"Ano ang pumasok sa isip mo at pumunta ka rito sa Paris?!" Sabi ko habang nilalagyan ko ng malamig na bimpo ang pisngi n'ya.
He just laughed pero ngumiwi nang maramdaman ang sakit sa pisngi, "Nothing, I was bored and all of my friends have their own private lives already. I don't want to disturb them."
"So, sa lahat ng tao sa mundo, ako ang naisipan mong bisitahin at disturbohin?"
"Bakit nadisturbo ba kita? Gusto mong suyuin kita?" He replied. Ewan ko na lang talaga sa lalaking 'to. Is his purpose ba sa life ko ang guluhin ako palagi? Gosh!
Binitawan ko ang bimpo nang mainis na ako sakan'ya. "Woops! Sorry, eto na titigil na. Lagay mo na ulit yung bimpo sa pingi ko, please." He did the puppy face kaya mas nagmukha s'yang tanga.
Hindi naman kaya ng konsensya ko na iwan s'ya, and I'm guilty. Holding a bimpo for him won't hurt a percent of my pride and ego. Alam ko namang hindi malaki ang nagawa n'ya para sampalin ko s'ya, I'll have to be kind to him especially baka mapatay ako ng Tatay at Nanay ko.
After n'yang sabihin na okay na siya, niligpit ko na ang bimpo at nilinisan. I felt bored so I told him na pumasok muna sa kwarto ko so that I could clean the living room. It looks so messy kasi.
"Bakit? Nakakatakot ba pag pinapanood kitang mag-linis?" He asked.
"Hindi, mas nakakatakot mukha mo." I replied with a sarcastic smile. He scoffed, mukhang magrereklamo pa pero nanahimik nalang at pumasok sa kwarto. Ayaw ata ng gulo.
Mabilis lang din naman ako natapos since I am used in cleaning already, Nana taught me how. Iniiwan kasi ako ng mga magulang ko sa bahay, and I actually didn't like toys back then and Nana didn't know what to do but to teach me how to do chores. Nagalit nga si Dad dahil ayaw n'ya raw na nag-lilinis ako, but I liked doing chores.
Whenever my parents weren't around, I would sneak out sa room ko just so I could help Nana and the other helpers sa gawaing-bahay. They were very a fond of me, masayahing bata raw. I also became friends with their children, pero sadly when we grew up they had to transfer places. So parang nakasanayan ko na rin na mag-isa.
Growing up wasn't easy for me, being a heir for the Del Valle's was not an easy responsibility. Being academically pressured and everything. Ngayon naman pinepressure ako para maging "Ideal Wife Image" sa Tinik na 'yun. Isa pa ang ugali n'ya, nakaka-inis.
Bumalik ako sa wisyo when someone screamed my name.
"Roseanne Almoríe! Tapos ka na ba mag-linis?! Bored na bored na ako dito!"
"Yes, I'm done! Pwede ka nang lumabas d'yan!"
He got out with a smile on his face, "Finally, tapos ka na. Tapos na rin ako mag-lagay ng mga damit ko sa cabinet-"
"Excuse me?"
"Yes? Dadaan ka?"
"What did you say?! Anong tapos ka nang maglagay ng mga damit mo?!'
"Uh, I'm staying here with you?" Sagot n'ya with a confused face.
"What?! Sa yaman mong 'yan, you'll choose to stay in my small hotel room?! No way!" Reklamo ko.
"Yes way, 'yan ang sabi ng Dad mo. I actually want to check-in into a VIP Room pero ayaw ng Tatay mo. Ewan ko ba, akala ata may mangyayari sa atin kapag isa tayo ng kwarto."
"Jusko! Hindi ko makakaya 'to! I asked Dad for a peace time here sa Paris! Hindi yung mas pinapalala mo pa ang init ng ulo ko!"
He reacted exaggeratedly, hinawakan n'ya ang dibdib n'ya at ginaya yung meme ni Bea Alonzo.
"Bakit parang kasalanan ko?"
'Yan na naman, nagmumukha na naman s'yang tanga. Ewan ko ba bakit to pinanganak, may sira ata ang ulo.
"Ewan ko sa'yo! Basta maghanap ka ng sarili mong kwarto!"
He smiled sarcastically, "As if papayagan ako! Ang oa, ah."
I showed him my middle finger. Dumiretso ako sa kwarto ko para makapag-palit ako ng damit.
After I changed clothes, I got out already and found him sitting sa living room.
"Huy! Sa'n ka pupunta?!"
I drank water, and walked papunta sa pinto, "Somewhere kung nasaan wala ka."
"Sama ako!" Dali-dali s'yang pumunta ng kwarto para siguro mag-bihis.
I waited for him, kawawa naman baka sundan ako at mawala sa Paris. Magmumukha s'yang pulubi na naka branded ang damit.
Natapos s'ya ng ilang minuto, and once I saw the door open lumabas na rin ako sa hotel room. "Lock the door!"
