Maxine's POV
"Bakit nyo po ako pinatawag ma'am?" Nakayukong tanong ni Dino, ang anak ni manong Berto at manang Rosa. Isa sa mga matagal ng nagtatrabaho sa hacienda.
Sumama ako kay mommy dito para sadyang puntahan si lolo at Dino.
I looked at him and smile. "Sit down." Kita naman ang pag-aalangan nito kung uupo ba o mananatiling nakatayo. "Sige na Dino, ayoko namang makipag-usap sayo na nakatayo ka." Mas matanda sya sa akin ng apat na taon pero ayoko syang tawagin na kuya dahil mukhang magkasing edad lang kami.
"Sige po ma'am." Umupo ito pero hindi naman makatingin sa akin.
"Hindi na ako magpapaligoy-ligoy. I want your help." Diretso kong wika. Dino is one of our scholar, lahat ng anak ng nagtatrabaho dito sa hacienda ay pinapaaral ni lolo.
Matagal ko ng iniisip kung paano kami magkakaroon ng contact ni Alex since kinuha ng papa nya ang cellphone nya. Hindi na rin kasi ako pwedeng lumapit sa kanya at baka pinapasundan sya ng ama nya. So I have to think.
Then, my clever mind worked, so I asked my cousin Santino the son of tito Alfonzo to give me the list of school where all the scholar study. Hoping that one of them goes to that school.
Then..
Problem solve. Dino is studying where Alex is, and he is taking up business course.
Alexandra is too scared of her father, kaya ako na lang ang gagawa ng paraan, hindi na ako aasa na maiisip nyang bumili ng bagong cellphone dahil sabi nga nya school at bahay lang sya.
--••--
"Déjà vu." My grandfather seems amused of what I said. Hindi pa ako natatapos sa pakiusap kong tulong ng magsalita ito. Nasabi ko na ang tungkol sa aming dalawa ni Alex at kung ano ang problema pero hindi ko pa nasasabi sa kanya ang plano ko.
I'm really careful of my words. Just being honest but not over dramatic.
Wala naman syang reaksyon ng sinabi ko na may mahal na ako at babae rin. He just listen to me like it was nothing. Maybe because of my mom and dada.
"What do you mean lolo?" I didn't understand why he said those words. Just the two of us here in his library office.
"No doubt you're Angelica's daughter." Natatawa nitong wika at uminom muna ng mamahaling alak bago nagpatuloy sa sasabihin. "I still remember, she's the same age as you when she also asked me a favor. With the same reason."
Really? My mom also asked him a favor?
So I was not wrong when I think of asking my lolo's help.
"Same reason?"
"Yes. About her love." Napangiti ako sa nalaman at biglang naging interesado. "What am I supposed to do, she's my only daughter and I want her the best. I promise to give everything she want as long as she's happy. And I'm glad I wasn't wrong when I granted her favor." Kung ganun alam ko na kung saan ako nagmana. "Love is the most precious thing in the world and that shouldn't be hindered."
Oh my grandpa. I like that.
"I love you lo." Tumayo ako at tumabi sa kanya. I hug her arm. "So is this a yes? You will help me?" Para akong bata na nasasabik. "Please lo, I promise to be a good girl and obey ---."
"No need to promise Maxine, I know you're a good girl like your mom." Hinawakan nya ang kamay ko at ngumiti. "And also audacious when it comes to love."
