CHAPTER 46: SISTERS' RECONCILIATION
BRIANNA'S POV
"I've talked to the organiser earlier and she's fine with the output of the program. We just need to tell her the further details regarding the --- Brianna, êtes-vous à l'écoute de moi?" Tanong ni Axel.
(Trans: Brianna, are you listening to me?)
Nilipat ko ang tingin ko sa kanya mula sa phone ko at tumango.
Binaba nya ang papel na hawak nya at umupo sa upuan na kaharap ko. "You've been like this since yesterday. What's wrong? It has got to do something with that dude right?"
Hindi ako sumagot at patuloy pa ding nakatitig sa kanya.
"I knew it!"
"What?" Nagsalita na ako at bumuntong hininga.
"That's him, right? He was the guy that you were crying for back in France!" Nanlalaki ang mga mata niya as if nakatuklas siya ng isang malaking secreto.
I rolled my eyes and leaned back against the chair. "Yes it's him, but he's not the reason why I can't concentrate right now. I'm just... stress."
Okay, a lie. We all know na yung lalaking yun lang naman ang dahilan kung bakit nagkaka-ganito ako. And that girl.. his secretary, just what kind of relationship do they have? Urgh! This is so frustrating!
Kahapon sa party, we acted as if we were strangers. Hindi kami nagbigay ng kahit na anong hint na kakilala namin ang isa't isa. Habang ako hirap na hirap na wag siyang kausapin, siya naman parang wala lang talaga sa kaniya ang presence ko. Does that mean, from the very beginning talagang laro lang ang mga pinagsamahan namin dati? Kahit katiting ba wala siyang naramdaman?
***
That afternoon, pumunta ako sa office ni Mrs Gomez para sa meeting about the up coming fashion show. Ang plano namin ay sa kanila ang store, pero kami ang magpo-provide ng mga products. That's cool to us since nagsisimula pa lang kami ng business dito sa Philippines so we really need their help. Right now, we also planned for a fashion show para ipakita in public ang mga samples ng Mishel Harts before i-open ang shop.
"So we've got the other materials, but the problem is the venue." I said to Mrs Gomez and the other three organizers.
"True, wala pa tayong nakukuhang venue."
"Hmm. Well I think Golden Ace Hotel is a perfect one for this show."
"Right! Maganda ang G.A Hotel at perfect din ang lugar since napapalibutan ito ng fashion industries." Leah, the main organizer agreed.
"What do you think Brianna?" Mrs Gomez asked, smiling at me.
Golden Ace Hotel.. diba yun ang hotel ni Jayvee? Wait, does that mean I have to work with him? Wait ulit, just because he's the CEO, it doesn't mean na he'll get his hands into this right? Siguro naman maga-assign sya ng iba para tulungan kami dito. But what the hell Brianna? Get your shit together. So what kung makakatrabaho mo sya if ever? You're acting unprofessional again. Note to self: ihiwalay ang personal affairs sa trabaho.
"I'm fine with it." I finally answered.
So ayun nga, napag-pasyahan ng buong team na Golden Ace Hotel gaganapin ang fashion show. The following days, naging busy na ako. Pumayag na daw ang CEO ng G.A Hotel about sa show, so instead na ako, laging si Axel ang nandoon para asikasuhin ang mga kailangan. Don't get me wrong, hindi ako pumupunta doon dahil may ibang bagay pa akong pinagkakaabalahan, hindi dahil kay Jayvee.
I contacted a lot of the investors, organised the invitations at inaayos ang mga products from the company in France para ipadala dito. I swear, my sched was so hectic that I couldn't even have my own personal leisure.
"Axel, I'm dropping by the production later." Ang sabi ko over the phone to Axel who's in the hotel right now, habang ako nagda-drive.
<"What? You coming?">
"Yes. Any problem?"
<"Nothing. Haha it's just.. this is your first time coming over.">
"Gusto ko lang i-check ang preparation."
<"Haha. Si tu le dis."> (Trans: If you say so)
I frowned at his answer but decided to just let it go.
Saan nga ba ako pupunta? Right now, I'm on my way to Hermosa mansion. After nung first encounter namin nila Ondrea at Jayvee, hindi pa ako bumalik doon.
Pagdating ko sa mansion at binuksan ang pinto, nagsitinginan ang mga maids.
"Y-Young Lady!" Agad na lumapit si Butler Jason na gulat na gulat. Sa bagay, ang tagal na namin hindi nagkikita. Good to see na dito pa din sya nagtatrabaho.
I smiled at him. "Long time no see, Jason. How have you been?" I asked which surprised him. Kasi naman kung ico-compare sa ugali ko dati, ibang-iba.
"A-Ayos naman po, Miss. Bakit hindi kayo nagsabi na uuwi kayo ngayon? Hindi man lang kami nakapag-handa."
"Don't worry about it. Dumaan lang ako dahil may kukunin lang."
"Sky, wag kang tumakbo!" Napatingin kaming dalawa sa batang tumakbo palapit sa amin. May katulong na nakabuntot sa kanya. Sya yung batang kasama nila Ondrea dito sa bahay the last time I saw them.
