Chapter 14-Ms. And Mr. Brash

[Cindy's Point of View]

"Yes, Mom. I promise!"

"Bumalik ka agad dito ha? Wala akong kasama rito," Mommy Gadi said habang busy sa laptop n'ya.

"M'kay. Aalis na ako."

"Go."

Mabilis kong kinuha ang aking bag sa lamesa. Nagpaalam ako kay Mommy na pupuntahan ko si Cole sa bahay nila sa St. Hardin. I want to surprise him, since kanina pa s'ya umalis dito at mukhang nagmamadali pa na makabalik doon. He didn't even told me na aalis pala s'ya. I just knew it when Tita Dawn told me.

"Oh, I forgot something!" I went upstairs to my mom.

"Chup!" Mommy was startled.

"Oh, c'mon Cindy! Bakit hindi ka man lang kumatok?" she exclaimed while holding his breast.

Tinawanan ko s'ya. "Mom, sorry. I forgot to kiss you kasi kanina." And she smiled at me. I hugged her from the back.

"I should get going."

"Okay. Take care, my Cindy," then kissed me on the forehead.

I may look like a childish to anyone, but I won't stop doing this to my Mom kahit tumanda na ako. Naglalambing pa rin ako sa kan'ya even though, malapit na akong magpaalam sa teenage life ko. Which is very rare na sa panahon ngayon.

Since, wala na akong kotse ngayon, need ko talaga mag-antay ng tricycle na dadaan dito sa tapat ng bahay.

"God! Hindi mo ba knows 'yong St. Hardin, Manong?" naiiritang tanong ko sa driver.

"Hindi ko nga alam, Ma'am. Bago lang kasi ako dito sa bayan n'yo, hindi ko pa gamay lahat ng pasikut-sikot dito."

"Really? 'Di sana hindi mo na lang ako pinasakay!"

"Malay ko ba, Ma'am? Di sana hindi ka na lang din sumakay."

"Malay ko rin ba!"

Mabilis akong bumaba sa tricycle n'ya dahil sa inis ko. Ugh! Nakakairita.

"Sana hindi na lang s'ya nagdriver."

I walked towards those people in the sari-sari store. No'ng una, hesitant pa ako na magtanong kasi mukhang masusungit sila, pero buti na lang hindi ako tinablan ng hiya. I had to do it kasi need ko ng makarating asap sa bahay nila Dion.

They told me na kailangan ko pa daw pumunta sa paradahan ng tricycle na papunta sa St. Hardin. Kaya naman I immediately went there, kaso pinaghintay pa nila ako ng mga 15 minutes bago kami umalis.

It's so annoying, kasi siksikan kami doon sa maliit na tricycle then 'yong katabi ko pa amoy hindi naliligo everyday. Kung hindi lang sana naisangla ang kotse ko, it'll never ever happened to me.

"Cindy?" I can tell how surprised she is nang makita n'ya ako.

"Yes, Mama Fely." I hugged her right away nang makatayo s'ya. Nagtatanim kasi s'ya ng flower dito sa mini garden ni Tita Dawn.

Agad s'yang kumalas sa yakap sa'kin kaya ngumuso ako. "Pasensya ka na ha, madumi kasi ang kamay ko."

"Nope. It's okay, Mama Fely. Let's go inside, ako na bahala kay Tito pag 'di mo 'yan natapos," sabay kindat ko sa kan'ya.

Pumasok kami sa loob, diretso sa kusina para daw makapaghugas si Mama Felicita ng kamay. I call her Mama Fely ever since nagkita kami, that was 3 years ago. Kapag bumabalik kasi kami here sa Quezon, do'n lang kami naglalagi sa bahay ng late grandparents ko.

"Mama Fely, where's Cole?"

"Nasa taas, sa room n'ya."

"Oh? What is he doing there?"

"Uhh kasama n'ya 'yong artist na hinire ng Tito Bruce mopara sa mural painting sa wall ng room ni Dion."

"Really? Waah that's cool. Mahilig din ako sa paintings. I guess, I should've see it."

"H-ha? Naku, 'wag muna Cindy. Baka kasi may ginagawa pa sila roon," aniya na parang balisa.

"Ginagawa? What do you mean?" I cluelessly asked.

"Alam mo, Cindy..." Huminto s'ya sandali at kumuha ng juice sa ref. "Marami akong ikukwento sa'yo. Doon tayo sa salas," she changed the topic.

