10 - THE ONE WHERE THERA IS SICK 1.1
CHAPTER 10 – THE ONE WHERE THERA IS SICK 1.1
"Oh, I'll go first with you two." Manang Pam and I looked at Manang Rey at the same time when he said goodbye to us.
"Ms. Ganda, let's talk later. I want to know how your stay here at the mansion is going and since I'm the one who let you in," he continued.
Hey, manong Rey, if you only knew. It's a literal roller coaster. You didn't warn me that Lucifer's cousin would be my boss.
"Pam, I'll leave Ms. Ganda with you for now so you can get to know each other better," added Manong Rey.
"Okay, go there." Grandma Pam answered him because it looked like Grandma Rey was going to go upstairs.
Where is he going?
"I'm going up. I'll just go see the young lady," said Manong Rey, who managed to wipe away the smile that had been on my lips for a while.
Did he say young lady?
Manong Rey was about to go upstairs but I quickly stopped him. "Wait! Manong Rey." I called to him.
He immediately stopped and turned back to us and Manang Pam and seemed to be waiting for me to speak, so I quickly told him the reason why I stopped him. "Young lady hasn't been there for a few days."
I can see the look between Manong Rey and Manang Pam. It's like they're AM and PM talking to each other through their eyes.
"Hmm, if the young lady isn't here...who was the one I brought just now?" asked Manong Rey, who pretended to have a frown on his face but was still smiling.
I looked at Grandma Pam who was also smiling.
"He's in his room, Sky." Grandma Pam told me when she noticed me looking at him.
I slowly nodded as an answer. I felt a sudden rush of relief. It was like a thorn had been pulled out of my throat. I wanted to take a deep breath but I held it back because they might ask why I was taking such deep breaths.
She's safe. She's home...
"Okay, okay, I'll go first and I might get scolded. Later, Ms. Ganda, I'll talk to you." Manong Rey said finally before going upstairs for good.
Only when he disappeared from our sight did Grandma Pam speak again.
"He really is like that." he said, not understanding what I was referring to.
"Yes?"
Is he referring to Mr. Rey? How could he really be like that? Then he climbed the stairs like that? Manong Rey seemed like an idiot to climb the stairs. That's all I noticed.
"Thera. That's exactly what she's like. She doesn't say where she's going. You'll be surprised when she's home." Grandma Pam joked. I nodded slowly.
Grandma Pam turned her attention back to the family portrait in front of us, causing even I to stare.
Thera is really good at painting. She captured all their faces. The painting is so lifelike. Even just painting herself is intimidating to look at. She's that good, she even managed to paint her own face.
And it's just funny to think that her appearance is a mix of her parents. Her eyes and nose are from Sir Eros, and her whole body is from her mother. Mrs. Tamara was so beautiful. It's such a shame that she was lost so early.
"Dahlia told me that back then, Thera always woke you up early to go to the garden because she always wanted the garden to be beautiful and that was her mom's favorite place." I started the conversation between me and Grandma Pam. She was so quiet, staring at the painting.
There seemed to be a trace of sadness in his eyes as he stared at her. Maybe he missed Mrs. Tamara too. He had been working for the Arentsvelts longer than Dahlia, so he was probably closer to them and knew more about the family.
"That's true. His favorite place in the mansion is the garden. Not just because his mom loves flowers. Even Thera. She loves taking care of the plants, especially flowers in the garden." Manang Pam replied to my story.
The accent is so social! It's British too. You'd be surprised by the people here if you spoke English. But infamy, he was with them in London before, so it's not surprising.
Did he say that Thera's favorite garden is the garden? I've never seen him even go there. And he likes flowers? There's not even a single flower in his room. It's like Thera doesn't look like someone who likes flowers.
"Really?" I asked in disbelief, to which Pam just nodded.
Hmmm...can I pick a flower from the garden and bring it to his room? Welcome home gift.
And why would I do that? What would your boss think if you did that, huh, Sky? Are you stupid?
"He loves flowers. Especially Li---"
Grandma Pam stared at him when he didn't continue saying Thera's favorite flower. What Li? Livander? Libag? Okay Sky.
I bit my lower lip to keep from laughing. My brain is so corny.
"Lilies." Grandma Pam continued.
With so many flowers, even those that are actually put in a bouquet for condolences. Thera's journey in life was truly dark.
I just smiled at Grandma Pam and looked back at the family portrait. There I was staring at Thera with a very serious face. I hope she smiled at least at the painting itself.
Because of that thought, my eyes automatically rolled. When I realized that I just literally rolled my eyes, I immediately looked at Manang Pam. If I were really stupid, the old man was looking at me and seemed to have seen my rolling eyes.
Okay, now explain why you're bothering with the portrait of the family that pays you. Shit! This is our first meeting. Later he'll think about my damnedness.
"Uhmmm..." I thought it was a stupid start.
I thought he would snap back at me or ask why I was so upset. But what he said next was unexpected.
"I really do apologize for everything, Sky." manang Pam said while wearing a weak smile.