The Diplomat

Chapter 7

Malapit lang ang bahay ng Ambassador sa Embassy — wala pang 10 minutes ay nakarating na kami. 

Actually mas malayo pa ang tinutuluyan ko na hotel. Maybe that's why Kate invited me at her house. Less byahe, no hassle. 

The house is warm, comfy — very Spanish. 

At sinalubong agad kami ng cute na cute na aso, a bichon frise — A native breed from Spain. Niyakap agad ito ni Sadie at naglaro sila sa sofa. 

Si Kate naman ay nilapag ang dalang handbag sa lamesa. "Get yourself comfy."

I smile at her. "Thank you."

Hindi na sya sumagot, umalis si Kate at hindi ko alam kung saan nagpunta. Kaya nag-ikot at tingin tingin muna ako sa living room.

Wala naman masyadong gamit aside from a huge tv, speakers, mahabang sofa, tables — and some plants. 

Actually sobrang spacious ng living room, neat — it smells like Kate. Yes, her alluring perfume. 

One thing i also noticed is that, wala man lang picture or family portrait sina Kate, as in zero. 

"Can you peel my apple?" 

Napalingon ako kay Sadie na nakatayo sa tabi ko at may hawak na platito, maliit na kutsilyo, apples at isang orange.

"Of course." Kinuha ko ang dala nya at bumalik kami sa sofa. Nilapitan din ako ng aso at hinalik halikan. "Good boy."

"She's a girl." Sadie corrected me.

Natawa ako sabay himas sa ulo ng aso. "What is her name?" 

"Bela." Sagot ng bata. 

Kinuha ko ang kutsilyo at mansanas para balatan. "Ah Sadie." Tumingin naman sya sakin. "Where is your father?" 

Wala lang. I'm just curious. 

At nakakahiya. 

"I don't have one." No emotions na sagot ni Sadie. 

And this made me look at her in shock. "Wha-what?" 

"Nada." I'm pretty sure she said it in Spanish. 

Now I'm curious. "Wala kang Daddy? Tinagalog ko na baka kasi hindi lang kami nagkaintindihan ni Sadie. 

Pero tumango sya. " I have two mothers."

"Oh..." Couldn't be more surprise.

Well why not? Family is not only about Mother and Father — pwede naman din Mother and Mother, Father and Father. 

Iyon ay kung open minded ka at hindi judgmental. 

And deep inside, may nanghinayang ako — may inggit. Bakit hindi nalang ako? I mean.. Kate is.. Sadie is... 

F*ck me. 

"Is she here?" Bulong ko kay Sadie. 

Baka kasi nandito, nakakahiya naman. 

Umiling sya na titig na titig sa mukha ko. "She went away."

Baka nagtatrabaho or something. 

"Anong pangalan nya?" 

The dog licks her little cheek. Sadie chuckles and hug Bela. "I can't tell."

Nagsalubong ang kilay ko. "Why is that Sadie?" 

"Because.." The little girl smile at me. "She told me not to."

Well that's weird. 

Pero ano bang magagawa ko eh pamilya sila. Ako ay isang marites lang.