"Wait, wait. Mama Fely, I would love to hear that stories of yours pero bago 'yan, kelangan ko munang makita si Cole. Gusto ko rin makita 'yong paintings. So, pardon me?"

Kahit pa gusto akong pigilan ni Mama Fely hindi ako nagpaawat na umakyat sa stairs papunta sa 3rd floor.

It's been years since my last visit here, kaya limot ko na rin kung saan ba ang room ni Cole. Need ko iexplore ang lahat ng rooms dito.

I tried to open the first room pero nakalocked naman ang pinto. So sa katapat na room ako sunod na pumunta. Hindi naman sarado pero walang tao. I guess that's Ate Sab's room. The theme of her room is so cute, puro animes ang nasa walls. But mine is still the best—hello kitty.

I walked towards the third room.

"Good, the door's not locked."

Nakangiti pa akong nakatingin sa doorknob not until I finally slued it.

"Cole!"

I was stilled at hindi maitikom ang bibig dahil sa nasaksihan ko. Cole is taking off his shirt while there's a girl who is sitting in the end of the bed. Cole is with a girl?

"What are you guys doing?!"

Pati silang dalawa, bakas rin ang gulat sa biglang pagsulpot ko. Hindi na naituloy ni Cole ang paghubad ng kanyang damit.

Nang mahimasmasan ako, dali-dali kong hinubad ang bag ko at balak sanang ihampas sa babaeng kasama n'ya, but Cole stopped me. "Let go of me!" I said habang nagpupumiglas sa kan'ya.

"Stop, Cindy. You don't know what you're doing!"

"Ano'ng hindi ha? Kitang-kita ng dalawang eyes ko ang ginagawa mo. What are you expecting for me on how to react?"

Hinarangan n'ya ako mula sa babae. Agad na nag-init ang ulo ko. Why is he doing this?

"Hey, you biatch! You're a fvcking whore! Umalis ka dito sa pamamahay namin! You are not belong here. Get out!" Halos mapatid na ang litid ko sa leeg dahil sa lakas ng sigaw ko. But the girl remained silent, and I saw how her surprised face turned into a calm and serious expression.

"Cindy, stop! Nakakahiya na."

"What? At talagang ako pa ang mahihiya, Cole? Dapat s'ya ang tamaan no'n, she's an artist right? She should just do paintings pero bakit ikaw na ang tinatrabaho n'ya?!"

"Shut your mouth!" Doon ako napahinto at hindi makapaniwalang tumingin kay Cole. Did he just shouted at me with that mad face?

Nakita kong dumaan sa amin ang babaeng artist at naglakad palabas ng room. Cole let go of me the started chasing the girl.

"Vida? Vida! Let's talk!"

He walked after that artist at ako, naiwan mag-isa dito sa room.

"What did I just witnessed? Girlfriend kaya 'yon ni Cole?— Fvck no!"

I cupped my face using my hands then look at the mirror on the wall. Namumula ang pisnge at tenga ko. "Did I overreact?" I asked myself.

"Ganito ba dapat ako makitungo sa pinsan ko? God, he's my cousin. Kahit pa sabihin na ampon lang ako ni Mommy Gadi, I still can't change the fact na pinsan lang ang tingin sa akin ni Cole. I would never have a chance to be with this man whom I like."

[Dion's Point of View]

Hindi ko na naabutan pa si Vida sa labas ng bahay dahil mabilis s'yang nakahagilap ng tricycle. At isa pa, nahirapan din kasi ako na maglakad dahil sa sprain ko sa paa. So I just went to the room kung saan ko iniwan si Cindy. This is her fault.

Naabutan ko s'yang nagpapauli-uli sa pasilyo.

"Cole?" paglapit n'ya sa'kin at hawakan ang braso ko.

"Umalis ka na, Cindy." I took back my arm from her.

"Cole. I'm sorry for what I've done. Nashocked lang ako sa nadatnan ko."

"Please leave me alone. Umuwi ka na kila Tita. Let's talk tomorrow."

I know she's about to cry but I can not console her this time.

"O-okay, I understand."

I was about to enter the room nang biglang sumakit ang paa ko kaya napaaray ako.

"Are you okay?" bakas sa boses n'ya ang pag-aalala.

"No, I'm not."

"What happened? 'Yan ba 'yong about kagabi?"

I nodded a few times.

