—Back to where we started.
Sky's POV
It's been 3 days since that "sleepover" sa condo ni Miss Klea.
Miss Klea
Hanggang ngayon, hindi pa rin ako sanay tawagin siya niyan. Hahahaha everytime I called her Miss Gray the past 2 days ay naiinis siya. Sometimes, hindi niya ako pinapansin na akala mo isa akong hangin na napadaan lang. Tsk, sungit.
In that 3 days, tuloy pa rin ang practice namin. Pero tuloy din ang pang iinis ko sa kaniya. Konti na lang, magkakaroon na ulit World War. Hahahaha
"Happy Birthday, Our Princess" masiglang bati ni Mama sa akin when she entered my room.
"Thank you, Mama" i said boredly. The past 6 years, hindi na talaga ako excited sa birthday ko.
"Here we are again, Riah" she said kaya napatingin ako sa kaniya.
"Ma, it's "Sky". Ayo'kong may tumatawag sa akin ng Riah" i said to her.
"Fine. It's your birthday, be happy naman even once" she said pero hindi ko na lang ito sinagot at nagpatuloy na lang ako sa pagbabasa. Wala rin naman akong plano ngayon.
"Here's my gift" she said kaya napalingon ako. She's holding a box. Not a small one.
"Box of.. Letters?" I asked. Nagtataka ako.. Si Mama? Magbibigay ng letters? Sa akin?
"You wrote this, Ma?" I asked her again.
"No. Someone you've known wrote this for you" she said. I was about to speak to her nang magsalita siya ulit.
"From the past 6yrs"
W-what? Someone is writing me letter tapos hindi ko manlang alam?
"Ma? Why didn't you gave this to me?" I asked her.
"I'm sorry, anak. I hope that those letters can answer your questions" she said. I can sense some sadness in her eyes and a bit of... Guilt..
"I'll be downstairs. I know you don't like celebrations, so i'll cook something for you just a bit" she said at lumabas na.
I've been silent for minutes. Hindi ko alam pero there's this feeling in me na naeexcite ako pero kinakabahan ako.. weird..
I was about to open one letter when my phone rang.
1 message from Klea Luna
Miss Klea?
Wala naman kaming practice ngayon, ah? Baka naman na mi-miss ako ng professor na ito? Hahahaha assuming.
I opened her message with curiousity.
Klea Luna Gray
Are you busy today?
9:45am
Riah Sky Valeria
Goodmorning, Miss!
9:45am
Riah Sky Valeria
Hindi po. May practice po ba tayo today?
9:45am
Klea Luna Gray
Meet me at the school.
9:46am
Riah Sky Valeria
Why po?
9:46am
Klea Luna Gray
Stop asking. Just do what I say.
9:46am
Riah Sky Valeria
Coming!
9:47am
Seen at 9:48am
Nang i-seen na lang niya ang reply ko, dali dali na akong tumayo at naligo. Tinago ko muna sa ilalim ng kama ko ang box na may mga letters na bigay ni Mama. Hindi ko alam isusuot ko dahil hindi ko rin naman alam ang gagawin namin ni Miss Klea. Wala manlang kasing pasabi. Jusko naman.
After kong maligo, nagbihis na ako.I just chose the white longsleeves, fitted jeans and a rubber shoes. Nagdala na rin ako ng sling bag na itim. Inside is my liptint, face powder and perfume.
"Ma, i'm leaving" i said nang makababa ako ng hagdan.
"To where?" She asked.
"Miss Klea wants me to meet her at the school" kalmadong sabi ko.
Tinignan ako ni Mama at napakurap ito ng ilang beses. Something is really not right with her lalo na 'pagdating sa professor na 'yon.
"Have you read the letters?" She asked me.
"Nope, probably some other time. Timing kasing nagchat si Miss" i said at kinuha na ang susi ng kotse ko.
"Ah, sige. Y-you two take care. Enjoy" she said at bumalik na sa ginagawa niya.
Before akong makalabas ng pinto, nagsalita ulit si Mama.
"Sky, would mind nextime bring Lun-, Miss Klea here? Also, send her my regards when you two meet" she said.
Did i heard it right? She called my professor on her second name?
"Okay!" I just said.
---
Nandito na ako parking lot ng school at naghihintay. Sarado ang school since Sabado ngayon, pero bukas ang entrance ng parking lot sa kabilang dulo. It is for teachers or student lalo na kung may practice sila or some errands on weekends.
