"Ma'am Harika, tinawagan ko ho ang sekretarya ni Mr. Levantine, mayamaya pa raw ho ang balik niya ng opisina," anang matanda na pinagmamasdan siya mula sa rearview mirror.
Harika was crying at the backseat in her tutu. Katatapos lang ng dressed rehearsal nila para sa isang ballet performance na gaganapin sa makalawa. Humihikbi siya na may luha sa ilalim ng mga mata.
"I'm still going, manong. Hihintayin ko na lang po si Lolo Dad sa loob ng opisina niya." Kahit pa malungkot at masama ang loob sa sarili, hindi pa rin nawawala ang respeto ni Harika sa matandang driver na kausap. She's just upset, but she won't act like a brat.
"Okay ho, ma'am."
Harika took her bag, which contained her favorite coloring book and dozens of colored pencils, when they got to the Levantine Holdings Building. She stepped out of the car and waved goodbye to her personal driver, Liro. Kabisado na niya ang daan papasok sa loob ng gusaling iyon. She turned eight, and she knows that she can always find her Lolo Dad at his Holdings Company.
Kinagiliwan agad siya ng mga babaeng staff nang makapasok sa lobby. Some praised her outfit, and others were especially taken with her stunning princess face. She wiped her tears away, but it was still clear that she had shed them.
"What brought you here, Little Miss Harika?" inquired a sophisticated woman wearing a different office look that was even more formal but welcoming. Sumalubong ito sa kanya na may ngiti habang dinig na dinig ang takong nito sa mula tiled floor ng hallway.
"I need to talk to my Lolo Dad, Miss Charmaine," she said with a little smile.
Tumango ito sa kanya. She held her hand as they made their way to the elevator. "Okay, no problem. Tinawagan ako ni Manong Liro na pupunta ka rito, ang kaso wala pa si Mr. Levantine sa opisina niya. He went to a coffee meeting with a client. But don't you worry, inihanda ko na ang opisina niya para doon ka muna mag-stay. Would that be okay?" paliwanag ng sekretarya.
Nag-angat ng tingin si Harika at tumango sa sinabi nito.
Nang makarating sila sa palapag ng opisina ng kanyang Lolo Dad, agad na iginiya siya ng sekretarya papasok sa loob at saka siya sumalampak sa milyones na halaga na couch.
"Do you want anything? There are a lot of chocolates and cookies in the pantry; would you like some?" Charmaine offered.
Harika took her coloring book from her bag and scattered all the pencils from the table. "I already had my lunch, Miss Charmaine," she just said.
"Okay. Kung may kailangan ka, nasa labas lang ako." Saka siya nito nilisan mag-isa.
Naghintay lang si Harika sa loob ng opisina ng kanyang Lolo Dad. The smell indicates that the interior was very masculine. His desk was made of pricey mahogany wood, and the rest of the space was plain but more like a wealthy businessman's office. She turned to look at her photo in a frame next to a tiny plant on his desk. Hindi siya mababagot doon since inaaliw niya ang kanyang sarili sa coloring book niyang dala.
Lumampas ang kulay na pula sa bestidang kinukulayan niya nang bumukas ang malaking pinto ng opisina sa kabila ng katahimikan. Agad na bumaling si Harika sa dumating. It was Joseph Ishida, dressed in a tucked-in black polo.
"Did I surprise you?" he asked as he walked in, putting his jacket on the side rack, "Charmaine told me you were waiting here, so I came inside to say hi." Saka ito kumaway at pinuri ang suot niya.
"Tito Joseph!" Tumayo agad si Harika at sumalubong ng yakap dito. "Nandito rin po ba kayo para hintayin si Lolo Dad katulad ko?" aniya habang magkasabay silang naglalakad pabalik sa couch.
BINABASA MO ANG
The Sun in Her Eyes
Mystery / Thriller"You radiate comfort in my eyes." After a chandelier crash, granddaughter of an influential congressman Harika Levantine lost her vision following the death of him. When she became sightless, everyone around her turned fake, suspicious and traitorou...
