32 - Her Visitors

Charm's POV

After ng isang linggong pahinga, balik trabaho na kami ng anak araw kong housemate. He started working today, the same as I. Hindi ko pwedeng pabayaan ang negosyo ko dahil ito lang ang kakapitan ko para sa amin ni Celestine. I will also start my training for my Cebu competition. I am so thankful that it was postponed six months from its previous schedule. I have to work hard this time, ang tagal kong hinintay ang chance na makasali ulit sa competition na 'to and I'll make sure that I will win this time.

Infairness, nasurvive namin ang first week na walang major argument, fifty one weeks to go. Saglit lang pala, kaya ko nang pagtiisan yon. I admit, after RJ and I decided to be friends and work with each other to survive the 365 days, mas magaang ang pakiramdam ko. I am beginning to see a human being in him instead of an annoying jerk. And there is a possibility that we can be friends after this arrangement is over.

"Hello" I said upon answering Hannah's call

"Nandito na kami sa gate girl, paano kami makakarating sa bahay mo?" She asked.

I gave instruction to the subdivision guard on duty to assist Hannah and Camila going in our place. Medyo nakakalito kasi ang pagpunta sa amin kapag bago ka pa lang sa subdivision. After about five minutes I heard them arrived.

"Grabe ang ganda na bahay mo girl." Camila commented upon entering the house.

"Mas maganda ang bahay mo, wag ka nga." I said.

"Atsaka ikaw, mas maganda ka ngayon. Mukhang hiyang sa 'yo ang may asawa, ituloy-tuloy mo na kaya yan." Camila added.

"Nasaan ang gwapong anak araw?" Hannah asked.

"Nasa office, first day of work after the wedding." I replied and they both giggled "Anong nakakatawa?" I asked.

"Wifey na wifey na ang mga salitaan mo girl, bagay sa yo." Camila said.

"Tantanan nyo akong dalawa." I said.

"Kamusta ka naman dito Charmaine Dei?" Camilla asked then throws herself in the couch.

"Mabuti naman Maria Camilla". I replied.

"Congratulations girl, 7 days down na, 358 days to go na lang." Hannah said.

"Oo nga ano, ang bilis ng araw. Anong ganap sa pitong araw na yon?" Camilla seconded

"We agreed to be friends para masurvive namin ang 365 days na hindi kami duguan pagkatapos" I replied.

"Ano ang duguan, physically or emotionally?" Hannah asked.

"Physically syempre, walang emotional involvement ang arrangement na 'to maliban sa pagiging friends naming." I replied.

"Baka naman friends with benefit na yan ha, umamin ka nakailang beses na kayong nag-sex ni RJ?" Camila straightly asked.

"Tangna Camila wag ka nga, baka may makarinig sa yo, mangilabot ka nga." I said.

"Gaga ka, sayang naman ang 365 days, sayang ang kagwapuhan ni Faulkerson, Jr. mo kung tititigan mo lang araw-araw, mukhang magandang lahi pa naman si RJ." Camila replied.

"Atsaka, kung magsalita ka as if RJ have not seen you naked yet. Also paano nyo matutupad yung condition ng Lolo ni RJ if you won't do it? Sayang ang binhi ng asawa mo." Hannah said.

"So pumunta kayo dito para tanungin lang sa akin yan? Mabubuti talaga kayong mga kaibigan eh" I said

"Hindi naman sa ganon, tayo-tayo lang na rin naman ang nandito bakit hindi pa natin pag-usapan. Kamusta naman ang asawa mo when naked, malamang mas yummy yan ngayon kesa dati na parang butiking pasay." Hannah said.

"Anong malay ko hindi ko pa nakikitang naked ang anak araw na yun sa loob ng pitong araw na magkasama kami at bakit ko naman aalamin kung anong itsura nya kapag nakahubad sya?" I objected.

"Ang boring naman ng life mo dito girl, dapat isa lang ang room nyo para may chance kang mabosohan yang asawa mong anak araw." Camila commented.

"We are actually sharing the room. Dalawa lang ang room sa bahay na 'to, except for the maid's quarter of course. Yung master's bedroom and yung room ni Celestine. Ipina-renovate ng Daddy ni RJ before the wedding, yung originally two rooms na magkatabi ginawa na lang isa." I said.

"Shhheeettttt ...." Hannah and Camila exclaimed.

"Pambihira ka naman Charmaine Dei, pagkakataon mo na yun oh, bakit hindi pa kayo nag jack en poy?" Hannah said.

"Celestine sleeps in our room." I said to end up our conversation na alam ko kung saan mauuwi.

"Ninang!" we heard Celestine shouted.

"Ohhhh, how are you baby Celestine, did you miss ninang Camila?" Camila asked while giving Celestine a hug.

"I miss you Ninang, both of you." Celestine replied.

"Ohhh that is so sweet baby. Come on and give Ninang Hannah a hug." Hannah said and she gets a tight hug from Celestine, too.

"I can see a lot of pictures around the house, you are so pretty in those photos baby." Camila said.

"Thank you Ninang, Mommy said Yaya took those pictures pretty well." Celestine replied.

"So may pa-family picture na agad, anong susunod sa family picture Menggay?" Camila asked.

"Celestine needs to bring a family picture in school that time. Ayaw naman ni RJ na yung wedding picture ang dalhin nya kasi baka daw i-bully si Celestine. Kaya ayan impromptu na family picture taking." I replied.

