Umuwi ako sa resort kinagabihan. Yohan drove me home. Hindi na ako umagal dahil gabi na rin. The next morning, I was just enjoying my orange juice on the sun lounger facing the calm sea.
Iniisip ko si Papà. Kung ano'ng mas mabuti para sa kanya. Maybe Yohan's right. Kahit ako ayaw ko ring araw araw siyang nakikitang nahihirapan pero ayaw ko namang isugal ang buhay niya. I don't want to lose him yet. I haven't done anything for him yet.
"Huy Xammy! Kanina pa kita hinahanap ah? Why aren't you picking up?" Tinapik ni Heloise ang braso ko.
Tiningala ko siya. "Me? Why? Nasa hotel ang phone ko."
Umirap siya at umupo sa paanan ko.
"Kaya pala. Anyways, we're going to swim. Sa private pool. Tara na."
"As in now na? Aga pa ah?" angil ko.
"Gagi! Walang aga aga dito. Tara na!" Hinila na niya ako kaya wala akong ibang nagawa kundi sumunod.
"Where's Cia and Eesha?" tanong ko nang makarating kami sa reception area ng hotel.
"They're still preparing-Oh they're here!" Kumaway siya sa paparating na sina Eesha at Cia na kasama ang mga partners nila.
"Xammy girl!" Eesha giggled.
Nakipagbeso lang ako saglit at nilaro ang batang karga karga ng asawa niya.
"Where's your boyfriend?" tanong niya.
"He's just-"
"Somewhere?" tuloy niya at tumawa.
Natawa rin ako at umiling iling.
"Maybe surfing?" I shrugged.
Lumapit si Heloise sa reception desk at nagtawag ng staff.
"Yes, ma'am?"
"We're using one of the private pools. Could you give us your services, please? Brunch sana."
"Uh, ma'am, have you already availed our services? May reservation na po ba?"
"Uhm wala. But the owner is my cousin. Could you please call him and tell my request?"
Kumunot ang noo ko sa narinig. The owner is her cousin? Who?
"Pero-"
"And don't forget to mention that Xiomara's with me." She smiled sweetly at me.
The girls giggled. Nanatiling kunot ang noo ko sa mga ginagawa niya.
"Okay, ma'am. Wait a minute." Umalis ang receptionist at tinungo ang telepono.
"You're doing a great job, Heloise." Humagikgik si Eesha. "Kahapon ko pa gustong subukan 'yung private pool kaso sobrang mahal."
"Huwag muna kayong magsaya," Cia commented.
"Don't worry too much, Cia. I'm sure he'll approve it. Si Xam Xam pa ba? Right, baby?" Kumindat si Heloise sa akin.
"Oh my goodness. Don't tell me-"
"Ma'am, excuse me? Pumayag na po si Sir Axton."
"Yes!" bulong ni Heloise. "See?" Mayabang siyang bumaling sa amin.
Tumawa ang dalawa samantalang napangiwi naman ako. Hindi maabsorb ng utak ko na si Axton ang may ari ng resort! That explains why he's here and not just taking a random vacation!
"Let's go, guys. Let's enjoy Axton's masterpiece." Humalakhak si Heloise at naunang naglakad.
Sinundot sundot naman ni Eesha ang tagiliran ko kaya nagpoker face ako sa kanya. Sa huli ay umirap ako at sumunod na lang.
BINABASA MO ANG
An Inconvenient Attachment
RomanceUntil when are you going to say that you've had enough? Feeling unwanted, unloved and being deprived of having a family. Xiomara Evanthia Zarate is the plutocrat Governor's illegitimate daughter. She was the fruit of a sinful affair between her fath...
