Chapter 10

Chapter 10

"KAMUSTA na kaya yung mga bata sa orphanage no?" Biglaang tanong ni Flare sa gitna ng paggawa nila ng assignment ni El.

Dalawang araw na ang lumipas simula noong nagtour sila sa zoo, kasama ang mga bata sa bahay amponan. Napatingin si Eleanor sa kaibigan. Pareho sila ng iniisip, maging sya ay naaalala rin ang mga bata sa orphanage. Especially the kid she was with. 

Namiss nito si Kael.

And speaking of Kael. Updated si Eleanor sa lagay ng proseso ng pag-ampon nya rito. Kasalukuyan itong inaayos ni Tanda. He's making it as fast as possible. 

'Sana ay maayos na ni Tanda.' she sighed.

Dahil wala pa sya sa legal na edad para mag-ampon, ay ilalagay muna sa pangalan ni Tanda ang adoption ni Kael. Pagkatapos nilang mag-usap ay kaagad na kinontak ni Tanda ang bahay amponan. 

"Earth to Eleanor!" 

She covered her ears. Bigla-bigla naman kasing sumisigaw tong bestfriend nya.

"I'm sorry, ano ba yun?" Tanong nya agad. 

"Paki-explain naman nito..." Sagot ni Flare habang kamot-kamot ang ulo.

She let out a sigh and started explaining the lesson to her friend. 

MABILIS na lumipas ang oras, madaling natapos ng magkaibigan ang assignments nila. Pagkatapos niyon ay nagpaalam si Flare para umuwi. Eleanor assisted her friend's way out, 'til Flare took a cab. 

Katamtaman ang bilis ng mga lakad nya pabalik. Wala sa oras syang napatigil sa paglalakad ng madatnan si Fourth Ycarius na nasa harap ng pinto ng condo nya. 

'What is he doing there?' She thought.

She watched him trying to knock on her door. Tila nag-aalinlangan ang binata kung kakatok ba ito o hindi. Eleanor noticed the lunchboxes he's carrying. Napataas ang kilay nya, nagtataka kung para saan iyon. Thinking about the time she's wasting by just standing there and watch Fourth, she faked a cough for him to notice. Natigil sa muntikan ng pagkatok si Fourth ng marinig sya. He was stunned at first.

"Do you ahm.. need anything?" Naiilang na tanong nya sa lalaki.

Hindi ata mawala-wala ang awkwardness sa pagitan nilang dalawa. 

"Have you eaten?" Tanong sakanya ni Fourth.

Yes. She would like to answer that. Sabay silang kumain ng haponan kanina ni Flare. But she doesn't to be rude. 

"Not yet. Para sakin ba yan?" She asked back. Tinatry nyang alisin ang pagkailang. 

"Yeah, I tried to cook so.." Sagot naman ni Fourth.

She smiled, and walked her way to the door and opened it. Sumenyas sya kay Fourth para pumasok ito. She guided him to her dining. 

"Take a sit." Turo nya sa upuang nasa harap ng dining table. "Kukuha lang ako ng mga plato." Pormal na aniya saka tumalikod.

She reached for the plates and utensils. Sighing secretly, she calmed her inner self. Tila hinahabol ng kung ano ang puso nya. Kahit kaylan ay hindi pa sya nalagay sa gantong nakakailang na sitwasyon. And she's been composing herself not to show all the awkwardness she feels right now. 

'Keep calm Eleanor. Just... don't be awkward.'

Normal lang naman seguro yun diba? Sa mga nakalipas na araw na nagkakilala sila, it all happened in a wierd way. Well, seguro maliban na lamang doon sa zoo. In front of their doors, what happened with the Fortéz mafia. And all the revelations on their sudden wedding. 

The awkwardness will surely fade. Soon.

"I hope so." Wala sa sariling naisabi ni Eleanor.

"You're hoping for..?" Nanlaki ang mga mata nya ng marinig ang biglaang tanong ng binata.

She cursed her inner self for saying that out loud. Umiling na lamang sya kay Fourth.

"Nothing. Ahm, just hoping for a nice weather tommorow." Naiilang syang ngumiti.

'Wtf? Nice weather? Yan lang ba talaga ang naisip mong rason?' her mind feels like it face palmed.

Nabalot sila ng katahimikan. They arranged the table silently. Kahit ilang dosenang topic ang naisip ni El na pwede nilang pag-usapan, nanatiling tikom ang bibig nya. She never had any interaction like this, except from her bestfriend Flare. Kaya hindi sya sanay.

