ONE SHOTS

21 - Friend or Relation (ship?)

CLIFFORD TEÑOSO POV

        "Good evening!" Lumingon kami ng sakupin ng boses na yun ang dining room. Si Tita Blaire. "Anyway, I already ate. I just have something to ask you Cliff, I'll be waiting on the living room. Take your time, okay?" Nagtaka ako pero tumango lamang ako. Tinalikuran niya na kami.

"In this hour? What could be your Tita's want to you Clifford?" Si Mommy.

"I don't have any idea mom." Tumango ito sa akin.

"It's your friend right?" Kinuha ko ang inaabot niya. Isang magazine na ang cover nito ay si Marieth. Nakaswim suit at may kargang surf board. Bago ko sagutin si Tita nilingon ko pa ang pamilya ko na nandito rin, kahit si Dad nandito. Kaya nagtataka ako, pero ngayon na babae na naman ang dahilan alam kong mas hindi pa sila aalis.

"Yes Tita, it's Marieth Ruiz."

"Right! I am interested to her. Do you think you could convince her to be the face of Taft Inc.?"

"That girl?!" Gulat na saad ni ate. Nilingon ko ito, gulat na gulat ito. I remember how she humiliated Marieth during our college days, in her apartment. I don't know why she's so angry that time. I don't know why she doesn't like her.

"Yes!" Pinal na saad ni Tita.

"Why then?!" Pati si Dad nakikisali na, hindi naman siya interesado sa mga ganitong usapan pero nandito siya.

"She's one of the most paid surfer in Siargao and I love how people so love to keep on coming back on the resort she's working on. I heard it's because she's so good at her work. She knows how to talk to the customer, she knows how to solve the complicated complaints, she knows her principles and I love how she's standing. I'm still curious why she chose to be in Siargao instead of taking what she's graduated. Do you know why Cliff? She's your friend after all."

It's not right to tell that part to them. It's her privacy. It's not our business to stick our nose on. Nilingon ko si Dad and Mom, na nakatingin sa akin at naghihintay ng sagot ko. Na-pressured ako bigla, nilingon ko si ate at si Cleon. Bakit ba sila nandito lahat? Bakit nakikiusyoso sila? Iniiwas ko sa kanila ang mga mata ko, tinignan ko ang magazine na siya ang cover.

Why all of a sudden? May kasalanan pa ako roon kasi sinira ko ang birthday niya noong nakaraan. Baka nga nakabalik na yun ng Siargao.

"Siya kasi iyong tipo ng tao na gusto niyang e-overcome ang mga kinatatakutan niya. May phobia siya sa eroplano at sa malalalim na tubig. Gusto niya iyon e-overcome kaya Tourism ang kinuha niya not because she wants to be a flight attendant."

"And why she's on Siargao instead on flying on an airplane?" Nagtataka na ako kay ate.

"Na overcome niya na ang phobia niya sa airplane nung mag intern siya, kaya siya nasa Siargao kasi siguro yung tubig naman ang gusto niyang e-overcome."

"Why did she have a phobia in the first place?" Si Mommy.

"Naaksidente ang eroplanong sinasakyan nila noong bata pa siya. Kasama niya ang parents niya. Nahulog ito sa dagat at siya lang ang nabuhay." And that news made them quiet. The silence felt eerie.

"Anyway, can you help me Cliff? I think it's gonna be easy if you are the one who are going to talk to her." I feel uneasy hearing that.

"I don't think so Tita." I doubted and it heard to my voice. Natahimik ulit sila. I've never been felt doubted since I graduate.

"Why is that?"

'Dad!' Ayokong lingunin sila baka may malaman silang hindi ko alam. It's terrifying.