Chapter 2

Isang Linggo na ang nakalipas mula noong umalis na naman sina mom at dad. Tatlong araw silang nag-stay dito. Kaya kami nalang ang tao dito sa bahay. Hanggang ngayon hindi ko rin alam ang rason kung bakit sila umuwi pero napapansin ko na pag hindi ako nakatingin ay tumititig sila sa akin kaunti na lang talaga iisipin ko ng ako talaga ang ipinunta nila dito.

“Yan lahat ang dala mo?” Gilalas na sabi ni nanay nang nakita niya ang dalawang malalaking maleta ko. Isama pa ang backpack na dala ko.

Naparami yata talaga ang dala ko considering na dalawang Linggo lang naman kami magbabakasyon doon. Nag-shopping pa ako kahapon ng mga damit para sa mga dadalhin ko ngayon. I’m not really into shopping and such. Pero dahil alam kong kasama si Anthony kaya …heto.

 “ Ahh eh, baka marami kaming papasyalan doon Nay, nakaka-hiya naman kung paulit-ulit lang ang isuot ko” Napapakamot sa batok na sagot ko.

Tinignan niya ako na para bang sinusuri kung totoo ang sinasabi ko.

“At kailan ka pa nahiya kung paulit-ulit ang suot mo? Ni hindi ka nga nahihiyang lumabas ng bahay na nakapajama eh” nagdududang tanong niya. Oh come on Nay! Please stop asking anymore!

“Iba naman po ‘yon Nay, ibang lugar po kasi yon” Yeah, what a lame excuse.

Kahit hindi naniniwala, she just let it pass and shrugged.

“Oh, tumawag ka dito para mag-update sa’kin ha? Mag-ingat ka.” Bilin ni Nanay nung nasa Van na ako.

“Opo Nay, alis na po kami” sabi ko sa kaniya.

“Nay Milda alis na po kami” sabi naman ni Ashley.

“Oh sige mag-ingat kayo, Natasha, tumawag ka ha? Wag kakalimutan” pahabol pa niya.

“opo”

“ Napaka-maalalahanin talaga ni Nanay Milda noh?” Sabi ni Ashley habang may kinukutingting sa phone niya.

“ Matagal na siya sa inyo diba Shang?” tanong naman ni Tita Clarisse.

“Opo, hindi pa po ako ipinapanganak nandoon na po siya” sagot ko naman.

“Bale siya na halos ang nagpalaki sayo diba?” tanong naman ni Tito Cristony sa akin. Anthony’s dad. My future dad. Hahaha.

“Ahh, opo” because my parents are too busy. They don’t have time to take care of their child.

Nahinto naman ang usapan doon. Ang iba sa kanila’y natulog muna .Kasama namin ang parents nina Ashley at Anthony. Si Ashley ay may kinukutingting sa phone niya. Si Anthony naman ay nakapikit habang May nakasaksak na earbuds sa tainga. Si Klein naman, Anthony’s older brother is just staring at the window. He is the one sitting beside me.

I’m close with Ashley’s Family including her brother and sister who are both overseas. But not with their extended family. I’m not really that close with Anthony’s but we know each other and greet each other if ever we encounter.

And as far as I know, and as far as the tidings can spread, also known as chismis, Klein is very playful, kind of the black sheep of their family. But looking at him right now, seating beside me looking at the window, he is kind of tamed. I really can’t see the ‘badass’ side of him.

“Do you also want a seat beside the window?” Anthony’s voice boomed at me.

“Huh?” nagtataka kong tanong.

“You’ve been staring at the window for minutes now. Is the view so great?” I can hear irritation and sarcasm on his words. He eyed me coldly.

“Huh?” nagtataka pa ring sabi ko. Is he talking about— wait, I’ve been looking at the w—no, I’ve been looking and staring at Klein for minutes now? And if so, how did he even knew. He’s eyes are close. Did he also stare at me too that’s why he knew? Feelingera rin eh ‘no? Well, there’s no harm in dreaming right?

