Treston tapos si Treston ay masama na ang tingin sa aming dalawa. "I'm here, guys. Please take note of my presence."

Hindi na namin siya pinansin pa. Kumain ako habang nakikipag-usap sa Mama niya. Nawala na ang kaba ko. Ang sarap sa pakiramdam. Parang ang tagal ko na silang kilala. Mabuti na lang ay hindi naman pala sila nakakatakot—si Treston talaga dahil pakiramdam ko ay lagot na naman ako sa kanya sa sobrang daldal ko ngayon.

"Is it true that you like my son?"

I nodded. "Yes po. And, if you're going to ask me why...I really don't know. I just like how patience he is...caring lalo na sa mga stray cats, sana nga ay pusa na lang po ako," malakas na tumawa ako tapos medyo nahiya ako kasi may mga tao sa kabilang bed.

"Yes, he really likes cats but unfortunately he cannot have one because he's being taking care of me."

"Ma..." Treston said, "Ayan na naman kayo."

"What, Treston? I am just being real. If Naia really likes you then she has to know the truth about you. It's not too late to back-out, okay?" His mother said as she turned to me with a smile.

Kinuha niya ang kamay ko at hinawakan ito. "Naia, I really appreciate that you like my son but you have to know that if you continue liking my son—you also have to like me."

"Tita, I like you po. Baka nga po ako ang hindi niyo gusto."

"Should I get out here? Baka lang naman..." Treston scoffed. "Mom, stop. I already told her that I don't like her."

"You don't want to like her...nor you don't want to like someone Treston because you were afraid that they won't like me...that they won't actually take me with you."

Bigla akong natahimik sa sinabing pag-amin ni Tita Trisha. Nanlamig ang kamay ko na hawak nila. Perhaps, this is the reason why Treston was avoiding me...or not only me but the love that's trying to come in his way.

"Naia," she turned to me again. "Liking me means that I am Treston's priority, next is medicine, and then maybe you'll come third or fourth versus the stray cats and his work," his mother chuckled a bit and then caressed my cheeks as she seriously faced me again.

"Thank you for taking care of my son, Naia. I really appreciate it...but you also have to know that we aren't like you."

"But...Tita, it doesn't matter to me. I don't care about someone's status if that's what you're thinking. I know how to do household chores. I am not a picky eater...and—"

"Sometimes it does matter, Naia, especially when you realize that I won't be able to give you everything you want..." Treston picked something from his pocket and handed it to me, staring at the gold bracelet in my wrist. "I can only give you a crochet bracelet."