Oxford

Chapter 20

Ang shop naman ang tumatanggap ng pera kaya mabuting matulungan nila ako sa pagtahi ng mga pinapatahi ni Sack.

Inayos ko ang ibang tela na nagkalat para hindi masikip tignan. Tinabi ko lang muna yung pants na tinatahi ko bago pa makisingit si Oxford. Una kong kinuha ay yung slacks kasi mas madali lang yun matahi kaysa sa shirt. May kunting butas lang sa mga gilid at sa gitna. Napailing nalang ako habang tinatahi yun.

Ginanahan ata si Ares sa pagsipa. Kapag talaga lumaki si Kamp na barumbado ay ako ang makakalaban niya.

"Natotolerate mo ba si Ares? Alam mo na teenager siya diba? Mabuti at napapasunod mo siya." saad ko.

"We're just like that sometimes, but sometimes he has his own world. Hindi ko siya pinapakialaman sa ginagawa niya pero dahil sa nasa puder ko siya ay hindi siya dapat nag-iinarte."

"You're unbelievably strict godfather, daig mo pa ang tatay niya." sagot ko na nakangisi.

"I'm just like that to him." he replied, shrugging his shoulders.

Kinuha ko ang gunting para guntingin yung nasa kilikili ng shirt. "Pero bakit siya nasa sayo? Sorry kung nagtatanong ako pero curious lang ako sa parents ng bata." Binaliktad ko yung shirt. Yung inner part ay nasa harap na para masimulang tahiin.

"His mother got remarried to an Italian tycoon and his father was no longer breathing. Since his father and I were comrades and he's one of my best investors, sakin napiling tumira si Ares dahil lumaki siya na palagi akong nakikita at kasama kapag nasa Switzerland ako. He didn't want to live with his mother and her husband kaya ako ang naging legal guardian niya."

That explained why they got the connection. The teenage boy held to his striction. Parang mag-ama na ang dalawa dahil sa pagsasaway ni Oxford nito. Nadidisiplina naman niya si Ares. I thought Oxford would be a great father—really. I meant it.

He had the power to control over the children. Ano kaya yung klaseng imahe ni Oxford kapag may karga siyang bata? I bet that would be the most perfect picture.

"It must be so hard for the kid to be away with his family. At hindi ma-imagine na hindi lumalaki si Kamp sakin. Baka mabaliw ako kapag ibang tao ang mag-alaga sa kanya." sabi ko.

He chuckled as he crossed his arms upon his marbled chest. "I now feel the intensity of yours as a parent. Wait until your son gets involved into teenage fights. I'll be the one to consult your son how to fight properly."

I gasped in disbelief. How could he?

He laughed. He stood up from his seat.

Tumingin siya sa kanyang relo na nasa pulsuan bago inilagay sa bulsa ang isang kamay. "I see you later, Billie. May appointment pa ako mamayang two pm at kailangan ko pang iuwi si Ares."

I nodded with a small smile. "Ako na ang bahala sa uniporme ni Ares. At salamat sa paglibre ng smoothie." dagdag ko.

"It's my pleasure to treat you guys—especially you, Billie." he prompted smoothly. I looked around to see my employees if they heard what Oxford said.

Alam ko yung iba sa kanila ay nagbibingi-bingian lang kaya hindi maiwasang mag-init ang mukha ko sa sinabi ng lalaki sa harap ko. He knew how to treat a woman with his flowery words. My heart was flattered by his excessive tongue.

"T-Thanks again. And see you later too." I replied.

Tumango siya saka nagpaalam para umalis. Paglabas niya ng Threads ay sumandal ako sa monoblock chair saka huminga ng malalim. I felt numb when he'd existed from my shop. Parang tinanggalan niya ako ng kaluluwa at tinanggalan ng karapatan na huminga.