04

My forehead creased right after i recieve the message from our mansion's mayordoma that my mom and dad is coming.

"Guys, I'm so sorry but i really have to go pinapauwi na kasi ako sa'min eh " I said apologitically while looking at them.

I saw Yna smiled and waved her hand.

"Ano ka ba okay lang basta sa pasukan sabay tayo ha?" she said. I nodded immediately before i hugged her.

"Sorry talaga but don't worry sa lunes babawi ako, I should get going nandito na yung driver ko eh, see you all sa monday!" I said before i turned my back and walk towards the gate.

"Tapos na po kayo ma'am?" Manong Lino ask when he saw approaching, i just smiled and nodded at him.

"Yes po, anong oras po pala pupunta sa bahay sina mommy? Is kuya Festin is going din?" I asked.

"Ah baka mamayang alas sais sila dadating ma'am may inaayos pa po kasi daw ang daddy nyo tapos si sir Festin naman ho eh sasama din" he answered before he maneuvered the car and drive us home.

                      ************

Six ten pm when mom and dad together with my annoying brother reached Altamera, grandma even wake me up just to salubong them.

"Oh 'ma, anyare dito kay kapalaran at nakabusangot ang mukha?" I heared kuya Festin asked while we're eating.

I glared at him before i continued eating causing him to laugh.

"I heared tapos ka nang magpa-enroll sa community college anak? Did you like Altamera na ba?" Agad na itinaas ko ang tingin ko kay mommy ng sabihin nya iyon.

I cleared my throat before I nodded, my forehead creased when she laugh softly and smiled at me.

"Yeah, it's not that worst than i thought but mom can i ask you something?" I asked and put down my utensils.

"Of course anak, what is it?" she answered softly and emptied her wine glass.

"Did i came here long time ago? Cause some of the people that i've meet on the community college seems familiar, especially that Achae" I said, nagulat naman ako ng sabay silang napa ubo nila daddy kasama si lola na ubo ng ubo.

Agad namang dinaluhan ng mga maids namin sina lola at binigyan ang mga ito nh tubig. I raised my eyebrows before i finished eating my dinner.

Uh, that's weird. Sabay sabay talagang nabilaukan? 

Napatingin naman ako kay kuya Festin na seryosong nakatingin sakin kaya tinaasan ko sya ng kilay pero imbes na gantihan nya ako ay patuloy parin sya sa pagtitig sakin na ikinakunot ng noo ko.

"Gosh what's happening to the four of you? I was just asking about that guy but could you please answer my last question first?" I said seriously while looking at them.

Tumikhim naman si grandma bago tumango tango saka nya ako sinagot.

"Oo apo nakapunta ka na dito pero matagal na matagal na yun and how come did you know that guy named Achae, where did you meet hin?" She asked and looked at me intently.

I sighed heavily before i leaned on my chair and answered her.

"Uh he's my new friend's brother? Well he's quite familiar lalo na din yung mga kaibigan nya but i can't recall where did i meet them basta they're all familiar" i answered and looked at my dad who's looking at me intently.

"I'm so sorry Fate at dito ka pa talaga namin naipadala well if didn't want  it h—" napakunot naman ang noo ko sa sinabi ni lola na ikinatigil nya sa pagsasalita.

"Wala akong sinabing ayaw ko dito except lang noong hindi pa ako pumunta dito, so what's the purpose of apologizing 'ma?" I asked lola who sighed and shooked her head at me while smiling softly.

"Mom, Dad. I like it here and I just wanted to thank you both for bringing me here maybe this new environment could inspire me to finish my course" I suddenly said.

"Ano nga palang course ang kinuha mo? Did you like the communituy college? I heared walang aircon doon baka gusto mon—" I laughed and shooked my head causing my mom to stopped talking.

"Mom relaxed. I told you, I like Altamera na and if you're asking about my course i chose business cause i wanted to help kuya Fried and kuya Festin to manage the company" i answered, she smiled softly at me before she stood up from her sit and hugged me tightly.

"I'm so proud of you my baby, just call anyone of us if you need anything huh? Even if we were both busy we will always answer your call you understand?" she said and gently pushed me away from the hug.

Nilingon ko naman sila kuya at daddy na nakangiting nakatingin samin, i smiled softly at them.

