All at Once (Absinthe Series 6)

Kabanata 27

Kabanata 27

All at Once

One thing that I dread the most is being put into an awkward situation. I am not always comfortable with crowds but more importantly, I am not comfortable around people whom I know have a grudge on me. Hindi ko alam kung kailangan ko bang punain ang masasamang tinging dumadapo sa akin o babalewalain ko na lang. But I can't always put a blind eye to such behavior, lalo na kung alam ko namang wala akong ginagawang masama.

Pasimple akong huminga nang malalim. I can't bear Dilly's presence. Mas lalong hindi rin ako sanay na magkasama kami sa iisang mesa at kumakain. Something unexpected happened. Mom just happened to pull me on a Christmas dinner. Si Tito Arthur ay may balak namang imbitahan ako, what I just didn't know is that Dilly and Dalton don't have any idea that I was coming.

Nagdalawang-isip din naman ako kung pupunta ba. Knowing my last encounter with Dilly, I don't know if it's right to even face her. Ayaw ko ring masira ang Pasko nang dahil lang sa hindi namin pagkakaunawaan.

She was shocked when I stepped foot inside their mansion. Si Dalton ay nakaupo lang naman kanina at wala namang pakialam na naroon ako. Dilly just had the most violent reaction of all. Kita ko sa mukha niya na parang uurong na siya sa gagawing selebrasyon. She had no choice because Tito Arthur requested us to settle on the dining room already.

"How's your business running, Phaedra?" tanong ni Tito Arthur sa akin.

Naibaba ko ang aking kubyertos at napapahid ng cloth sa gilid ng aking bibig. "It's doing good, Tito."

"Ang sabi ng Mommy mo ay magtatayo ka pa raw ng isa pang branch?"

"Ah, plano pa lang naman po. I'm still thinking about it. I barely even manage a single branch so I was thinking thoroughly."

Tumango si Tito, "That's good. Hindi talaga madali ang magbusiness, let alone own one."

Ngumiti na lang ako. Mom held his arm to tell him about something. Napangiti lang si Tito at nagpatuloy sa pagkain. Napasulyap ako kay Dilly. She was quietly slicing the ham. Sumulyap rin siya sa akin, madilim ang mukha.

I don't know why she looked murderous. Wala naman akong ginagawa. If she thinks that I am stealing the attention of her dad, then she's wrong. Nagmamagandang-loob lang naman ako. Tito Arthur invited me. My mom did too. Sapat na iyon para malamang welcome naman ako dito sa bahay nila kahit papaano. Dalton, however, don't display much affection. I think Dalton doesn't dislike me. Talagang masungit lang ito at hindi masyadong palakausap sa tao.

Medyo binilisan ko ang pagkain. I didn't plan on staying here longer because I also have another dinner to attend to. Babalikan ko ang cafe para makipagsalo-salo sa aking mga staff na nagplano ng aming Christmas party. They wanted it on Christmas eve. Ang iba kasi sa kanila ay taga-probinsya pa at hindi makakauwi dahil punuan na. Ang sabi ay babawi na lang daw sila sa Bagong Taon.

"Eat some more, Phaedra. After this, we can talk more at the receiving room," untag ni Tito Arthur at mukhang binabantayan din ang pagkain ko.

"Phaedra won't stay long, honey. May hinanda kasing party sa cafe niya at doon sila magc-celebrate," sabi ni Mommy.

"Oh," tumaas ang dalawang kilay ni Tito. "That's good."

"Iyong ibang empleyado ko po kasi ay hindi nakauwi noong nakaraan. I decided to give them a little party to celebrate the holidays."

"Then you could bring some food for them. Marami naman ang pagkain dito at hindi rin naman mauubos. Might as well share it to your employees."

"Naku, Tito, huwag na po." I waved my hand and smiled.