The Untold story of Estrella

Lima

12/20/2021
Before starting this chapter I would like to take tribute/appreciation to all the people in Cebu and other areas in the visayas and mindanao who are deeply affected by typhoon Odette that are still going on with their life. I know the catastrophic and devastating effects the typhoon has brought to people since I experienced it first hand. It was hard at first, with drinking water being sold over priced , no signal to contact love ones and the "as if" running out of gasoline. I salute you all for facing the typhoon head on, the smiling faces plastered and hope not burning out.

Kayanon ra ni nato tanan!
PUHON ma balik ra ang tanan!

Ikalimang Kabanata

"Ito ang lalaking nakita ko sa hardin ina" I said out of nowhere dahilan upang napapikit siguro si Emil na nasa harapan ko.

"Estrella? Ikaw ba ay may sinasabi?" ika ni Ina.
Napatikhim ako dahil sa pagkaka-alala kung ano ang maaring mangyari kung sasabihin ko iyon. "Ah wala po ina. Ako lamang ay nagpapahayag ng aking pagkagalak na makilala si Ginoong Emil." sarkastiko kong sabi at ngiti.

I intend for them to notice how 'grateful' I am to see his face in my party.

"Sadyang pagkagalak nga ang ipinapakita ni Binibining Estrella saakin. Labis ko itong nararamdaman." ngiti ring sabi saakin ni Emil na ramdam na ramdam mo ang pagpipilit na hindi paghahalata sa hindi pagkaunawaan naming dalawa.

"Sa inaasal nilang dalawa Mathilda hindi maikakaila na ang hinaharap ay magiging interesado" matamis na ngiti ni Señora Amilia. Tinugon ito ng ngiti ni Ina at sinabing "Tan-awon lang niya nato." (We shall see)

Hindi kalaunan ay iniwan nila kami ni Emil sa hapagkainan. I resume eating my Inatayan at bumalik na rin si Elluna galing sa hindi ko alam kung saan.

Hinila niya ang kanyang upuan at tumabi saakin. Tumingin siya sa lalaking nasa harapan ko na kumakain din. "Magandang gabi ginoo" Elluna said while bowing her head. I'm guessing hindi niya pa kilala si Emil. Huminto sa pagkain si Emil at tumingin kay Elluna at ngumiti. "Magandang Gabi rin sa iyo Binibini" Elluna smiled in response. She got closer to me and whispered. "Kilala mo ba siya?" tanong niya saakin. I signaled her to wait since my mouth is still chewing the inatayan and rice. I swallowed it ang started to talk. "Oo, ipinakilala siya saakin— at sa iyo sana kung hindi ka umalis— kanina ni Ina." I answered her and then put a food into my mouth.

She took a rice and a liver and before putting into her mouth she look at me. "Ano ang pangalan?" tanong niya saakin na nakapag paisa ng kilay saakin. I put down my spoon and then look at her back and playfully smiled at her. She look at me with a confusing look. "Bakit? Gusto mo siya?" mahina kong bulong sakanya, teasingly wiggled my eyebrows. Nag abot ang mga kilay niya and put a spoonful of what she scooped earlier. I didn't bother teasing her anymore dahil baka kurutin ako dahil feel ko may something sila ni Chrisanto.

"Estrella, kailan ka pa naging madaldal? Tila ba ikaw ay nagbago?" tanong niya saakin habang tinatabi sa gilid ang pinagdikit niyang kobyertos na ginamit. Napahinto ako sa pag scoop. "At kailan ka pa naging pala tanong Ate Elluna?" sagot ko sakanya at umisa ang kilay. She smiled at me funny, mischievously?

TAPOS na kami kumain lahat kaya bumalik na kami sa living room. It seems like people here doesn't care about literally just finishing their meal because they resumed dancing. At first I am confused but I just look at Elluna and seems like she's not surprised at all.

Nakatayo ako sa gitna nila Kuya Uncielo at Elluna. They look like my personal bodyguards. Which is funny. Hindi pinaunlakan ni Elluna ang mga taong gusto siyang isayaw. Hindi naman gustong sumayaw ni Kuya Uncielo for unknown reason.