Babysitting The Merman

Chapter 22

Kaagaw

Wavy and lush long hair. Sturdy eyebrows, dark eyeshadow, artistic eyeliner, pinkish cheeks and red lips. Red spaghetti dress and black shoes with heels are all set. Napangisi si Brianna nang matapos niyang pagmasdan ang sariling reflection habang nakatitig sa whole body mirror na nasa loob ng banyo ng kwarto niya.

Siya na mismo ang hindi makapaniwala sa gandang tinataglay niya. Even she herself was inevitably amazed at her having a mystical beauty. Kaya naman marami siyang manliligaw, liban sa pagiging mayaman at edukada ay maganda rin siya at ganoon rin ang kanyang katawan. Hindi na nakakapagtaka kung halos lahat ng lalaki ay naghahabol sa kanya. She has everything a man wants.

Malapad ang pagkakangiti niya nang lumabas siya sa kwarto niya. Patungo siya ngayon sa kusina para mag-almusal, and after breakfast she would leave for the restaurant that her boyfriend Erick had set up. Marami pa silang kailangang asikasuhin lalo pa't kabubukas pa lamang ng restaurant. This day will definitely be busy again for the two of them.

Speaking of Erick, bigla siyang nakaramdam ng pagkapikon. Gradually, Erick's true color came out. From kind, gentlemen and sweet into fiery, rude and boring men. Hindi niya nga malaman sa kanyang sarili kung bakit niya ba pinatulan ang lalaking iyon. At kung ano man ang mayroon sila ngayon is for business only. Tila nagsisisi siya na pinatulan niya ang gagong lalaki na iyon, not that she regrets what she did to Agnes but that she regrets is that she gave herself up to someone like Erick who was rude. Annoying!

"Good morning, daughter."   her Mom greeted her.

Huminto siya sa tapat tapat ng bintana sa sala.

"Morning, has the poor woman prepared my breakfast already?"

"Huwag ako ang tanungin mo. Ang mabuti pa ay tignan mo nalang kung may naihanda ng pagkain ang hampas lupang si Agnes."

"Yeah, right."   tugon niya at maglalakad na sana patungong kusina ngunit natigilan siya nang mapatingin sa labas through the tinted glass window.

She saw a muscular man turning his back on her. He's holding garden shears and is cutting leaves. Nakatalikod man ang lalaki ay masasabi niyang mayroon itong matipunong likod, matambok na puwet, maskuladong mga binti at may matikas na tindig. Even though she didn't know that man, she couldn't help herself to marvel at that man.

"Who is that guy?"   she asked her mother while still staring at the man outside.

"Bagong trabahador."

"New worker? Ang akala ko ba ay mayroon na tayong hardinero?"

"Well, it's gone now. I kicked our old gardener out to let that man in."

"Ano? Pinatalsik mo si Mang Dencio na hardinero natin for almost 5 years para lang sa lalaking iyan?"   pinakatitigan niya ang lalaki.

"Who is that man for you to give special treatment?"   tinignan niya ang kausap.

"You will not believe what I found out."   ngumisi ito sa kanya at tinaasan naman niya ng kilay ang sariling ina.

"Kasal na si Agnes at ang lalaking iyan ang asawa niya."

"What?"   nanlalaki ang mga mata napatingin muli siya sa gawi ng lalaki.

Is this some kind of joke?!

"Yes, and that is true."

"How? It's too impossible. Kahit yata isang daga ay hindi papatol sa Agnes na iyan. I mean, she's beautiful but she is poor, did not graduate and she has no family."

"Of course, malandi iyang si Agnes kaya isang bukaka niya lang may lalaki na agad iyan. Isang kembot niya lang may nabingwit na. Parang iyong ina niya, I still remember how Agnes's mom attracted your dad. Mag-inang malandi."   napapa-iling na tila inaalala nito ang nakaraan.