Let's Talk About Us [Completed]

62. Go Home

"Oo nga pala. Where did you go earlier? Why did you get lost sa campus?" kaswal na tanong ko.

Muli siyang nagpout at tumingin ng diretso sa aking mga mata. "Mom, I'm sorry. I wanted to play hide and seek with you." At mukhang nagpapaawa pa!

Pinisil ko ang kanyang maliit na ilong. Agad naman iyong namula. "You should have informed me. Hindi yung bigla ka nalang nawala. You scared me, you know..."

"I'm sorry. I won't do it again, Mom." She sounded so sweet.

Ngumuso ako at hinalikan siya sa noo. I can't resist this little girl's charm. "Oo na. You better not do it again. Kapag nagkataon, baka makidnap ka. Cute ka pa naman! Naku! Ayoko mawalan ng kasing cute na anak na katulad mo."

Venice giggled and cuddled close to me. Hayyy... Venice, thanks for making me feel good despite my uneasiness.

Sinilip ko ang mukha niya. Nagtataka pa rin ako sa nangyari. "Venice, how did you meet that woman from earlier?" I asked curiously.

"I decided to hide at the garden. So, I ran as fast as I could, but I tripped on the loose stones."

Nanliit ang mga mata ko sa narinig. "What? Are you okay? May sugat ka ba? Saan ang masakit?"

"I'm fine, mom. The woman helped me to stand..."

Niyakap siya ng mahigpit. Ang bata talagang ito! Buti nalang, hindi masama ang pagkakadapa niya kundi makokonsensya talaga ako ng sobra.

"Kilala mo ba yung babae? I didn't get to thank her for helping you."

Hindi siya nakasagot agad. Naramdaman ko ang malalim na paghinga ni Venice. Sinilip ko ang mga mata niyang naka half-close na. Mukhang inaantok na nga siya.

"I did and then, dad came." She said before she fell asleep.

Sleep isn't my friend right now. I am exhausted but sleep seemed unlikely. Iniisip ko si Arthur. Mag-aalas nuebe na pero hindi pa siya umuuwi. Now, I'm started to get worried as fvck.

Tumayo ako at nagtungo sa aming kwarto para kunin ang phone ko. Actually, kating kati na ako itext siya kanina pero ayoko namang makaistorbo kaya hindi ko ginawa. Siguro naman pwede na siyang itext ngayon. Besides, 9PM na at nag-aalala na talaga ako.

To: Boss Babe

Arthur, where are you now? I'm worried.

Hindi ko pa nahihit ang send ay biglang bumukas ang pinto. Arthur came in looking so tired and cranky. Agad kong nilapag sa bedside drawer ang phone ko at tahimik na sinundan siya ng tingin.

"Arthur," I swallowed audibly. Ni hindi niya man lang ako nililingon at patuloy sa paghahanap ng masusuot sa cabinet. "Sorry pala sa nangyari kanina. I was so careless."

He didn't answer. He doesn't seem to be in the mood to talk to me o baka galit siya sa pagiging pabaya ko?

"A—rthur..."

Napakagat ako sa labi nang nilingon niya ako sa wakas. His hard expression made me silent for a second. "Let's talk about it tomorrow, Alison. I'm damn drained."

Pinapanuod ko lang siya habang naghahanap ng masusuot sa kanyang cabinet. I don't want to sleep while there's a tension between us. I can't wait for the next day to fix this. We can't sleep it out.

"Hindi man lang ako nakapagpasalamat sa babae kanina. Venice told me na tinulungan daw siya nung babae. Do you know her?" Stupid. Of course, he knows her. Tinawag ng babae si Arthur sa nickname na 'Art'. They're probably close.

Mabilis siyang nagsuot ng panibagong shirt bago niya ako nilingon. His eyes were flaming mad. Did I say something wrong?

"I don't wanna talk about her. Matulog ka na."