Sweet Lost Love

19

"Ginabi ka..."

"Good evening, dad.." I hug him over his shoulders and kiss him on the cheeks. "May practice lang po."

Mula sa kanya ay lumapit ako kay mommy. Humalik din ako sa pisngi nito.

Mom gave me a side glance. Napatayo ako ng tuwid nang napatigil siya sa pagkain at binalingan ako ng tuluyan. Minata niya ako mula ulo hanggang paa.

"Where's your class, Liliana? Anong ginagawa mo sa school niyo at lukot-lukot ang uniform mo?"

I pull my skirt down. What I did will be my end. Baka kalbohin niya ako kapag nalaman niya.

"Give Liliana a break, Leonor..." Dad gesture me to sit on his other side. "Kumain ka na, anak."

Inabot ko sa malapit na helper ang bag ko bago ako naupo na. Sinundan pa ako ng tingin ni mommy, halatang hindi sang-ayon sa itsura ko.

Damn, Hesper. Ang likot naman kasi ng kamay!

"How's the contract with the Enriquez? Are they giving us the 10 percent?"

Natigilan ako sa pagsubo sa tanong ni mommy kay daddy.

"3 percent, Leonor. That's the best they can sell us."

"What? I demanded for 10 percent."

"You can't just demand from them, Leonor. They're a multi-billion dollar construction company. Pasalamat tayo at nakakuha pa ng 3 percent in a very affordable price."

Mom seems disappointed, but dad is calm about it. I don't understand what is happening. If only I can ask. But all I can do is listen.

"How did you even convince them to sell a share? Family corporation sila, Leonor. What did you do this time?"

Mom roll her eyes. Tumigil na siya sa pagkain. She wipe her lips with the table napkin. "I'm friends with his wife, George. Can't you just thank me?"

"Sana lang ganyan talaga ang dahilan..." tumigil na rin si daddy sa pagkain. Nagkatinginan sila na parang sila lang nagkakaintindihan.

"Ofcourse. Because how else?"

The dinner ended with tension. They didn't argue in front of me but I feel something odd, something heavy. I can sense something is wrong.

I am already done with my night routine and ready for bed when mom enter my room. I got alerted. I feel like she'll find out something that I am hiding.

"May kailangan po kayo, mommy?"

She wander her eyes around my room. Naglakad-lakad din siya na parang may hinahanap. Umayos ako ng upo sa higaan nang napunta siya sa night stand. Kabado ako nang hilahin niya bigla ang drawer at nilabas ang ilang printed pictures namin ni Hesper.

"You still fancy the bastard."

"Mom, wala na kami. Sinunod ko na ang gusto niyo..." I believe my own lies for a moment to be more convincing. I can't let her separate me with Hesper, hindi ko kakayanin.

"Grace already acquired her share sa Lafayette's. 40 percent," she laugh maniacally.

My eyes bulges. How?

"She's so pleased kasi I made it happen. Those San Jose's are rich, powerful and intelligent pero alam mo ang kahinaan nila Liliana?"

Hindi ako umimik. Walang maisagot sa kanya. I just carefully listen— because I know for sure she's not here to just give me a pep talk. There's something more.