Losing Her

Chapter 32: Coming Home

LORREINE'S POV

Another month quickly passed and nandito ako ngayon sa bahay ni Tita Irene. We are preparing dinner dahil ngayon daw ang uwi ni Tito Greggy. Finally, may makakasama na si Tita kahit papaano.

"Reine, paki-abot naman ako ng cookie jar, tapos na to." She shouted from the kitchen.

"Coming Tita!" Nilapag ko na yung frames na binili ko dito sa sala para maayos ni Nanay Sonya then dumiretso na ko sa kitchen.

"Here po." I handed Tita the cookie jar.

"Dito ka na kaya mag-dinner? Sabayan mo kami ni Tito Greggy mo." Tita Irene smiled sweetly.

I missed that smile.

Nito kasing nakalipas na buwan masyado na syang malungkot. Hindi ko na sya maaya lumabas and hindi ko na rin sya mapatawa kahit fake laugh lang. Napapayag ko naman sya na ako na lang maging driver niya dahil may trauma na sya in driving pero always office-bahay lang destination namin.

Nagka-trauma si Tita sa pagd-drive dahil dun sa nangyari nung nagpass out sya on the middle of the road. Yun yung day na umalis si Celestine papuntang London. Everytime na masyadong bright yung headlight ng kasalubong na sasakyan, nagpa-panic attack si Tita and halos hindi sya makahinga. Since then, ako na ang naging driver nya and lagi na syang sa likod ng sasakyan nakaupo para hindi niya directly nakikita yung headlight ng ibang kotse.

"Huy, matunaw naman ako nyan." She joked.

Hindi ko napansin na ang tagal ko palang nakatitig lang sa ngiti niya.

"I'm sorry Tita. As much as I want to join you and Tito Greggy, ngayon din po kasi ang uwi ni Mommy from UK. May dinner din po kami mamaya." I politely declined.

"Oh pauwi na pala si Vann. Tell her naman to come by my office minsan para mapag-usapan na yung launching nung project namin." She excitedly said.

Iba talaga epekto ni Tito Greggy sa babae na'to. From an ice-cold tahimik na singkit naging excited na crinkles. I laughed on my thoughts.

"Tumatawa ka dyan?" She raised her brow. Masungit na crinkles na sya ngayon.

"Eh kasi naman Tita, ang dami mong powedered sugar sa mukha. Kailan mo pa pinangarap maging crinkles?" I laughed so hard.

"Ayos kang bata ka ah!" She wiped her face with a clean towel.

"Ako na Ta." I took the towel and continued wiping her face. I took another towel and pinunasan ko na rin yung pawis niya sa may batok.

"Take a bath na Tita, para okay ka na pagdating ni Tito. I'll go ahead na din po. Magp-prepare pa rin ako para sa dinner namin nila Mom." I handed her the towel.

"Okay. Thank you, Reine." She sincerely said.

"I'll go ahead na po." I walked out of the kitchen.

"Nay I'll go ahead na po. Call me agad po if may need pa sila Tita." Bilin ko kay Nanay Sonya saka ako umalis.

Nag-drive muna ako papuntang BGC to buy something as a welcome home gift for mom then saka ako dumiretso pauwi.

I took a shower and prepared myself tapos nag-drive na ako ulit papuntang Shangri-La Manila. Malapit lang naman yun dito sa Grand Hyatt. Dito muna ako nakatuloy dahil wala naman akong kasama sa bahay.

"Good evening Ma'am welcome po." The staff greeted me.

"Reservation for Arthur Reyes." I mentioned Dad's name.

The staff led me to where Mom is sitting. I wonder where is Dad.

"Hi Mom!" I greeted.

"Hi Lorreine, take a sit. Are you with your Dad na?" She asked.

"Uhm nope. Akala ko po kasama niyo na. Anyways, here's my welcome home gift." I handed her a bag I bought from katutubo pop-up.

"Thank you sweetheart. Let's order na. Are you hungry na ba? What time is it?" She asked me.

"No need to order Vann, kasama na yun sa reservation ko." Dad took his sit.

"Hi Dad." I greeted.

"And to answer your question, it's already 8:00 PM" He smiled at us.

"So Lorreine, what's your plan? Your test for the acceleration is malapit na. Have you been reviewing." He asked.

I totally forget about that. Sobrang busy ko being with Tita Irene and nalimutan kong may acceleration exam pa ako para 4th year na ako this incoming school year. I'm currently a 2nd year.

"Y-yes dad. I have." I lied.

"Pero sabi ni Earl hindi ka daw uma-attend ng review center. Saan ka nagre-review?" Our orders came.

"Self review Dad." I smiled.

"Hmm, make sure you are doing well anak ha. We don't want you to fail this one. We want what's best for you." Mom held my hand.

I am about to eat na when my phone vibrated. Someone's calling.

Nanay Sonya calling...

"Hello Nay bakit po?" I answered right away. Mom and Dad looked at me.

"Punta ka dito anak, hindi ko alam ang gagawin sa Tita Irene mo, hindi sya makahinga." Kinakabahang sagot niya.

"P-po? Eh si Tito po, akala ko uwi sya ngayon? Wait po I'm on my way." I stood up.

"Anak sit down, where are you going?" Pigil sakin ni Mommy nang paalis na ako.

"Mom, I need to go. Emergency lang. Wag niyo na po akong hintayin. Bye. I love you." I kissed her cheeks and Dad's too then lumabas na ako at nagmadaling mag-drive.