Ginawa ng lalaki ang sinabi ko, I'm impressed. Kaya n'ya rin pala sumunod sa utos, hmm. Is that a good thing or a bad thing?
Char
Nang maka-labas kami sa hotel, I asked Thorn where he wanted to go, "Wow? You're asking me?" He asked.
"Ayaw mo ba? Edi 'wag, hindi ka naman pinipilit." I walked faster.
He laughed, "Eto naman! Hindi mabiro. I want to go to the Eiffel Tower. Is that okay?"
I didn't mutter anything but I nodded, while we were walking may naka-salubong ako.
"Roseanne?"
I looked at who called me, Thorn looked curious too. "Oh, Anais! It's nice meeting you again."
She smiled. "Where are you head to?"
"We're headed sa Eiffel Tower."
"You speak tagalog?" Tanong n'ya.
I gave her a confused face, "Yes."
"Oh my gosh! Finally, matagal na akong naghahanap ng kasama na nagsasalita ng tagalog!" She squealed happily.
Nawala ang kunot sa noo ko nang marealize ko ang ibig n'yang sabihin. "You speak tagalog too?"
She nodded with a smile on her face, "Friends na tayo, ah? Gusto kong makipag-kaibigan sa aking mga kabayan. At ang swerte ko dahil ang ganda-ganda mo!"
I thanked her, "Ikaw, where are you headed to?"
"Ay, pupunta sana sa Flower Shop. Pero sasamahan kita sa Eiffel Tower, para hindi ka maligaw."
I was about to say something when someone interrupted. "Ehem."
Anais looked at my back, at nagtaka ako bakit namula ang mga pisngi n'ya. "Hala ka! Sino 'yang pogi sa likod mo?"
"He's my-"
"Fiance." I glared at Thorn when he interrupted.
Briannah looked shocked. "Fiance?! Ikakasal na kayo?!"
I was about to deny it nang kurutin ako ng lalaki. I nodded, and looked at Thorn. Tinignan ko s'ya na may pagbabanta at para mabasa niya ang mga mata ko na nag-sasabi ng "Mamaya ka sa'kin."
Hindi n'ya pinansin ang mga mata kong nag-babanta.
"Anyways, tara. Samahan ko kayong mamasyal sa siyudad ng Paris." Ani n'ya.
She dragged me with her, and I turned to look at my back para tignan ang lalaki. When I saw that he was following us, si Anais naman ang kinausap ko.
It was fun walking around the city, she introduced us the surroundings. I feel like I could live here for years! The scenery was too beautiful to handle.
We decided na pumunta muna sa ibang lugar before going sa Eiffel Tower.
Saktong malapit ng mag-sunset nang makarating kami after sa dami ng place na pinuntahan namin. I asked Anais to take me some pictures.
"Okay na ba 'to?" She asked habang pinapakita sa'kin ang picture.
Wow
I was actually impressed. Ang galing n'ya mag-kuha. I also forced Thorn to take pictures.
"Come on! Ayaw mo ba ng memories galing Paris? Look, the tower is amazing!" Sabi ko sakan'ya.
"Mas maganda kung tayong dalawa." He whispered.
"Huh?" Tanong ko.
Umiling lang s'ya at pumwesto so I could take a picture of him. He looks bored and cold so I told him to smile.
"Smile ka naman! Mukha kang masungit."
He smiled which made me stunned. Shocks, ang gwapo.
"Okay na ba? Nangangalay na bibig ko kaka-ngiti."
Binaba ko ang phone ko, "Huh? Ah, oo tapos na. I'll airdrop the pictures nalang."
"Don't delete it." He muttered.
Anais also asked if I could take her some pictures, pumayag naman ako. Hindi naman ako maldita para hindi pumayag.
"Oops, before tayo umalis. Bakit hindi kayong dalawa ang magpicture? Mag-asawa goals, pak!" Tanong n'ya.
I was about to say something nang hilain ako ni Thorn at binigay ang phone naming dalawa kay Anais. was too stunned to understand what was happening nang ilagay n'ya ang kamay n'ya sa bewang ko.
Anais looked happy, may kasama pang talon. I looked at him and he was smiling. Tumingin na lang ako ulit kay Briannah at ngumiti, it was soooo awkward.
After matapos, nagulat ako sa dami ng pictures na kinuha ng babae. Nakita ko rin ang picture where I looked at him and he was smiling, nagmukha akong inlove!
Thorn offered na ilibre kami sa isang coffee shop nearby. "What do you want, Roseanne?"
"Just an iced coffee."
"Ang lamig-lamig dito sa Paris tapos gusto mo yung malamig na kape?" Ungot n'ya.
Tinaasan ko s'ya ng kilay and he sighed. He also asked what Anais wanted and she ordered the same as mine.
Bumalik s'ya dala-dala ang tray puno ng inorder namin. Nagulat ako ng inilagay n'ya sa harapan ko ang chocolate cake kasama ang kape ko, "I said I only wanted coffee-"
"Eat that, you're not supposed to be hungry." He also bought deserts for Anais.