"There. It's done." Fourth broke the silence. Nakisabay sya sa ngiti nito. "Let's eat?" 

Once again, she answered him with a nod. They sat on their chairs and started to dig in. Nabigla sya ng makita ipagpalit ng binata ang kanilang mga plato. He gave him his plate. Maraming pagkain ang nailagay ni Fourth roon, habang sya naman ay wala pang nailagay na kahit ano sa plato nya kanina. She watched Fourth filling her empty plate. 

He's still wearing his smile. At oo, inaamin nyang mas gwapo itong pagmasdan sa tuwing nakangiti. Well, he's a heartthrob in school. Napunta ang mga mata nya sa platong nasa harapan nya, ng biglang tumingin sakanya ang binata.

'He didn't saw me staring, right?' anang utak nya. 

Muling nabalik ang tingin nya kay Fourth. She heard him chuckled.

"Baka lumamig ang pagkain. Here." Inabot nito sakanya ang kutsara.

She reached out for it, at hindi nya inaasahang magtatama ang mga kamay nila. Yes, it felt weird. She erased the crazy thought and focused on her food. At segurado talaga sya, na nakatitig sakanya ang binata. 

"Are you sick? May masakit ba sayo?" Biglang tanong nito sakanya. 

She was confused.

"No, I'm fine." She answered, avoiding his gaze.

"Are you sure? You're face is red." Ibinaba nito ang hawak na kubyertos.

"Hindi, ok lang talaga ako." Pagkukumbinsi nya.

At bakit naman namumula ang mukha nya? Maybe because her condo is hot? Seguro ay nasira ang aircon. Oo, yun ang mga rason na naisip nya. And she thinks, hindi lang ang isip nya ang nasa magulong sitwasyon. Her heart feels like it's running when she saw Fourth walked towards her, and placed his palm on her forehead.

"Your temperature seems fine." Saad nito. "Pero bakit namumula ang mukha mo?" 

'Too close.' she thought.

"Are you having some allergy reaction?" 

Ni isang salita ay walangi lumabas sa bibig nya. Ngayon palang ata nya sasabihin ito. But yeah, right now, her mind is wishing.

'Please someone, or even something. Save me from this awkward situation!' Her mind plead.

Animo'y anong oras ay sasabog na ang mukha. Especially everytime she thinks about his warm palm on her forehead. 

'Someone save my heart from bursting. Please.' she thought once again.

"ELEANOR?" 

And she thanked God for answering her plead.

"Yohooo, El!" 

Rumehestro sa utak nya ang boses na yun. Napabalik-balik ang tingin nya sa direksyon ng pintuan at kay Fourth na nasa harap nya. Mas lalong nadagdagan ang kaba nya ng maisip na nasa labas ang kaibigan nya at nandito si Fourth. 

'Hindi pwedeng makita ni Flare si Fourth dito!' Nagsisigaw ang utak nya.

She panicked, and pushed away Fourth. Kita nyang nagulat ang binata dahil sa ginawa nya.

"Hide." She whispered.

"Huh?" Nagtatakang tanong ni Fourth. 

Parang nabablanko ang utak ni El. Yep, it's the first time that she can't think properly.

"Flare is here. Kailangan mong magtago." Tinulak nya ito papunta sa pinto ng kanyang kwarto. "Hide inside. Hindi ka nya pwedeng makita dito." Dagdag nya.

Sumunod naman si Fourth sa sinabi nito, kahit halatang naguguluhan sya sa inaakto ni El. Pero tama naman ang dalaga, hindi sya pwedeng makita ng kaibigan nito. Their marriage, or any relationship between them must remain a secret. 

Ng makitang nakapasok na ang binata sa kwarto nya, ay dali daling pumunta si Eleanor para pagbuksan ang kaibigan. 

"Oh, akala ko natutulog ka na." Bungad sakanya ni Flare.

"May nakalimutan ka ba?" Tanong nya. Composing herself, and trying not to be suspicious.

"Naiwan ko kasi yung phone ko. Nasa mesa mo ata." Pinapasok nya si Flare. "Mabuti nalang di pa masyadong malayo ang binyahe ni manong kaya bumalik kami. Oh! Ayon nga!" Tinuro nito ang naiwang cellphone na nakapatong nga sa mesa ni El.

"Ihahatid na kita sa labas—"

"Hindi na!" Putol sakanya nito. "Oh? Kumain ka ulit?" Takhang tanong ni Flare ng makita ang mga pagkain sa dinig table.

