Nine - Jaspher

"Ate Summer!" sino pa ba? E di ang makulit na si Jaspher. Kung hindi ka lang talaga kapatid ni Klein.

“Hi Jaspher. How’s your sleep last night?” nakangiting bati ko sa kanya at ginulo ang buhok niya.

“Uhm, it’s okay naman po. But you know what, I think someone was watching me last night. Like someone is outside my unit. You know that feeling?” pabulong na sabi niya sa akin na para bang kahit ang mga bodyguard niya ay ayaw niyang marinig iyon.

Bata pa lang may trust issues na. Tch.

“When you’re in Japan, does this happen too?” kasi baka naman feeling niya lang dahil kakadating lang niya sa Pilipinas.

“Yes. There are times that I can hear footsteps or unexplainable sounds outside my room. My mom isn’t always there with me, it’s always my yaya and my bodyguards. I told her about it and she just added more guys to guard me. I wanted to stay with her but she always say that she can’t let me come with her because I still have to attend my classes, but I only do online classes and I never went to a school to have formal study.” he said sadly and naramdaman ko ang panghihinayang na at that early age dapat ay nag-e-enjoy sya bilang isang kabataan pero this is what his family status is doing to him.

“Hindi kaya, may third eye ka?” I try to lighten the mood kasi ayoko din maramdaman niya ang takot lalo pa at mag-isa lang sya sa unit niya nakatira.

“Ate! I’m not. But I’m getting afraid or am I just paranoid?”

“Alright, don’t worry I have a solution to that. For now, I want you to enjoy this day. Mag swim ka na. I will be back. May kailangan lang kausapin si Ate. Okay?” and he followed naman and I talked to the bodyguards na ‘wag na ‘wag magpapapasok ng kahit na sino sa loob not unless it’s me. I also talked to the lifeguards na bantayang maigi si Jaspher and never let him leave their eyes and attention.

I fished my phone from my handbag and immediately called my dad. ANd good thing he answered right after two rings.

“Hello, daddy.”

“Yes, iha. Anything you need?” tanong niya agad. Ramdam siguro niya.

“About Jaspher. Yung anak nung isa sa major client natin? Can I sleep in his unit while he’s with us? I just want to make sure that he is safe and nothing unexpected will happen to him. Please?” this is the only way I know that can give me a peace of mind na hindi siya mapapahamak or whatsoever.

Parang may pagdududa pa ata ang daddy ko. Ang tagal sumagot eh. I even heard his deep sigh before answering.

“Okay. If that is what you think is right, I trust you. I always trust your judgement. Mag iingat lang palagi and always call me when you think something isn’t right with the situation. Okay?”

“Thank you, Daddy. I’ll call you from time to time to give you updates. Bye.”

Pagbalik ko sa pool area ay hinanap agad ng mga mata ko si Jaspher. Hindi ko kasi sya agad nakita nang makapasok ako sa loob. Nasaan na naglusot yun?

“Kuya, si Jaspher? Nasaan na siya?” tanong ko dun sa isang Lifeguard.

“Ayun po Miss,” at itinuro ang binatilyong papalapit.

“Where have you been?” Medyo napakalakas ang boses ko dahil sa pag-aalala. Natahimik naman sya at nakatingin lang sa akin.

Nakatingin pa din sya sa akin at hindi nagsasalita pero nakikita ko ang mumunting luhang namumuo sa mga mata niya. Kaya naman agad ko syang niyakap.

“Geez. I’m sorry. Ate is not galit. I am just worried that I can’t see you anywhere near me when I get back. I am so worried that something bad might happen to you,” sabi ko habang nakayakap sa kanya.

“Sorry Ate for making you worry. I just change my clothes because I don’t feel like swimming anymore. I just want to spend time with you, Ate. That someone is here again. Don’t leave Jaspher, Ate. Please," umiiyak na wika nito.

Parang nadurog naman ang puso ko sa mga narinig ko. At his young age, mas madami pa yung oras na nag-wo-worry sya kaysa sa dapat sana ay nagsasaya sya.

"Shhh. Stop crying na. Ate won't leave you, and I have good news for you."

"What is it?"

"Hmmm. I will be staying at your place while you are on vacation. So I can make sure that you will be safe. I'm really worried when you tell me na even at your place, you are experiencing that," paliwanag ko.

"Really po? Yes! I won't be afraid anymore. Thank you so much, Ate," at muling yumakap sa akin.

"Come on, I'll bring you to a place where you will surely enjoy."