I grumpled at pinilit na kainin ang cake. After we finished, nag-paalam na rin si Anais sa amin. May nangyari raw sa shop n'ya.
"Mag-ingat ka. I hope to see you again." She said the same and walked papunta sa door.
Niyaya ko na rin umuwi si Thorn, pumayag din naman siya. Although, he looked sleepy.
Pag-uwi namin, bumalagta agad s'ya nang makahiga sa couch. He looked tired so I didn't disturb him na, I just took a shower and did my skin-care routine. Nag-bihis na rin ako and took a sleep.
I woke up nang maka-amoy ng mabango. Before I got out, nag-hilamos ako and lumabas na.
I found Thorn in his nighties, he was also wearing an apron which suited him. He was cooking, I guess.
I walked closer so I could see what he was cooking.
Fried rice
There was also bacon and eggs sa table.
He seemed like he noticed my presence nang lumingon s'ya sa likod niya. "Don't mind me. Na-impress lang talaga ako sa kwarto mo kasi may kitchen."
"Duh, it's a suite." I replied.
He just laughed and continued to cook.
Nang matapos siya, tinawag niya na rin ako. Infairness, masarap talaga ang niluto n'ya. The bacon was perfectly cooked, the egg was shaped perfectly too.
Ang feeling ng ate n'yo, Gordon Ramsay ang peg.
Nang matapos kami kumain, he volunteered na mag-hugas ng plato. "How was it?"
"It's not bad. It actually tastes good."
He smiled like he was proud of himself. Natawa na lang ako sa pagmumukha n'ya.
Pumunta ako sa kuwarto nang marinig ko ang ingay ng phone ko. Someone was calling. I looked at who called and my smile faded instantly nang makita kung sino 'yun.
Si Del Valle
I answered his call and was greeted by his sweet voice.
"Hi, anak."
Ang kapal ng mukha.
"Hey, Dad."
"How is Paris? Nagkita na ba kayo ni Thorn?"
"Yes, he's actually staying with me."
"That's good. Para naman ma-experience n'yo ang buhay mag-asawa in advance."
Lelang mo panot.
"In just a few days, kakailanganin n'yo nang umuwi. The wedding will be happening soon, kailangan pa ng desisyon n'yo kung ano ang mga susuotin n'yo and sa iba pa."
"I know, Dad."
Nag-usap pa kami until he bid goodbye dahil may tumawag sakan'ya. Buntong-hininga nalang ang naging sagot ko sa mga sinabi n'ya.
Nagulat ako ng makita si Thorn sa pintuan. "When are we going home?"
"In a few days, this week or next week. Have you already bought your ticket?"
He nodded at pumasok sa banyo. I didn't feel like going out, ang sakit ng ulo ko.
It took him a minute para lumabas sa banyo, he was about to say something nang makita ang itsura ko.
"Are you okay?"
I nodded kahit alam kong hindi ako okay.
He didn't believe what I said at hinawakan ang ulo ko, he also touched my neck. "Mainit ka."
I'm hot kase.
"May sakit ka ba?"
Nag kibit-balikat ako and looked away.
He walked to get some clothes sa cabinet at pumunta ng banyo. I don't know what he's at pero hinayaan ko na lang.
Pag-labas n'ya, he looked like he was going out. Wala naman akong pake.
"Wait lang, I'll go get something."
He got out, at nung hindi ko na marinig ang yabag ng mga paa n'ya. I turned on the TV. I was really bored.
I didn't notice na nakatulog na pala ako.
"Roseanne? Wake up. Uminom ka muna ng gamot." I woke up from a familiar voice. It was Thorn.
He help me sit down sa bed. I opened the medicine he gave and drank some water. "How's your feeling?"
"Ang bigat ng ulo ko." I replied.
He looked worried, "Matulog ka ulit. Take some rest." Lumabas din siya ng kwarto.
I woke up again when someone was caressing my hair. "Hey, it's evening already. Kain na tayo."
I nodded and got up, it was Chicken Soup. "It says from google that Chicken Soup helps sick people. I hope you'll like it."
I tasted it and it actually tasted good. I told him ano ang lasa and I slept again after eating, he volunteered to wash the dishes and told me to sleep.
I woke up light-headed and I saw Thorn sleeping sa couch. Ang laki n'ya para sa couch so sinisiksik n'ya ang sarili n'ya para hindi siya mahulog.
I woke him up para sabihin sakan'ya na he can sleep sa bed ko.
"Huh? Okay lang ba 'yun sa'yo? And are you feeling okay?" I said yes sa lahat ng questions n'ya.
Hindi naman siya lumaban and proceeded to sleep sa bed ko. Nang mawala siya, I found a box under the table.
Curiosity kills the cat, Roseanne.
Wala akong pake, sis
Kinuha ko ang box, it had a ribbon in it. It was red. When I opened it, I was shocked to see what was inside.
An elegant diamond ring.....
<3