"Ah, oo." Simpleng sagot nya. "Nagutom ako eh." Dagdag pa ni El.

Napatawa ang kaibigan. Kita ni El ang pagkunot ng noo nito, kaya nasundan nya ang tingin ng kaibigan. She's looking at the plates. Para sa dalawang tao iyon. She forgot to hide that! Pasimple syang tumingin sa direksyon ng kwarto nya.

"May kasama ka?" Muling tanong ni Flare.

Mabilis syang umiling. 

"Wala, plano ko kasing kumain ng madami." Ngumiti sya pagkatapos magrason.

'Oh, please believe me.' 

"Hinay-hinay lang kaibigan. Baka masira ang tyan mo nyan." Flare warned.

She sighed secretly out of relief, because she believed her 'oh not so good' reason.

"Noted." Naisabi nya.

"Osya aalis na ko, byiee." Pagpapa-alam nito.

"Hatid na kita." She convinced.

Agad na pinigilan sya ni Flare. She bid her goodbye to Eleanor while walking childishly. Napatawa si El sa inakto ng kaibigan. And when Flare's figure fade out of her site, she remembered the guy on her room. Napabuntong hininga sya. Naglakad sya papunta sa kanyang kwarto at binuksan ang pintuan. There she saw Fourth, holding her family picture on his hand. Kaagad syang napansin nito.

"I'm sorry for touching your stuff. Nakita ko kasi dito, and it looked great." He smiled at her, with pitty on his eyes.

"Ok lang, that's our first family picture." She said with a bitter smile on her face. "And also our last." She added.

"I'm sorry." Anang binata.

Ngumiti lang sya rito.

"Baka lumamig yung pagkain." Naisabi nya. 

They walked their way back to the dining. Sa pagkakataong yun ay tahimik silang kumain. Eleanor is trying to find a topic again. Pero hindi na nya naman maibuka ang bibig nya para magsalita. So she continued eating. And they're back to square one. Not until tumunog ang telepono nya. Tanda's name popped up on the screen. Sinagot nya agad ito.

'Good evening Empress. I'm sorry for the disturbance, if you're doing anything.' bungad ni Tanda.

"It's fine. Do you need anything?" Tanong nya.

'Wala naman. I just have a very good news for you.' Masayang sabi nito sakanya.

"Is it about Kael?" Puno ng excitement ang boses ni El.

'Yes! Everything's settled. All we need to do is pick him up tommorow.'

"That's great! Magkita nalang tayo bukas sa orphanage. Thank you Tanda!" She exclaimed out of joy.

'Basta ikaw El.' 

And they ended the call.

"I heard Kael's name? Yung batang nakasama natin sa tour?" Napatingin sya kay Fourth ng magtanong ito.

She nodded happily.

"I asked Tanda about adopting him. Sakanya muna ipapangalan ang adoption ni Kael, since I'm not in the legal age to adopt." Pagkukwento nya.

"You're adopting him?" Pagkukumpirma nito. She nodded once again, with a smile on her lips. "Wow. And uhm.. who's Tanda?" Dagdag ni Fourth.

"Sky's Father." Simpleng sagot nya. 

An idea came to her mind.

"We'll pick him up tommorow. Gusto mo bang sumama?" There, she asked. Tila lumiwanag ang mga mata ng binata.

"I would love to." He answered, smiling.

After some minutes later, they finally finished eating. Fourth asked El to help her with the dishes. Tatanggi pa sana sya, pero ayaw naman nyang gumawa ng awkward situation ulit. So she let him help. And after the cleaning, they ended up standing in front of El's door. 

"Thank you ulit sa pagkain. And uhm.. we'll go to the orphanage at 8 am tommorow." Bumalik na naman ata ang pagkailang nya.

"I'll take note of that. And you're welcome, I enjoyed eating with you." He smiled again.

'Bakit ba sya ngiti ng ngiti?' naisip ni El. 'It's not that, I don't like it. It just feels good seeing his smile, that it makes me uncomfortable!' 

Wala syang ibang nagawa kundi ngumiti nalang din.

"So uhm.. good night?" Aniya.

His lips curved once again. Bigla itong lumapit sakanya. And the next thing that happened, made her mind go blank.

"Good night, Healia." He whispered with a smile, then he walked his way to his condo.

Nakasunod ang mga mata ni El sa likuran ng binata. Processing what he just did. And when he totally fade on her sight, her mouth hanged open. Wala sa sarili syang pumasok sa condo nya habang hawak hawak ang noo. 

She never thought that a forehead kiss can be that sweet, and also... heart warming.