"Good morning, princess. Breakfast is ready." My dad greeted me with a smile and motioned me to have a seat.
"Morning, dad." I kissed him on his cheeks and then sat down.
"Where were you last night?" My brother asked me.
"J-just with a friend?" I answered with hesitation remembering what happened last night.
"And who is that friend of yours?" He threw another question. Geez. This is why I don't want to see my brother. He's sweet and nice but his being "too over-protective" is annoying.
"Darwin, save the interrogations later. Please?" My mom interrupted.
"Yeah. Just save it for later. We're in front of the meals. Show some respect. Besides, we're going to the Fernandez Residence today so you better hurry up." Dad supported mom's interruption. I smiled and continued to eat.
"I'm not coming with you. That Francis needs to pay for what he did." Napatigil ako sa pag kain ko. Yung kutsara, nasa bibig ko pa tapos nakatingin ako kay kuya. "You think I don't know what happened yesterday? He broke up with you." Sabi ni kuya habang ganun pa din ang posisyon ko. Napansin ata ako ni mom so hinawakan nya yung kamay ko na nakahawak sa kutsara at binaba ito.
"Stop it, Kuya. That's fine."
"That's fine? He cheated on you!"
"No, he didn't. He broke up with me." I defended. I don't know why I am doing this but I know Francis doesn't deserve what my brother is about to do.
"Yeah, he broke up with you to be with his professor. Tarantado pala yang Francis na yan eh!" He said with gritted teeth. Halatang galit si kuya. Ano ba yan. Napatingin pa tuloy sila dad and mom sa sinabi ni kuya at halatang gulat sila. I just bowed down for a few seconds and then looked up to them and smiled.
"I-i'm fine. Trust me. When I say I'm fine, I'm fine. You know me, right?" Tapos kumain na ulit ako. Today is the start of my new life, so they better not ruin it.
"I just at least need to talk to him." Matigas na sabi nya. I stopped eating and sighed.
"Okay. But don't hurt him." Then I continued to eat.
"Fine. I have to go. I can't come with you guys on Governor Fernandez's." Sabi nya tapos tumayo na sya at nagmamadaling umakyat sa kwarto nya.
"A-aack.. Ehem, ehe-- a-ack" Napatingin sila mom sakin at inabutan ako ng baso ng tubig kaya uminom naman ako kagaad.
"Where are we going again?" I asked then uminom ulit ako ng tubig.
"Governor Fernandez's." Dad answered. Naubo nanaman ako. Did he just say Fernandez?!
"Eli. Elijah Fernandez is my name. And relax ka lang dyan, Miss. Wag ka mag-alala wala akong gagawing masama sayo. Diba sabi ko sayo dadalhin kita sa haven ko? Tara na. Relax ka lang, hindi kita aanuhin."
"Why?" I inquired and then gulped.
"It's Christofer's birthday. His son." Mom answered. Christofer. Nakahinga ako ng maayos upon hearing other name.
"Is there a problem, princess?" Dad asked. I shook my head and continued to eat. PEACEFULLY.
-
"Oh, hi! This is our youngest child, Donna." Mom introduced me to the beautiful lady in front of us who's wearing a glamorous gown.
"Hi mija! I'm Ariza Domingo-Fernandez. The governor's wife." Then she gave me a peck on my cheeks and on my mom's cheek as well.
"Hello po. Nice meeting you." Then I smiled. Ngumiti din naman sya. She looks.... she looks simple but elegant.
"Ang galang mo naman. Nakakatuwa. But don't 'po' me. No need." Tapos tumawa sya. Yung tawa nya halatang sosyal sya. "Anyways, I heard na sa St. Mare's ka nag-aaral." I nodded. "Ano naman ang course mo?"
"Of course po." I joked and then she laughed. HARD. Ganun ba nakakatawa yung joke ko? Hmm.
"Hahahaha! May pagka-joker talaga yang si Donna." Singit naman ni mom. Tapos tumawa silang dalawa.
"You're so funny, hija." Tapos uminom sya ng wine ata yun na nasa goblet nya.
"Kidding aside. I'm taking Communication in Arts po." Tapos tumango - tango naman sya.
