Chapter 29

I was tapping my nails on the desk while waiting for Gail in Starbucks coffee. I suddenly remember her brother when we first met and having a first plan, but did not come to be a 'husband' or 'wife' thingy because of the unexpected news when we're in U.S.

I looked up to her while walking in my direction with smiling on her face. Nagmamadali pa sya dahil akala nya siguro ay kanina pa ako naghihintay.

"I'm so sorry for being late. You know, I'm still busy but I have an appointment to-"

"Ok lang." Nginitian ko sya at tinignan ang waiter na naglapag ng coffee sa lamesa namin.

"I ordered Caramel Macchiato and Caffè Mocha. You can choose what you want to drink." Sabi nya at kinuha ko naman ang Caramel Macchiato bago ininuman iyon.

Hindi naman ako nabigo dahil masarap naman ito. Itinaas nya ang order at nakipag cheers sa akin na para bang nasa inuman kami bago ko ulit nilapag sa lamesa.

Napatingin ako sa kanya ng sumeryoso sya bigla at tinignan ako. Hinihintay ko lang na sabihin nya ang tungkol sa kapatid nya kahit na may pagtataka sa mukha nya ng malaman nyang gusto ko sya maka usap para doon sa family background nila.

"I really don't want to say this to you. But I already knew that you're the most person that I can trust." She said with an intern voice.

Huminga sya nang malalim bago mag salita. "We are only 2 and our mother and father was not yet found because of their stupid mission a year ago. And you know, when he was a kid. He's not enjoying to be a child and he's not playing to another kids, he is snob and also he's scared that our father might known he was playing with a stranger kids. Our father raised him well but not in a right way, because when he go to our house after school. Our father was always mad for being always late and failing grades. He was such an asshole or a worst man I've ever known.

I really can't believe because I think he's not a human being anymore. He likes to hurt him everytime he saw my brother. Can you imagine? him? did not even talk nor can't explain why our father was always mad at him. And now, I really didn't know what's the reason why he is mad to my brother. And one time, he tried to suicide in his dark room but luckily, I had my best instinct and I follow my running thoughts. I also knocked to his door thrice but he's not answering but I have a key in his room. I'm panicking inside but calm outside because I knew that day, I wanted to be a strong person because I'm an older and I need to check my brother because he is my responsibility. I don't want to be a disappointed daughter in our fathers eyes. My mom was an evil too so we plan to escaped and we successfully did."

I already saw her eyes was tearing up when she was telling the story of his brother. Weeks, month's and a year later ay lumaki na sila at nag ta-trabaho sila pareho upang magkaroon ng pera. Naunang mag trabaho ang Ate nya dahil pinag aral pa rin sya ng kapatid nya hanggang makapag tapos ng college.

Palihim ko tinitignan ang bawat bigkas ng labi nya habang sinasabi nya ang nangyari sa kanila noon. I was just making sure if she's sincere or not about telling the story. But I felt she's sincere because of her body language and her eyes was telling the truth.

Pinigilan ko ang sarili na hindi maiyak lalo na nang matapos syang mag kwento. Good thing na hindi naman sya humagulgol dito dahil baka magtaka ang ibang kasama namin sa Starbucks at sabihin na pinaiyak ko ang magandang babae na nasa harap ko.

Nagpasalamat na rin ako at hindi na rin sya nag tagal dahil may appointment pa sya at nagmamadali na ring umalis. Dali dali kong kinuha ang gamit ko pati ang Caramel Macchiato ko bago pumunta ng Parking Lot upang tawagan si Hans.

"My mission's success." Bungad ko sa kanya nang sagutin nya ang tawag ko ng isang ring lang.

"Good for you, nalaman mo na rin pero may kulang. Hindi mo tinanong kung nasaan ang magulang."

"Their parent's was nowhere to be found. Hindi daw sila magkakasundo at watak lamang sila."

"Hmm, she is suspicious. It's impossible." Napakunot ang noo ko sa sinabi nya.

"Ano na naman ba?" Inis na tanong ko. Lahat na yata ay suspicious sa kanya.

"I'll call you back later." Pinatay na agad nya ang tawag kaya inis kong binato ang cellphone sa katabi na upuan.

I groan in a frustration bago magsimulang mag drive paalis habang nag iisip. Ngayong nalaman ko na ang mga naranasan nila ay parang nakakaramdam pa rin ako ng kulang.

I remember when he was mad because he knew that I suspected him. Hindi ko alam kung ano ang pumasok sa isip ko at nag U turn ako upang puntahan sya.

Day by day, he was on my mind and I don't know why. But I have this gut or what ever it is. Na may kailangan among malaman kung bakit naging ganoon ang reaksyon nya. Did he felt betrayed or upset because I was asking him? Or am I crossing the line already?

He's still a mysterious man I know. Halos malapit na ang isang taon ngunit parang hindi ko pa rin sya kilala. Hininto ko ang sasakyan nang makarating tapat ng condo nya.

"Hi." Awkward na sambit ko nang buksan nya ang pinto.

"What are you doing here?" Nababagot na tanong nya pero pinapasok naman nya ako agad dahil ayaw daw nya ma matagal naka bukas iyon.

Nahiya ako bigla nang malaman na hindi ko man lang naisipan na dalhan sya ng pagkain. Tinignan ko ang orasan at pasado alas dose na pala. Iginala ko ang aking paningin nang madaanan ko ang maliit na kusina nya at wala akong nakitang pagkain doon.

"Kamusta ka? Kakagising mo lang ba?" I unconsciously asked.

"Always fine when you're afar." Hindi ko alam kung sarkastiko ba iyon o hindi. "And of course not, I'm just lazy to cook."

Kaya naman pala walang pagkain sa kusina dahil tinatamad sya. Edi nag o order na lang sya sa fastfood kapag tinatamad sya? Hindi na healthy iyon ah.

"Why are you here?"

"Binibisita ka, masama ba?" Defensive kong sabi at naupo sa malambot nyang sofa.

Mariin nya akong tinignan bago sumagot. "Malay ko ba, na magpapakita kapa." Nagulat ako sa sinabi nya pero hindi ko ipinahalata. Nakakagulat pa rin talaga kapag nag tatagalog sya.

"Galit kaba?" Mahinahon na tanong ko, takot na mapalayas ulit ako dito.

"Why are you asking a nonsense? Nandito kaba para tanungin ako ng kung ano-ano?"

Nararamdaman ko na ang iritasyon sa boses nya kaya agad akong tumayo at nilapag saglit ang Caramel Macchiato sa lamesa at nakita ko naman na tinignan nya iyon bago umupo malayo sa'kin.

"Gutom kana ba? Ipagluluto kita."