ATHENA

Chapter VI

It's already 11am. Papunta na ako sa bahay ni Tita Franciscia kasi may gusto daw syang sabihin over lunch. I hope this day will be good to me, ayoko muna kasing mag-iisip. I got my iPhone inside my pants and scrolled down to search my favorite song.

I'm hurting baby, I'm broken down.
I need your loving, loving ,I need it now.
When I'm without you, I'm something weak.
You got me begging, begging, I'm on my knees.
I don't wanna be needing your love, I just wanna be deep in your love.
And it's killing me when you're away. Ooh baby.
'Cause I really don't care where you are, I just wanna be there where you are.
And I gotta get one little taste. Your Sugar, Yes please.

Napakanta na ata ako habang suot ko ang headset ko sa tenga ko kaya nilingon ako ni Mang Ed.

"Mang Ed, dyan na lang ho sa tabi."

I'm now infront of the Amator Mansion. Nag-pahatid na lang ako kay Mang Ed dahil gamit ko ang family car. Alam kong kailangan ni kuya ang kotse ko dahil naiwan nya ang kanya sa condo nito.

I headed inside dahil pinapasok kaagad ako ng mga maids dito. I let out a deep sigh. Tomorrow is the big party and uuwi na sina mommy at daddy.

Pina-upo muna ako sa may garden. Nakaka-relax. Walang kaingay-ingay.

I looked at my phone. Ang aga ko pala. I searched for another song. Magpapahinga lang ako ng onti. Pinikit ko ang mga mata ko.

Man, it's been a long day.
Stuck thinking 'bout driving on the freeway.
Wondering if I really tried everything I could.
Not knowing if I should try a little harder.
Ooh, but I'm scared to death.
That there may not be another one like this.
And I confess that I'm only holding on by a thin, thin thread.

I thought of Jay when I heard that song.

Kinanta niya ito noong 18th birthday ko. Weird huh?

I'm kicking the curb, 'cause you never heard the words that you needed so bad.
And now I'm kicking the dirt, 'cause I never gave you the things that you needed to have. I'm so sad. Sad.

After all these years, hindi ako iniwan ni Jay. Hindi sya nagsawang mag-hintay kahit alam nya na kaibigan lang ang tingin ko sa kanya. He was there kapag nag-aaway kami ni kuya, he helped me to move on with my past relationships, he became my superhero.

Man, it's been a long night.
Just sitting here, trying not to look bad.
Still looking at the road we never drove on.
Wondering if the one I chose was the right one.
Ohhh, but I'm scared to death.
That there may not be another one like this.
And I confess, that I'm only holding on by a thin, thin thread.

Laging paulit-ulit ang katagang "What if" sa isip ko. What if he was the one? What if masaktan lang ako? What if I took the risk of loving him? What if... I said yes.

I kept asking myself, Am I really afraid to lose our friendship or  I'm just afraid to fall in love with him?

He's been going in and out of the country because of some "bussiness". I really never asked about his job because my dad told me to be careful around Jay.

I closed my eyes firmly. Sana hindi mag-sawa si Jay. He even got my first kiss he should know the responsibilities! Ayoko ng mag-isip. Maybe someday, I'll say yes. Kahit alam kong masasaktan ako, mahal naman ako ng taong mahal ko diba? I know that Jay truly loves and respects me.

I opened my eyes and scanned the garden. I know I smelled BOSS perfume. It smells good and manly. A second later nawala na ang bango.

"Athena." Pag-tawag sa akin ni Tita Franciscia.

"Hi Tita." Bati ko sa kaniya.

"Let's go to the Dining area, lunch is already prepared for us." Nakangiting sabi ni Tita.

"What's for lunch?" Tanong ko.

"Your favorite of course." Sagot ni Tita.

"Yung Caldereta de Franciscia?!" I hugged her while walking towards the dining area.

"Hmm... not quite, ang anak ko ang nagluto." Sagot niya.

I never ever saw her son kaya parang kinabahan ako sa mga oras na yun. Ang alam ko lang lalake ito at.... ayun lang. Ayaw kasi ni mommy o si daddy mag-kwento tungkol sa anak nina tita Franciscia at tito Alfonso. I don't know why pero I think it's better that I know less.

But disappointment struck me when dalawang plates lang ang nasa table. Akala ko pa naman din kasama namin ang anak niya sa pagkain.

I let out a sigh.

"Let's eat." Nakangiting sabi ni tita.

Infairness masarap ang luto ng anak niya. Hindi ako masyadong kumain pero kapag luto na ni mommy at tita napaparami ang kain ko.

"Tita Franciscia-" I was cut off.

"Mommy Francis na lang hija, I feel old when you call me Franciscia." She was smiling at me.

"Umm... mommy francis, asaan po yung anak nyo?" I have to know.

"Ah, si Christian? Kanina lang nandyan sya, siguro nasa kwarto nya." Sabi niya.

So christian pala ang pangalan nya.

After lunch bumalik kami sa garden.

Marami din kaming napag-usapan ni tita.

Masaya ako at nakapag-bonding kami ni mommy francis. Nalaman ko na most trusted friend ni tita si mommy. Marami raw silang secrets at kalokohan na ginawa noong mga teenagers pa lamang sila. Nagkwento din siya tungkol sa mga past boyfriends niya. Pilya din si mommy francis... si Christian din kaya? I noticed na maingat si mommy francis tungkol kay christian.

"Athena the reason I asked you to come here is that I want you to meet my son and maybe go out on a date?" Excited na sabi nito.

Ha? Ano daw? Date?

"But mommy francis... I barely know this guy. Don't you think it's a little bit awkward?" Sagot ko sakanya.

"Kaya nga hija kailangan mong dumalo sa party bukas para makilala mo man lang sya."

"Ma'am telepono po, Mrs.Celestra daw ho." Naputol ang pag-uusap namin.

"Oh, Athena matagal-tagal ang magiging pag-uusap namin. Kailangan ko itong sagutin dahil long distance ito at noong isang araw ko pang hinihintay. Feel free to take a tour around the house, kapag uuwi kana paki-sabi na lang ha?" Tumayo sya sa kinau-upuan niya at nagsimula ng maglakad sa office niya.

Naiwan ako sa garden. I'm still thinking about what tita said. Go on a date with christian? Let's see.