Chapter 23
Until now, those words that the guy told me a while ago are making me insane. I have no idea why he said that. Wala naman dapat akong pakialam doon but it's just so random na sinabi niya iyon. Plus the fact that he mentioned Puricia Grittonia — the place that sounds familiar to me — is making me more confused.
I don't have any memory that I visited that place. I don't want to give a damn about it pero talagang naguguluhan ako!
First, si Sir Yves. The strange feeling. Then the guy that I saw. At ito naman ngayon! Pinaglalaruan ba ako?
“Good morning, Dad,” I greeted and kissed him on his cheek tomorrow morning.
I decided to go to our mansion since I don't have any classes. I also want to ask them few questions about that Puricia Grittonia place. Baka sakaling may alam sila.
“Oh, what brings you here? Wala kang pasok?” gulat na sabi ni Dad habang nagkakape siya.
“Wala, Dad. I just want to visit you here.” I smiled. “Where's Mom, by the way?”
“Alam mo na. She's still in her room. Nag-aayos pa yata.” Umiling pa si Dad.
Natawa naman ako at kumuha ng bacon saka kinain iyon. “I'm just gonna check her..”
“Mabuti pa nga, anak...”
Kaagad akong umakyat sa kwarto nina Mom. I didn't knock on their door anymore since it's already open. Mom isn't here. She's still probably inside the bathroom. I sat down on their bed habang hinihintay siyang matapos.
My forehead crinkled when I heard some noises at the veranda.
“I'm too busy. Maybe next week. Yes, please. I really need to see you..”
“Mom?” I called when I noticed her. Nakatalikod siya sa akin kaya hindi niya ako nakikita. “We're waiting for you. Kakain na tayo ng breakfast..”
Nakita kong nagulat siya nang makita ako. I saw that she instantly hid her phone on her pocket.
”Uh, you're talking to someone? I'm sorry..”
“N-No. It's just your Tito,” she replied and smiled. “You're here. You don't have classes?”
“Wala, Mom. I just came here to visit. Na-miss ko lang ang mansion.”
I breathe in and looked outside. Wala namang pagbabago aside sa plants sa baba. I just missed here.
“Really? I thought ayaw mo na kaming makasama ng Dad mo,” sabi niya saka pumunta sa vanity mirror. She started to apply some products on her face.
I also borrowed her red lipstick and apply it on my plump lips. Now, I look better.
“No ah!” I quickly disagreed. “You know my reason why I moved to our condo unit. Besides, it's obvious naman na na-e-enjoy niyo ni Dad na wala ako rito.”
Napailing naman siya. “Your Dad is too busy, sweetheart..”
Napangiti naman ako habang hinahawakan ang kulot niyang buhok. I really look like her. Even my nose — I got it from her.
“It's a good thing that you're not thinking about looking for someone else. You know.. according to you, Dad is---”
“Enough with that, Alindra!”
I was shocked when she raised her voice after what I said. I blinked many times to process that. I was completely shocked! Nabitiwan ko pa ang hawak!
“Sorry. I.. I overreacted,” sabi ni Mom at tumayo na. “Let's go, hija. The food is waiting..”
I breathe deeply as I followed her downstairs. Nang makababa ay nakangiti naman niyang sinalubong si Dad.
“Ang tagal ninyong dalawa. The breakfast is already here!”
I stopped from walking when I suddenly felt dizzy. My head also hurts at parang may mga nakikita akong scenario kapag pumipikit. I just acted fine when my parents looked at me.
While I'm heading to the dining area — I remembered that I really should ask them about these things that keep on running inside my freaking mind.
“Mom, Dad.. have I ever visited your province? Sa Puricia Grittonia?” I asked while getting some rice on the plate. “Rylan mentioned it last---”
“Hindi pa, Alindra,” mariin na sabi ni Mom nang makaupo sa tabi ni Dad. She's just in front of me.
“Yes.” Nagkatinginan naman si Mom at Dad. Mom is looking at my father differently. “But you were still young that time.. I think 7 or 8. Bakit mo natanong? Gusto mo ulit magbakasyon?”
“Alesso!”
Dad just shook his head when Mom cut off his words.
“Sounds familiar lang, Dad..”
I took my phone to search for that place 'cause I'm very curious. The images loaded immediately after I searched it. The whole island appears to symbolize a teardrop because of its shape. Puti rin ang buhangin na nakikita ko.
Tinitigan kong mabuti ang mga nakikita ko. I don't really remember that I've been here before because according to Dad — I was just young when we visited this place.
“And looks so familiar, too...”
“Alindra, we're having our breakfast. Hide your phone,” kalmadong sabi ni Mom pero alam kong naiinis na siya.
I have no choice but to follow her even if I'm already fantasized just by looking at those pictures from the Internet.
It's probably more beautiful when I get to visit Puricia Grittonia. Maybe I'll ask Rylan to accompany me next time..
