Alluring Glances (SCS #1)

12.

"Kumusta ang first day? Nahirapan ka ba sa shift mo? Sorry kung hindi kita natulungan kanina, ha? May demanding kasing customer," Kaloy talked to me while he's walking me home after the shift. It's currently 12nn and Kaloy told me that he'll go home with me for lunch. Kanina ko lang nalaman na ang shift ko ay 7am to 12nn habang ang kay Kaloy ay 7am to 4pm. Kaloy was the one who asked Luke to make my shift like that.

I turned to him. "Ayos lang ako, Kaloy. Nagawa ko naman nang maayos ang trabaho ko saka, hindi mo dapat ako tulungan. May trabaho ka kaya dapat 'yon ang asikasuhin mo. Kaya ko naman," sagot ko sa kaniya.

He suddenly pouted at me. "Ayaw mo ng tulong ko, madam?" tanong niya sa akin.

I shook my head. "Hindi. Ang ibig kong sabihin, may trabaho ka kaya hindi mo kailangang tulungan ako dahil baka mahirapan ka. Gets mo ba ako?"

His pout suddenly turned into a mischievous smile. "Concern ka ba sa akin?"

Natawa ako at pabirong inirapan siya. "Asa ka," I joked and walked away, hiding the fact that my cheeks are blushing because of his direct question.

Concern ako kasi siyempre, mabait siya sa akin. Gano'n 'yon!

"Madam, gusto mong dumalaw sa bahay?" tanong ni Kaloy nang makahabol siya sa akin. 

"Hm? Anong meron?" tanong ko sa kaniya.

His sadness earlier came back. Muli kong naalala kung gaano siya kalungkot kanina. Pansamantala kong nakalimutan 'yon dahil sa trabaho pero ngayon ay muli ko na namang naalala.

"Nagluto kasi si Keicy at Kurt," sabi niya at tumingin sa akin.

"Death anniversary kasi nila Papa, Mama, at Lola."

My feet stopped walking as soon as I heard what he said. He looks so sad while saying those words to me and I couldn't help but feel the tug in my heart.

That's why he looks so sad today.

"Nakagawian kasi namin na tuwing death anniversary nila, nagluluto kami lalo na 'yong paboritong iluto ni Mama at Lola para sa amin," sabi niya bago ngumiti nang maliit. "Sa gano'ng paraan, ramdam namin na nandoon sila."

I bit my lips when I felt it trembled. Gusto kong maiyak dahil sa lungkot na halata sa boses ni Kaloy pero, pinigilan ko. I shouldn't be crying. Kaloy doesn't need to see me cry. I should be the one comforting him, not the other way.

He smiled sadly at me. "Namatay sila dahil sa aksidente. Silang tatlo, nasa iisang tricycle nang sumalpok 'yong tricycle sa isang van. Dead on arrival silang tatlo," aniya at nakita ko ang panginginig ng labi niya kaya nagsalita na ako. His story breaks my heart. Now, I understand why it's only the three of them.

"Kaloy, uwi ka na. Baka hinihintay ka na ng mga kapatid mo, sige na," sabi ko sa kaniya at nginitian siya. His vulnerable eyes looks at me.

"H-hindi ka sasama?"

I softly shook my head. "As much as I want to go to your house, I can't. Pamilya niyo 'yon kaya hindi ako kailangan doon," sagot ko sa kaniya. "Next time, I'll visit your house. I promise," sabi ko sa kaniya.

Ayoko kasing makisali gayong mahalaga sa kanilang pamilya ang araw na ito. It's exclusively for their family so, they should be together without me.

"Promise, madam?" He even lifted his pinky up.

I nodded and tangled my pinky to him. "Promise po."

When I got home, I immediately cooked for my lunch. I ate alone and washed the dishes before I proceeded to my bedroom. Naupo ako doon at nagpahinga. I used my phone to ease my boredom.

I sighed. I should ask Luke to extend my shift. Akala siguro ni Kaloy ay hindi ako gano'ng sanay sa mahabang oras ng trabaho.

Hindi ko namalayan na nakatulog ako at nagising na lang na gabi na. Alas sais na ng gabi kaya tumayo na ako at lumabas sa kwarto. I proceeded to cook dinner and ate alone once again.

Nahiga ako sa kama at nagpaantok na lang. I was chatting with Sarus while scrolling through my phone when Kaloy's post caught my attention. Mabuti at nautusan ko si Sarus na padalhan ako ng load pang-internet kaya nakakita ako ng picture.

It was a photo of the three of them: Kaloy, Kurt and Keicy. Kaloy is the one holding the camera, Keicy and Kurt is behind him. Keicy is holding a plate with pancit and Kurt is holding a bowl containing a mushroom soup. Sa mesa nila ay may iba pang pagkain. Maybe, that's the dishes their mother and grandmother used to cook for them.

Karion Lorenz Yusque is with Keicy Yusque and Kurt Yusque

Panibagong taon na wala kayo sa piling namin pero, alam po naming binabantayan niyo kaming tatlo. We miss you and we love you, Mama, Papa, and Lola. :)

I saw the comments and all of them are saying condolences. Some even commented that the three of them will forever be guided by their lost love ones. I didn't read all the comments and just reacted heart to it. I pressed Kaloy's name to message him.

Vanessa: Good evening, Kaloy. I hope you sleep well tonight. Your mother, father, and grandmother will always guide you and your siblings. They will forever be in your hearts. Good night.

After sending those, I turned off my data and phone. I sighed and proceeded to sleep, praying that Kaloy would show me his happy smile the next day.

Alistair is the first one I saw when Kaloy and I entered the restaurant the next day. Gaya ng nakagawian, sinundo ako ni Kaloy sa bahay. Nakangiti siya sa akin at masigla na ulit kaya napangiti rin ako.

He keeps on thanking me for understanding him. Ang sabi pa niya ay nabawasan ang lungkot niya dahil nakausap niya ako kahapon.

"Uy, magandang umaga, Alistair!" bati ni Kaloy sa babae.

Alistair looked at us and smiled. "Magandang umaga, Kaloy..." she turned to me. "Magandang umaga, Vanessa."

I nodded and told her the same thing. Dumiretso ako sa staff room para magpalit ng uniporme nang maalala kong kailangan ko nga palang makausap si Manager Luke.

Bumukas ang pinto nang makapagbihis ako at pumasok doon si Alistair. I fixed my hair and decided to ask her.

"Alistair, nandiyan na ba si Manager Luke?" tanong ko sa kaniya. Alistair turned to me.

"Wala pa siya ngayon, eh pero, parating na rin siya," sagot ni Alistair sa akin kaya napatango na lang ako.

"Salamat, Alistair," sabi ko. "Hindi ka pa lalabas?" tanong ko nang makitang nakaupo siya sa upuan doon.

"Mamaya ako lalabas, Vanessa. Mauna ka na," sabi niya kaya tumango ako at naglakad palabas. Binuksan ko ang pinto pero, nang akmang isasara ko 'yon ay may nakita ako mula sa siwang ng pinto.

It's Alistair's arm with bruise.