"Huwag kang papalipas ng gutom, mamaya din bibili na lang ako ng ulam para satin ni Mikko." George said the moment we stopped in front of Aling Martha's karinderya.
"Okay, you take care too!" I said and he just smiled, namula pa yata ang magkabilang pisngi ko nang ayusin nya yung takas kong buhok bago nya i-abot yung towel ko na hawak nya at saka umalis.
Natawa pa ako nang tumalikod sya ulit at kumaway kaya napapangiting kumaway din ako sa kanya. Akala mo namang ang layo namin sa isa't-isa at hindi na magkikita mamaya pero who cares??
Naiiling habang nakangiti na lang na pumasok ako sa karinderya na wala pang laman pero mapanuksong tingin ang ibinungad sa akin nina Mildred at Jose.
"Kayo na ba non?" tanong ni Jose na ikinangiwi ko pero natawa din maya-maya.
"Uhm...hindi pa?" di ko sure na sagot, kasi hindi pa naman nagtatanong si George kung ano ba kami, and I'm not actually in a rush.
"Ayoooon, landian pero walang label." naiiling na sabi ni Mildred na ikinatawa ko lang.
"Eh hindi din naman kasi ako nagmamadali, basta ang alam namin, the feeling is mutual." sabi ko bago ako naka-earn ng kurot sa tagiliran kay Mildred na tinawanan ko lang habang umiiwas.
"Oh edi kayo na! Ansabe ni ponkan, talo ang fake blonde nya!" sabi nya ulit na ikinailing ko lang habang nakangiti.
"Magtrabaho na nga tayo! Mamaya na lang chikka okay?" I said, smiling. Because I'm obviously in a good mood.
Actually, lumipas ang weekdays na parang normal lang naman, ganon pa rin naman kami sa loob ng bahay. I was right when I noticed that his love language is act of service, like cooking for you and feeding you with food, pansin ko na yon before na ginagawa nya kay Em-em, but mas naging aware lang ako sa mga ginagawa nya ngayon para sa akin simula nung nagkaaminan na kami.
Hindi lang pala talaga sya mabait or gentleman, he do those simple things because it's his way of showing care and I wanted to say love but I know he's not ready for that yet. We have a long time to get to know each other more so I am not in a rush.
Hindi sya masyadong vocal when it comes to his feelings, he's a quiet man in general at pansin ko na sa amin lang ni Em-em sya dumadaldal kasi madaldal kaming dalawa ni Em-em, or sa mga taong komportable lang talaga sya, katulad nina Kuya Kaloy at Kuya Popoy.
Although he still annoys me sometimes and he'll laugh! He have the audacity to laugh at me now even though he would see me starting to get annoyed.
Pero pansin ko na kapag hindi nakatingin si Em-em at magkatabi kaming nakaupo, he would held my hand, play with my fingers, nagulat pa ako nung isang beses, he quickly left a kiss on the back of my hand before acting like nothing happened.
I'm just glad to see him loosening up to me.
"Pero girl, ikaw ah..." biglang sabi ni Mildred sabay tulak sa akin gamit yung balikat nya kaya napatingin ako sa kanya.
"Why?" I asked.
"Wala, ang kalat mo lang nung birthday ni George." sabi nya sabay tawa na ikinatawa ko na din.
I remember what I did before George's birthday party so kinwento ko yon kay Mildred and she was laughing at me nonstop sa sobrang pagka-aliw nya.
"Grabe! Nakakatakot kang inisin!" tawa nya pa na ikinailing ko na lang habang natatawa na din sa pagiging aggressive ko that day.
"I don't know, nainis talaga ako non eh, muntik pang hindi matuloy yung party na hinanda natin kung sumama sa kanya si George." sabi ko at tumango naman sya.
"Naku, buti na lang din. Mag-aaya lang yon ng date, saka kahit naman siguro hindi mo pinuntahan non si George, sayo pa rin sya sasama. Ayiiiee~" tukso nya sa akin sabay pindot pa sa gilid ng bewang ko.
"Psh. Magtrabaho na tayo Mildred, masyado na akong kinikilig kakatukso mo." sabi ko na ikinatawa nya.
