"So, I just want to make sure that you won't take back what you just said."
It's 7 o' clock in the morning. I'm still at his house since I never had the chance to rest. He just couldn't let go of me last night.
"Kasunduan? Would you like that? Well, I prefer that since we're talking about business here."
"Actually, since I was the one who made this type of proposal, I already made the agreement letter."
Inilapag niya sa harap ko ang isang brown envelope na sisira sa buhay ko. Kinuha ko ang nilalaman nito at binasa nang maigi ang mga nakasulat doon.
"When will this contract be terminated?" I asked.
"We're not yet starting 'yan na agad ang tanong mo?"
"Just asking."
"Well, I suppose if we both agree in terminating it then that's it. My company will leave yours."
Tumusok ako ng hotdog habang nagbabasa.
"Ouch!"
"What? What happened?" tanong ko sa kaniya habang siya naman ay nakatingin sa hawak kong tinidor.
"Didn't know you were the harsh type." then he smiled.
"Oh you will soon enough. Don't worry, the next time na tutusok ako ng hotdog, hotdog mo iisipin ko." then I smiled at him as well.
Pinirmahan ko ang apat na pahinang kontrata. Alam ko ang pinasok ko at kailangang kailangan ko talagang mabawi ang nawala sa kompanya. Sabi nga niya na gagamitin namin ang isa't isa para sa pansariling kagustuhan.
"Anyway, I have an important meeting that I postponed last night. Enjoy the rest of your day and I'll see you later." then he kissed my forehead.
Kinilig ako dahil pakiramdam ko ay para kaming mag-asawa na naninirahan sa iisang bubong.
I wandered around his house. This is the first time I went here so might as well take the opportunity to look around.
Napukaw ng atensyon ko ang picture frames na nasa taas ng fireplace.
"What a cutie!" I giggled looking at his baby photo na nakasakay sa swing at may hawak na cotton candy. Ni hindi ko nga alam kung siya ba 'to pero kamukha naman niya so...
"Miss Calithea?" I heard James.
"Hey, James. Good morning."
"Good morning, Miss Cali." he smiled.
"Anyway, if by any chance Conor asks for me, tell him I went to the office."
"Understood, Ma'am."
Kinailangan kong umuwi ng bahay dahil nanlalagkit ako sa sarili ko at kailangan kong dumaan sa office. I wore a simple business attire partnered with a skirt.
Paglabas ko ng bahay, tatawid na sana ako papunta sa bahay ni Conor dahil naroon ang kotse ko, biglang may itim na Mercedes ang huminto sa harap ko.
Isang lalake ang niluwal noon. He's wearing a black polo. He doesn't look familiar to me.
"Hi, Cali. he smiled. "Can I take you out on a date?"
Agad namang nangunot ang noo ko. Pinagsasabi nito?
"Sorry, do I know you?" agad kong tanong.
"Oh, I'm sorry I wasn't able to introduce myself. I'm Trevor Jones." sabay lahad niya ng kamay niya. "It's nice to finally meet you since we've never had a chance last night."
"Last night?" I asked.
"Yeah, the dinner. Did I make you uncomfortable? Your mom gave me your address."
Stupid! Anong karapatan niya para i-invade ang privacy ko?
"Yeah. I feel uncomfortable not knowing she gave you my address."
"So uhmm...date?"
Hindi pa ako nakaka-sagot ay binuksan na niya ang pinto ng passenger's seat.
Napalingon naman ako sa tapat ng bahay ni Conor at kita kong mula sa loob no'n ay nakatayo si James habang may kausap sa telepono.
"Sorry what? A date?" gulat kong tanong sakanya.
"Your Mom's idea. She told me to ask you out and that you already know about this."
I can't help but just rolled my eyes. How dare her! Nag-ring naman ang phone ko. I opened the message sent by the witch.
From Mom:
Don't you dare decline him or else!
This bitch never fails to make my day miserable.
Ahh so this is her plan. All I know is that I have to go dahil kung hindi, malamang sa malamang si Sunshine nanaman ang pupuntiryahin niya.
To be honest, I have no idea why Dad never gets her way e si Dad nga ang rason kung bakit niya nararanasan ang mga bagay na hindi niya naranasan noon. Dad really treasures her a lot.
Wala na akong nagawa pa at sumakay na ako sa sasakyan ni Trevor. While waiting for the awkwardness to fade, I received a call from Sunshine's nanny.
"Ma'am...na-discharge na po ang Daddy niyo."
"Is he home?"
"Naku Ma'am umuwi na ho kayo dahil hindi ko po alam kung bakit iniimpake nila ang mga gamit ni Sir."
Matapos niyang sabihin 'yon ay napatingin naman ako kay Trevor.
"Yes?" he asked.
"I'm sorry. I really have to go home. It's my Dad..."
"Na-discharge na siya, right? Okay then. Ihahatid nalang kita."
"Babawi nalang ako next time." I suddenly blurted out. Ang hirap naman kapag makonsensyahin kang tao!
"Sabi mo 'yan ah?" then a smile flashed on his face. He looks...
Beautiful.
Natigilan ako ro'n. Get yourself back together Calithea! What's wrong with you!
Hindi na kami nag-usap pa dahil nakatulog ako sa byahe. Bago pa makarating sa bahay ay nagising na rin ako.
"Look at you. You're drooling." he teased.
Kinapa ko rin naman agad ang mukha ko at wala naman talagang laway. Ugh this man!
"Thanks for being a good driver."
"Sorry?"
