I was torn between smiling or not when Hannah anchored her eyes on me. Wala naman akong problema sa kaniya. Wala rin siyang nagawang mali sa akin. It just that I somehow feel aloof towards her. Marahil ay dahil na rin sa naabutan ko sila ni Hellios na nag-uusap. Pero maayos na ako roon, wala namang problema.
Sa huli, ngumiti ako.
Nagbeso si Lola Carmina at ang kaibigan niya. Naiwan si Hannah, wala sa akin ang paningin kung hindi na kay Hellios. Binali-wala ko 'yon.
"I'm getting really bored here. Labas tayo?" bulong ni Hellios sa tainga ko habang ang mga mata ko ay nakay Hannah pa rin.
Nilingon ko siya. He's staring at me like I'm the only person he could ever see right now. Tipid akong ngumiti.
"Mamaya na. Baka hanapin tayo ng lola mo at magalit pa."
"We have no business here. Naipakilala na kita sa kanila. Maybe we can just go somewhere. Let's have a date."
Natawa ako. "Saan naman?"
"Anyway, this is my apo, Samael. The fine lady woman beside him is his girlfriend." Si Lola Carmina na umagaw sa atensyon namin ni Hellios.
Nang tingnan ko ang lola ni Hannah ay nakangiti ito sa gawin namin. Ganoon rin naman si Hannah, ngayon ay sa akin na nakatingin.
"She's also a servant in the Manila Cathedral. For sure you know her, Hannah?" sabi ni Lola Carmina.
"Yes, Madame. We have already met last week." mahinhin ang boses na sagot niya.
Ibinalik niya ang tingin kay Hellios. Sigurado ako dahil nasusundan ko ang direksyon ng mga mata niya. Awtomatiko akong napabaling sa katabi. I was somehow expecting that he's also looking at her. Nakahanda na akong makaramdam ng pait pero nang makita siyang sa akin nakatingin ay lihim na nagdiwang ang puso ko.
"You have a very handsome grandson, Carmina. Maganda rin ang nobya kaya naman bagay na bagay sila."
"And Chloe is really a good catch. Hindi ko masisisi ang anak ko kung bakit gustong-gusto niya ang dalawang ito na magkatuluyan." kwento ni Lola Carmina nang maupo sila.
Inakbayan ni Mrs. Deborah si Hannah at hinagod ang buhok nito. She had mermaid curly hair that looks really good on her. Kulay brown pa ito kaya naman nagmumukha talaga siyang diwata.
"I hope my Hannah here can find the right man for her. Masiyadong pihikan!"
"May karapatan maging pihikan dahil napakaganda niyang bata." sagot ni lola.
"Lalabas muna kami ni Chloe, 'la." biglang sabat ni Hellios dahilan para mahina kong tapikin ang kamay niyang nakahawak sa akin.
Lumingon sa gawi namin si Lola Carmina, na kay Hellios kaagad ang tingin bago sa akin.
"Aalis kayo? Mamaya na. Kakain na tayong lahat."
I blinked my eyes in embarrassment. "Ah, o-opo. Nagbibiro lang po itong si Hellios."
I gave him a quick glance and he's frowning at me. Nang makitang medyo masama rin ang tingin ko sa kaniya ay mabilis siyang nag-iwas at itinuon ito kina Lola Carmina.
He shrugged his shoulders. "Whatever my girl says goes. So yeah, we'll stay."
Humalakhak si Lola Carmina. Maging si Mrs. Deborah ay ganoon rin. Meanwhile, Hannah remains serious while looking at her phone.
"I already told you, Samael. Chloe here will break your horns. Nakahanap ka rin ng katapat mo!" natatawang saad ni lola.
"Everybody has a match and I'm glad she's mine."
Hindi ko mapigilan ang hindi mangiti sa tinuran na 'yon ni Hellios. Wala akong nagawa kung hindi ang tumungo at ilabas ang ngiti. He tightened his hold on my waist and pulled me closer to him.
Saktong nag-angat ng tingin si Hannah. Her eyes went to my waist, it stayed there for a couple of seconds. Nag-angat siya ng tingin, partikular sa akin. Nagkatitigan kami. Ngumiti siya. Ganoon rin ako.
Parang may mali.
Sa hapagkainan ay panay ang lagay ni Tita Empress ng mga pagkain sa plato ko. Hindi ko siya magawang suwayin dahil nahihiya ako. Napatingin ako kay Hellios, taas kilay itong nakatingin kay Tita Empress.
"Mama..." sita niya. Tumingin ito sa kaniya. "That's enough. Hindi na mauubos ni Chloe 'yang inilalagay mo."
Tiningnan ako ni Tita Empress. She suddenly wore an apologetic smile and stopped putting some dish on my plate.
"Sorry. Pakiramdam ko kasi anak na rin kita kaya gusto kitang asikasuhin mabuti. I suddenly miss of having a daughter."
Bakit? May anak ba siyang babae? Hindi ko naitatanong pa sa kaniya kung may kapatid siya dahil mukhang wala naman. Siya lang ang palagi kong nakikita at si Tita Empress.
Itanong ko kaya?
Huwag na, Chloe. Hayaan mong sila ang unang mag-kwento sa'yo.
"Anyway, Hannah, aside from being a church servant, what do you in life?" tanong ni Lola Carmina.
Eleganteng ibinaba ni Hannah ang baso ng juice niya at ngumiti kay Lola Carmina.
"I'm a Flight Attendant po."
"Wow! Which is airlines are you working in?"
"Qatar Airways, Madame."
"Oh, stop the madame! Just call me Lola Carmina. Hindi ka na iba sa akin lalo pa at apo ka nitong matalik kong kaibigan. But anyway, I love the uniform of Qatar Airways' cabin crew. Very elegant in their maroon theme!"
