Clio Stormhell ( Completed ) ( BL )

Chapter 43

Clio

I used the back door para pumasok sa building, marami na kasing guest sa front, ayaw kung makipag halubilo sa kanila. As I walk my way towards the event hall, may nadaanan akong matandang lalaki struggling to tie the lace of his shoe. He was at the last step of the stairs, sitting there while trying to tie his lace. Walang tumigil para tulungan siya, they were all busy with the ongoing event.

He looks like his really struggling, bakit ba mag isa dito si tatay? Lumapit ako sa kaniya, and kneel on one knee para magpantay kami.

“ Tatay, tulungan ko na po kayo.” Banggit ko before tying the old man's lace in perfect bow, napatingin lang sa akin ang matandang lalaki habang inaayos ko ang lace niya. Dapat kasi may kasama si tatay, he looks too old to be alone. Asan na ba guardian nito? Kawawa si tatay, naka upo lang sa dulo ng hagdanan may butas pa ang damit.

“ Tatay, sino ho kasama mo? Halika ka po, doon po tayo umupo mas comfortable po d'on.” I pointed the soft cleopatra chair with my hand, tumango sa akin si tatay kaya inalalayan ko siyang maka upo doon. I was walking slowly to assist him carefully, tatay was holding on my arm as he took his steps. Nong naka upo na siya he smiled at me, it was the sweetest smile.

“ Ang bait mo hijo, ano pangalan mo?” Tanong niya sa akin habang nakangiti parin.

“ Clio Stormhell po. Tatay, bakit po kayo mag isa? Sino po kasama n'yo? Tawagin ko po. ”

“ H'wag na, h'wag na. Dadatin rin 'yun. Hijo, puwedi patulong rin nito?” Tinuro ni tatay ang kabilang sapatos niya, the lace was messed up. Sino bang nag tie nito? They could have done better, baka matapakan to at na slide ni tatay. Delikado pa. I kneeled again and tied his lace, for a man wearing a stripes shirt with holes his shoes looked expensive.

“ Salamat, salamat. Ang bait mo, napaka bait. ” He kept on smiling and patting my shoulder as if his really proud of me. Ang sweet ni tatay.

“ Tawagi—” hindi ko na natapos ang sasabihin when I heard his stomach growl in hunger, it was screaming to be fed. I bite the inner wall of my cheeks at napatingin sa may kusina banda, puwedi naman siguro akong manghingi ng pagkain don 'di ba?

“ D'yan ka po muna tatay, may kukunin lang po ako.” I didn't mention hearing his stomach growl baka mahiya siya, dinalian ko ang paglakad papuntang kusina. When I arrived there, a lot of chefs were cooking different dishes as if they were in a hurry. Wala akong mapagtanongan kasi busy sila lahat. Kawawa rin kasi si tatay kapag bumalik na ako na walang dala, tatay is all skin and bone baka ilang araw na 'yun walang kain. 

I was panicking and tried to approach different people but they were all too busy to even respond to me, when a tray of cupcakes was laid down on the table an idea popped inside my head.

“ Sabi..— Sabi ni Zilas kunin ko daw 'to, salamat. ” Kumuha ako ng tatlong piraso at agad umalis sa kusina, the pastry chef tried to bonk me with his whisk buti nalang nakatakbo ako ng mabilis. I used Zilas name but it didn't save me, if I was delayed for just a second baka nahampas na talaga ako sa ulo nong chef.

I headed back to tatay and gave him the cupcakes, he looked confused pero kinuha niya ito. Nakatingin lang si tatay sa cupcake, he was scanning it as if hindi niya alam ang gagawin dito. Baka akala niya pinapahawakan ko lang sa kaniya tapos nahihiya siyang kainin, kawawa naman si tatay. Malaman ko lang talaga sino ang nag iwan sa kawawang matandang 'to makakatikim sa akin.

“ Kainin mo po, tatay. Masarap po 'yan.” I gently took a cupcake from his hand and peeled the covered layer for him, it revealed a soft and spongey cake. Binigay ko ito ulit sa kaniya, the old man scanned the cupcake one more time before finally taking a bite. Tumango tango siya habang ngumunguya.

“ Matagal tagal na nong last time ako kumain ng cupcake, salamat hijo.”

Our interactions ended quickly when one of the employees came to me and relay Zilas message, I was afraid to leave tatay alone so sinabi ko sa isang employee na umupo muna katabi ni tatay at hintayin ang guardian niya. I tip him around 500 pesos para don.

“ Tatay, alis na ako.” Paalam ko sa kaniya bago nag lakad paalis, puno ang bibig ni tatay kaya tumango lang ito sa akin at nag wave goodbye.

Nakarating ako sa table namin exactly nong nag start ang event. Zilas was on his seat waiting for me, he gestured for me to sit beside him so I did. I mean, I should be sitting beside him kung ayaw ko ng world war 3 sa bahay at kuwarto.

“ Where have you been? ” He asked nong maka upo ako, I totally forgot I didn't tell him where I was because his busy with the event.

“ Doon lang, ” sagot ko.

“ Where? ” Pagpumilit niya, he always asked for a specific answer hindi 'yung answer na napaka vague.

“ Sa garden, may swing don.” Sagot ko, magsasalita pa sana siya ng biglang nag dim ang palagid at umilaw ang spotlight sa host don sa stage.

Oh, Zaven is the host. Hindi ko siya nakita kanina kaya akala ko hindi dumalo. Zaven greeted everybody in the event and proceeded to finally introduce the highlight of this night.

“ May I welcome to the stage the highlight of this nights event; mister Alastair Haiden! ” We all clapped our hand as Zaven announced the name of Alther's father. How did I know it's his dad? Well, the news said so.

A man in his 40's climbed up the stage and took the mic, he smiled at the crowd before finally speaking. I scanned his face properly, he looked young. You can see wrinkles on his face but that didn't make him look any older, rather it adds up maturity to his face.

“ ...... I'm 67 years old and living a healthy life.... ” It was part of his speech. 67?! Gago?! Ganiyan ka bata tingnan 67?! Sure?! Akala ko 40 palang siya.

“...... I have here with me, my beautiful and loving wife Elodie Gray-Haiden. ”

The moment he mentioned that name my world seems to stop, everything just feels like it's in slow motion. Everything was silent and the only voice that kept repeating in my head was Alastair. My hand curled into a fist and my heart sunk when I saw the woman who left me 8 years ago climb up the stage and kissed Alastair in the cheeks. I wanted to scream so badly, I want to cause a commotion, I want to throw this vase at them, I want to go home..

Her smile fueled my anger even more. Paano siya nakakangiti ng ganiyan?! Wala ba siyang konsensya!!? She left us when Calliope was still 7 months old tapos kung makangiti siya parang hindi nang iwan ng anak. I can't forget about how I kneel in front of her to stay, I can't imagine myself raising a kid without her, I can't imagine myself surviving life without her. I begged and pleaded on my knee for her to stay with me, but no matter what I did iniwan niya parin ako, kahit pinapatay ko na ang sarili ko to provide for her hindi parin siya nag stay.