His Sweetest Obsession

Kabanata 3

I STARES at the pink ceiling wall for about an hour. Yep, an hour. I woke up early just to see another day rises in this pink room. I heaved a sigh.

Alam kong dapat sanay na ako sa ganito pero Papa never let me bore in my room. He usually gives me things to forget time but now... there's no one.

I miss Papa. Bakit ba kasi ako napunta dito?

"You follow that stupid light, Liliana. And you just did a good job." I mumble sarcastically to myself.

This isn't right. Mababaliw ako if I would just stare the ceiling all day long.

I stand up and decided to roam around the pink room. There's nothing that looks fun. Pink chairs, vanity mirror, cabinets, vases, and even the flower in the vase is pink. I don't think that I would found how much the owner of this room loves pink.

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad ng mapansin ang kakaibang pader. The pink wall is not strange if you're far away from it. Nahaharangan ito ng isa pang malaking royal chair. Sumampa ako sa upuan.

I curiously touch the pink wall. My brows furrowed when the texture is different. It looks like a texture of a fully furnished wood?

"Is there a room across this wall?" I excitingly cover my mouth to stop myself from squealing.

I put both of my hands and decided to push it lightly. Napasinghap ako sa gulat ng bumukas din iyon ng kaunti.

"Madam."

"Jesus!" Napatili ako sa gulat nang may kumalabit sa akin.

Gulat akong humarap kay Belinda. Yeah, I surprisingly got her name. "S-Sana kumatok ka muna." Alanganin akong tumawa. I clear my throat before I decided to leave the wall.

"I-I'm just looking around." I excused even though I don't look like I was just looking around.

Lumayo ako sa pader at napagpasiyahang umupo sa kama.

I look at Belinda. I instantly notice her bright face–an emotion that I've never seen before from her.

"You're here because you'll join me for lunch?" I happily flash a smile.

Nawala ang ngiti ko ng umiling ito. "Kumain na po ako e, Pasensya na." I pouted and lower my head.

"Pero may good news po ako."

Muling bumalik ang tingin ko sa kanya. I stare at her seeking for answer.

"Umalis po kasi si Mayor, Madam."

"Mayor? Who's that?" Saglit na natigilan si Belinda sa tanong ko. Nag tataka itong tumingin sakin pero agad din nawala.

"Si Mayor po, yung may-ari po ng mansion." Saglit akong napaisip kung sino ang tinutukoy nito. Naalala ko kaagad ang lalaking berde ang mga mata na may nakakairitang ugali.

"Yung green eyes guy ba?"

Tumango-tango si Belinda bilang pag sang-ayon. I rolled my eyes.

"Ano ngayon?" Masungit kong tanong. Naiirita ako kapag naaalala ko ang lalaking iyon. And I never ever this irritated to someone.

"N-Naisip po namin ni Manang na p-pwede po kayong kumain sa may hardin. K-kung ayos–"

"Ayos na ayos!" Agad kong sagot na may kasamang tili. Oh my god! I finally have a chance to see outside!

I stand up and snatch Belinda's hand. She looks at me wide-eyed. "Totoo yan ha? Di mo ko niloloko?" Agad ko siyang niyakap at nag tatatalon nang sunod-sunod itong tumango.

"Thank you so much!" I giggled. I let go from the hug.

"W-Walang anuman po. Sumama na po kayo sa akin at ihahatid ko po kayo sa may hardin." I nod at her still smiling ear to ear.

Belinda started to walk and I was just like a pup tailing her. My smile exceeds when she opens the door.

It looks like that I would have a fun day today. I wish.

"By the way, what's the reason of the Mayor for not being home?" I asked. We continue to walk through the long and wide hallways.

"S-Sabi po ni Manang Cecil, may lunch meeting daw po ang Mayor sa labas."

I nod with a smile. That's a good timing though.

"Who is this Manang Cecil, you're talking about?"

"Makikila niyo din po siya mamaya."

Not long enough, we turn to the right after we reach the kitchens exit door. A lady in her 50's is standing beside a big table with a lot of foods is serve.

Without hesitation, I ran off towards the lady. Gulat itong nakatingin sakin dahil sa biglaang pagtakbo.

"Good noon. You must be Manang Cecil po. Thank you for doing this." I immediately hug her tight to express my gratitude.

I let go from the hug and excitedly clapped my hands because of the foods in the table. Hindi na ako nag alinlangan na umupo at magsandok ng mga pagkain.

I groaned in contentment when I get to eat the first dish I scoop. It's ginisang petchay with sardinas!

"H-Hija." I look at Manang who called. I put down my spoon after taking a bite again. My mouth is full so I gesture my hand for her to talk.

"H-Hindi para sa iyo yung petchay..." Natigilan ako sa pag nguya. Nagtataka ko silang tiningnan na dalawa. Kung hindi para sa akin, bakit nakahain? I pouted.

"...Tira na kasi namin yan ni Belinda, hindi ko natanggal sa lamesa. Nakalimutan ko, pasensya na." I gulped down the food I was chewing before answering her.

"Okay lang po, Manang. Kumakain naman po ako ng kahit ano, kahit tira-tira pa po yun." Nahihintakutan silang nakatitig sa akin nang kumuha pa ulit ako ng isa pang sandok.

I smile at them happily every time that our eyes would meet. Actually, madaming pagkain ang nakahain pero sa ginisang petchay sa sardinas ako palaging kumukuha. Mostly, ordinary filipino dishes are in like fried tilapia, pinakbet, ginisang ampalaya, and many more but the taste is not ordinary.

"Sino po ang nagluto?" I asked before stuffing my mouth with pinakbet this time. Manang shyly look at me.

"A-Ako, H-Hija." Nanlalaki ang mata ko. "Wow, the b-best po ang luto niyo!" I exclaimed even though my mouth is full. I show her a thumbs up.

"S-Salamat. Kumain ka pa. Mukhang gutom na gutom ka eh." I shyly smile before scooping a ginisang ampalaya.

I was humming in happiness because of the foods in my mouth when I heard a sweet and deep voice.

"Manang. I've been calling you–" His voice cut off when our eyes met. For some reason, instead of having an annoy feeling, my heart is thumping like crazy.

And in front of him, I cough like crazy too.