Chapter Seven

                        Ella Wp

                        Hi, thank you for reading my story, it means a lot!

                        I’m more than happy to know that you liked it. And as to your

                        question, yes, there’s another book for TGC. I’m actually

                        writing it right now, abangan nalang ang updates ko,

                        maybe this week ‘yun! J

            Asia couldn’t help the squeal that came out of her mouth when she read the reply from the author the following morning. Wala sa isip niyang sasagot ito sa kanya, dahil alam niyang occupied masyado ang mga authors― sa buhay, sa pagsusulat, sa mga ideas na nabubuo silently sa isip nila, and everything in general. She knows because she writes, too. At kahit siya, aminado’ng hindi nakakareply palagi sa mga readers ng kwento niya.

             Binasa niya ulit ang reply sa kanya at napangiti nang malawak.

              May book two!

                        Asia

                        Am I reading this right?!

                        OMG! I can’t wait for the second book po! Will definitely

                        wait for it!

            That was as far as her shambolic mind could properly come up with. It was good that she was able to stop herself from sending too much exclamation points, that would’ve been a little unprofessional of her.

                        Ella Wp

                        Thank you, I could feel your energy even through

                        the screen HAHA

                       

                        Ella Wp accepted your friend request.

            Naabutan siyang tumitili ng mga pinsan sa loob ng kwarto. They have let themselves in, ni hindi nga niya alam na pupunta ang mga ito sa unit niya.

            “What are you squealing at?”

            Lagi’ng galit ang drama sa buhay ni Last, she thought to herself.

            “Nothing.” Umayos siya ng upo sa higaan at sumandal sa headboard. “Just a message. What are you, guys, doing here, anyway?”

            Tinaas ni White ang dalang isang kraft paper bag na may print ng isang sikat na diner. “We bought breakfast.”

            Tumilikod na ito at hinatak si Aye na dala ang dalawa pa’ng kraft paper bag.

            “Tayo na riyan, Ate, kakain na tayo.” Pahabol ni White.

            Shaking her head, sinunod niya ang utos ng pinsan. Mabilisan niyang inayos ang magulo niyang higaan bago lumabas ng kwarto.

            “Naks naman,” Last teased, “woke-up-like-this lang, Ate?”

            “Huh?”

            “Ni hindi ka nga naghilamos o suklay man lang, e.” her cousin pointed out. “Tapos lalabas ka ng kwarto’ng ‘di man lang nag-aayos ng sarili.”

            “Maganda ako kahit bagong gising, beh.” Awa smirked at Last before walking past her. “Deal with it.”

            Walang halong biro, pero she’s really stunning, kahit bago’ng gising, or any time of the day. Kaya siya binansagan na austere ng iba, kasi her attitude at work compliments and suits her face. Everyone’s first impression of her is always mataray, mata palang kasi niya ay sharp na kung tumingin. Kaya marami ang takot at ilag sa kanya, until they finally get to work and talk with her do they ease around her a little.

            Hash browns, French toast, bacon, sunny side up and garlic stick were for breakfast. They started digging in after Ember said a short prayer.

            “So, ano nga ‘yung tinitilihan mo kanina?” Last asked after a moment of silence.

            Oo nga pala, si Ms. Author!

            Nilingon siya ng mga pinsan, naghihintay ng sagot.

            “What?”

            “Sino kako ‘yung kausap mo sa phone?”

            “Nag-message lang ‘yung isang reader.”

            “Hindi nga?”

            “Oo nga!”

            “Ba’t may pagtili?”

            “Bawal na ba?”

            Last shrugged, inisang subo niya ang isang buong French toast. “Unusual lang kasi.”

            “How can you sabi na unusual ‘yun?” si Aye na ang nagtanong.

            “I think may dini-date talaga ‘to si Ate Awa na hindi natin alam, e.”

            “Hoy, Last, ha, ma-issue ka.”

            “Baka gusto niyo kumain nalang?” nagtitimping tanong ni Ember. “I need to be at the office by eight-thirty.”

            That ended their little morning “spat.”

            Nagmamadali siyang naglakad papasok sa building, dahil nga hatid-sundo siya, naki-sabay na siya kay Ember. She would’ve hitched a ride with White but her cousin had a scheduled photoshoot out of town, she didn’t want to trouble her. Sinabi na kasi niyang ibalik na ang car keys niya but White wouldn’t listen, ani nito, baka topakin na naman daw siya.