"Assignment sa school pero parang may photoshoot, ang daming litrato sa frame oh, bukod pa yung nakahang sa wall?" Hannah asked.

"Kalokohan yan ni RJ at Celestine, kinalat ang mga litrato sa buong bahay, gusto yata lahat ng sulok na bahay eh makikita nila yung mukha naming tatlo." I replied and saw Camila and Hannah look at each other.

"RJ na ba talaga ngayon girl? Hindi na anak araw?" Hannah asked.

"Gaga ka Hannah, nandyan si Celestine, wag kang magcomment ng ganyan." I whispered.

"Ooppsss sorry about that." Hannah said with a peace sign.

"Baby, is it true that you are sleeping in Mommy and Daddy's room?" Camila asked at pinandilatan ko talaga sya, idadamay pa si Celestine sa kalokohan nila ni Hannah.

"Yes Ninang, I want to sleep beside Mommy and Daddy." Celestine replied.

"Go back to your room now baby and have your afternoon siesta. I'll just wake you up if the snack is ready." I said.

"I thought you are a big girl already, why are you sleeping with Mommy and Daddy?" Hannah continue talking to Celestine and intentionally ignores me.

"But I can't sleep if I am not beside Mommy." Celestine said.

"That's not how big girls do it. The reason why Lolo gives you your own room is because he believes you are a big girl already. Your room will be sad because nobody sleeps there." Hannah said.

"No, My Yaya sleeps in my room." Celestine replied.

"Pakaswerte naman nitong si yaya, may sariling pa-kwarto ni sir at mam." Camila commented.

"Even better if yaya sleeps in your room, it means there is nothing to be afraid of because someone aside from Mommy is also watching you while you sleeps." Hannah said.

"Ok Ninang, I will try to sleep in my room tonight." Celestine sadly said.

"Very good, baby Celestine. Ninang Hannah and Ninang Camila want you to know that we are very proud of you. You are indeed a big girl now." Hannah said.

"But baby remember that Mommy and Daddy don't mind having you in our room. I love to sleep beside you." I said.

"No Mommy, Ninang Hannah is right I should sleep in my room because I am a big girl now and I am brave one just like you." Celestine said.

"Indeed, you are such a brave girl baby." Camila said.

"Now for you grow much taller and wiser, go and have your afternoon nap while Mommy and Ninang will talk about some adult stuff." Hannah said.

"Ok po, see you later Ninang Camila, Ninang Hannah" Celestine said while kissing both Hannah and Camila before she and yaya went back to her room.

"Anong ginawa nyo?" I asked.

"We just did what we think is right, paano kayo magkaka-anak ni RJ kung kasama nyo si Celestine sa kwarto?" Camila replied.

"Sabi ko naman na napagkasunduan na namin na hintayin na lang namin na matapos ang 365 days nang matiwasay?" I replied.

"Maraming pwedeng mangyari sa 365 days, eto ngang 7 days pa lang kayo, walang kaabog-abog friends na kayo agad, samantalang dati halos sagasaan mo na yang si RJ tuwing makikita mo. How sure are you na hindi kayo magkakaroon ng attachment sa isa't-isa, how sure are you na kakayanin mong sabihin sa Lolo ni RJ na kaya mong mabuhay na wala si Faulkerson, Jr. Believe me girl, pinakamadaling escape goat ang magka-anak kesa maghintay ng 52 weeks." Hannah said.

"Why are you doing this to me? Hindi kayo nakakatulong." I asked.

"Because we are your friends and we only want what's best for you. Ayaw ka na naming pahirapan." Camila said.

"And speaking of being concern to you girl, we have news for you, ikaw na lang ang mag-categorized kung good news or bad news." Hannah said.

"Kinakabahan naman ako sa sinasabi mo, ano na naman yun?" I nervously asked.

"Someone sent me a privte message the other day, hindi lang sa akin pati kay Camila nag send din sya ng private message." Hannah said.

"He was asking about the social media account that you are using now kasi nagdeactivate ka na daw eh. Sabi ko, hindi ka na gumamit ng social media after you deactivated yung mga accounts mo. Tinatanong nya sa akin on how he could reach you?" Camila added.

"Sino ba yang sinasabi mo Maria Camila, Hannah Mae? Kinakabahan na talaga ako sa pasakalye nyo." I asked.

"Si Patrick, he said nasa Pilipinas na sya ulit and he wants to see you." Hannah said and I was not able to say anything.

"Tinanong din nya kung active ka pa rin sa motocross driving, mukhang balak pang puntahan ka sa tracks." Hannah followed up.

"Ano girl, makikipagkita ka ba? Sasabihin ba namin kung nasaan ka?" Camila asked.

"Wala naman na kaming dapat pag-usapan, I ended whatever we had before. Olga already forgave me at ayokong sirain ang pangako ko sa kanya na kakalimutan ko na si Patrick." I said.

"Ok sabihin ko na lang sa kanya na tigilan ka na nya. At sasabihin ko rin na nag-asawa ka na para hindi na mag-insist." Hannah said.

"Sige, yun naman ang tamang gawin di ba para wala nang komplikasyon. I'm sure mako-confirm naman nya yun eh, kasi lumabas na rin sa society pages ng mga newspaper yung pictures ng wedding namin ni RJ." I said.

"Matanong ko lang girl, alam ba ni RJ na bukod kay Olga, sya ang dahilan bakit ka nakipaghiwalay kay Patrick?" Camila asked and I prefer to be dumbfounded because it never crosses my mind that I will be telling RJ about Patrick and I in details.