"Nadala ko ba lahat, Luch?" Tanong ni tita Diana sa akin matapos kong matingnan lahat ng gamit na ipinadala ko sa kaniya.
She insisted that she wants to help me so, I just told her to bring my things from my room. Ayoko rin namang bumalik sa bahay dahil baka nando'n si papa. Katakot-takot na sermon na naman ang aabutin ko do'n kapag nakita niya ako. Good thing, tita Diana gladly helped me fix my unit today. She said she's free so, I let her help me clean the whole place.
"Opo, kumpleto na, tita."
"Mabuti naman. Pero kapag may kailangan ka pang gamit, tawagan mo lang ako para madala ko dito, okay?"
"Sige po."
"Kailan ba ang lipat mo?"
"A month from now," I closed my cabinet then looked at tita Diana leaning against the door frame. "Pagkatapos ng foundation week."
"Malapit na pala, 'no?"
"Opo. Nabanggit din ni Ino na uuwi siya pagkatapos ng afterparty. I offered him a ride but he insisted not to."
She grinned, "Because that brother of yours knows you'll drown yourself in alcohol. Nako, Luch, maghinay-hinay ka, ha? Kapag hindi mo kayang mag-drive, sa kotse ka na lang matulog. Sober up, dear."
"I will, tita. Thanks for the reminder."
"Oh, siya sige na. Aalis na ako dahil tatapusin ko pa 'yung cross-stitching na naiwan ko sa living room."
I nodded at tita Diana then escorted her outside. I didn't offer a ride since she brought her car with her. Saka ayoko rin na ipag-drive siya. I've never been in a car alone with her. It's triggering my mind knowing that my mom passed away through a car accident. Ayokong nakakakita ng babae na mag-isa lang sa kotse.
That's also the reason why I'm not usually going out with the cousins and won't even let Amari drive. Hindi ko ipinapahalata sa kanila pero may trauma ako sa mga gano'ng sitwasyon. Mabuti nga ay nadi-distract nila ako. Kung hindi, hindi talaga ako sasama sa kanila sa pagtakas.
I sighed and shook my head to remove those thoughts away.
Ibinaling ko ang atensyon sa paglilinis ng mga naikalat namin ni tita Diana. Tumawag na rin ako ng helper para hindi na ako magpauli-uli sa ground floor. After cleaning everything out, I went out of my unit, locked it, and drove towards Adazeio. Magle-late lunch ako dahil alas dos na pala ng hapon. Hindi ko namalayan na natagalan ako sa paglilinis. Tinamad kasi ako noong tanghali.
Since Adazeio is not far from my condo unit, I was able to arrive there on time. Breakfast meal ang inorder ko dahil ayoko ng heavy meal. I also ordered creme brulé and frappe to eat before leaving. Ayoko pang bumalik sa dorm. Mainit pa kaya dito muna ako. Saka ayokong makakita ng asungot at peste.
"Saan ka na naman galing, sir?"
The manager's voice caught my attention. Kaunti lang kasi ang tao kaya rinig kaagad ang mga usapan. Malapit pa naman ako sa counter.
"Chill, Cassidy, nandito na ako, okay? Pwede ka nang magpahinga."
"Nako, boss, namimihasa po," Biro naman ng isa kaya napakunot ang noo ko.
That man who arrived must be the owner. They seem to have a good relationship here. It's ... amazing. And for an owner, he is quite young. Siya pala ang nagluluto tuwing linggo? His physical appearance is not that of a cook. Para siyang gym instructor sa laki at tangkad niya. But he is not that big, just the right one. At mukha pang Latino.
"Hey, Dos, ako diyan sa counter. Take over Cassidy's job."
"Copy, boss!"
I did not realize that I've been staring at them for too long that I caught the owner's attention. He genuinely smiled at me and even gestured an 'okay' sign, like he's asking if I'm doing good.