            Everyone was greeting her, ngiti nalang ang naisukli niya sa mga ito, dahil nga sa nagmamadali na siya. Ang magagaling kasi niyang mga pinsan, siya pa ang pinag-hugas, dahil dressed for work na raw sila. Kaya imbes na eight-thirty, alas nuebe na sila naka-alis. At na-stuck sila sa isang traffic jam.

            She totally forgot about the meeting with the new sponsor. Diba, ang tigas lang ng mukha niya para paghintayin ang sponsor.                                                                               

            “Tangina kasi’ng mga pinsan ‘yun,” she cursed under her breath, tapping her heels on the floor, her patience slowly wearing thin. Gusto nalang niyang hilahin ang elevator pababa. “Ten years pa ba?”

            Her phone rang, mabilis niyang sinagot ang tawag without even bothering to check who called. “What?”

            “Just where the hell are you?” she could almost hear Mia’s voice from all the way up the top floor.

            She rolled her eyes. Minsan talaga, mas boss pa niya ang sekretarya. Wala kasing pakundangan kung murahin siya nito, kahit na office hours pa.

            “Nasa impyerno.” Matigas na sagot niya. “Bakit?”

            Mabuti nalang at mag-isa palang siyang naghihintay sa tapat ng elevator. That would’ve scared her employees, if ever.

            She heard Mia chuckled from the other line. “No, seriously, kanina pa siya naghihintay dito, gaga ka.”

            “Kung tinatanggal kaya kita?” she heard the elevator ting, muntik na niyang halikan ang marble floor dahil sa tuwa. Finally! “Thank the Olympian gods!” she almost screamed. She told her secretary, “Let him wait, he wanted this, diba? Bye na! I’m on my way up.”

            Naabutan niyang may tinatype sa computer si Mia. “He’s still inside, I hope?”

            She nodded, not taking her eyes off the screen.

            “How long has he been waiting?”

            “Two hours.” she glanced at her quick before her eyes focused back on whatever she was doing. “Grabe naman kasi, ang tagal mo’ng dumating.”

            “The v-five was there.” She groaned inwardly. “Sana in-entertain mo man lang ‘yun sa loob. ‘Yung, alam mo na, sexy dance. Ganun.”

            “Gaga ka ba?” scandalized na tumingin ito sa kanya. “Hindi ko papatulan kahit sino sa mga pinsan mo, ano. Yuck ka!”

            Natawa siya sa itsura ni Mia. “Your reaction… so priceless! Dapat pala nag-video man lang ako.”

            “Fvck you.”

            “Oy, ha, may genes kami, excuse me.”

            “Pumasok ka na nga!”

            “Yes po, Boss.”

            “You have lunch with your family later. Don’t forget.”

            Tango lang ang sinagot niya rito bago tuluyang pumasok sa loob.

            “Hi, Uno.” Bati niya sa pinsan. “Sorry to keep you waiting.”

            Tumayo ito at sinalubong siya ng yakap. “Yea, sabi ni Last they dropped by your unit.”

            “Yes kaya late.” Inilapag niya ang dalang Louis Vuitton sa one-seater couch bago naupo sa kabila. “Let’s get down to business, shall we?”

                        Asia

                        Hala, masyado po ba’ng FC?

            She bit her lower lip as she waits for Ella’s reply, she could see her typing back a message.

                        Ella Wp

                        No, not at all.

                        Natutuwa ako to actually talk with my readers din.

            She let out a sigh of relief.

                        Ella Wp

                        Masyado rin ako awkward around people

                        So, to talk with people, kahit through chats lang

                        that’s already good enough for me, just to break the ice.

            Awa perfectly understand the author. She was the same back in grade school, if it hadn’t been with Last, Ember and White while growing up, she would’ve been so shy and awkward around people, too. But then the States happened and she needed to overcome that, in order for her to survive life away from family.

            “Kuya Art is here na.”

            “Siya susundo sa’kin?”

            “Obviously.” Mia rolled her eyes heavenwards. “Alangan naman ako, diba?”

            Inilingan nalang niya ang kaibigan at mabilis inayos ang mga gamit.

            “Ang aga naman ata akong sunduin ni Kuya?”

            “Beats me.”

            She hurriedly left her office, pero bago pa siya makapasok sa elevator, humabol ang kaibigan sa kanya.

