Chapter 12: The Male lead met the female lead!
Matapos ang birthday ng Duke ay halos mapuntahan ko na lahat ng parte ng bahay ng male lead sa kakahanap sa kanya. Mukhang magaling siyang makipaglaro ng tago-tagoan dahil hindi ko siya nahanap.
Humingi ako ng tulong kay Amy at Butler niya na si Hisam pero pati sila hindi mahanap ang male lead. Napuntahan na rin namin ang kwarto niya pero wala siya.
Ang gulo niya. Kapag gustong gusto ko siyang makita bigla na lang siyang nawawala ng walang paalam katulad ngayon. Gusto ko sana sa kanya magpasalamat dahil pinilit niyang matutung magluto kahit na hindi niya hilig. They are going south to eradicate pirates and bandits.
Nakokonsensya rin ako sa mga sugat na nakita ko sa kamay niya noong araw na iyon. Mukhang sugat iyon mula sa pagluluto. Mahahalata iyon dahil halatang mukhang mga paso.
Ang tanga naman kasi niya. Bakit hindi na lang siya nagbayad ng tao na magbabake sa kanya.
Umuwi akong bigo ng araw na iyon na hindi nakikita ang male lead. Sa sumunod na araw ay nagulat na lang ako ng mabalitaan ko na sumama siya sa isang expedition kaya mawawala siya ng tatlong buwan.
"Don't worry about brother. He would go home. Just wait for three months," ani sakin ni Amy na siyang bumisita sa bahay para ibalita ang pag-alis ng kapatid.
Hindi ko maiwasan na mapasimangot. Ang tagal nun. Ang lakas kasi ng topak niya. Kung kelan gusto ko siya maka-usap ay doon pa siya umalis. Pero noong mga araw na gusto ko siyang iwasan saka siya nagpapakita.
"Bakit ba kasi biglaan pag-alis niya?" I asked suddenly.
"Actually, hindi naman sasama si Kuya talaga. Nathan_my brother friend have been pursuing my brother but he always decline. Kahapon lang ng gabi siya nagdesisyon na sumama. Even my father was not inform about this," she answer then sip the tea.
Matapos niyang lumunok ay muli siyang nagsalita.
"But I think my brother just felt embarrassed and run away about what he did to you..." She said laughed loudly which made some of the maid look in our way.
"Hahaha I mean my brother is almost perfect but hahaha aack," bigla na lang siya nabilaukan sa iniinom niyang tubig at napaubo.
Mabilis siyang hinipo sa likod ni Elle,"Are you okay, Young Miss?"
"I am fine, Elle," aniya at pinunasan ang labi.
Napailing na lang ako. Ayan kasi ginawang katatawanan ang kapatid. Kaya siguro umalis dahil sa kahihiyan kay Amy. Grabe kasi kung tawanan ang kapatid. Nabilaukan tuloy si Amy.
Bilis nga naman ng karma.
"I can just help but laugh my brother. I never know that my brother have flaws. I always see him as perfect. I never expect that he will failed in this," umiiling niyang sabi.
"O.A naman ng kapatid mo. Dahil hindi maganda pagkaluto niya ay tinakbuhan na niya ako," komento ko na kinakunot ng noo niya.
"O.A?" Naguguluhan niyang ani.
"Overreacting! " I replied.
Nalimutan ko na hindi pala sila pamilyar sa ganyan na salita.
"Where did you heard that kind of abbreviation?" She asked suddenly.
Umiwas ako ng tingin. Uminom ako ng tea kahit na nagsasawa na ko.
"From outside. I've been out lately. I buy novels and learn new things you know," di ko siguradong sagot.
"I'll take a take note that word," aniya.
****
Lumipas ang isang lingo mula na dalawin ako ni Amy at simula ng umalis ang male lead. I've been busy reading novel. Naging maayos mga araw ko dahil walang male lead na gumagambala sakin.
But somehow I felt that there's something missing in my days. I can't fathom that missing part. Kaya para marelax utak ko sa kakaisip ay nagbasa ako ng nagbasa sa kwarto ko. Total iyon rin naman talaga libangan ko dati pa.
I was busy reading a book when Elle arrive with a letter in her hand.
"Good morning, Young Miss. The Young Duke of Sebastian send you a letter," she said.
Sa hindi malaman dahilan parang biglang lumukso ang puso ko sa saya. Hindi ko namalayan na madali kong nakuha mula sa kamay ni Elle ang sulat.
Nang makuha ko ay sulat na hawak ni Elle ay madali ko siyang pinalabas ng kwarto. Humiga akong patihaya sa kama at tinaas ang kamay habang hawak ang papel na naglalaman ng sulat ng male lead.
Agad kong binuksan ang sulat at binasa.
Dear Cookie
I can't help but cringe in the first sentence in the letter. Really? Cookie?
Dear Cookie,
I want to apologize about not telling that I am leaving for three months. Don't miss me. I heard from my sister that you call me O.A which I don't understand. Is that your call name to me. I can't help but to go home and heard you calling me O.A.
Your beloved and O.A
Havier
I can't contain myself but laugh at the end. His letter is short but it made my boring day happy. Hindi ko alam na may ka-cheesy-han pala ang male lead.
And really? He want me to call him O.A? Is he nuts?