“Are you sure you'll be fine here?” Dad asked while he's preparing for a meeting. Tapos na rin kaming kumain. “You can invite your friends if you want to.”
“Hindi na, Dad. Uuwi rin ako sa condo pag-alis niyo.”
Lumapit naman sa akin si Mom nang papunta ako sa living room to get my bag and to prepare.
“Free your schedule on Saturday night. We'll meet a friend.” She kissed me on my cheek. Tumango na lang ako. “Napapansin ko lang. You seem off these days. Are you alright, anak? Something's bothering you?”
Umiling naman ako. “Just a bit problematic, Mom. You know.. college life.”
Ngumiti na lang siya dahil tinatawag na ni Dad at aalis na sila. I heard that they have an urgent meeting. I'm already used to it. Before, I used to see them very busy even when they were at home. I was upset because of that but as the time goes by, I understand why they're busy and need to do their works. Of course, para din naman iyon sa akin. At sa future ko.
That's why Rylan leaving for a meeting isn't really that big of a deal. I don't find it a problem. Sanay na akong busy ang lahat ng taong nakapaligid sa akin.
Well, I'm sometimes busy, too.
Natigil ako sa pag-aayos nang mag-ring ang phone. It's Rylan.
I answered the call. “Yes? Good morning. I'm here at the mansion.”
“Nasa hospital ako ngayon..”
“W-Why? What happened?” Napatayo pa ako sa gulat.
“Si Dad.. heart attack,” malungkot na sagot ni Rylan.
“Pupunta ako diyan. Just text me the address...”
I ended the call to fix myself. Nagmadali na ako. Rylan is probably very stressed right now because of what happened to his father. I don't really want to go to other places today but Rylan needs me. Wala naman sina Rachel at Mommy niya ngayon. Isa pa, Rylan is always there when I need him or even if I don't.. he always support me.
Yes. I should do the same.
“Manong, pakihanda na ng kotse,” sabi ko sa driver nang matapos akong mag-ayos. I'm only wearing a white tank top and black pants.
“Sandali lang po, Ma'am..”
I just waited for few minutes until I finally got inside the car. Rylan's message arrived and he told me that the hospital is in Mendiola. Sinabi ko naman kaagad iyon sa driver.
Pagkatapos ng ilang minuto, nakarating na kaagad kami. It's not really that far from our subdivision.
“Thanks po,” sabi ko at kaagad na pumasok sa building.
Nagmamadali akong pumunta sa room na sinabi ni Rylan that I didn't notice the little boy that I bumped in.
I immediately helped him to stand up. “I'm sorry. I'm sorry,” I told him when he began to cry. I think he's only 2 years old.
“Ma! M-Mama!”
Kaagad naman siyang tumakbo papunta sa babae. She's not facing here that's why I can't see her face. I'm supposed to say sorry to her but I remembered that I'm in a hurry. I somehow felt guilty because I'm still hearing the boy's sobs even when I'm now walking away from them.
I knocked the room's door when I got there. Pinagbuksan namaj ako ni Rylan. He looks so tired and stressed now.
“How's your Dad?” tanong ko kaagad nang makapasok sa loob.
“He's now stable. Mag-s-stay na lang muna siya rito for few days for further tests,” he answered and sat down beside his Dad. “Nagkaproblema sa client niya. Nagkainitan ng ulo. Tumaas tuloy ang blood pressure niya and then..”
He cut his words and looked at his father. Tito Richard seems fine though while lying on the hospital bed. Wala namang ibang nakakabit sa katawan niya.
“His client must be guilty, then..”
“I'm sorry. Naabala pa kita. Are you busy?” tanong niya at lumapit sa akin. He hugged me from the back and it made me shivered.
I smiled a bit and faced him para makawala ako sa yakap. “It's alright. Wala naman akong classes today. I'm free today and I also want to visit Tito..”
Nakita ko namang ngumiti siya saka inabot ang isang orange fruit sa akin.
”Kainin mo. You look unhealthy these days..”
“Really?” I became interested.
I immediately checked my face on my mirror when he nodded. He's right. My face looks so dull right now. Mukha akong stressed na stressed.
“Are you stressed out? Pumayat ka rin,” he told me, worriedly. “Don't get me wrong. You're still beautiful even if you became thinner.. I'm just worried about you.”
Naupo naman ako sa isang couch doon. “Wala namang problema.. it's just my schedule became hectic since I entered college. Well, somehow my friends are helping me especially sina Milan and Erica but I'm still stressed..”
Stressed because of the thoughts that still haunting me but of course, I didn't bother to tell Rylan about it. Mag-uusisa lang siya and I don't want to lie as much as possible. He'll know that I'm bothered with that professor.. and affected.
Kahit hindi ko naman gusto.
Kahit hindi naman dapat.