"Apology accepted."
At talagang nagawa ko pang makipag-biruan ha? Ayaw ko nga sa lalakeng 'to dahil sa hindi maipaliwanag na dahilan.
Lumabas na ako ng pinto at kumaway sakanya. Dumiretso naman ako sa kwarto ng Daddy ko at napaka-kalat no'n. Akala mo hindi na siya babalik. Halos lahat ata ng damit niya ay dadalhin niya.
Nakasalubong ko si Dad sa corridor.
"Dad..."
"Yes, Cali?"
I hugged him very tight. I don't care if he couldn't breathe I just want to stay with him like this.
"Iiwan mo rin ba ako Dad?" I asked him, teary-eyed.
"Hindi na ako bumabata, Cali. They detected problems with my body. I won't mention anything about it 'cause it hurts to hear the worst. I'll comeback."
"Mom told me that too. Did she come back? She didn't. Don't give me assurance when you cannot even do what you promised to."
He didn't say anything but just caressed my back.
"I remember when you're still a kid. I never get the chance to hug you like this because of our business that made me busy all the time. We'll see each other again, Cali. Just promise me that you would try to understand Esther."
Tinanggal ko ang pagka-kayakap sakaniya nang marinig ko ang pangalan ng bruhang 'yon.
"Since we're talking about her, Dad, could you just please don't let her hurt Sunshine? I always obey her kahit na hindi ko naman talaga obligasyong sumunod!"
"Cali, enough!" nangunot naman ang noo niya.
Mula sa likuran ay kitang kita ko ang nakakabwisit na mukha ng babaeng 'yon. Abot langit ang ngiti dahil nakikinig sa usapan namin ni Dad.
"Mommy!"
"Sunshine!"
I hugged her very tight.
"Are you okay? Inaaway ka ba nila rito?"
Hindi siya umimik pero umiling-iling siya. Niyakap ng maiiksi niyang braso ang leeg ko habang umiiyak.
"Graddy!" sigaw naman niya at nagpabuhat kay Dad. "You told me you'll be fine. Why do you have to go?" tanong ni Sunshine kay Dad habang nangingilid ang luha.
"You will know when you grow up. Graddy will be okay so don't cry." sagot ni Dad.
Napahid ko naman ang luhang nasa pisngi ko. Walang nakakaalam ng lunas sa sakit ni Dad. Even the Doctors are useless.
"I'll go now. Cali, ikaw na ang bahala sa kompanya natin."
I didn't know he have this side. All I can remember is that the first time we talked was when he taught me everything about business. Lagi siyang galit noon sa tuwing may hindi ako nakukuha. He's never sweet to me not until this day came.
Umalis na si Dad. All I know is that he's too sick at walang magawa maski ang kaniyang personal Doctor which is impossible.
"Mommy, are you going to take me with you?" tanong ni Sunshine habang karga ko siya.
"I can't baby." hindi ko siya pwedeng iuwi dahil wala rin namang mag aalaga sakanya.
"It's okay, Mommy. I'm going to sleep na po. I understand if you're going home na. Please rest, Mommy." sabay halik niya sa pisngi ko.
Inayos ko ang comforter niya. I kissed her forehead before heading out.
"Leaving?"
"Yes."
"I see you're not taking your adopted child with you. She's stressing me and I know you know that."
"Don't badmouth her! Isa lang naman ang hinihiling ko sa 'yo at yun ay ang alagaan siya. Don't worry, sooner or later kukunin ko rin siya."
"Ahh...no,"
"What?" kunot-noo kong tanong. "Akala ko ba ayaw mo sakanya?"
"You wouldn't want to hear my answer. Gosh! Ngayon ko lang narealize na hindi ka marunong gumalang!"
"I don't think you deserve it! Kaya ka lang naman nandito dahil inakit mo ang Daddy ko-" isang sampal ang tumama sa pisngi ko.
Gagantihan ko na sana siya pero dalawang nakaitim na lalake ang humawak sa magkabila kong braso.
"Bitawan niyo ako!" pagpupumiglas ko.
"Here's a little bad news for you..." sabay ngisi nito nang nakakaloko. "One call and your Dad's plane will blow!"
"What?"
"Hindi mo ba alam na mga tauhan ko ang nagbabantay sa Dad mo? I don't care about his life 'cause in just one snap, he'll be gone for good."
Nanginig ako sa mga narinig ko. Hawak pa rin ako ng mga tauhan niya.
"What the hell are you thinking?!" buong pwersa kong tinanggal ang pagkaka-hawak ng mga tauhan niya pero hindi ko pa rin siya naabot dahil may dalawang lalaki nanaman ang humawak sa braso ko.
"Pathetic. Hala sige, ilayo niyo sa harap ko ang babaeng 'yan."
Hinatak naman ako ng mga tauhan niya palabas ng mansion. Sobrang higpit ng pagkaka-hawak nila at pakiramdam ko ay magiging pasa ito bukas.
"Stop!" sigaw ng lalakeng naglalakad sa gawi namin.
"Sir Trevor." sumaludo naman ang mga ito.
"Take your hands off her." utos ni Trevor.
Agad naman nga akong binitawan ng mga ito. What the hell is happening?
"Kasabwat ka ba nila?" walang pasubali kong tanong.
"No, but I know some of these men. I came back because you forgot your phone," tumikhim siya. "How did you know Leon? Sorry, I saw his name popped-up although I didn't mean to."
Nanlaki naman ang mga mata ko. Fuck! He knows Conor?