Mending Heart's Affliction [Phoenix Countesses: ETHEREAL MAIDENS SERIES I]

Chapter 12

Yuchengco

"Mommy, what does my grandfather look like?"

Hanggang ngayon ay hindi ko pa rin maialis sa isip ko ang tanong na iyon ni Ariah kanina lang bago ako umalis ng bahay. I have no idea why it suddenly popped into her head.

Gusto ko pang isipin na baka si Daddy Henry ang tinutukoy niya ngunit hindi. She was referring to my father-Armando Yuchengco, the founder of the Yuchengco clan, who is currently undergoing treatment for his kidney illness.

"What's his condition like? Malala na raw ba?" Tanong ni Kim nang makaupo siya. Kasunod niyang dumating ang order namin.

Aurora looked at her and smirked.

"Bakit naman magkakainterest si Celeste sa balitang yon? Unless she wants to help him with his illness," Aurora sarcastically remarked.

Bigla ko tuloy naalala ang mga tanong ni Oliver sa akin kagabi.

"Oliver just mentioned that he needs a kidney transplant. Hindi na ako sigurado sa iba pang detalye at ayoko na rin namang malaman pa," I replied and started eating.

Dahil kagagaling lamang ni Kim sa business trip ay nagdesisyon kaming tatlo na maglunch. Matagal na rin mula nang nagawa namin ito dahil nasa Spain pa ako noon.

Mabuti pa nga ang dalawang ito ay kahit papaano nakakapagbakasyon. Samantalang ako ay hindi. Sa sobrang focus ko sa trabaho ay nawala na iyon sa mga plano ko.

I've wanted to take a vacation for a long time, but with so many commitments in my life, I can't do it.

"Well, it's only natural. Why would you even bother finding out? Bakit? Gusto mo bang maging donor?" Aurora, with her remarks again, so I gave her a glare.

"Not like that. Sinabi nga lang ni Oliver sa akin."

"Well, that's Celeste's decision. If she happens to be a match for her biological father, is she willing to donate? I doubt it," Kim said as she took a sip of her orange juice.

Nawala ang atensyon ko sa kanilang dalawa at nabaling iyon sa phone kong tumunog. I immediately saw Arik's name on the screen, so I couldn't resist picking it up to read his text.

Arik:
Did you have your lunch already?

To Arik:
Yes, Mr. Rioflorida. Why?

Arik:
Just asking. I wanted to invite you for lunch. How about dinner later?

Tumaas ang kilay ko. Mula nang banggitin niya na gusto niyang makipagdate sa akin ay hindi na ako sigurado pa sa intensyon niya sa akin. I couldn't quite see through his playful nature.

He changed a lot. I'm not sure if that's the real him now, but Arik is completely different from the one I met at the bar.

To Arik:
At bakit naman?

"Nanliligaw ba sayo ang baby daddy mo, Ce?" Aurora nudged me kaya nagulat ako roon.

Mabilis kong tinulak ang mukha niya palayo sa phone ko dahil nakadungaw siya roon.

"He's inviting me for dinner later," I told them.

"Is something happening between the two of you again? Oh my god. Kaya ba blooming ka nitong mga nakaraang araw?" Tanong pa ni Kim na napahinto sa pag kain para lang sabihin iyon.

Napailing na lamang ako sa mga sinasabi nila.

"Of course not."

"Really? I don't believe you," Aurora insisted. "Why don't you just tell him about your child? Ariah knows him, right?"