~~~~
A week have passed since George's birthday, I woke up as usual feeling good because that's just my mood every single day that I am here in their home. Nang buksan ko yung backpack ko containing my things, saka ko napansin yung journal ko.
I opened it and smiled when I saw the sunflower he gave me dried nicely, inipit ko kasi sa journal ko yung bulaklak ng pansin kong malapit ng malanta. That's where I looked at the written scribbles, I wrote this before, on my first week here, iyong mga gusto kong gawin at maranasan habang malayo ako sa pamilya ko at sa mga bodyguards ko.
Napangiti na lang ako nang magawa ko naman lahat, just normal things, but I didn't expect to fall in love along the way to someone like George Magpili, na-ignore lahat ng nakalistang qualities ng ideal guy ko dahil sa kanya, except sa maalam magluto. I laugh at that.
I just close my journal again and kept it in my bag, iyon ang pinakaimportanteng gamit ko ngayon, doon kasi nakaipit lahat ng polaroid pictures na kinuha ko dito pati na rin yung, well, sunflower na bigay ni George.
Lumabas na din ako ng bahay nang makapag-ayos ako, I'm wearing a simple shirt and short jeans when I saw George watering the plants, ngayon may tubong bulaklak na kaya agad akong napalapit sa kanya.
"Namumulaklak na sila! They're so pretty!" I said and that just made him laugh. Tinignan ko yung paligid ng bakuran nila at napangiti na lang ako bago ko ulit binalingan si George.
"See? I told you, gumanda lalo yung bakuran nyo." sabi ko na ikinangiti nya bago nya binitawan ang pandilig na hawak nya, nagulat pa ako nang hawak nya ang kamay ko gamit ang dalawang kamay.
"Bakuran natin, yung mundo ko parang itong bahay namin, walang kulay, walang buhay. Pero noong dumating ka, ginulo mo, pero pinasaya mo kami, ako." I smiled because of that.
Sobrang saya ng puso ko na ayaw ko ng matapos ang lahat ng ito, kung pwede lang na sa tabi na lang ako palagi ni George, but I have a life planned for me before all this and I have a duty as a daughter to my family.
Pero sa sobrang kasiyahan ko, sa sobrang tuwa ng puso ko at sa tingin na ibinibigay sa akin ni George na parang ako ang pinakamagandang babae sa buong mundo, parang kaya ko ng maging matapang, parang kayang-kaya ko ng harapin ang mundo ko basta nandito sya sa tabi ko at magkahawak ang kamay naming dalawa.
"I would gladly give colors to your life over and over again because that's what you did in mine too. Kahit annoying ka talaga minsan." sabi ko na ikinatawa naming dalawa.
"Para sayo..." sabi nya bago iniabot sa akin ang bungkos ng bulaklak na ginawa nya, it was the different variations of the flowers we planted that made me laugh but I love this more than any of the bouquet I've received in my entire life.
"Thank you, I love this." I said.
He held the back of my head using his one hand before planting a kiss on my forehead, matagal, na tila doon nya pinaparating sa akin ang nararamdaman nya. Nang humiwalay sya sa akin, napangiti na lang ako kasabay ng pagngiti nya.
"I really----"
"Sammy!" nahinto ang sasabihin ko sana nang may tumawag sa pangalan ko, parehas kaming napatingin kay Tita May na nakatayo hindi kalayuan sa amin.
But my smile faded when I saw the guy behind Tita May, he was the one who called my name as he was smiling so brightly.
Napatingin ako kay George na nagtataka din ang tingin na ibinigay sa akin hanggang sa makalapit sa amin sina Tita May and....Aaron.
His black Audi was behind him na sa pagkakatanda ko ay birthday gift sa kanya ng parents nya.
"Kilala mo ba sya?" tanong ni George and I nodded.
Hindi ako makasagot ng matino kasi biglang nagulo yung isip ko, how the heck did he find me?? I am expecting Hezekiah to be the first one to find me but not Aaron.
"He's my friend and I don't even know how did he even find me." sabi ko bago napabuntong hininga na lang. Marahang binitawan ni George ang kamay ko na ikinatingin ko doon, hindi ko alam kung nagtampo ba sya o dapat akong kabahan pero hindi ko iyon nagustuhan.
Like he was silently letting me go just because someone I know, which is obviously in the same circle as I am have already found me.
