So Close Yet So Far (ON HOLD)

Chapter 23

I knocked on the door few times before opening it. Walang sumagot kaya napag desisyonan ko sumilip muna ako upang tingnan kung nandun ba ang pakay ko.

I then locked eye contacts with the only person in the room. She smiled at me sweetly.

"Hija. come in" said by my mother-in-law.

She is very sweet, she never made me feel unaccepted ever since Hugo and I tied the knot.

"Good afternoon Mama"

Binaba nito ang hawak nitong paint brush tsaka itinoun ang buong pansin nito sa akin. Nang makalapit ako sa kanya ay agad niya akong hinagkan.

"Kanina pa kita inaantay." She said as she guide me to the sofa.

Nasilayan ko ang ginuguhit nito, napakaganda nito. She is very talented. Her love for painting never faded kahit na nakalipas ang maraming taon.

I was invited by my mother's in law in her studio kaya naman naparito ako upang bisitahin din siya.

"Sorry Ma. May tinapos muna ako bago pumunta rito."

Inabot ko sa kanya ang dala ko na macarons at kinuha naman niya ito. I didn't want to come empty handed kaya kahit papano ay naghanap ako ng magandang dadalhin para sa kanya.

"Thank you, Hindi mo na kailangan pang mag abala." Anya ng nakangiti.

She then left to grab me some drinks. Which gained me a time to check out her place.

Napapaligiran ng mga gawa niyang painting ang kwarto. May kalakihan ito at sa bawat sulok nito ay may mga on-going na paintings. 

She's really a skilled artist, no wonder she has big name on her field.

Maraming gamit rito na kinakailangan sa pagpipinta pero hindi naman ito magulo tingnan. Malinis at maaliwalas parin ang lugar. It is organized accordingly.

After awhile pumasok sa silid ang sekretarya nito.

"Meryenda Ma'am. May tinawagan lang daw muna si Madame Celeste." She said thoughtfully.

"It's alright I can wait." I said and gave her a smile.

Umalis din ito kalaonan. I grabbed the spoon to eat the cake since it looks very inviting and it didn't disappoint me, it does taste good.

Bumukas ulit ang pintuan ang inilabas nito ang aking biyenan.

"Sorry Hija, I called Dale to ask where is he."

"It's ok Ma. Pinatawag niyo po ba din ba siya dito?" Tanong ko dahil akala ko ako kang ang inimbitahan nito.

"Yes, I hope you don't mind. This is supposed to be our bonding but something came up so I need his presence."

She is a very well soft spoken person, sa kanya siguro namana ito ni Hugo.

"I don't really mind Ma."

Hindi ito ang unang beses na nagkita kami na kami lang, she always invite me specially when she wants to shop minsan kasama rin namin si Yvette.

Napatingin ako sa kanya dahil sa bigla niyang pagtahimik. I saw her looking at my hands intently specifically my ring finger kaya napatingin rin ako rito.

Napapansin ko na tuwing nagkikita kami ay lagi siyang napapatingin sa aking kamay.

I want to ask why but I always shrug it off, it's not like it's important. At baka kung ano pa ang isipin nito.

Mukhang napansin nito ang paninitig ko sa kanya, kaya naman binalik nito ang tingin nito sa akin tsaka ngumiti ng marahan pero napansin kong may bakas itong lungkot o awa pero agad rin itong nawala.