Behind The Camera

Chapter 26

Nasa sala kaming lahat nang may nag doorbell sa pinto. Tumingin kaming lahat doon pati na rin ang tutang nasa sahig ngayon. I stood up to open the door, as far as I know I'm the only one expecting a visitor right now.

Yakap agad ang sumalubong sa akin nang buksan ko ang pinto. Natawa ako pero din ang akap. Ramdam na ramdam ko ang pagkagiliw niya sa akap niya sa akin, it has been years since we last saw each other.

"You're glowing," Tinignan niya ang mukha ko. "I should really live in an island too, kung ganyan din naman ang magiging resulta."

"We'll you still look as professional as ever." Hinila ko sa paloob, papunt sa sala kung nasaan ang inaanak niyang ngayon niya lang makikita. "That's your inaanak oh." Tinuro ko ang maliit na prinsesang pinapanood kami ngayon. "And her father, Silas." Tumango lang si Syd sa kay Silas at dumiretso kay Siobhan.

"Hi, Siobhan," Lumuhod siya sa harap ni Sipbhan at inabot ang box ng manika na kanina ko pang napansin thatanogo niya sa likod niya kanina. "Naglalaro ka ba ng barbie?"

Nahihiyang tumango so Siobhan pero hindi niya kinuha ang manika. "Siobhan, ninang mo rin siya."

"Gaya po kay Tita Bonnie, Mama?" Tumango ako sa kanya. Marahan niyang inabot ang box, "Thank you po, Ninang." I can see the excitement on her face as she study her new toy. Bagama't marami pa siyang laruan ay kitang-kita ko ang galak sa mukha niya. I know she's itching to open her new doll but is too shy to do it here.

Nang nag-email ako sa kanya pagkarating namin dito kahapon ay adag siyang nagplano ng pagbisita niya. We didn't talk much on the email so we still have so much to catch up to.

Tumayo si Silas at tinawag ang anak namin, "Siobhan, lika gumawa tayo nang meryenda nina Mama." Sumunod naman si Siobhan, hawak-hawak ang bago niyang manika.

Humarap ako kay Sydney nang nakaupo na kami sa sofa, "So, what's new with your life?" I asked early. Gusto kong malamn kung ano ang nangyari sabuhay nitong mga nakaraang taon. She's the closest friend that I have, we were always together and I missed her greatly when we spent the past years apart.

"I work as a company publicist now," I focused my attention on her. "Giordan Il Defonso hired me as a company publicist and many to find clue about his missing daughter." She gave me a wink which made me smile. I'm sure my family bombarded her with questions about me but I'm confident that she wouldn't tell them anything. If she did, I would've been out of the island on the first month.

"I work for some your siblings too, sometimes. Mostly, it's with your two eldest brother, who are exactly what you describe. Both cause too much headache especially Aiken Il Defonso. Do you know how many dating scandals, I had to address this past month?" I just let her vent, it must've been frustrating to work with my bachelor brothers. "Do you know how many women I had to talk to, claiming that he fathered her child? Womanizers, I tell you."

Tumango ako kahit na natatawa ako sa experience niya sa mga kuya ko. It used to frustrate Mom so much even when we were in Washington, that's why they moved out. Para hindi na sila pagalitan tuwing nahuhuli silang naguuwi ng babae sa bahay namin dati.

"Enough about me and my stressful life as a publicist." Mas lumapit siya sa akin, "What about you? What did you do in the last five years?"

"Well I lived on the island and took care of my daughter. It's not as flashy as my life before but I am happy, Sydney." Tinanaw ko si Siobhan na pinapanood ang Papa niya na gumawa ng sandwich. "Leaving that life behind? It was all worth it."

"I've never seen you this happy. It must be nice to have to have a daughter as precious as Siobhan. Nakakainggit naman, should I have mine?"

"Do you have a guy?" I asked in curiousity. Syd never had a boyfriend before because she always undermine herself, she lacks the confidents and wouldn't have the courage to walk up to someone. I can see that something has changed, I don't know what prompted that change in her but I'm happy for her.