                        ********

Bandang alas dyes ng gabi ng mapagpasyahan nila mommy na umuwi na at may trabaho pa daw sila bukas, kaya kahit sa gusto kong maka-usap pa ng matagalan si mommy ay hindi talaga pwede dahil alam kong may trabaho sila bukas.

"I will miss both of you dad and kuya especially you mom and kuya Fried" sabi ko kay daddy at kuya tsaka sila hinalikan sa pisngi at niyakap.

"Wag na wag kang maghahasik ng lagim dito kapalaran ha? Maawa ka sa mga tao dito." kuya Festin said and hugged me tightly. Napangiti naman ako at pabirong sinuntok sya sa tagiliran matapos ko syang yakapin.

"Fate anak, call us when you need anything okay?" Dad said before he kissed my forehead, nginitian ko sya tsaka tumango.

"Sure dad, ingat po kayo sa daan. Mom please send my regards to kuya Fried." I said, mom nodded and smiled softly at me before she get in the car, kumaway kaway naman ako kina kuya Festin at daddy na pumasok na sa loob ng sasakyan.

"Fate hija pumasok na tayo sa loob at malamig na dito sa labas" grandma told me. I just nodded my head before i walk inside the house together with her.

                         ********

Kinabukasan ay maaga akong nagising at nauna pa talaga ako ng gising sa mga katulong at dahil sa maaga akong nagising at wala naman akong ibang gagawin ay nagpagpasyahan kong magluto nalang ng agahan para naman may silbi din ako kahit papaano.

Ewan ko ba, I thought staying here in Altamera could be my worst nightmare but instead of hating this lovely and beautiful place, i started loving it, i started loving the place that i loathed the most.

"Sino ka?! At ano ang ginagawa mo dyan sa kalan ha?!" Napatalon ako sa dahil sa isang malakas na sigaw sa likod ko.

Agad na itinaas ko ang dalawa kong kamay sa ere at unti unting humarap at nagulat ako ng makitang ang mayordoma pala ng masyon, na si manang Cynthia pala ang sumigaw at may hawak hawak na kawali sa kamay.

"M-manang si Fate po to, uhh sorry po, nagising ko ho ba kayo?" I asked carefully and shut off the stove bago humarap sa kanya ag kinuha ang kawaling hawak hawak.

Napatawa naman ako ng hampasin nya ako sa braso bago umupo sa high chair sa counter. 

"Jusmiyo ko namang bata ka, bakit ba alas kwatro pa ng madaling ka gumising? Akala ko tuloy magnanakaw" sabi ni manang matapos nyang tanggapin ang tubig na ibinigay ko.

"Ah nakasanayan lang po, sa bahay po kasi eh mas maaga pa dito ang gising ko para magjogging, you know naman po old habits die hard" I said and chuckled.

Napatawa naman sya at naiiling na inubos ang tubig sa baso.

"Ah manang pwede po magtanong?" I said out of a sudden, nilingon naman ako ni manang bago sya tumango at umayos ng upo.

"Ah ano po kasi, did you know how old am noong pumunta ako dito noon? And did you know Achae? Cause he's quite familiar but I can't recall where did i meet him" I asked before I looked at her. 

"A-Achae hija? Nagkita na ulit—"

"Fate hija bakit ang aga mo ata nagising? Cynthia magandang umaga sayo" hindi na naituloy ni manang Cynthia ang iba pa nyang sasabihin ng biglang magsalita si grandma na papasok na sa loob ng kusina, agad naman akong napangiti at sinalubong sya ng yakap.

"Ah nakasanayan lang 'ma, hows your sleep po?" I asked, she smiled softly at me before she tugged my hair on my left ear.

"It's fine, anong niluto mo?" She answered.

"Uhm sunny side up egg and bacons po wait where's manang Cynthia?" I asked when I didn't see manang Cynthia on the counter.

Nilingon ko naman si grandma na seryosong nakatingin sa bukana ng pinto. 

"Ma, where's manang Cynthia, are you okay?" I asked grandma again causing her soft gaze darted on me. 

She shooked her head immediately and smiled softly at me.

"Ah baka ginising na yung ibang maids and yes I am fine may nakita lang akong di kaaya aya" she answered before she tugged my hand and lead us to the dinning room.

Everything from my past is a mystery, I don't know why am I feeling this but It feels like everyone here is hiding something from me, something deep and something that is all about the reason why did I hate this province even if I didn't came here eversince as far as I remeber.

And I hope this is just a feeling...