Operation Series 1: In The Professor's Shadow

Chapter 3

"Family time is very important in our life because we don't know until when are we going to be with them."

Jasmine's POV

"Jasmine!" nagising ako dahil sa katok sa may pintuan at tawag sa akin ni manang.

"Po?" I asked habang nakapikit pa rin ang aking mga mata. I am still sleepy sabi ko matutulog ako ng maaga but then I didn't.

"Maghanda ka na hija at magsisimba na tayo." paalala ni manang. Every Sunday kasi ay nagsisimba kaming tatlo nila dad and it's been three days na parang multo si dad kung itrato ko I feel guilty about it. I don't know how to approach him most especially kapag kasama niya sila. Dad's fiance and her daughters are staying in our house, that's why I always go outside or just lock myself in my room.

"Sheesh! Sige po mag-aayos na ako." sagot ko pabalik.

I get off from the bed and went to the bathroom para maligo and prepare myself. I wear a white long sleeve paired with a denim skirt na below the knee and a white shoes. Bumaba na ako sa sala then I saw dad and manang na nakahanda na rin.

"Good morning hija." bati sa akin ni dad. Sakto naman na bumaba na rin ang fiance ni dad with her daughters.

"I'll use my car." Sabi ko at nauna nang lumabas.

"We'll use one car." Dad commanded me. Sinundan pala niya ako palabas.

"I can drive myself dad." sagot ko at wala nang nagawa si dad kundi paalisin ako.

"Let's share to each other the sign of peace." sabi ng pari.

"Peace." I said and look to my right side but someone caught my attention. It was the teacher in the enrollment I just smiled at him but he just snob me, minus points.

"Bakit hindi ka lumapit?" kilala ko na may-ari ng boses na iyon.

"And for the first time nagsimba ka ano nakain mo?" tanong ko kay Adrian na ngayon ay nakatayo sa tabi ko while we are looking at dad with his fiance. They look like a happy family, biglang bumalik ang isang alaala nung buhay pa si mama.

"It's my own business." sagot niya.

"Then it's my own business rin kung ayaw ko lumapit sa kanila." sagot ko at bumuntong hininga.

"Get your car I'll wait you here." utos niya sa akin at kinalikot ang kaniyang selpon.

"Saan ang sasakyan mo?" tanong ko sa kaniya. May sasakyan naman ang isang ito pero sabay ng sabay sa akin ano ako driver niya?

"It's in our house nakisabay lang ako kila Lorraine." Sabi niya.

"Oh? Nandito sila saan?" tanong ko at ipinalibot ang aking paningin.

"We'll meet in a restaurant so just do as I say." Utos niya.Habang naglalakad ako papunta sa kung saan nakaparada ang sasakyan ko ay tumunog ang phone ko it was dad.

"Hello dad!" I answered his calls.

"Let's have lunch together." aya niya sa akin.

"I have other plans dad with my friends." sagot ko as I feel guilt in my chest, ako ata ang may minus points. Kakatapos mo lang magsimba self ganiyan ka na.

"Jasmine can you pass that for a while it's family time." sabi ni dad. "Can you atleast listen to me? You are always like that."

"Dad I understand. Family time? I can't easily accept that dad." sagot ko at pumasok sa sasakyan ko at pinaandar ito. "I need to go and enjoy your family time."

Sinundo ko na si Adrian para pumunta sa restaurant na sinasabi niya pero wala akong nakita ni anino nila Lorraine.

"Nasaan sila Lorraine?" I asked Adrian.

"Stay here. I'll just go to the CR and papunta na sila." sagot niya kaya tumango nalang ako."May dinaanan lang sila saglit."

"Okay." sagot ko at naglaro muna sa phone ko ng word swipe. Minutes passed by at may mga umupo sa mga upuan kaya napatingin ako kasi akala ko sila Lorraine pero si manang pala at may mga kasama. Later on I receive a message from Adrian.

"Enjoy. Family time is always precious so treasure it. Settle everything with your dad. Don't keep on avoiding it, it won't help you." basa ko sa text niya kaya napailing ako.

"Hello po ate Jasmine." bati sa akin ng isang batang babae na katabi ko habang nakangiti. Nakasuot siya ng pink dress at naka-pony tail ang kaniyang buhok.

"Hi." bati ko at ngumiti pabalik.

"Ang ganda niyo po." sabi niya sa akin while looking at me. Plus point ka sa akin.

"Thanks." sagot ko at napatingin sa aking selpon.

"We already ordered some foods." sabi ni dad na kakarating lang kasama iyung soon to be niya ulit.

"Jasmine it's good that you are here." sabi ni dad. I know he called Adrian for this, magkakampi talaga ang dalawa eh.

"Hello I am Zsofia." sabi ng isang babae na mukhang ka-edad ko lang at nakangiti ito.

"Hello I am Almiro pero you can call me kuya Miro and this is my wife, Samantha." sabi ni kuya Miro.

"Nice meeting you all." sabi ko at ngumiti this feels so ackward. This is my first time meeting them in a formal way.

"Hello hija ako nga pala si Helena but you can call me tita Helena." pagpapakilala ni tita Helena.

"Opo tita." sagot ko. It don't feel the vibes pero kailangan kong makisama.

"Jasmine I heard you and Zsofia have the same school?" tanong ni dad kaya napakunot ang noo ko. Dad is acting like there's no problem happening between us.

"Zsofia is an officer in your school kaya alam niya ang list of students and she saw your name." sabi ni dad habang nakangiti. "Also a dean's lister."

"Oh? That's good to know." sabi ko at ngumiti kay Zsofia, she seems nice and a talkative one.

"So tita where did you meet dad?" I asked to seek for my unanswered questions.

"I applied in your company as a secretary past few months ago and that's how our love story started." sabi ni tita.

"That's quite romantic." sagot ko. I guess dad's loneliness and longing for mom was fulfilled by someone.

"So the wedding will be held soon and everything is already settled ang kailangan lang ay ang mga sarili niyo." sabi ni dad while looking at me. I know what he is referring to.

"Ate Jasmine can I have a ride with you?" tanong ni Aicee at halatang excited.

"Sure!" sabi ko at ngumiti.

"Yehey! Ate Zsofia sama ka na rin sa amin." aya niya sa ate niya kaya tumingin sa akin.

"You two can join me." sabi ko.

"Samahan mo muna sila manang." sabi ni dad kay manang. Sila kuya Miro naman ay may dalang kotse. Pumasok na ako sa loob at umupo naman si Zsofia sa passenger seat at sa likod sila manang at Aicee. Pagkauwi namin sa bahay ay dumiretso na ako sa kwarto para magbihis at magpahinga para bukas kasi magsisimula na ang klase. I am lying in my bed when my phone vibrated.

"I already sent the background of the person related to your mission." text ni Adrian.

"Riza Laurier." basa ko. I scrolled  and saw a picture of two people.

"Are you for real?" I texted leader.

"That's what our client ordered." reply niya. Bumuga ako ng hangin at binasa ang gagawin ko.

"Noted! Noted leader!" reply ko at hindi makapaniwalang nakatitig sa impormasyong hawak ko.

I am really doomed.