The kid was staring at me curiously. Didn't expect na maga-ampon si Ondrea. I wonder what happened.
"Wala ang mommy nya?" I asked.
"Wala po. May inasikaso daw na kliente."
"I'm going upstairs." Ang sabi ko kay Butler Jason at tumango sya.
Hindi naalis sa akin ang tingin ng bata pero nilagpasan ko lang sya at umakyat sa hagdan papuntang kwarto ko. As I opened the door of my room, I suddenly felt nostalgic while roaming my eyes around. Ganun pa din ang itsura nya, walang pinagbago. Umupo ako sa kama at tinignan ang mga gamit ko sa paligid. Isang snow globe na may angel sa loob ang nagpukaw ng atensyon ko. I slowly reached for it and pushed the small button on its side, then a slow but sweet melody started playing.
Out of nowhere, naalala ko na naman ang gabing binigay nya ito sakin. That night kung kailan unang naging abnormal ang tibok ng puso ko ng dahil sa kanya. It was so funny how I kept on denying my own feelings at that time and just realised it when it was already too late. Hay.
"Sad.." Napunta ang atensyon ko sa bukas na pintuan at nakita ang bata na nandun at nakatingin sakin. "Why sad?" Mahinang tanong nito na ikinagulat ko.
"Sky, Sky! Nako ikaw talagang bata ka. Ay sorry po, Ma'am. Gusto nya daw po pumunta sa inyo eh." Sabi nung nag-aalaga sa kanya.
I smiled at her. "It's okay. You can leave us now, ako ng bahala sa kanya."
Pagka-alis nung yaya, binaba ko yung snow globe sa side table at lumapit sa bata na hanggang ngayon ay nakatingin pa din sa'kin.
What should I say? Uhhh... I'm really bad with kids.
I kneeled down and awkwardly smiled at him. "What's your name?" Tanong ko.
He blinked. "Sky! Auntie why sad?" He asked as he slightly tilted his head to the side.
Oh my my~ He's so cute! "A-Auntie?" I admit, gulat ako sa pagtawag nya sakin nun. I'm like, 'wow, I'm officially an auntie now?'.
Tumango sya at inilahad ang dalawa nyang maliliit na kamay kaya hinawakan ko 'yun. Ang liit ng mga palad nya~ "Ikaw Auntie Bwiyana Mommy told me so!"
"Your Mommy told you that?"
He nodded and I smiled. "Yes, I'm your Auntie Brianna. Give me a hug so I won't be sad anymore?"
He gave off a chuckle and immediately wrapped his short arms around me. I didn't expect to have a good relationship with a kid, but Sky is just so cute for me to resist.
Pinanuod lang ako ni Sky na mag-ayos ng mga gamit na dadalhin ko. Pagkatapos kong i-pack ang mga 'yun, sabay kaming lumabas ni Sky ng kwarto habang nakahawak sya sa binti ko. Parang ngang ayaw nya ng bumitaw.
Pagkababa naman sa lounge, natigilan ako nang makasalubong namin si Ondrea na nakatayo malapit sa pintuan. Halatang nagulat din sya dahil sa panlalaki ng mga mata nya lalo na nung makitang dikit na dikit sa akin si Sky.
"Mommy!" Sky happily ran to her.
"Hi baby." She smiled and peck his forehead.
"Mommy look, look. Auntie Bwiyana!" Tinuro ako ni Sky.
"Baby puntahan mo muna si Yaya Linda sa kitchen, okay?May pag-uusapan lang kami ng Auntie Brianna mo."
Tumango naman ang bata at tumakbo paalis.
"You didn't have to do that." I said, hanging the bag strap over my shoulder.
Tumayo ng maayos si Ondrea at tumingin sa'kin. "Long time no see.. Brianna." Aniya.
I sighed and started walking. "Yeah." Yun lang ang sagot ko. I walked passed her and was about to open the door nang magsalita ulit sya.
"Let's talk."
"We have nothing to talk about."
"Yes we do, Brianna and you know it."
I stopped from my track and rolled my eyes. "Oh, do I?" I couldn't help but put a sarcasm in my tone.
Narinig ko nagbuntong hininga sya. "Stubborn as ever,ain't we?" Ang sabi nya pero hindi ko pa din sya nililingon. "Look, it's been 3 years. Hindi tayo nag-usap within those years. I know it was entirely my fault but don't you think this is the time to finally put an end into this?"
Hindi ko alam ang sasabihin ko. Should I accept it? Kakalimutan ko nalang ba ang unang beses naming magkasagutan? "Sa tingin mo ganun nalang kadali ito?" I bitterly asked.
"Argh! Damn, just fucking forget your pride for a moment and stop being bitter, Maddison!"
Marahas akong napalingon sa kanya dahil sa gulat. "W-What?"
Huminga sya ng malalim at pinakalma ang sarili. "Please, Maddison." Malumanay na sabi nga habang nakangiti ng konti.
What the hell?She looked so mature and right now parang ako pa ang immature sa aming dalawa.
With furrowed eyebrows, I looked away. "I-I told you to not call me with that name." Binaba ko ang bag na dala ko sa may sofa. "Tss, I'll be in the garden."