“Tss” he rolled his eyes on me. Aba! Teka teka? Ang taray ng lalaking ‘to ngayon ah? I was about to talk back when he fixed his sitting position and closed his eyes. Teka? Ano bang natira ng crush ko ngayon at ganyan siya?

Hindi ko nalang pinansin. Topakin rin yata siya.

Pumikit nalang din ako kasi malayo-layo pa daw ang biyahe. Probinsiyang probinsiya ang pupuntahan namin kaya mga ilang oras na rin kaming nasa byahe. After around 7 hours nakarating na rin kami sa estate nila. Natatanaw ko na rin ang bahay. Malaki yon. Malaki rin ang estate nila at malayo-layo pa galing sa pagpasok mo bago ka makarating sa bahay nila. Same as ours. Ang kaibahan lang mas malaki ang amin.

“Lolo!” tumatakbong sigaw ni Ashley pagkarating namin. Sinalubong naman siya ng lolo niya ng yakap. I smiled sadly, I wish I have grandparents with me too. I wish to experience being hugged by them too. But when I was born they were already long gone.

“ Pasok na kayo, sa loob tayo magkamustahan para makapagpahinga na rin kayo” sabi ng lolo nila. Motioning their house. It was a Victorian style mansion, elegant and classic. As we enter the beautiful antics welcomed us. The masterpiece paintings in their living room and the large portraits of who I suppose their ancestors. It was a very wonderful house. Our house is much larger but this is very different. It gives you some chills because of how beautifully built it is.

“And who is this beautiful lady? One of my boys’ girl perhaps?” tanong sa akin ng lolo nila Ashley. Oh Lo, how I wish magkatotoo yang sinabi mo.agdilang anghel ka sana hehehe.

“Lo, this is my bestfriend. Natasha Kristen Gonzaga” pakilala sa akin ni Ashley.

“How come I never met her?” nagtatakang tanong ng lolo nila.

“Ah, hindi po kasi siya masyadong sumasama sa mga gatherings Lo, at saka minsan lang naman kayo pumupunta ng Maynila kaya hindi ko na kayo naipakilala sa isa’t isa.” Paliwanag ni Ashley.

Ngumiti naman sa akin ang Lolo nila at binukas ang braso. As if asking for a hug. Kay lumapit ako at yumakap.

“It’s nice to meet you dear” sabi niya saakin

“Nice to meet you din po”

“I’m Cristopher Declaros, just call me Lolo Cris” pagpapakilala niya sa sarili niya.

“Opo Lo” sagot ko naman.

“Make yourself feel at home dear”

“Yes po”

“Oh, kumain muna kayo. Mahaba ang byahe kaya gutom na siguro kayo, nagpahanda na ako ng makakain” sabi ni Lolo Cris at naglakad na kami papunta sa dining nila. I really can’t help but to be astonished on how well this house is. It screams elegance and beauty. It feels ancient but magical.

Their dining is huge. There’s a long dining table at the center. It is Twelve sitters at each side, and one huge chair in the middle, for the head of the family. With a huge chandelier, almost as huge as the chandelier located in their living room.

Napatanga nalang ako sa dami ng pagkain na nakahanda. Sobrang dami na halos mapuno ang sobrang haba na mesang iyon. At take note, may lechon! Shota! May palechon talaga oh? Sarap mabuhay dito kung ganito lagi sa hapag. Talagang mapapalafang kung parang ka. I mentally snapped back to my senses at pasimpleng pinunasan ang kaunting laway na namuo. Shota! Mabuti na lang walang nakakita, nakakahiya kaya!

“Linda, kumain na rin kayo” sabi ni lolo sa head maid.

I was amazed. They are also good and treats their household staffs well. I’ve never seen my parents did that. For them, as how they said it,

“You shouldn’t treat them as your equal, they never is and they never will be. And stop thanking them every time they serve you, it’s their job, they are paid to do that. They won’t do that voluntarily anyway. So you should not say thank you.”

Maybe the reason why even with the undeniable elegance of Ashley, she’s still humble and considerate of others, whether it’s someone of the same level in our society or someone below.