But maybe I'm just overthinking, because he smiled at me afterwards.
"Sa loob lang ako, papasukin mo ang bisita mo." sabi nya at tumango ako saka ngumiti.
When he left, saktong nakarating sa may bakuran sina Tita May at Aaron na malaki ang ngiti sa akin. He immediately hugged me tight, napaangat pa ako sa lupa dahil sa excitement nya. I looked at Tita May while awkwardly smiling and pushing Aaron away gently.
"Maiwan ko na muna kayo Aurora." sabi ni Tita May and I nodded and thanked her, pansin kong pumasok sya sa bahay nina George.
"Man, I miss you!" bulalas ni Aaron na ikinangiti ko na lang ng bahagya.
"Why are you here?" takang tanong ko.
"Well, I was searching for you! Nalaman ko kina tita that you had a vacation. My dad asked me to train under his supervision in the company now, you should start now too habang maaga para hindi lang ako ang nagsa-suffer no." he said as he chuckled.
"Nah~I just miss you, and kidding aside, you're needed in the company." sabi nya at hindi ko alam ang mararamdaman ko sa mga sinabi nya. So I just gave him a tight smile before turning my back.
"Come in for a sec, let's just talk inside." I said and he nodded.
"Dito ka tumira for months? It's kinda small and cheap, you should've stayed in our resort near here and you could've told me to come with you." he said that made me stop.
Buti na lang hindi pa kami nakakapasok sa loob ng bahay dahil ayaw kong marinig iyon ni George dahil kahit ako, hindi ko nagustuhan ang sinabi ni Aaron kahit pa kaibigan ko sya.
"It is not cheap, Aaron. At least have the courtesy to be respectful in someone else's home." I said, calmly and he just raised both of his hands in the air.
He's a friend, I should calm down.
Nang pumasok kami sa loob ng bahay, I wore my house slippers, I told him to take off his shoes since we do not have an extra slipper to offer, buti na lang sumunod sya.
"Uhm..Tita May, George, he's Aaron Palaez, my friend from Manila." pakilala ko sa kanila at ngumiti naman si Tita May bago kami pinaupo.
"Halikayo, paupuin mo muna ang bisita mo Aurora, ipaghahanda ko kayo ng kape." sabi ni Tita May and I thanked her.
Si George naman ay napansin kong kinuha nya yung sumbrero nya, at nang lapitan nya ako, I didn't expect him to kiss the top of my head.
"Punta lang ako sa shop." bulong nya at tumango ako't ngumiti bago ko binalingan si Aaron na nakita ang ginawa nya pero ipinagwalang bahala lang nito.
Tita May left us when she finished serving Aaron his coffee, I thanked Tita May again because she didn't really have to do that but she did. Hanggang sa maiwan na lang kaming dalawa.
"So how did you find me? Inutusan ka ba ni papa na hanapin ako?" tanong ko sa kanya at tumango sya.
"The company needs you Aurora, that's one of the reasons why I searched hard for you." seryosong sabi nya na ikinatigil ko.
I didn't check our company status before I left, because I know that it is being handled very well by our family, Uncle Cleven is there to help my father and we have the best and trusted employees. Of course we also experience down moment at times since the market is a competitive field, but not to the point of bankruptcy because my father wouldn't be called a prodigy in the business world for nothing.
But I still felt bothered, besides, the original plan for me was to start training after graduation so I can help my father in running our empire.
"Okay, I'll go home." sabi ko, I just have to check my father and our family because I haven't heard any news from them after Euphy's last message, hindi ko din kasi masyadong nahahawakan ang cellphone na binili ko the past few months dahil naging busy ako.
"Then let's go." sabi nya sabay tayo pero umiling ako.
"No, you can go home now. I need to properly fix things here first." I said and he sigh.
"Well then, I just hope that you'll go home as soon as possible. Aside from the company, we all miss you. I, miss you." he said and I just smiled and nodded.
Tumayo na ako mula sa kinauupuan ko at sabay kaming lumabas, hinatid ko sya hanggang sa sasakyan nya na agaw pansin sa mga kapitbahay.
I didn't expect him to hug me that made other people look at us weirdly, but I just awkwardly smile and tap his back for him to let go.