I heard her laugh. "Tsundere forever!"
I turned to her with a raised brow. "Tsundere?"
"It's a Japanese word na ibig sabihin ay cold sa una pero mabait din pala sa huli. I just learned it sa pinapanuod kong anime kahapon hihi~ ^O^"
"M-Mabait? Tsk! Hanggang ngayon cartoons pa din inaatupag mo. How old do you think you are now? Grow up, will ya?" Ang sabi ko at naglakad na papuntang garden habang naririnig ko pa din syang tumatawa. Tss, forget what I just said earlier na mukha syang mature -_-.
Nasa garden kami ngayon ni Ondrea nakaupo with cups of tea on the mini table. Eto na nga siguro ang time para pag-usapan ang lahat dahil hindi lang kami ang involvef dito. Pati na din ang mga tao sa paligid namin na naiipit sa sitwasyon.
"I can't believe na nangyari 'to dahil sa isang bet. Now that I think about it, napaka-immature ko pala talaga 'non." Panimula nya habang nakangiti. She looked like reminiscing the past while looking at her cup of tea.
"Good thing you now know." I simply said while sipping my drink.
"Heeeey!" >3<
Gosh, para pa din talagang bata. Can't believe na may anak na syang inaalagaan ngayon.
"I'm sorry." She said. "Sorry sa mga actions ko dati. Sorry din sa mga nasabi ko. Sorry for being stubborn."
Binaba ko ang tasa sa table. "It was partly my fault too so I guess I have to apologise as well."
"You don't look sincere though."
When I glared at her, she laughed out loud. "Hahaha hindi ka pa din nagbabago. Nakakatakot pa din ang aura mo!"
"Tss. Same to you, asal bata ka pa din." I retorted at lalo pa syang natawa. Seriously,baliw na ba talaga sya?
Usap lang kami ng usap and it was so amazing na para bang hindi kami nauubusan ng topic. After all, 3 years was a very long time.
"I heard na nagkakamabutihan kayo ni Bryan Harris? So until now, sya pa din huh?" Bigla naman syang namula sa tanong ko.
"I guess nagbalik talaga ang feelings. Alam mo yun? Yung akala mo wala na pero nang makita mo ulit sya, biglang parang flashback na babalik lahat ng memories, feelings,lahat-lahat?" She was saying while smiling. "Although wala kaming relationship sa ngayon, gusto ko pa din i-cherish kung anong meron kami."
"What happened to Andrew?"
"We're friends. Although I feel sorry for rejecting him, he's too important kaya kailangan kong gawin yun. Ayoko syang masaktan lalo nang dahil sa'kin."
"Well, I'm guessing na wala pang alam sila Daddy tungkol dyan."I said. She immediately knew what I meant; about the marriage na pinu-push ng parents namin sa kanila. At tama nga ako dahil tumango sya. "Good luck."
"Tsk dapat susuportahan mo ko ah!"
"Kaya nga good luck eh, duh." I rolled my eyes.
And from that, kinuwento nya ang mga nangyari sa kanila sa U.S at kung papano dumating sa buhay nila si Sky.
"Enough talking about me, ikaw naman Brianna. Congrats you've become a very successful designer! To be honest hindi ko ineexpect na magiging designer ka. Akala ko you'd follow Kuya Aaron's steps at magta-trabaho sa company. But look now,ikaw ang laman ng newspapers ngayon." She said in amazement.
At kinwento ko sa kanya ang lahat ng nangyari sakin sa Paris. But since napunta kami sa topic na yun,of course natanong din nya kung kailan at bakit ako pumunta doon which lead to my break-up with Jayvee.
"You're so stupid."Ang sabi nya.
"I dont wanna hear that from you." -.-
"Pero kasi naman! Dapat sinabi mo nalang deretsahan na mahal mo sya! Eh ngayon naghintay ka pa ng tatlong taon para sabihin sa kanya. Hindi mo ba naisip na baka maagaw na sya ng iba sa oras na pagbalik mo?"
"I did. I did think about that for hundreds of times already. And probably this time late na din ako. Besides, I don't even know kung minahal nya ako noon. Maybe that was the reason kung bakit naduwag akong sabihin sa kanya dati. I was afraid of being rejected."
I said it. I finally said it out loud. For a few years sinasabi ko lang yun sa sarili ko at hindi ko magawang sabihin sa iba, not even with Zed. Pero ngayon nalabas ko ito kay Ondrea. And because I did, parang gumaan ang pakiramdam ko.
"I'll root for you. You definitely have to tell him your feelings this time!"
Pagkatapos namin mag-usap, paalis na ako nang bigla nya akong niyakap na ikinagulat ko.
"Masaya ako ngayon na nagkabati na tayo. I missed you! I missed you so much, Sis!"Umiiyak na sabi nya at hinigpitan pa lalo ang yakap nya.
Napangiti ako. "Gee, ang iyakin mo, Drea." I said and hugged her back. "I missed you too."
--------
(a/n:)Also read my new stories:
- ETHANICA: THE SACRED KEY WITHIN (Fantasy-Romance)
- 143 DORMITORY (Romance-Teen Fic)
Thanks! Xx