ENEMY'S PROPERTY | ES:2

Kabanata 26

ENEMY'S PROPERTY
Kabanata 26
''Grandfather''

School has already started again, and it's our last semester. We are all graduating, so we have become really busy.

Lukas and I, along with Rona, Peter, and Terrence, are all in the same block again. We were just groupmates last year, but we have become friends and have remained so until now. Madalas pa ring may sariling mundo ang magkasintahan pero sumasama naman sila sa'min. But most of the time, it's really Lukas and I who are almost always together.

''Kumakain na, Kuya.''

Nahinto ko ang pagsubo nang marinig iyon. Isang beses lamang akong sinulyapan ni Lukas bago ibinalik ang tuon sa kausap. I didn't even notice that he was on his phone. Pareho kaming sobrang gutom dahil late na nakapag-lunch. Nagpatuloy na lamang ako sa pagkain.

Kuya . . . he's talking to Carlos. Wala namang ibang tinatawag si Lukas na kuya bukod sa kanya.

"Yeah, sorry, I didn't notice the time . . . I know it's already past lunch. She's busy eating, so please don't disturb her . . . Alright, bye."

I took my phone out of my bag, and I saw a message from Carlos. He told me where he was and reminded me not to skip lunch. I wasn't able to reply because I was too busy. Maybe that's why he's calling his brother.

Napailing na lamang ako. I was correct in my assumption that he calls his brother to check on me sometimes. Just like before, Lukas doesn't really say anything. He doesn't bring up any topics about his brother or me. He only talks about random things, mostly related to school.

I bought a drink for Lukas after our lunch. Hindi ko alam kung peace offering o ano, pakiramdam ko kasi inaabala siya ng Kuya niya sa mga bagay-bagay at hindi lang nakakapagreklamo. Lukas is the type of person who is very kind and obedient—especially with his family.

He smiled. ''Thanks, Anya.''

Carlos would be in Manila for work, and on weekends he's here. There are also days when he's here, even if it's not a weekend. However, since it's school days on weekdays, I can't meet him.

Carlos Lorenzo always updates me of his whereabouts and what he is doing. Hindi naman ako nagtatanong . . . pero madalas ay sinasabi niya lang talaga. Pakiramdam ko nga ay kasama na ako sa araw-araw niya dahil kahit wala siya dito sa Sana Monica, halos alam ko na ang lakad niya.

I don't reply often, especially when I'm at school, and he understands that. During school hours, I'm fully focused on my studies or schoolwork. However, to make up for it, I always make sure to answer his calls in the evening. Kapag pauwi na o nasa bahay na, kahit minsan ay may ginagawa ako, sinasagot ko talaga.

Tulad ngayon, I was at my study table, busy on my paper, when he called me.

Gabi na kaya medyo madilim na ang kwarto ko pero bukas naman ang lampshade dahil may ginagawa pa ako. It was a video call, so I grabbed my phone holder and positioned it on the table in a way that he could still have a good view of me even though I'm working on my laptop.

I instantly smiled when I answered the call and greeted him with my most enthusiastic "hello". Agad kong narinig ang mahina niyang tawa dahil sa inakto ko. I playfully rolled my eyes in jest.

''How's your day?'' he softly asked.

''The usual . . . how about you?''

Pinagmamasdan ko siya. He was in his office, but it was an office located in his penthouse. Tanda ko na iyon dahil madalas siya roon bago umakyat sa kwarto niya. And he's already wearing casual clothes. We also exchanged messages before this call, so I knew that he was already home.