Eren Pierce Salazar

Kabanata 22

''Pasok kayo, Maria, the woman said excitedly without removing her eyes from me. And I feel awkward, especially since Kuya is also looking at me.

''Nasaan po si Mama?'' Kinaya ko ang pagtatanong habang alalay ni Eren papasok ng bahay.

''Be careful,'' Eren said.

Nakaalalay si Eren sa akin papasok sa kahoy na mansiyon.

''Nasa loob, Maria.'' sabi niya at tumingin kay Kuya Vincent. Sumilip lang ako konti kay Kuya Vincent na ngayon ay nakatingin na sa babaeng tinawag niyang Mama kanina.

''Anak, samahan mo sina Maria. Ipakilala mo kina Via at Vince'' sabi ng babae at tinutulak pa si Kuya. I awkwardly smile when she looks at me again.

Malamig na tumingin sa akin si Kuya Vincent—which was expected—and then he looked at Eren.

''Come in''

''Thank you,'' Eren's voice coldly surprised me.

Hindi na ako nagsalita at nagsimula nalang na maglakad papunta sa main door ng bahay. Pagpasok ko ay ang maliit na pasilyo ang umambad sa akin, at sa di kalayuan ay ang malaking sala ng bahay kung saan ay may dalawang batang naglalaro, kasama ng isang magandang babae.

I looked at them and smiled. Thinking that my daughter and I will have that kind of bond in the future excites me.

''Maria, Eren..." Napalingon ako sa may gilid ng pasilyo. May pasilyo din duon at nakatayo si Mama sa gitna. I smiled, and Mama smiled. Lumapit kami ni Eren para mag mano.

''Good morning, Tita'' Eren said.

''Halika kayo sa may dining para makakain muna ng umagahan'' si Mama. I looked at her, head to toe.

She's not wearing any jewelry --- Mama has always been the sophisticated kind of woman, wears jewelry and light makeup, always smiling even when she's tired, always composed, and has a high head, but now, she's just... just her, I think? She's wearing a bestida at nakatali rin ang buhok sa magulong uri ng pagkatali.

Mama is really beautiful. Too beautiful---actually. Iyong mukha niya---Literal na pang anghel just like her inside.

''Tapos na po kami kumain, Ma'' sagot ko.

Her smile lowered a little bit. ''But, I am still a bit hungry, Tita. Pagod po ata sa byahe'' Eren to the rescue.

At iyon ang nangyari, napadpad kaming tatlo sa lamesa. Nagkukuwentuhan muna kami kung saan kami natulog kagabi at anong plano namin mamayang gabi. Mama suggested that we'll just stay here, they were talking while I am thinking of other things just like--- Why do Vincent and the lady calls each other na parang sila ang mag ina and then iyong magandang babae sa may sala.

There are a lot of questions circulating my mind right now---I really wanted to ask but growing up feeling that I don't belong to them is eating me alive now--- It feels so illegal for me to ask.

''Maria, are you okay?'' Nagsalubong ang mga mata namin ni Eren dahil napakalapit ng kanyang mukha sa akin.

''Ha?'' I was back in my reverie.

''Anak, masakit ba ang tiyan mo?'' Mama was at the back of Eren. The worries on their faces were so obvious.

''Maria, hey, tell me. I'll bring you to the hospital'' Eren was calm, but I could sense the tension. Papasalita na sana ako nang biglang may pumasok sa dining hall.

''May nangyari ba, Lovely?'' pumasok ang babae kasama si Kuya Vincent at ang babaeng may kalarong dalawang bata kanina.

''W---Wala po'' Ako na ang sumagot because I was already intimidated by the people inside the house.