Huminga ako ng malalim bago s'ya hinarap. "I'm okay. Please Cindy, hayaan mo na muna ako mag-isa."

"Sige."

I watched her walked slowly hanggang mawala s'ya sa paningin ko.

Kagabi, after we bought ice cream, niyaya pa ako ni Cindy na dumaan daw kami sandali sa pier. And I couldn't say no to her kaya pumayag na lang ako. Nagustuhan ko rin naman kasi ang harap ng hangin doon. I was standing peacefully sa tabi ng railings nang biglang sumampa si Cindy sa likod ko para daw pasanin ko s'ya. But it was failed dahil sa biglaan n'yang pagtalon sa akin at dahil sa kan'yang bigat hindi ko naibalance ang sarili ko and I fell on the ground. Kaya ayon, nagkaroon ako ng sprain sa paa. Kaya nga kanina, nang paalis na sana ako sa kinaroroonan ni Vida biglang sumakit ang paa ko. And I'm grateful na tinulungan ako niya ako na makapunta dito sa kabilang room na ginagamit ko pansamantala. She's about to treat my bruise, kaya hinubad ko ang damit ko. Pero bigla namang dumating si Cindy. And she overreacted, without knowing the real happenings.

Naupo ako sa kama at muling bumuntong-hininga ng malalim. I rubbed my face then took my phone on the desk.

Napangiti ako nang lumantad sa'kin ang kuha kong litrato ni Vida no'ng dumayo ako sa school nila. I used it as my lockscreen.

Paano ba ako manghihingi ng sorry sa kan'ya? I know naging bastos kanina sa kan'ya si Cindy and alam ko rin na naupset s'ya sa pangyayaring 'yon. I hope it won't affect her willingness to continue her works here.

"Aha! I know what to do.

I grab my notebook and pencil. I started writing my heart out while listening to my newly discovered songs.

Hopefully, Vida will accept this.

After 20 minutes, I finally finished the poem I wrote for her. Kapag s'ya talaga ang subject ng tula ko, ang dami kong nagagawa.

Nagpaalam ako kay Manang Felicita na aalis ako sandali. I didn't tell her the reason why, and besides, she didn't ask me either. She knows how to respect other people's businesses, and that's one reason why she lasted here for almost a decade now. Not just as a maid, but also a part of the Camero family. Pero mas gusto n'ya na tinatawag pa rin namin s'yang “Manang” dahil ‘yon na daw ang nakasanayan n’ya. Pumapabor lang s‘ya na magpatawag ng ibang name kay Cindy. S’ya ang exception.

When I arrived at Vida's house, medyo nag-aalinlangan pa ako pero nilakasan ko pa rin ang loob ko. I have to give this to her.

"Tao po? Tao po?"

I called a few more times, but no one came out. Nang maisipan ko na umuwi na lang muna ay s’ya namang paglabas ng isang lalaki mula sa pintuan sa unang palapag ng bahay. He's the guy that Vida talked to when I brought her here last time.

“‘No kelangan mo?” Mukhang kagigising n'ya lang, halata sa buhok.

"Uhh, is Vida here?"

"Vida?" His forehead suddenly twitched. Oh, he has deep-set eyes and a pointed nose with thin lips. What the hell? What am I doing describing his face?!

"Vida's not here. Hindi mo ba ako naririnig?"

"Uh ha?" Hindi ko namalayan na nawala na pala ako sa sarili ko. He suddenly turned around, so I called him again.

"Hey, wait!"

Mabuti, humarap s'yang muli sa'kin.

"What?"

"Can you give this to her?" I handed him the small envelope.

"What is this?"

"It's confidential. Just give it to her. "

"Sino ka ba?"

"Dion. Son of her client,” I said.

Pagkatapos ay muli s'yang naglakad papasok sa pintuan. What a jerk!

Who is he? He looks stupid. Tsk.

Because I had nothing to do, I just went back to my car.

He looks untrustworthy. What if he wouldn't give it to Vida?

So for the second time, I got out of my car again and went to the blue gate. And there, I saw the stupid-looking man come out and throw the envelope I gave him in the trash. Bullshit! I knew it.

"Hey, why did you throw it away?" He didn't listen to me and just went straight to the door.

I'm not used to scandalizing and I've never done it before, but because of that man's stupidity, it looks like I can do it this time. Dude, I worked so hard for it, then he just threw it away? Fvck.

I didn't stop calling that rude man until a woman appeared behind me.

Didion? What are you doing here?