Crossroads [SC SERIES #1]

Kabanata 7: Weekend

[Nhelandrie's POV]

Napalunok akong tumingin sa mukhang niyang nakakunot-noo. Halatang iritado at di ko maiwasang hindi kabahan, lalo pa nung naglakad siya papalapit sa akin.

"I actually forgot to mention that you're allowed to do everything you want if I don't anything to order but don't you even dare entering this room again." Mahinahon ang pagkakasabi niya pero alam ko na sa dulo ng dila niya ay banta iyun.

"W-why?"

"Upstairs is my room. I don't care if you're curious, stay out of this room. Do I make myself clear?"

"Very clear." I answered. Now I understand... but I still can't help not to be curious about it.

Is she hiding something? No, no. Kahit ako, ayaw kong may pumapasok sa kwarto ko cause I needed privacy.

Biglang kong naalala ang pagpasok ni Vice President sa kwarto ko nung nakaraang-araw. She doesn't even know that entering someone's room without permission is actually invading someone's privacy. Could it be na may tinatago talaga siya?

.

My mouth twisted after seeing my Mom's name on the caller ID. Buti naman at naalala niyang buhay pa ako. Nakabuntong-hininga kong sinagot yung tawag niya.

"Hey, Mom." Malumanay na bungad ko.

"It's good to hear my son's voice. How are you doing there?" Paano kaya nagiging kalmado ang ina ko na yung one and only child niya ay titira sa bahay ng iba sa isang buong buwan.

"Ma, ampon lang ba ako?"

"Don't say such silly things, Nhelandrie. This is for your own good and besides, the Vice President is gorgeous. Why don't you try to court her?" My jaw dropped because of the things that keeps coming out from my Mom's voice box.

"Seriously, Mom? I don't even like her." I find her interesting but no, I don't romantically like her. Ewan ko ba kung anu-ano na lang yung pumapasok sa isip ni Mom, parang ewan.

"Diba wala kayong pasok ngayon? Why don't you join us for lunch? Kung gusto mo isama mo yung Vice President."

Saturday nga pala at wala akong maisip na gawin sa buong araw. It's obvious naman na si Vice President ang gagawa ng lahat na gawain dito sa bahay. Ako nga yung slave pero sagana naman ako sa pagkain, damit at iba pa. Feeling ko, imbis na maghirap ako ay lalong naging madali yung buhay ko dito-

"Sa bahay na lang kaya tayo maglunch since I also need your help... Mom." Biglang tumahimik yung kabilang linya. I know that she's puzzled and surprised. It's been so long since the last time I asked her help.

"S-sure. Should I ask your Dad to fetch you?"

"Don't mind. Ako na lang ang pupunta diyan, Mom." I pursed my lips because of the thing that I want my Mom to help me with.

"I guess I'll just see you later?"

"Okay, see you." Pinatay ko na ang tawag bago umupo sa kama ko. It's Saturday and I guess it's a blessing in disguise that Mom called me.

It's already eight in the morning. Ba't naman hindi ako ginising ni Vice? Because it's Saturday? Normally, Mom would wake me up at seven even in weekends or holidays... Well, hindi ko nga naman siya kaanu-ano, ba't naman niya ako gigisingin.

Naligo na ako bago bumaba at
naabutan ko si Vice President na minamop yung sahig. Napalunok ako nung iba ang ayos niya ngayong suot-suot ang kanyang pambahay.

Nakawhite leggings, black sando at magulo ang kanyang buhok. Pawisan siya at panay tulo ng pawis niya mula sa bangs niyang medyo nakalantad.

"Good morning." Napaayos ako ng tayo nung binati niya ako kahit hindi man lang siya tumingin sakin.

"G-good morning. Why are you cleaning up so early?"

"I have to clean the entire house once every week just like what I said last time."

Hindi parin ako makapaniwala na kaya niyang linisin ang buong bahay. To think na hindi lang pala hanggang second floor kundi third floor dahil sa secret staircase na nasa misteryosong kwarto na yun.

"Y-you want me to help?" That's rare. Hindi ako yung tipong tutulong pero parang kinakain ako ng konsensya ko habang nakatingin kay Vice na pawisang patuloy na nagma-mop.

"I'll give you my order if I needed to. Your breakfast is already set in the dining, eat and don't mind me."

My lip curved as I made my way to the dining. She's the most weirdest girl I have ever known.

.

"Hey, can I go out? My Mom wants to see me." Hawak-hawak ko ang dulo ng damit ko habang nagpapaalam sa kanya. Mas nakakakaba siya kesa kay Dad.

"Okay. Seven pm, time curfew."

Heck? Ano ako? Batang-gala? Psh, pero ayos na yun kesa di pinayagan. Para din naman sa kanya yung gagawin ko eh.

"I'll go now."

"Mmm." I heard her hummed. Walang bang 'take care' or 'bye' man lang? Tss.

.

"My son! I missed you so much!" Tumatakbong niyakap ako ni Mom nang mahigpit. I rolled my eyes because of their plasticity. Miss daw pero sa unang linggo kong nawala, naging blooming si Mom.

"Missed you too, Mom. Nakaluto kana ba?" Bumitaw ito sa pagkakayakap sa akin.

"Luluto pa lang. Anong ulam ba yung gusto mo?" I pursed my lip and looked down.

"A-anything will do but can you please... teach me how to cook?"

Bakas ang sorpresa sa mga mata ni Mom nung marinig ang pabor na hinihingi ko sa kanya.

"Do you seriously wanna learn?" Tumango ako.

"Anong pinakain sayo nung Vice President at nag-iba ang pag-iisip mo?" I frowned after hearing my Father's voice from upstairs.

"Nothing, Dad. It's just that I had some... realizations about my life."

Di na sila umimik at nagtungo na kami ni Mom sa kusina, habang tinuturuan ako ni Mom sa paghiwa ng baboy ay kitang-kita ko kung paano niya pigilan ang kanyang mga ngiti. Ganun ba ka-shocking sa kanila ang paghingi ko ng tulong sa pagluluto?

"Try nga natin kung masarap ang Linagang Baboy ng anak ko."

"I didn't cooked it, Mom. Don't be sarcastic." Ngisi ko nung humigop siya ng sabaw.

"Hinay-hinay lang kasi." Sabi ko bago dali-daling kumuha ng tubig nung mukhang napaso ang kanyang dila.

"Thanks-Mmm. Anak."

"Yeah?"

"Ngayon ko lang nanotice, magkamukha pala si Vice President at si-"

"Her name is a jinx. Don't mention it, Mom. Please."

VOTE PLEASE!