Mabilis namin narating ang pinakamalapit na mall kasama ang mga bodyguards niya. Pero pinakiusapan ko sila na kung maaari lang ay wag nila masyadong ipahalata na binabantayan nila si Jaspher dahil gusto kong mag-enjoy ang bata.

"Ate, why here?" inosenteng tanong niya sa akin.

"Hmm, kasi I know that kids your age want to spend their afternoon inside the mall," nakangiting sagot ko.

Napansin ko ang biglang pagkunot ng noo nya. Problema nito?

"What's with the frowning?"

"Kasi I am not a kid anymore. I'm already sixteen years old. I can even court you, and make you my girlfriend," nakangising sagot nito sa akin.

Aba'y loko talaga itong si Jaspher. Manang mana sa ate Klein nya. Tch.

Iniaangat ko ang kanang kamay ko at ipinakita sa kanya ang ring finger ko.

"You're too late, Mr. Handsome. I already have my fiance," at ikinagulat ko ang sunod niyang sinabi.

"He put a finger on your ring to own you. He wants to make sure that you will trust him even if he is cheating behind your back. Be careful with that guy. He will be the death of you," hindi ako nakakibo sa sinabi niya.

"Kung ano anong sinasabi mong bata ka. Let's go." At hinila ko na sya patungong The Arcade bago pa kung ano na naman ang lumabas sa bibig niya.

"Don't take my words seriously ate Summer. Most of them doesn't happen," at ngumiti ng pagkatamis tamis sa akin bago tumakbo papalayo sa akin at maghanap ng malalaro niya.

Hinarang ko yung mga bodyguards when they tried to run after Jaspher. Pinakiusapan ko silang sa labas na lang magmasid pero yung hindi syempre mahahalata ng mga tao. Baka maging cause pa ng gulo e.

He is still a kid at heart. Kitang kita ang tuwa sa mga mata niya habang isa isang nilalaro ang bawat games na makakuha ng atensyon niya.

Naupo na ako sa may videoke area pero sinisigurado kong nakikita ko pa din sya. In all fairness, I can’t keep up with his energy.

"For you," nagulat ako ng may bigla siyang iabot sa akin.

It's a teddy bear na may hawak na hourglass tapos kulay pink. Ang cute.

"Thank you. Are you tired na?"

Tumango sya at saka hinawakan ang tiyan niya, "I'm hungry.” tapos ay lumabi pa sya. Ang cute talaga sarap gawin keychain. Haha.

“Can we go to a fine dine restaurant or a food store that offers Japanese cuisine?”

“Fine. Follow me,” at nauna na akong maglakad.

Maglakad papuntang supermarket. Naisipan kong pagluto na lang sya ng Filipino dishes para naman maiba sa usual na kinakain niya.

“Ate, why here? I’m hungry,” reklamo nito.

“We’ll buy ingredients and I will cook for you. Okay?”

“I want soup and vegetables, and chicken, and pork, and noodles,” banggit niya sa mga gusto niyang kainin.

“Jaspher, do you also eat alone back in Japan? Don’t you have any sister, or brother?”

“Yes, alone. Or sometimes my nanny will join me. Sister? Mommy told me that I have an older sister, and I really want to meet her. I want to know if she’s better than you, or I will ask my mom to make you my legal sister,”

“Silly. She’s better than me,” wala sa loob na sabi ko.

“You know her?” punong puno ng pag-asang tanong niya sa akin. Hindi ko ito kwento kaya wala akong karapatan ikwento ang nalalaman ko.

“I just know she’s better than me. You are a nice kid, and I know that she is a nice person too,” sagot ko sa kanya.

“Okay, you say so,” kibit balikat niyang sagot.

Sige lang sya sa pagkuha ng kung anong makita niya. Hindi ko na sya pinigilan dahil base sa kwento niiya, mahigpit ang mommy niya sa pagpapakain sa kanya. He can’t eat what he wants. He can’t do what he wants. Anak pa ba ang tingin niya dito, o puppet na kailangan lang sumunod sa bawat galaw ng kamay niya?

“So Mr. Handsome, what food would you like me to cook for dinner?”

“I want something spicy but sweet. I want pork too.” At iyong favorite ulam ni Klein ang pumasok sa isip ko na sure akong magugustuhan niya.

“Okay. I’ll make sure you have the best dinner,” sabi ko at pinisil ang ilong niya.

“So, mas bata na pala ang gusto mo ngayon?” napalingon kami sa kung sino ang nagsalita.

But I am not expecting to see them both standing in front of me. His arms on her shoulder, and her leaning on him.

“Nice to see you too,”