Siguro pinagtripan na naman siguro siya ni Amy. Porkey alam niya ibig sabihin ng O.A ay tinatawag niyang ganun kuya niya.
Hindi ko na lang maiwasan na mapailing sa dalawa. I guess being friend with Amy and being close a little bit with the male lead is not that bad. I mean, I can see that Amy and male lead is close right now than in the novel I've read. Is this my impact to the novel?
Hindi ko maiwasan na macurious sa female lead.
What would happen in the female lead? I mean for the past few months I've been with the male lead. Pero hindi ko man lang nasilayan ang female lead. Sayang gusto ko pa naman siya makita.
Who wouldn't? I am a avid reader. A little bit because I didn't really end the story.
Sa huli ay napagdesisyunan ko na sulatan ang male lead. Wala naman mawawala kong susulatan ko siya. I want to be close with him at least. Malay mo kapag kinasal sila ng female lead ay imbitahan ako.
Dear Havier,
I've received your letter. You made me laugh for second in your letter. I don't know that you're kinda funny. By the way, I heard from Amy that you bake that cake I ate. I appreciate your hard work. Maybe your cake would taste good if you put sugar not salt.
Your Cookie,
Jasmine
Gusto ko sana ilagay sa sulat na 'Dear O.A' kaso baka iba mapasahan ng sulat. Sino ba naman ako para tawagin siyang O.A. Hindi naman ako tumawag sa kanya nun, Si Amy.
Sa mga sumunod na buwan ay nagsulatan kaming dalawa.
Dear Cookie,
I felt embarrassed about the cake I bake. It was not my intention to almost poison you. I don't know that I put salt. I though they were the same. They have similar color.
Don't worry I'll try to practice how to bake here.
Your O.A,
Havier
Sa kada sulat niya ay hindi ko mapigilan na mapatawa. Simple lang laman pero napapatawa ako. Masasabi ko na talagang O.A niya. Poison agad. Di na lang niya aminin na Hindi siya marunong magbake.
Dear Havier,
Then I would wait for you to come back. Hope your cake would taste sweet this time.
Your Cookie,
Jasmine
Dear Cookie,
Sorry for the late reply. We've been busy fighting with pirates. It was tough but thinking you makes it easier. Silly. But I miss you. I hope you miss me.
Your O.A
Havier
Dear Havier,
I hope your doing good and safe. Don't send letter if your are too busy. I can wait. Right now I am busy reading novels and eating sweet foods.
I can't wait to taste your personal made bake cake. I hope you go home safe and sound.
Your Cookie,
Jasmine
Dear Cookie,
I met someone who is good at baking. She taught me how to bake. I guess I am expert right now. I can't wait to bake a cake for you.
Your O.A
Havier
Dear Havier,
Really? That's good. Your sister excited to taste that too. She's been visiting and reading letter too. She can't wait to taste your personal made cake.
Your Cookie
Jasmine
Dear Cookie,
Sorry for the delay letter. We have to fight bandits again on our way. Many of us were injured. It's good that we have our healer here. I hope my letter is not boring and find it still good.
Your O.A
Havier
Dear Havier,
I told you in the letter to not to write of you are not okay. I can understand it. Worry about your safety.
Your Worried Friend,
Jasmine
Dear Cookie,
Don't worry about me. I've been train to fight since childhood. It's not new to me. I have good news. We are going home. I can't wait to hug you.
Your O.A
Havier
Dear Havier,
That's good. I hope you go have me safe and sound.
Your Worried Friend,
Jasmine
Dear Havier,
I thought you are going home. Did something happen on your way? Your family is worried about you and your acquaintance. I hope you're doing fine.
Jasmine
Dear Havier,
I am really worried. You are not replying to me and to your sister even to your Father. Just send one dot signify that you are alive. I am really worried honestly.
Your Worried Cookie,
Jasmine.
Dear Havier,
Tae ng kalabaw! Buwisit! Nasaan kana ? I though you were going home. You broke your promise. I'll start to hate you if you don't reply. Just a little period. I am fine with it. I am really really worried about you.
Your Cookie,
Jasmine
Lumipas ang isang buwan ngunit walang dumating na sulat mula sa male lead. Even his family does not received any letter informing that he is safe. For unknown reason I felt really worried about him. I even pray for his safety.
Gusto ko sana siya hanapin kaso bawal sumama mga babae sa paghahanap sa mga nawawala. I heard they were ambush while going home by bandits. Someone betray them.
For many days I've been stuck in my room writing any clue about what I read in the novel just to find the male lead.
Napatigil ako sa pagsusulat ng maalala ko bigla na isang healer ang female lead. There were incident where the male lead were ambush by bandits and the female lead would find them and rescue them. The male lead would put in come for one week and lost his memory for month. When he restore his memory. He will come back with the female lead.
I felt my heart throbbing thinking what would happen next.
Nabitawan ko ang quill pen na hawak ko sa panginginig ng kamay ko habang nakatingin sa notebook ko. Naalala ko bigla na sa pagbabalik ng male lead ay magaganap ang pinaka-aabangan na scene sa kwento.
Pumatak bigla mga luha ko sa notebook. My vision become blurry just how my character would become blurry in the memory of the male lead.
Because when the male lead come back. He will declare his love for the female lead, Aphrodite.
And the plot of the novel will continue....
And I guess...
I will be forgotten just like an ordinary extra character in the novel.
****
Itutuloy....