Crossroads [SC SERIES #1]

Kabanata 8: Nagluluto Siya

[Nhelandrie's POV]

Nakatikom ang bibig ni Mommy habang kumakain kami. Parang napawi din good mood ko when she was about to call out her name. I hate it when someone would start a conversation about her especially our friends... that are now long gone.

"Ako na." Tumayo si Dad nung may nagdoorbell. Sino kaya yun?

"Mom, did you guys invited someone?"

"Of course we didn't. This is a family day, just the three of us." She continued eating and seemed not to be curious kung sino man ang bisitang dumating.

"Ikaw pala. Sige, tuloy ka." I turned my head around to see who it is and my eyebrows raised nung hindi ko kakilala iyun.

It was a girl, around my age, I'm not quite sure. She's wearing a purple bonet, thick sweater, croptop, baggy jeans and a cool street-style snickers. I could tell she's boyish base on her outfit.

She also have the looks... natural looks. She's not wearing any makeup just like the Vice President. She has a deep dimple na konting galaw lang ng labi niya ay kitang-kita na ito. Thin pinkish lips, innocent asian eyes but her skin is kinda pale.

"Mex, he's my son by the way, Nhelandrie is his name." She waved her hand at me and smiled, so I smiled back... an awkward one.

"Oh, Mexie, naparito ka? Come, join us. Tikman mo luto ng anak ko." Dali-daling kumuha si Mom ng isa pang pinggan para kay Mex? Mexie?

"Oh, don't mind, Tita. I just came by to tell Tito that Dad wants to... you know." She winked at Dad and made an action like she was drinking something.

I guess gusto ng Daddy niya na yayain si Dad para uminom ng beer mamaya.

"Okay, tell him that I'll just wait him here."

"Mexie, are you sure na ayaw mong sumabay samin? Come, madami pang ulam at kanin."

"No, but thanks, Tita, sa pagyaya but I really need to go back. I got to go, bye!" Tipid itong ngumiti kay Mom bago tumalikod at akmang aalis na nung may pahabol na binilin sa kanya si Dad.

"Tell your Dad that I'll bring another head!"

"Sure, Tito. See you later! Nice meeting you, Nhelandrie!"

"Likewise." Mahinang sagot ko pero alam kong hindi niya yun narinig. Nung makaalis na siya ay agad kong sinimangutan si Dad.

"What?"

"I'm not in the mood to drink, Dad. Besides, I need to be back early." Puno ng pangongontra kong sabi bago nagpatuloy sa pagkain.

"Are you sure?" My Dad asked and I instantly nodded.

.

"What the?" Laglag-balikat kong pinagmamasdan ang bahay ni Vice-President na nakalock na ang pinto.

Tiningnan ko ang oras sa cellphone ko at nakitang malapit nang mag-alas otso.

Hayst, Dad naman kasi eh!

Nakapatay na ang lahat ng ilaw at ayokong disturbuhin ang tulog niya, knowing na buong araw siyang naglinis.

Tangina, san ako nito matutulog?

.

[Third Person's POV]

Klare woke up when she suddenly felt like something is not right. Dali-dali nitong tinali ang kanyang buhok at naghilamos bago bumaba ng kanyang kwarto.

Dinig na dinig niya ang mga kumakalas mula sa kusina. Napabuntong-hininga siya nung makitang nakabukas ang ilaw sa kusina at dining.

"Ba't ngayon pa?" Bulong niya bago kumuha ng hunter knife na palagi niyang tinatago sa ilalim ng sofa.

Maingat siyang naglakad papunta sa kusina ng walang kahit anong tunog. She was ready for anything that would happen.

Ihahagis niya na sana ang hunter knife sa impostor na pumasok sa kanyang bahay ngunit natigilan siya at mabilis na inipit ang kanyang sandata sa pajamas niya nung si Nhelandrie lang iyun.

"What the heck are you doing here?!" Napatalon si Nhelandrie sa gulat nung marinig ang malakas na sigaw ng Vice President.

Gulat na gulat niya itong tiningnan nung makitang nasa loob na pala ito ng kusina. Alam niyang galit ito base sa tono ng boses niya kahit walang emosyong pinapakita ang kanyang mga mata.

"Wait. Did I disturbed your sleep? I'm really sorry for touching your things..."

"You didn't answer me. Let me ask you again, what are you doing here?"

[Nhelandrie's POV]

Tinikom ko ang aking bibig nung maalala kung paano ako lumusot sa bintana ng kusina para lang makapasok.

"I was clear when I said that you have a curfew. You even agreed."

"Nagyaya kasi si Dad na uminom. Tagal din kaming di nagkita at nahihiya akong tumanggi especially sa kaibigan ni Dad na bagong lipat sa amin." Nakakamot sa ulong paliwanag ko.

Napalunok ako at umatras nung bigla na lang siyang lumapit sa akin. Yung likod ko tumama na sa counter.

"A disciplined person knows his priorities. No excuse is needed."

I was stunned by what she said. Her eyes was so focus on mine na parang sinesermunan niya ako sa isip niya. She's right, my excuse is not valid enough. Sana di na ako nagpapilit kay Dad.

"I'm sorry." I apologize and looked away. I'm sincere, it's just that, wala talaga sa personalidad ko na mag-sorry kahit alam kong mali ako pero kasi... ayokong magalit pa siya.

"What's done is in the past now. Just don't repeat the same mistake." Parang binunutan naman ako ng tinik nung nagrelax ang gilid ng mga mata niya.

"But you need to sleep outside for not following my order, Mr. Aguilar."

"I can manage that." Matapang na sagot ko na naging dahilan ng pagtaas ng kanyang kilay.

"I mean outside of the house. No blanket, no pillow. You'll be sleeping overnight on the side of the street." Parang nalaglag naman ang panga ko sa sinabi. Seriously, she can manage to punish me like that?

"I cooked some breakfast. Isn't that enough to lift my punishment?" Ngumiti ako sa kanya na may konting hesitation.

Tumaas ang magkabilang kilay niya at bumaba ang tingin sa suot kong apron na parang ngayon niya lang narealize ang pinagkakaabalahan ko.

"Why did you cooked?" Magkasalubong ang kilay siyang tumangla sa akin.

"Wait. Aren't you happy that I cooked breakfast for you?" I was disappointed that she's not happy at all.

"Mr. Aguilar, I know that you don't know how to cook..." Nagtataka ko siyang tiningnan nung hinawakan niya ang pulupulsuhan ko.

"... It's a good thing that you didn't burn yourself."

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