"Call me when you need someone to fetch you and please, check your phone." sabi nya at tumango lang ako bago pinanuod ang sasakyan nyang umalis.
"Sino yon Aurora? Nobyo mo?"
"Mukhang mayaman!"
"Ang ganda ng kotse!"
Ang dami kong naririnig na comments pero nginitian ko na lang sila ng tipid bago pumunta sa karinderya ni Aling Martha.
Hindi na ako nakapasok sa tamang oras, nakakahiya.
"Aling Martha, I'm so sorry po." I said the moment I saw her.
"Nag-aalala ako sayong bata ka bakit hindi ka pa pumapasok, pero dumaan dito si George kanina para ipaalam na may biglaan ka daw bisita." sabi niya and I sigh because of that.
George was so sweet of him to do that although I can feel that he was bothered awhile ago. Knowing him, I know that look in his eyes when Aaron called my name.
"Uhm..Aling Martha, thankful po ako sa pagtanggap nyo sa akin dito. Pero tingin ko po, hindi na po ako makakapasok sa mga susunod na araw." sabi ko ng dahan-dahan, nahihiya talaga ako sa kanya.
I was having fun here, learning on my own, but then it was cut short, it's not even six full months yet, going 5 months pa lang akong malayo sa amin.
"Ay bakit girl? Aalis ka?" malungkot na tanong ni Mildred sa akin na ikinatango ko.
"Sorry po Aling Martha, I know you badly needed a helper in this eatery tapos bigla akong aalis eh hindi pa naman po ako ganoon katagal dito." sabi ko pero umiling lang ang ginang saka ako tinapik ng dalawang beses sa balikat.
"Huwag mo ng pakaisipin yon, pwede kong pakisuyuan saglit ang anak ko habang naghahanap kami ng papalit sayo. Pero pwede ko bang malaman kung bakit ka biglang aalis?" tanong nya kaya napakagat ako sa labi ko.
Maybe it's time for them to know, but I guess just the enough reasons. Kay George ko na lang ipapaalam ang lahat.
"Uhm...kasi po pumunta dito yung kaibigan ko, sinabi nyang kailangan ako sa amin at tingin ko din po ay matatagalan ako sa pagbalik. Pero bibisita pa rin naman po ako dito, iyon nga lang hindi na para magtrabaho." sabi ko at napakamot pa sa gilid ng leeg ko.
"Hoy ganda mami-miss kita. Nakakainis ka!" naiiyak na sabi ni Mildred na ikinangiti ko ng malungkot.
I just hugged her tight and promised to visit her too from time to time and bond with her.
Ngayon ko naisip yung consequences ng pagstay ko dito, I got attached to these people the same way they got attached to me, I can't imagine what will be Em-em and George's reaction would be if I tell them about this later.
"Oh sya, hindi na kita mapipigilan dyan, pamilya mo ang may kailangan sayo. Basta mag-iingat ka palagi Aurora. Ito yung huling sweldo mo." sabi ni Aling Martha pero umiling ako.
"No need na po Aling Martha, yung tulong at pagtanggap lang nyo po sa akin dito ay enough na po." sabi ko at nakakaunawang ngumiti lang sya't tumango.
"I'll visit pa rin naman once I settle the things I need to do Mil, wag ka ng umiyak." natatawang sabi ko kahit pinipigilan ko din yung luha ko.
"I-text mo ako ah? Kakamustahin ka namin from time to time. Kapag may fake blonde-ng katulad ni Ponkan ang nangaway sayo sa Maynila, sabihin mo lang, susugurin namin!" sabi nya na ikinatawa ko.
Ilang paalamanan pa ang nangyari bago ako umalis at nagpunta sa shop ni Tay Eman, pag dating ko don, hindi ko nadatnan si George, Tay Eman said that he went out to go somewhere kaya sa kanila ko na lang nina Tita May pinaliwanag ang nangyaring pagbisita ni Aaron at kung bakit kailangan kong umalis.
"Tay, salamat po sa pagtanggap sa akin dito. Hindi ko po kayo makakalimutan, kayo din mga Kuya." sabi ko na ikinatango nila habang may malungkot ding ngiti.
"Wala iyon Aurora, masaya din naman kami na nakilala ka namin."
