HIS #2: Availing The Odds (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 3

Kabanata 3:
Orphanage

Threscia Alessandra's Point of View

"34, 096. 25 pesos po, Ma'am," my thoughts were clouded when the cashier spoke. I heaved a deep sigh and handed the black card that Grant gave. Tinanggap naman iyon ng cashier at agad na sw-in-ipe sa credit card machine. 

Nang matapos ay binigay niya iyon sa akin kaya tinanggap ko at nilagay sa loob ng bag ko. Sumulyap ako sa sampung karton na naglalaman ng groceries nila Tita.

Kinuha ko ang card number ko sa bag at tinungo ang baggage counter para kunin 'yong paper bag. Nang makuha ko ito ay nagpasalamat ako at lumabas. Pagkalabas ko ay nakita ko agad ang groceries kaya lumapit ako roon. 

"Tawag po ba ako ng sasakyan, Ma'am?" Tanong ng kargador. Ngumiti lang ako at umiling sa kaniya.

"Don't bother po, I have my driver to pick me up," tugon ko na ikinatango niya. Aalis na sana siya ngunit pinigilan ko siya sa paraan ng pagsasalita ko.

"Can I ask a favor? Kindly send these to Yuan's Mansion," I spoke. 

"Sige po, Ma'am. Pa- fill - out na lang po sa counter," magalang na tugon nito na ikinatango ko lang. Iginiya niya ako sa loob at binigyan ng isang form. I immediately filled them out and gave it to the cashier. 

I also paid for its delivery fee. When the process is done, I sent Tita Tiffany a text that I asked Savemore's staff to deliver the goods to their mansion. I heaved a deep sigh and was about to sit on the bench to wait for Grant when my phone beeped. 

From Grant:

Where are you?

Hindi ko naman maiwasan ang hindi mapangiti nang mabasa ko ang text niya. Is he worried about me? Should I throw a party because of it? Napailing na lang ako at nakangiti akong umupo sa bench at in-unlocked ang phone ko para maka-reply sa kaniya.

To Grant:

I'm still here and I will wait for you.

I replied and waited for him to reply back. 

From Grant:

Don't wait for me, Threscia. 

Hindi ko alam kung ano ang tinutukoy niya pero siguro ang gusto niyang iparating sa akin ay huwag ko na siyang hintayin ngayon. Well, kahit naman sabihin niya sa akin na huwag ko na siyang hihintayin ay maghihintay pa rin ako sa kaniya.

I'm just waiting for them to split up. 

To Grant:

Alright. I'm going to enjoy this day. I'm going to visit my family's orphanage.

From Grant:

Okay. 

Nawala naman ang ngiti ko dahil sa reply niya. Bumuntong-hininga ako at naiinis kong ni-locked ang phone ko. Nilagay ko iyon sa bag ko at tumayo. Inayos ko muna ang sarili ko bago tinawagan ang driver ko na si Kuya Lars para sunduin ako rito sa Savemore. 

I decided to visit my family's orphanage today. Besides, I'm free all day so I have time to play with the kids. It was 20 years ago when my parents built an orphanage for the orphans and homeless. 

Dad's a senator but even without his job, he will still help some people as long as he can. While my Mom, she was also an active volunteer in an orphanage before and that's when they first met before they dated.  

And when they got married, they built an orphanage to help orphans and homeless people. 

Hindi naman nagtagal ay may huminto na isang itim na Lamborghini sa tapat ko. Bumaba mula roon si Kuya Lars at pinagbuksan ako ng pinto ng kotse. Nagpasalamat ako sa kaniya at tahimik na pumasok sa loob.