. . .
“Mariano, Evelyn..”
I stopped from scribbling on the back of my notebook when I heard Sir Yves' voice. He's standing tall in front of us. May hawak siyang index card at alam ko na kung ano ang mangyayari.
I saw that there are few problems on the white board that we'll solve later. Tumayo naman ang blockmate kong babae nang tawagin ng professor.
“Sir?”
I rolled my eyes when she's smiling widely while looking at Sir Yves.
“Try to solve the problem. Kapag hindi mo nasagot, you need to sing or dance.” Hindi ko alam kung namalik-mata lang ako o talagang tumingin siya sa akin nang sabihin ‘yon.
“I'd rather dance in front of everyone, Sir,” Evelyn said while giggling. Nagtawanan naman ang mga katabi niya. “But I'll try to solve pa rin..”
Nakita ko namang ngumiti nang kaunti si Sir Yves nang lumapit si Evelyn sa kaniya para kuhanin ang marker.
Ang landi.
“This is so hard, Sir ah!”
I rolled my eyes again when Evelyn protested. She's one of the best students in Mathematics before and I know that she knows how to solve that problem very well. Gusto lang talaga siguro niyang magpa-cute sa professor na ‘yon.
“She's so annoying,” Rebecca reacted on my side. I agreed.
“Madali lang ‘yan. Naturo ‘yan no'ng highschool kayo,” he coolly said to Evelyn at humarap naman sa amin. “Guys, this is already an exercise for our new lesson in Finance, alright? Don't pressure yourselves..”
“Sir, kasi naman! Bakit may sing and dance pa!”
Nagsimulang magreklamo ang blockmates ko. They're acting like a grade school now pero tuwang-tuwa naman sa lalaking professor sa harapan. I hate that he's just so close to me.
But it's making my hurt aches whenever I see him. Kung bakit.. hindi ko na alam at ayaw ko nang alamin.
“Rivera, Alindra Lerinn S...”
Hindi ko namalayang tapos na mag-solve si Evelyn at ako na pala ang next. The hell! I became nervous because of it! I'm good at this, for sure but my hands are trembling especially when I got closer to Sir Yves!
Alindra, come on! You've never been this nervous in front of a guy before!
He's seriously looking at me. Mabilis ko namang kinuha sa kamay niya ang marker para makaalis sa harapan niya. Nang magsimula akong i-solve ang problem, bigla akong na-mental block. I don't know what I'm doing and it seems that I suddenly didn't remember the formulas that I need to use to solve this freaking problem!
Mas lalo pang nanginig ang kamay ko nang makitang nasa tabi ko lang siya at tinitingnan ang ginagawa ko. I tried harder to solve it but my brain cells are so tired today that I barely write all the numbers in the equation! This is making me embarrassed!
Sir Yves keeps on walking on my side that's why I really can't focus on what I'm doing.
“Is that your final answer?” nakangising sabi niya nang tumigil ako sa pagsusulat.
“Yes, Sir,” I intently told him. I badly want to roll my eyes right now.
Humarap naman siya sa blockmates ko. “What do you guys think? Tama ba ang sagot ni Miss Rivera?”
“It should be negative!” sabi ng isang kaibigan ni Evelyn.
“Tama naman eh!”
They all have their different reactions and opinions about my answer. Humarap naman sa akin si Sir Yves at kinuha sa akin ang marker.
May sinulat siya sa board malapit sa sagot ko. “It's right but you forgot the negative sign..”
My mouth slightly opened after what he said. I analyzed the whole problem and my solution again and freak! He's right! I forgot that freaking negative sign!
“Do I still have to sing.. or dance?” tanong ko sa kaniya. “Sir?”
“To be fair to others, yes, Miss Rivera..”
I harshly put down the marker on his desk as I started to sing.
“Wise men say.. only fools rush in. But I can't help falling in love with you.” Mariin akong lumunok nang tumitig siya sa akin. There's something in his eyes that I can't seem to understand. “Shall I stay? Would it be a sin?”
I stopped from singing when I saw some images in my mind when I closed my eyes. For the nth time, it's all vague at hindi ko maintindihan.
Binuksan ko ang mga mata ko. Bumungad sa akin si Sir Yves na nakatitig lang sa akin. Tinanggal ko ang tingin sa kaniya at nilipat ang tingin sa iba. I can't do it.
“If I can't help falling in love with you?”
“Ang galing mo, Alindra!" Sumigaw at pumalakpak pa ang boys.
Natapos ang pagkanta ko na nakatingin pa rin si Sir Yves sa akin. He's like looking at me in a very different manner. He's looking at me like he wants to say something and it's making me insane!
“Excuse me, Sir. I'm just gonna use the comfort room,” sabi ko para makaiwas sa tingin niya pati sa kahihiyan.
Hindi ko alam kung bakit ka ganito, Sir Yves..
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