Drop in the Ocean (Upper East Side Three)

Chapter Thirty-Eight

38 - Home

Sa gabing iyon, Mischa knocked on my door to tell me that Lolo Cillian visited us here in the country. Kasama niya sina Tito Priam na umuwi.

Mischa told me that Lolo asked us, his family, to have dinner at Kuya Zelos' house with his wife, Ate Avalon.

"Did Lolo talk to you about what happened when you were in New York together?" Mischa asked as we started fixing ourselves for the dinner later.

I shook my head. "No. Maybe he felt that I was still not ready to back then." I answered.

"And you're ready now?" Tanong niya.

I shrugged my shoulders. "Maybe? If he will talk about it with me later, I know I need to be ready if ever. So I feel like I am ready."

Ngumiti siya sa sagot ko. "Well... I know that even though without hearing their sides, I am very sure that you have your decision now. Just know that whatever you decided, I know that it will make you happy... 'Yon naman ang importante."

Niyakap ko si Mischa nang mahigpit habang nakaupo kami dito sa kama ko at kasalukuyang nag-aayos.

"Thank you so much, Mischa. For never leaving my side when they chose to turn their backs on me. Thank you for comforting me always and for saving me in many ways that you can. You have helped me through those tough times and I knew that I couldn't do it if it wasn't for you being there with me. I will always be grateful for the things you did and will do for me... Thank you, Mischa. I love you."

"I am also thankful for you, Kaela. Thank you for teaching me to hope, to dream, and to become stronger. Thank you for staying and thank you for moving forward... I love you too, Kaela."

Naiyak ako sa sinabi ni Mischa. Looking back to what had happened before, I knew that He sent Mischa to me to make me feel that He is with me even though I can't see Him. That because of Mischa, I am still here standing in front of her to say my gratitude for that significant thing that she did for me.

Tinampal niya ang braso. "Huwag kang nagpapaiyak! Mamaya mahalata nilang umiyak tayo tapos sasabihin na naman nilang nag-away tayo." We laughed with her statement. "Alam mo namang kilala na nila tayo simula bata na away-bati, tapos maabutan tayong maga ang mata dahil sa iyak! Kaela naman!"

"Okay! Okay! I'll stop now. Ang arte arte mo, Mischa Amayli!" Tumayo na ako sa kama at nagsimulang lagyan na ng minimal make-up ang mukha ko para makaalis na kami maya-maya.

I drove Mischa and me to Kuya Zelos' house. I tried calling Kuya Knoa and telling him about this even though I know he already knows about it. Pero nang sagutin niya ang tawag ko ay may importante raw siyang gagawin kaya hindi siya makakapunta.

"Lolo." Bati ko sa kanya at nagmano. He smiled at me and looked behind me. Nauna nang nagpaalam si Mischa kanina kay Lolo at ako ang naiwan sa kanya dito nang makapasaok kami sa mansyon.

"Where's your Kuya Knoa?" Tanong niya sa akin.

I shook my head. "He said that he got important things to do, Lolo, that's he can't go here."

Tumagal ang titig ni Lolo sa akin saka dahan-dahang tumango na parang naintindihan ang sinabi ko. He glanced once again at my back as if waiting for someone that will never come before looking at me.

"Let's go there, hija." Sambit niya at sinamahan ko siyang lumakad sa may living room at nakita ang iba kong mga pinsan na nandoon.

Nagsalo-salo kami sa malawak na hapag. My guy cousins, including Tito Priam, Kuya Cadence, and Kuya Ivo, talked to Lolo about business, as usual. They also involved us, girls, about it since we were already working. Napag-usapan din ang plano nila Ate Isley at Kuya Cadence tungkol sa kasal nila. Si Kuya Knoa lang ang wala dito...