Nocturnal (Ability Series #1)

CHAPTER 45

NOCTURNAL - NEGLECT

"You live here?"

"Uh, yes."

"What a coincidence!"

What a coincidence indeed. I never expected to see him again right after Franco's birthday party but here he is right now, standing tall outside of our main door, wearing a black suit while carrying a small luggage with him.

"Magkakilala kayo? Kilala mo siya, Brooke?" I understand Ate Ria's confusion but honestly, I have no desire of telling her that I met this guy at the resort owned by Mr. Martinez.

We stared at each other without breaking eye contact. Now that I've seen him up close, his face resembles someone that I know. How strange. The name is already at the tip of my tongue but I can't seem to utter it out.

"Nakakaistorbo ba ako? Pasensya na pero kanina pa kasi ako naliligaw at hindi ko mahanap ang bahay nila Francesca. She's known here for her nickname— Frankie. Iyon daw ang sabihin kong pangalan kapag mag-tatanong daw ako ng direksyon papunta sa kanila." Said him as he timidly scratches his nape.

Oh. He's looking for Ate Frankie. I've been at their house before when Xylem requested me to try on my outfits for our previous photo shoot. I can take him there but it's already 7:00 PM. Ate Ria will definitely forbid me to go outside with a complete stranger.

"If you understood Ate Ria's instructions then that will lead you to their house." I responded.

Madilim na at may naaaninag akong pulang sasakyan sa may labas ng aming gate. Sa kaniya siguro iyon. Nilingon ko si Ate Ria na natahimik na sa aking tabi.

"Oo, naintindihan ko naman pero hindi ako makapaniwalang dito ka nakatira." Namamangha niyang sambit habang pasimpleng tinititigan ang loob ng aming bahay.

Is living here weird?

"Yeah, I do live here. Got a problem with that?"

He shook his head. "Wala naman. Naalala ko kasi na dito rin nakatira si Tita Feli."

Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. Nilingon ko ulit si Ate Ria na naguluhan din yata sa kaniyang narinig mula kay Joaquin. Tita Feli? Who is that? My mom? He knows my mom?

"You know my Mom?" I am aware that it's not impossible for him to know my Mom because he did say to me before that Mr. Martinez is his Uncle.

His eyes widened a bit as he started scanning my bare face. I suppose he's wondering if Felicity is my biological mother. I do get that a lot, though. Mom's friends used to say that we looked like sisters when I was 14 years old. Despite my age, me being on the same height as her gives them ideas that the relationship we have is sister and sister not mother and daughter.

I felt Ate Ria's hands touching my elbow, pulling me towards her. Joaquin noticed her action so he immediately cleared his throat and averted his gaze from me.

"Sorry. I got carried away. You look just like Tita Feli. There's no doubt that you're her daughter. My Dad and I used to visit here on vacations and he would meet all of his high school friends who studied in Oliveros High School where most of their children are presently enrolled." He replied which made me drawn in confusion.

His Dad and him used to visit here? So does that mean Mom knows his Dad and they're friends? Plus, they have other friends and I bet Mr. Martinez is one of them. What is the meaning of this?

Umiling ako dahil sa mga impormasyon na pumapasok sa loob ng aking isipan. Kaya siguro nagkakilala si Mom at Mr. Martinez dahil magkaibigan sila ngunit nabanggit no'ng tricycle driver na nasakyan ko noong pumunta ako sa bahay nila Xylem na nag-aral sa private school si Mr. Martinez at hindi sila magkaklase. Dahil ba sa Dad ni Joaquin kaya naging malapit si Mom sa lalaking iyon?