After a couple of minutes, a familiar car entered the parking lot. She is here.
Miss Klea
She stopped right in front of me. Binaba niya ang window ng kotse niya at nagsalita.
"Get in. Leave your car in there" she said without looking at me.
"Why po?" I asked her.
She hissed before speaking again. Hahahah, nainis na naman dahil sa "po" ko. Napatawa na lang ako ng mahina.
"You really know how to pissed me off. Stop asking too many questions. Get. In." She said.
Ramdam ko na ang inis niya kaya sinunod ko na lang. Grabe 'tong babaeng 'to. Titiklop talaga sa kaniya ka angasan ko.
She started to drive as soon as put my seatbelt on.
"Miss, saan tayo pupunta? Akala ko ba wala tayong practice ngayon?" I asked para naman may mapagusapan kami.
"Tagaytay" walang emotiong sabi niya.
T-tagaytay?!
"Miss!?" I asked her at medyo lumakas ng kaunti ang boses ko.
Napalingon ito sa akin pero bumalik din sa daan ang focus niya.
"Hala, wala akong dalang kahit ano" i said na medyo nagp'panic.
"Did I told you to?" Kalmadong sabi niya. Hala ka.
"Miss naman, you should have told me. Kidnapping na 'to" i said in joke way.
"Kidnapping is forcing someone to come without a choice. You did even come. You have your choice" she said.
"Hehe sabi ko nga" napatikhim na lang ako.
I heard her hissed again. Is it her time of the month or it is her professor mode?
"Ano palang gagawin natin doon, Miss?" I asked her again.
"Secret" she just said.
Wow!? Secret?
"Haha, Miss. Ano nga?" Pangungulit ko.
"We're going somewhere. We'll stay there for 3 days. Monday is holiday." Sabi niya.
"3 days!? Hala, Miss. Hindi ako nagpaalam kay Mamaaaa!" Nagpapanic na ako.
Hindi ako nagpaalam kay Mama. For sure magaalala 'yun.
"She already knows." She said sa mahinang tono pero narinig ko 'yun.
"Miss?" Takang tanong ko.
"Call her" sabi niya.
I did what she said, i called my Mom.
"Ma? Ahm, hindi pala ako makakauwi for 3 days.. Miss Klea said na mags'stay kami sa Tagaytay for 3 days" i said at kinakabahan na ako.
"3 days lang? Okay sige. Ingat." She said.. what? "Lang?"
"Ma-" bago pa man din ako magsalita ay namatay na ang tawag. Luh, ano 'yun?
"What did she say?" tanong ni Ma'am kaya napalingon ako.
"She said na ingat daw. Nagtanong pa nga kung 3 days lang. Maka lang, parang wala na akong balak pauwiin" sabi ko sa kaniya.
I heard her small laugh.
She.. laugh?
It is like a music to my ears. Napatulala ako sa kaniya ng medyo matagal. It is my first time hearing her laugh, but somehow, i felt like i missed this.
"You look stupid" she said kaya napabalik ako sa wisyo ko. She's in her poker face again
"Edi wow" sabi ko na lang.
"Sleep. I'll wake you up when we arrive" she said.
Umayos na ako ng upo at humarap sa bintana. Sinandal ko ang ulo ko pumikit na.
I don't know, but somehow, i felt comfortable in her presence.
Somehow, i feel home.
---
I woke up when I felt a soft hands tapping my cheeks.
"Valeria, wake up" i heard Miss Klea's voice. Warm.
"Hmm?" i responded her with that. Inaantok pa ako.
"We're here" she said at nagbago na ang tono ng boses nito. Bilis.
I slowly opened my eyes to adjust to the light. Tumingin ako sa wristwatch ko 12:30pm
She fixed herself before going out kaya naman gano'n na rin ang ginawa ko. I looked at myself in the mirror.
Hindi man lang ako hinintay.
I was wrong.. She got out of the car at pumunta sa pinto ng passenger seat. She opened the door for me. Kaya naman nagulat ako sa ginawa nito.
"Get out. I'm waiting" inis na sabi niya.
Nakatulala pala ako sa ginawa niya. Sky ninyo, lutang na naman. Sino ba namang hindi magugulat sa ginagawa niya. Ang ganda na tapos gentle woman pa.
"A-ah, Thank you, Miss" lumabas na ako ng kotse niya at bumungad sa'kin ang malamig na hangin.