            “Tito told me that you’re taking the afternoon off.”

            “What? Ba’t hindi naman ako aware?”

            “That’s what he told me. Now, shoo!”

            Nagtataka pa rin siya ba’t hindi siya papapasukin ng Tatay niya sa hapon. She started wondering what was up.

            “Baby girl!”

            Automatic ang ngiti niya nang marinig ang makulit na boses at tawag ng kapatid sa kanya.

            “Kuya Art!”

            They met halfway for a bear hug. Para silang mga bata kapag nagkakasama. If their Ate Lia was here, pinitik na nito ang mga noo o tenga nila pareho.

            They were jumping up and down while they still have their arms around each other.

            “I missed you.” Panabay pa’ng ani nila.

            Siya na ang naunang bumitaw. “Kanina ka pa rito, Kuya?”

            “Hindi naman.” Umakbay ito sa kanya at kinuha ang bag niya. “Let’s go?”

            “Hmm…”

            To say she was exhausted is like saying she’s still okay when she’s been stabbed for twenty-five times.

            And her father asks her why she doesn’t want to be in their corprotation.

            Masyadong malaki ang korporasyon para i-handle. Yes, some of the Acosta’s may be there and helping run the company, but still… it means ten times her work at her own company. Wala na nga siya halos tulog at pahinga, what more when she’s already in the Acosta Corporation? Baka zombie na ang kalabasan niya.

            Dinala siya ng Papa niya sa korporasyon, may konting orientation. Nilibot din siya nito at pahapyaw na itinuro ang pasikut-sikot ng korporasyon at mga negosyo nila. She didn’t have a hard time catching up and understanding what her father was saying, napagod lang siya isiksik lahat ang mga narinig at naintindihan.

            Lupaypay siyang nakahiga sa couch niya, busog at pagod. Yet, her mind is restless. It refuses to sleep just yet.

            Pagkabukas niya ng mata, sakto naman na may kumatok sa pinto.

            Ang Kuya Russia niya pala.

            “Hi, Kuya.” Walang-buhay na bati niya. “Let yourself in.”

            “You look like shit.”

            “Don’t remind me.” She groaned.

            Her brother chuckled.

            “You should sleep already.”

            “My mind refuses to.” Binagsak niya ang sarili pabalik sa couch. “Information overload ata sa kanina.”

            “Biglaan naman kasi si Papa.”

            “Tell me about it.”

            Tumabi ang kapatid sa kanya. “Do you want me to sing you to sleep?”

            She slowly nodded her head, tamad na siyang magsalita. She felt her brother helping her up and carefully placing her head on his lap; then he started caressing her hair gently and softly, as he sang.

                        I remember all of the things that I thought I wanted to be

                        So desperate to find a way out of my world and finally breathe

            She didn’t remember her brother having such a cold and calm voice. Through halfway closed eyelids and sleep, she listened to her brother sing her to sleep for the first time since she could remember.

                        When the world seems so cruel

                        And your heart makes you feel like a fool

                        I promise you will see

                        That I will be, I will be your remedy

            Pagkagising niya kinabukasan, she was on her bed. She didn’t remember walking to her bed, but she does remember her Kuya Russia being there last night. Ito siguro ang nagdala sa kanya sa kwarto niya.

            Nag-inat siya’ng parang pusa saglit bago bumaba sa higaan but before she could slip her feet into her slippers, napansin na niya ang isang vessel ng bagong scented candle na wala sa collection niya, and under it is a folded paper with her name written on it: Asia Winnessa.

            There were five tickets inside the folded paper, papuntang Palawan.

                        Please take good care of yourself, kiddo. Have a little break. Let’s talk more

                        when you come back. And I expect you to be well-rested by then.

                        Enjoy.

           

                        ― R.A.

            “So this was what he meant about the surprise then?”

            Inabot niya ang phone at tinawagan ang kapatid.

            “Good morning. May problema ba?”

            “None. But you really didn’t have to do this, Kuya.”

            “I want to.” May magagawa pa ba naman siya? “By the way, I already arranged everything. Na-ayos ko na rin ang sched mo at nila White, you’re all set and ready to go. I hope I didn’t overstep, though?”

            “I don’t think so, Kuya. But really, thank you.”

            “No problem. I gotta go, enjoy, Awa, okay?” and with that, the call ended.

            “I sure will, Kuya.”