Tiningala ko ang matayog at magandang bahay sa harapan namin ni Jackson. It has a same Spanish type house, a three storey and has a nice blend of both white and beige colors. It's simple yet elegant. The lights classic lantern design outside was illuminating the front. Mas maganda ito tignan ngayon dahil pa gabi na. Para akong nakatingin sa isang art museum.
"Have you lived here before?"
"Yes, with my grandparents."
"At lumipat ka na sa condo katulad ng sinabi mo?" lumingon ako sa kaniya, his fixing his hair.
"Yes, Roseanne and she's excited to meet you." He smiled.
Jackson's always been in a good mood when I am with him, but yesterday his cheerfulness became extra because his grandmother returned to the Philippines from abroad. He asked me if he could take me to his grandmother's house to have dinner with them... With his family.
Only his grandmother came home because his grandfather had been gone for a long time.
Tuwing sabado, nasa bahay ako nila Mama pero ngayong araw umattend sila ng children's party sa isang family friend kaya pumayag na akong sumama kay Jackson... dahil wala rin naman akong gagawin.
"Binanggit mo ako sa lola mo?"
Pumasok kami sa loob, bumungad sa amin ang pinaka magandang garden na nakita ko, at kahit ilang taon ng walang nakatira rito nasa maayos na maintenance pa rin ang bahay.
"Oo, bawal ba?" he flashed his annoying smile. Naalala ko ang tanong ni Nicole sa kaniya.
"So what did you introduce to me? A friend of yours?" ako naman ang nag taas ng kilay sa kaniya, sinasabayan ang lalim ng kaniyang tingin.
He didn't answer. His just staring at me na para bang gusto niyang ako na mismo ang maghula ng puwede niyang isagot.
"What? 'Di ba ganoon ang sinasabi mo kapag may nagtatanong sa'yo? Na kaibigan mo ako?"
"Kaibigan ba kita, Roseanne?"
Magkaibigan nga ba kami?
Kaibigan ba ang tingin ni Jackson sa akin?
"Jackson!" I was cut off because a woman from her mid-thirties showed up. She was wearing a white dress that matched her porcelain skin. Her kind eyes looked at me, she was smiling when she saw me.
"Hi! You must be, Roseanne right? Jackson's, friend?" her soothing voice put my heart at ease, ang kaba at takot na kanina ko pa nararamdaman biglang nawala sa tingin at boses niya.
Jackson's friend huh?
"Yes po."
"It's nice to have you here, my name is, Amanda." I smiled, quietly.
"Tita." Jackson hugged her.
"Hello, Hijo. Let's get inside. Kanina pa naghihintay ang lola mo." She smiled sweetly at us.
Naunang naglakad si Tita Amanda habang kami naman ni Jackson nasa likod lang. Naramdaman ang palad ni Jackson sa likod ko habang naglalakad. Agad kong binaba ang kamay niya habang nililibot ko ang paningin sa mga gamit sa loob ng kanilang bahay. Halos may kalumaan ang mga gamit at halatang matagal na ang mga ito, living room, piano, cabinet na puno ng mga medals, mga picture frame na black and white. Para akong pumasok ulit sa nakaraan.
Ang malaking picture frame kung saan may mag asawa, si tita Amanda na agad kong namukhaan dahil medyo bata pa at isa pang katabing lalaki na hindi nakangiti, pamilyar na mukha ang agad kong naisip.
I know him—he's Jackson's father.
Maganda ang loob ng bahay, hindi malawak at hindi masikip. Dito nakatira si Jackson noon, kasama ang kaniyang Lola at Lolo.
BINABASA MO ANG
Thorns
RomanceThorns tells the story of a woman who had given up on the idea of love. She had seen too much heartache and disappointment in her life to believe that it was real. But one day, unexpectedly, she met someone who changes everything. He challenges her...
