The Glimpse of Us

Capitolo Dos : Words and Regrets

"Anak, be prepared na po. You're going to school na." mahinahon kong utos kay Maeve. Kinuha ko ang bag nito at dinala sa aking kotse.

I have a job interview today at inaya ako ni Kuya Ios na mag-umagahan sa bahay nila. Gusto kong tumanggi pero sayang, pagkain 'yon, 'e. Nang matapos kong suotan ng sapatos si Maeve, kinuha ko na ito at isinakay sa kotse. I locked the front door and the main gate para walang pumapasok na bata.

I have experienced leaving the gate opened already at nang pag-balik ko, my garden was hell of a mess dahil sa mga bata at ibang dalaga at binatilyong tumambay dito. Mga bwisit.

I look at the passenger seat to see Maeve writing a. . . form?

"What was that form for, anak?" I asked. Inayos ko ang kaniyang seatbelt at nagpatuloy sa pagd-drive.

"Mommy!"

"Yes?"

"Be careful, please! I'm filling this form because I'm joining the girl scout organization,"

Napalingon ako sa kaniya as my face looks unpaintable because of my reaction, "Ha?! Girl-what?"

"Girl scout, mommy. I want to join po, can I? Please? Please?" she kissed me while I was driving. I chuckle and nodded quickly, "Yay! Thank you, mommy!"

Ayos lang naman sa akin kung ano'ng gustong salihan ni Maeve sa kaniyang paaralanan. It's been two months since classes starts at nagsisimula na rin an mga organisations para sa mga bata. Napagmeetingan na rin naman ng mga parent 'yan, hindi lang ako aware na interesado ang anak ko sa mga gano'ng bagay.

I'm happy that my kid is interested on joining such activities. This way, maaga s'yang magkakaroon ng malawak na kaisipan tungkol sa kaniyang mga ginagalawan, which is I'm proud of as a Mom.

Nang maka-rating kami sa bahay ni Kuya, the gate automatically opened and their butler went and greeted us. She's an old maid we have since we were little kaya siguro ay kinuha na s'ya ni Kuya para alagaan naman sina Alonso at ang kaniyang bunsong anak.

S'ya na ang tumayong nanay namin ni Kuya noong palaging wala sina mommy at daddy. She's always at our achievements', awarding, school ceremonies and meetings. She prepare us breakfast, lunch and dinner. She almost did anything for us kaya iniyakan nga namin siya noong sinubukan n'yang umalis ng bahay.

"Tito!" sigaw ni Maeve nang makita si Kuya Ios.T

Lumabas ako ng kotse at kinuha naman si Eve sa passenger seat. We went inside with her things dahil sa kanila siya sumasabay kasama si Alonso. Pareho lang naman sila ng pinapasukang integrated school that's why my brother insist on dropping them together.

"Come on in," aya ni Natasha. She's my age pero sinusubukan ko s'yang tawaging ate yet she doesn't want to.

"Good morning," I parted my lips to curve a smile.

"Let's eat, come on!" she replied.

Nag-hain na ang kasambahay nina Kuya Ios kaya naman pina-upo ko si Maeve sa tabi ni Alonso at sinandukan siya ng pagkain. While eating, my phone rang. Chineck ko kung sino ang tumatawag but the phone number was Unknown. My eyebrows furrowed as I excuse my self outside the house.

"Hello? Who might this be?" magalang kong sagot. It was not talking kaya nag-salita akong muli,"Hello? Is anyone there?"

I heard a chuckle of a boy from the phone dahilan upang mainis ako. Is this a prank or something? Ibaba ko na sana ang aking telepono nang bigla itong magsalita. Aagad kong itinutok ang cellphone sa aking taenga upang marinig ang sinasabi ng lalaking may baritonong boses.

"It's been a while. How are you?" the man calmly said.

"Uh-sir, I think you have the wrong number." I left out an awkward chuckle bago ko hinintay na muling magsalitsa ang lalaki, but I was frozen on spot when the man spoke the second time.