"That's true! I'll show you her picture while wearing that." si Mrs. Deborah saka kinuha ang cellphone sa bag.
She looks really excited and proud of Hannah. At nang mailabas ang cellphone at maipakita ang picture ni Hannah ay hindi ko napigilan ang mapatingin dito lalo pa at kaharap ko sila.
"She's very pretty and elegant, Debbie!" puri ni Lola Carmina.
I agree. Kitang-kita ang pagiging matangkad niya sa uniporme niya. Even her beautiful face was emphasized by her maroon uniform.
"Thank you, Lola Carmina." sagot ni Hannah.
"How about you, Chloe? What do you do aside from being a Lecter?" tanong naman sa akin ni Mrs. Deborah, hindi ko gaanong maintindihan kung bakit napunta kaagad sa akin ang atensyon.
"I do rosary bracelets po. I also manage our family business which is a restaurant." magalang na sagot ko.
"They have the best restaurant who serves steak, Tita Deborah. You should try it sometimes." puno ng pagmamalalaki na sabi ni Tita Empress.
"Sounds tempting but I have to watch my diet, Empress. Not getting young anymore," the old woman laughed. "Anyway, I know your family runs smart condominiums, right? Hannah here is planning to separate from her family. I think it's already time for her to be independent. Any suggestions?"
"Is that so? We have new condominium in Taguig. You can stay there for free, Hannah. All expenses paid!" sabi ni Lola Carmina na ikinalaki ng mga mata ni Mrs. Deborah. Maging si Hannah ay napatingin rin kay lola.
"No need, Carmina. We can pay-"
"I know but it's fine. It is just a condominium anyway. Just tell me when you want to move in. Pasasamahan kita kay Samael."
"I'm always busy, la." agad na sagot ni Hellios habang nasa plato ang tingin, tila walang pakielam kahit indirektang tinatanggihan sina Hannah at Mrs. Deborah.
Nilingon ni Lola Carmina si Hellios. "Just give Hannah a little time, Samael. Hindi naman 'yon makakaapekto sa trabaho mo."
Hindi na sumagot si Hellios kay Lola Carmina. Nagpatuloy kami sa pagkain. Hellios made sure I ate enough. Hindi na rin niya pinaubos sa akin ang mga pagkain sa plato dahil alam niyang hindi ko naman talaga 'yon magagawang ubusin.
"Is it a bad timing that I brought you here?" Si Hellios habang nasa couch kami sa patio.
He's lying on my lap while holding my hand that's on his chest. Doon sana kami sa living room kaya lang ay naroon sina Lola Carmina. Si Tita Empress naman ay nasa itaas at may gagawin lang daw.
Ayos na rin sa akin na narito kami sa Patio dahil masarap ang simoy ng hangin dito. I've always loved the smell of fresh air.
"Why would it be? Wala namang problema. Bakit mo nasabi 'yan?"
He shrugged his shoulders and kissed the back of my hand.
"I don't know. Maybe because there are some other people here. It's supposed to be you and my family."
Natawa ako. "Are we talking about Hannah here?"
Nagtama ang mga mata namin. They're dark but full of emotions.
"You're jealous of her."
"I love you so it's just normal for me to feel jealous, Hellios."
His lips curved into playful smirk while eyeing me intently. "Say it again."
"What?"
"That you love me."
Natawa ako. "I love you."
He bit his lower lip and shut his eyes like he's dreaming of something happy.
"Feels damn good to hear it."
Mahina kong tinapik ang kamay niya. "You're cursing again!"
"Not really," he said and unlocked his pitch black eyes and darted into mine.
Dinala niya ang isang kamay sa ibabaw ng ulo ko at marahan akong hinila palapit sa mukha niya. Naglapat ang mga labi namin, kusang pumikit ang mga mata ko. The kiss lasted for a minute before we both break away.
"Never really thought that I'd fall in love with an angel like you." bulong niya sa napapaos na boses.
I smiled and caressed his cheek. "And I didn't expect that I'd find heaven in your arms."
It's seven in the et when I decided to go home. Naunang umalis sina Hannah sa akin. Hapon pa lang ata ay umalis na sila. Malayo pa lang ay tanaw ko na ang bakanteng garahe. Nakahinga ako nang maluwag dahil wala pa sina Papa.
Huminto ang kotse ni Hellios sa harap ng bahay. Una siyang bumaba, binuksan ang pintuan ko pagkatapos. Ngumiti ako sa kaniya habang bumababa. At nang maisara ang pinto ay awtomatiko akong napasandal roon. He pinned me against the door and stared into my eyes.
"When can we see each other again?" he asked.
"Next week. Ipapakilala na kita kina Papa."
He licked his lower lip and nodded his head. "Don't pressure yourself. I can wait."
"I don't want to hide you anymore. Keeping our relationship in the dark is a sin, Hellios. Ayoko nang magsinungaling."
"What if they don't like me?"
"I don't see any reasons why they won't like you."
"I'm a tatted man."
Umiling ako. "And that doesn't define you as a person."
"Will do everything for them to like me. Don't worry. I don't easily give up."
We both smiled at each other. He tilted his head and approached near me for a kiss. And when his lips brushed against mine, my eyes automatically close.
"Chloe Elizabeth!"
Mabilis kong iniiwas ang mukha ko kay Hellios nang marinig ang tawag na 'yon. I looked to my right and fear filled me when I saw Papa standing beside a cab. Nanglalaki ang mga mata niya, nanglilisik habang titig na titig sa akin... sa amin ni Hellios.
"P-Papa..."