“So, how’s school kids?”

“ It’s good” sabay sabay sabi ng tatlo.

“Balita ko candidate for top 1 ka na naman sa batch ninyo Anton?” tanong ni Lolo kay Anthony.

“Opo”

“And you’re still on Dean’s list Klein?”

“Opo”

“Magaling! Ikaw Ashley?”

“Hindi pa po namin alam pero candidate for salutatorian po ako” sagot naman ni Ashley.

“Wow, ang gagaling talaga ng mga apo ko. Mana sa Lolo.” natutuwang saad ng matanda.

“Ikaw Natasha? Magkaklase kayo ni Ashley hindi ba?”

“Opo, candidate for valedictorian po ako”

“Wow!”

At ang usapan ay napunta na sa kung ano-anong wala naman akong alam kaya nanahimik nalang ako at kumain.

I was happily eating since nag-enjoy ako sa pagtikim ng mga pagkaing minsan ko lang makita nang inabutan ako ni Klein, na katabi ko ng tissue.

“Here” sabi niya, hindi nakatingin sakin.

“Huh?”

Hindi naman siya sumagot at tumingin nalang sa akin. Nagulat nalang ako nang punasan niya ang gilid ng labi ko at bumulong,

“Ang amos mo kumain” natatawang bulong niya. Napapahiyang napapunas naman ako ng bibig ng bigla nalang padarag na tumayo si Anthony na siyang nasa harap ko.

“I’m full. Lo, pahinga muna ako sa taas. Excuse me” tuloy tuloy niyang sabi at umalis.

Narinig ko ang mahinang pagtawa ng katabi ko. Pinagtatawanan parin yata ako ng loko.

Pagkatapos kong kumain nagpaalam akong mag-iikot muna. This house is simply enchanted. Sobrang ganda. The designs greatly complements the structure and style of the mansion.

Napadaan ako sa veranda sa second floor nila nang nakita kong nakatayo doon si Anthony. Not making any sounds I stared at him. Although likod lang niya ang kita ko, ganun pa rin ang epekto niya sa akin everytime I know he’s around. My heart is beating so fast and hard. I can hear the loud beating of it.

“ Nakapamasyal ka na ba?” I was shocked when he talked.

“Ahh, oo nagikot-ikot ako kanina. Ang ganda pala talaga ng bahay ninyo” I don’t know if it’s me he’s talking to, pero sumagot pa rin ako.

“Bahay ng Grandparents ko” he corrected. Edi bahay ng grandparents mo. Sorry naman.

“It was Lolo who built this, my Lola is the one who designed it” kwento niya

“Your Lolo is an engineer?” I asked now curious. If he’s Lolo is the one who built this, that means he’s really good at it.

“Yes, and my Lola is an architect”

“Wow, ang gandang combination ah?” I said.

“Yeah, this is the house they made before their wedding.” I am really curious at the story and our topic, if only he is facing me properly. Not like this that while he’s talking it is only he’s back that I see.

“Wow”

“I also want a house like this, but smaller” he said and turned me. Buti naman at humarap na siya para hindi ako nagmumukhang tangang kinakausap ang likod niya.

“ And you also want your future wife to design it?” tanong ko sa kanya. Now getting curious on what he wants he’s future wife to do. Aba, dapat alam ko kung anong gusto niyang gawin ko.

“It depends”

“Depends on what?”

“She’s not good at arts. And designing isn’t her forte” Napayuko naman ako. Ibig sabihin may gusto na siyang mapangasawa? Alam na niya kung sino ang pakakasalan niya? At hindi daw magaling sa arts, hindi ako ‘yon. Magaling ako sa arts eh. May gallery room at painting room nga ako sa bahay eh.

“Ahh, ganun pala. Sige magpapahinga nalang muna ako, napagod ako kanina eh”

“Your tired?” Tanong niya.

“Kind of, sige, papahinga na ako ha?” umalis na ako agad. Shota! Ang sakit ah? Ni hindi pa nga ako umaamin nabasted na ako? Ang sakit ah. Parang kagat ng crocodile.