"Mami-miss kita ganda." sabi ni Tita May habang nangingilid din ang mga luha.
"Tita naman, bibisita pa rin naman po ako dito. Huwag na kayong umiyak, babalik at babalik po ako dito kasi nandito kayo...." at si George at Em-em.
When all is settled in the shop, lumapit ako kay Tay Eman.
"Tay..."
"Makakaasa ka hija." sabi nya na ikinagulat ko kasi wala pa akong sinasabi pero parang alam na nya kung ano or sino ang tinutukoy ko.
"Paano nyo po nalaman? Wala pa po akong sinasabi." nalilitong tanong ko na ikinatawa lang ng mahina ni Tay Eman.
"Sa akin nagtatanong iyong si George kapag naguguluhan sya sa nararamdaman nya sa iyo, kaya alam ko hija kung gaano ka nya kagusto." sabi nya na hindi ko inaasahan pero napabuntong hininga din ako maya-maya. He probably knew George's history with his father too, besides, sya na ang tumayong tatay kay George.
If there's one person aside from Em-em that George loves, it's Tay Eman.
"Hindi ko po alam kung anong magiging reaksyon ni George kapag sinabi ko sa kanya 'to, lalo na at biglaan." naiiling na sabi ko.
"Magkaiba kayo ng tatay nya hija. Hindi mo naman siguro gagawin kay George ang ginawa ng ama nya hindi ba?" mahinahon na tanong nya sa akin na agad kong ikinailing.
"Hindi tay, never. Mahal--I mean gusto ko po si George. Gustung-gusto." sabi ko na ikinatawa lang nya ng mahina.
"Nadulas ka na, huwag mo ng itanggi. Pero hindi ako manghihimasok sa kung ano mang alam nyong namamagitan sa inyong dalawa." sabi nya na ikinangiti ko na lang.
"Salamat tay, habang wala po ako. Pakibantayan na din si George from Ponkan--I mean Clarissa." sabi ko na ikinatawa nya bago ako tinapik sa balikat.
"Ikaw na bata ka, wala kang dapat ipag-alala kay George, loyal at faithful iyon. Pinapakisamahan lang non si Clarissa bilang respeto na din sa pagkabata nila at sa kapitang ama nito. Huwag ka ng mag-alala." payo nya na ikinatango ko.
"Sige po Tay, aabangan ko na lang si George sa bahay, kailangan ko din kasi silang kausapin ni Em-em." sabi ko at tumango naman ito.
"Sasabihan ko din si George na umuwi kaagad kapag nakita ko para makapagusap kayo."
I went home after that, I was so nervous on how I will tell him about this. Is this why other people are afraid of too much happiness? Because the minute that you're like in a high place because of euphoria, another minute something would end it. In our case, reality and my duty as a daughter ended it for me.
But I know to myself that I will come back, kung kailangan ituring ko ang probinsyang ito at ang metro na parang nasa kabilang kanto lang, gagawin ko. I have all the means, I will do it, not just for the people here but because for the sake of my sanity too as I am sure I will miss them all, specially Em-em and George.
Pagkauwi ko, I packed my things, iniwan ko na yung mga nabili ko lang din dito just in case. I grabbed my phone, the one I originally owned and set it up along with my sim card.
The notifications started popping up, the messages were from Luciel, Peter, Augustus and Austin, all of it are asking where am I and a lot were from my mother. But what shocked me the most was a message from Hezekiah and Euphy, they're the recent ones that tells Grandma was hospitalized and that she's okay now but I still got worried.
Magko-compose na sana ako ng message when it started ringing because of Euphy, the same time the door opened in the salla so I declined the call and went out of the room instead.
"Hi Em-em!" I said, agad namang napangiti ang bata, sinugod pa nya ako ng yakap na kaagad ko namang sinuklian.
"Uhm..Ate Aurora has something to say. So let's talk muna?" I said and he nodded.
"Ano po yun Ate Aurora?"
"Gusto ko makinig ka sa aking mabuti okay?" simula ko at tumango naman sya, "kailangan ko na kasing umuwi..." Hindi ko na naituloy yung dapat kasunod kasi biglang nalungkot yung mukha nya, nagsisimula na ding mangilid yung luha sa mga mata nya kaya kaagad ko syang niyakap.