"Fresh, mhmm" i said out of nowhere.
Hindi ko napansin pero nasa isang private rest house pala kami. Ang laki at ang ganda. Pero familiar sa akin ang rest house na ito.
"Miss, where are we?" tanong ko sa kaniya but she didn't respond. I saw here getting things sa likod ng kotse niya.
"Let's go inside" she said at naglakad na papasok ng malaking bahay.
Yaman ah.
I saw her things, dalawang maleta?
"Hindi naman halatang ready ka, Miss." I said habang tinitignan ang dala niya. Ang dami, parang wala na siyang balak umuwi ah.
She looked at me and she said "what?"
"You have 2 of them. Looks like wala ka nang balak umuwi ah" i said jokingly.
"You're talkative" she said at inirapan ako.
Ang init na nga ng araw, mainit pa ang ulo niya. Jusko naman, meron ata ngayon ang babaeng 'to.
We entered the house. Or should I say, a Mansion..
"Who's rest house is this, Miss?" Tanong ko sa kaniya while roaming around.
"Us" she said kaya napalingon ako sa kaniya.
"M-miss?" sabi ko.
Us? She mean, naming dalawa?
"I mean, us— my family. Why?" She said at umiwas ng tingin.
Ayan, assuming ka na naman Sky.
"Ahh okay" sabi ko na lang at naglakad lakad pa.
Pagkapasok mo ng pintuan, bungad agad ang magkabilang hagdanan. On your left, you'll see the living room. May transparent na pinto ro'n to acess the pool and the garden. Sa right naman ang dining room at ang kitchen. Woah, ang laki talaga.
"Upstairs are the room. Choose what you want. There's 3 of it" she said at umakyat na sa taas.
"Miss, tulungan na kita" kinuha ko 'yung isang maleta niya at umakyat na rin sa hagdanan.
When you reach the top of the stairs, it is a long hallway that contains 5 rooms from left to right.
The first room on the left is library, the second one is the painting room. I know because i've read it. May sign sa taas ng kwarto. Off limits ang Painting room. The rest 3 rooms are the bedrooms.
"I'll be right here" pumasok na si Ma'am sa pang apat na kwarto. Sinundan ko siya to give her her things.
Pinili ko ang panghuling kwarto. That room is big. It has a King size bed on the right. May sofa sa paanan ng kama, may malaking tv sa harap.
I'm roaming around when i heard someone knocked in the door. I saw Miss Klea entering the room.
"Here's your things. We have the same size when it comes to clothes. Use these" she said binigay ang isang maleta niya sa akin. She's holding something else.
"Here. Happy Birthday" she greeted me.
"H-how did you know?" Takang tanong ko. I know na hindi ko sinabi sa kaniya. But, how?
"I just knew" she said.
"T-thank you, Miss" kinuha ko ang paper bag sa kamay niya. I opened it and i saw a small box.
"A necklace of..... Tulips?" I asked her as soon as I opened the box.
"Yes, obviously" she said.
"Why Tulips?" Tanong ko sa kaniya. I don't know pero i feel like i needed to ask that.
"Well, for me It symbolizes a perfect and deep lo—" i didn't hear what she's saying when sudden flashback appears in my mind.
Flashback..
"Do you know what symbolizes tulips?" She asked while looking at me.
"What?" I curiously ask.
"It symbolizes perfect and deep love. Just like my love for you. It will always be deep to the point that no one can reach. You are perfect for me, Love. Always." She said with a sweet smile. It makes me cry.
"I love you" i said.
"I love you, too" the girl said.
"Valeria!" Napabalik ako sa realidad when the person in front of me shouted.
"S-sorry, what?" I asked her.
"Are you okay? Do you have a headache?" She asked me. Nilapitan niya ako, and for the first time, I saw a worriedness in her face.
"N-nothing. I just, a scenario pops up in my head. But the face of the woman is blurred. She has a same name like you. Luna.." i said.
"Really? I mean, really? I think you should rest first. I'll wake you up when the food is ready" pagbabago ng tono ng boses niya. Tumayo na siya at lumabas na ng kwarto. Naiwan akong nakaupo rito sa kama.
Inilagay ko sa side table ang box na may kwintas at nahiga ako at nagisip-isip.
Is it possible that that woman is Miss Klea? But how? Or, it is a different person?
Who are you really?
In the middle of thinking, hindi ko na lang namalayan, nakatulog na pala ako.
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