Woven on Time (Student Series #3)

Chapter 47

Chapter 47

"Holy fu—" My father's curse suspended. "Princess, what are you doing there? With... Eclair?"

Eclair and I were on the floor behind the bar counter in our kitchen. My legs were folded on my side beside him, and a plate of his favorite food was served in front of him. But still, he wouldn't eat.

Tiningala ko si Papa habang may bahid pa ng luha sa pisngi. His brows furrowed when he stalked toward us. Hinagod ko ang nakadapang katawan ni Eclair.

"Pinagalitan po ni Kuya Rain si Eclair kaninang umaga. And now, he didn't want to eat, Papa! Kanina pa po siya hindi kumakain!"

"What? Why?" Lumuhod siya sa harapan namin.

My poor dog was old. I couldn't believe Kuya Rain still scolded him. My brother already apologized but that didn't work for Eclair. Ngayon, hindi ko rin siya papansinin hangga't hindi kumakain ang alaga ko. Ang tamlay tamlay niya na tuloy.

"Tawagin mo ang Mama mo," utos ni Papa habang hinahawakan ang ulo ni Eclair. "Eclair, gusto mo si Mommy ang magpakain sa 'yo?" he talked in a persuasive tone.

Tumayo ako at lumabas ng kusina para hanapin si Mama. I found her in our living room, talking with someone very familiar. I briskly dried my face with my fingers before I marched toward them.

Hollie smiled widely when she saw me approaching. Napalingon din si Mama dahil sa paglingon sa akin ni Hollie. Nakangiti siya noong una pero medyo napawi iyon nang matitigan ako.

"Hi, Riri! I heard you passed the board exam. Congratulations!" Hollie said before she hugged me.

"Thank you, Hollie!" I smiled. "Hanap mo ba si Kuya? Nasa itaas siya, pero hindi ko siya tatawagin dahil hindi ko siya bati."

Natawa siya sa sinabi ko. Hinawakan ni Mama ang braso ko at hinarap.

"Shortcake, what happened? Umiyak ka? What did your brother do to you?" she asked worriedly.

Umiling ako at ngumuso. "Si Eclair po kasi, kanina pa ayaw kumain kasi pinagalitan ni Kuya."

"Huh? Why?"

"Ewan ko po sa kaniya. Tawag po kayo ni Papa sa kusina. Nandoon sila ni Eclair, Ma. Baka kumain na kapag ikaw po ang nagpakain."

Lito pa rin ang mukha niya. She turned to Hollie.

"Hollie, I'm just going to check on Eclair. Maiwan ko na muna kayo rito ni Riri. Siya naman ang pakay mo, hindi ba?" ani Mama. "You can stay here for dinner if you changed your mind, hija."

Tipid na ngumiti si Hollie at tumango. Isang hagod sa braso ko ang ginawa ni Mama bago niya kami iniwan ni Hollie. Nang humarap ako sa bisita, tinanaw niya pa muna si Mama bago ulit ibinalik sa akin ang tingin.

Her medium tan skin was glowing even with her simple powder blue shirt and high-waist pants. It was quite new to me to see her in this outfit since I was used to seeing her in sophisticated dresses and killer heels. Her curly hair with pink highlights was falling over her shoulder. Her fedora was missing, too. Not even a small hairclip could be found on her hair.

Overall, she looked plain. For the first time. And when I stared into her eyes, I could almost feel her weariness. Hindi tulad sa tuwing nakikita ko siya noon, mukhang ang tamlay niya ngayon. At hindi iyon maitago ng ngiti niya.

"Ako raw ang hanap mo? Bakit pala?" usisa ko nang nakabawi.

May kinuha siya sa dala niyang chain bag. When she held it out to me, I already knew it was an invitation for something. I accepted it and pulled one side of the ribbon. My lips parted when I saw what kind of invitation it was.