"Shhh...don't cry Em...please..." I said kasi I can't take the sadness I'm seeing in his eyes right now.
"Iiwan mo na po kami Ate Aurora? Di ka na babalik?" umiiyak na tanong nya at umiling ako.
"No, syempre babalik ako para bisitahin kayo, ikaw. Kailangan ko lang umuwi kasi kailangan na ako ng magulang ko, and my grandma's sick and I'm worried."
"Babalik ka po? Promise?" tanong nya at tumango ako saka ngumiti habang tinutuyo ko ang mga luha nya.
"Oo naman, I promise. Kaya habang wala ako, magpakabait ka ah?" sabi ko at tumango naman sya. I kiss his forehead and told him to change his clothes na.
I prepared food this time, ako na ang nagluto ng hapunan gamit ang tirang supply sa ref as I also texted Euphy and asked about Grandma.
She's fine now Ate, are you going home now? You're using your original number.
Yes, tomorrow, maybe.
Okay, I miss you, we miss you. Grandma's looking for you too.
Yeah, tell her I'll see her immediately once I'm home.
Hindi ko na nakita kung anong reply ni Euphy nang marinig kong nagbukas ang pinto, pumasok doon si George kaya agad akong napangiti, he tiredly smiled at me and I widely opened my arms for him, I didn't have to talk, he went near me and hugged me tight.
"Where have you been?"
"Magpapapaalam ka na ba?" sabay na tanong namin sa isa't-isa. I caress his back before tapping it twice, I let go of our hug and look at him in the eyes.
"We'll talk later, for now let's eat muna okay?" I said and he sigh before nodding his head.
I knew what I said wasn't enough, pare-parehas kaming tahimik sa table. Em-em seems to be a little bit sad too even though I already assured him that I'll still come here from time to time.
Hindi na lang ako nagsalita, si George ang nagpresintang maghugas ng mga pinagkainan and Em-em didn't have an assignment that day kaya nagkulay na lang kami ng activity book nya. Maya-maya, ramdam kong yumakap sa akin ang bata bago nya isinandal ang ulo nya sa gilid ko. When I looked at him, he was already fast asleep.
"Dalhin ko na sya sa kwarto." napaangat ako ng tingin kay George nang sabihin nya yon, nakapagpalit na din pala sya ng pambahay.
I nodded my head and let him carry Em-em to bed, iniligpit ko naman yung mga ginamit namin ng bata at nang matapos, naisipan kong lumabas at pumunta sa gilid ng bahay at maupo doon sa mahabang kahoy na upuan.
I was just admiring the sky when I felt like someone's staring at me, George was just standing a few meters away from me while staring at me. I smiled and tap the sit beside me.
He stood up straight and sat beside me na ikinangiti ko. I grab his hand using my right hand and look at it, my hand perfectly fits to his. Hawak ko ang kamay nya at hinahaplos-haplos ko yung palad nya na para akong isang manghuhula.
"Nakikita ko sa kapalaran mo na ako ang makakatuluyan mo." sabi ko at ako na mismo ang natawa sa ka-cheesy-han ko bago nag-angat ng tingin sa kanya.
My smile faded when I saw him smile a bit but his eyes were sad, confuse, anxious, scared, all of it, halu-halo ang emosyon, but the better way to erase that is to ensure that I will do everything to come back here any time I could get.
"I am not your father, George. Our family gives importance to the words we say, and if I told you I like you and I'll come back here to visit from time to time, I will. I assure you that." I gently said, but my conviction about my plan was firm enough to remember.
"Hindi mo kailangang mangako, at hindi din kita pwedeng pigilan dahil bago mo pa kami nakilala, may ibang mundo ka ng ginagalawan na kailangan mong balikan." sabi nya bago bumuntong hininga.
"Do you like me George?" I asked while looking in his eyes.
"Oo, sinabi ko na hindi ba?" he gulped as he was looking at me with full of adoration, inayos pa nya ang takas kong buhok at inipit ito sa likod ng tenga ko.
"Ikaw ang puno't dulo."
I smiled as I held his hand tightly.
"Then we'll make it work." I said, full of promise that I know I am willing to protect and fight for.
__________________
#unedited.