Nagising ako sa ingay ng tunog ng cellphone. It was ringing. Umupo ako para kunin 'yon and saw it was not mine but Dale's. I looked at him beside me at ginising siya. He reached for it and answered immediately without looking at the caller.
"Hello?.... Rhian? Yeah, nasa Batangas... You're here?.... Of course, you can... Yes.. see you later... Bye," he said and look at his phone smiling. Who's Rhian by the way?
Iniwan ko si Dale sa kwarto niya. Nang makatapos siyang makipag-usap sa Rhian na 'yon ay agad siyang tumayo at nagpunta sa banyo.
Nang makababa ako ay agad na hinanap ko si Zeleina. They're having breakfast. Agad na umupo ako sa tabi niya at nag-agahan na din.
"Where's Dale?" Tita asked.
"Ah he's taking a bath po tita. I think he's going to leave," I answered.
"Saan naman kaya siya pupunta?" Tita asked again.
"Someone called, Rhian," I answered again.
"Ow Rhian. Nandito na pala siya," sabi ni tita na nagpakunot ng noo ko. Ibig sabihin kilala din ni tita si Rhian.
"Yes mom. I saw her sa park kahapon and I think I told her na nandito sina kuya. She asked for his number, siguro ay magkikita sila or maybe pupunta dito si ate Rhian. I'm not sure," Summer said na lalong gumulo sa akin.
Is she a family friend, neighbor or what?
"Rhian? You mean our childhood friend?" Joshua suddenly asked. Childhood friend it is.
"Yes! Siya nga kuya Joshua. Kararating lang niya from Canada. She's so beautiful and a little bit of a bitch," ani Summer na natatawa.
"Why? What did she do this time?" Thunder asked.
"Nothing naman. You'll see when you see her. I'm not sure but I think pupunta siya dito," so she'll be here. I think I need to get ready para pumunta sa branch ng resto namin. Nang bigla ay marinig namin ang doorbell.
Binuksan naman agad ito ni manang. Ilang sandali lang nang marinig namin ang takong ng suot niyang heels. That must be her, Rhian.
She's beautiful pero mas maganda ako. Matangkad lang dahil mataas ang takong na suot pero pandak talaga siya. Mas matangkad ako. Hmmm. Why do I care? Bahala siya sa buhay niya.
Isa-isa niyang nilapitan sina tita paikot hanggang sa umabot sa akin.
"Who is she tita?" She asked while intently looking at me. Iba talaga ang pakiramdam ko sa babaeng 'to.
"And this cute little girl," tanong niya nang mabaling ang tingin kay Zeleina.
"She's Zeleina, anak ni Dale at Louise," agad na sagot naman tita na nakangiti.
"Ow, I wasn't informed Dale's married," bakit naman kaya kailangan mo pang malaman?
"Oh no, honey. Hindi pa sila kasal," pahayag ni tita.
"That's interesting. Maybe he's waiting for me," natatawang saad ni Rhian pero sa totoo lang hindi naman nakakatawa. Ramdam ko ang paglingon nilang lahat sa akin na hindi ko na lang pinansin.
Narinig ko na tumutunog ang cellphone ko, so I excused myself. Mabuti na lang pala at nadala ko ang cellphone ko pababa.
Nakasalubong ko si Dale nang palabas ako sa dining area at binati pa ako ng good morning. He's really in good mood. Dahil ba sa babaeng kausap niya kanina na ngayon ay nasa hapag-kainan na? She must be someone. Someone special to him para maging ganito ang mood niya.
BINABASA MO ANG
His Sweet Little Secret
Storie d'amoreIn a short span of time Dale fell in love with Louise: the girl who's been into him for years. She was hired as his PA and after knowing she's a good chef, he hired Louise to cook for him. Dale was in a relationship that time and being with Louise...