Scandalous Affair: Atlas Mate

37

O L I V I A   V A L E Z

The magnificent golden sun awoke early morning and began transforming the deep black heavens into a beautiful clear sky. The brightly colored milky clouds awoke from their slumber and started traveling around the horizon and savoring the beautiful scenery outside my window. It was an excellent morning to start the day. I think I could do anything today perfectly.

Feeling motivated and all, I went out of my room. I was rooted on my place when I bumped into my dad, who was wiping his reddish lips. Why were his lips recently so red? Was my dad using something on his lips? I want mine to be reddish, too, not just pinkish. Anyway, bakit ang aga niya yata? Wala pang one week, e.  Ang bilis naman niyang natapos ang agenda niya do'n. I was so ready to do all the works pa naman na.

"You're back earlier than expected, dad," I stated the obvious.

Dad swiped his lips swiftly without looking at me, "I've troubleshot the problem so it wouldn't expand."

"That's good. I'll send the approved and other paperwork later to you, or would you want me to finish all the pending paperwork first?" 

Dad wasn't still looking at me, making me confused and worried. May nangyari ba sa work? Pero sabi niya okay na naman daw? Kaya nga siya naka-uwi na nang maaga, e. But why couldn't he look at me? Ganito lang naman siya if my problem siya o may hindi siya sinasabi sa akin. Kung mayroon naman siyang hindi sinasabi, ano naman kaya 'yon?

Dad sighed, "I'm kinda tired. Let's talk later on breakfast, Darling. I'll take a nap first."

"Yeah, you do look like someone who needed a nap."

I prepared myself to work, and since my day started majestically fine, I was even humming as I took a bath. Pagkatapos kong mamili ng aking susuotin, ay kinuha ko ang cellphone kong nasa bed side table ko. I texted Prim about my upcoming birthday. Invited silang family, but usually, only the three children of Donovan would always attend. Hindi ko alam kung bakit hindi sumasama ang mga magulang nila. I never asked Prim because I didn't want to press on sensitive things.

I also checked my email for urgent and important business that should be done. And so far, wala naman akong natatanggap na i-ka-ka-stress ko. Lahat naman ay for follow up na lang. Malawak ang ngiti kong lumabas sa aking kwarto, all dress and prepared for work. Pagkababa ko ay naka-upo na si dad sa kaniyang pwesto sa dining table. Fresh at mukhang hindi na stress ang itsura niya compare kanina. I smiled at him and kissed his cheeks, na hindi ko nagawa kanina.

I settled on my sit, "Tessa," tawag ko sa pinakabatang katulong namin.

"Yes po, Ma'am?"

"Kindly call Liberty for breakfast."

"Ay, hindi pa po bumabalik simula kanina, e."

My forehead knitted, and so does my dad's.

"Where did she go?"

Umiling na lamang ito bilang pagsagot sa aking tanong. I looked at my watch and see that it was our usual time for breakfast. Madalas ay gising na siya nito o 'di kaya ay nakabalik na from her morning exercise. Another thirty minutes went by, but still no Liberty Kings showed up. Parang hindi na ako mapakali sa aking upuan. I was getting worried about her, at mukhang nahawaan pa ng relentlessness ko si Dad. Pati siya ay nakakunot na ang nuo at hindi magtigil ang paa ka-ta-tap sa sahig.

She was living with us. Of course, we are held liable for everything that would happen to her. At isa pa, Liberty wasn't just nobody. She was my best friend. I didn't want anything wrong to happen to her. Another painful minute had passed, and thankfully! Inuluwa nang aming pintuan si Liberty, but she wasn't alone. Lahat ng emotion sa puso ko ay parang kumawala sa katawan ko. I went so still when I saw how Atlas was holding her.