"You know what, you should meet my son. Maybe magkasundo kayo. You know, same age kayo. Maybe same likes kayo. Kaya lang, sa Ateneo nag-aaral yun. So baka... you know, may differences din kayo. Hahaha!" Tapos tumawa nanaman sya.
"Edi good yun kung ganun. Positive attracts negative. Diba, mare?" Sumingit nanaman si mama sa pangalawang beses. At teka, bakit parang binebenta ako ng nanay ko? I shrugged off that thought na lang.
"Ahahahaha! I guess, alam ko na kung kanino ka nagmana, Donna." Sabi ni Mrs. Fernandez. Ngumiti na lang ako at pinandilatan si mom, tapos uminom ako ng juice. Si Mrs. Fernandez naman tumawa lang sa reaction namin. "I like you, hija. I'd like you to be my daughter-in-law." Sabi nya na naging dahilan para mabilaukan ako kahit wala naman akong kinakain.
Napatingin silang dalawa sa akin. Wow lang, halos tatlong beses na ko nabubulunan today ah. "Ateneo's a nice school." Pagsegway ko, tumango nanaman sya. "And oh, I heard, it's your son's birthday today." Nagsmile naman sya.
"Yeah, it's his birthday today. He's probably with his friends and with some girls. Alam mo kasi, yang anak kong yan, he loves to flirt. A LOT." Napatango na lang ako tapos ngumiti. Malamang, ano bang gusto nyong sabihin ko?! Kakabreak lang kaya namin ng boy--- este ex-boyfriend ko! Tahimik kami for a few minutes. Ay, teka. Ako lang pala. Kasi si mom at Mrs. Fernandez ay tuloy tuloy lang sa kwentuhan nila. Napansin ko din na kasama na nila si dad and si Governor Fernandez. Parang ang saya-saya ng usapan nila. Lahat sila, ngiting - ngiti eh.
"Hija, can I ask you a favor?" Biglang sabi ni Mrs. Fernandez out of the blue.
"Ano po 'yun, Mrs. Fernandez?" Napangiti naman sya.
"Uy, don't call me Mrs. Fernandez. You're too formal naman. Call me Tita." Tumango ako. "So going back to business, pwede bang....." Napatigil sya for seconds. Para syang babaeng magcoconfess ng feelings nya sa taong gusto nya.
"Pwedeng ano po?" Atat na tanong ko.
"Pwedeng patinuin mo yung anak ko?"
"Ah, yun la--- PO?! ANO PO ULIT YUNG SABI NYO?!" Medyo napalakas yung boses ko. OA din minsan. -_-
"Eh kasi ilang babae na ata naging girlfriend nyang anak ko. Patinuin mo naman oh? Tame him. Make him a good, nice man. A man who will stick to just one girl." Sincerity in visible within her eyes. The eyes of a mother who loves her son very much, the eyes of a mother who wants the best for her son, the eyes of a caring, loving and sincere mother. The eyes of a perfect mother.
"E-eh..... h-hindi ko pa nga po n-nakikilala y-yung a-anak nyo. T-tsaka imposible po yung gusto nyong mangyari." Nag-aalangan kong sagot.
"You'll meet him later. I'll introduce you to one another." Tapos nag-smile sya. Tinignan ko naman sila mom, wala na si mom, dad and Gov sa pwesto nila kanina.
"E-eh... T-tita k-kasi po.... k-kaka...b-bre--"
"Osige ha. Kita tayo mamaya. Ieentertain ko muna yung mga bisita." She smiled and then she left. My jaw just dropped.
Naiwan ako sa lamesa na mag-isa at iniisip yung mga sinabi ni Tita Ariza. Tame his son? Gaano ba ka-playboy yung anak nya at sobra kung magmakaawa si Tita? Bakit ko ba iniisp yung mga dahilan? Hindi naman ako pumayag diba? Baliw na ba ako at kinakausap ko ang sarili ko? Haaay! Ano ba yan!?!!! Naihilamos ko yung palad ko sa muka ko tapos umiling - iling ako.
"Nag-iisa ka nanaman?" Napatingin ako sa nagsalita at nagulat ako nang makita ko kung sino sya.
"ELI FERNANDEZ?! ANONG GINAGAWA MO DITO?! STALKER BA KITA?!"