Parental Guidance [ BINI AU ]

CHAPTER 5

**AUTHOR'S POV**

Ysa arrived at her cafe together with Luna who's whole face is wrinkled again.

Kung gaano ka bright at approaching ng buong pagkatao ni Ysa ay kabaliktaran naman sa kay Luna, whose expression is serious and distant.

As Ysa greeted her staffs warmly, they can't help but to noticed the kid beside her that gives them a chill on their spine on how it looks at them.

"Madam Yvonne, Good Morning!" Mikay, her trusted staff member, greeted her with excitement. But her enthusiasm quickly faded as her eyes caught sight of the child, as if her battery had suddenly run low under the weight of her lifeless gaze.

"What’s wrong, Mikay?" Ysa asknoticing the sudden shift in atmosphere.

Mikay hesitated bago siya nagtanong, "Sino yan Madam?"

Ysa smiled, trying to ease the tension. "Ah si Luna, pamangkin ni Jo...nagbakasyon kaya sa amin muna pinatira.."

Mikay exchanged a glance with the other staff, their expressions still uneasy. "Mukhang hindi friendly yung aura niya Madam..." she said carefully.

Ysa chuckled, brushing off their concerns. "Nahihiya lang siya, don't mind her..."

Pero hindi mapigilan ni Mikay ang pakiramdam, glancing at Luna, who remained completely motionless.

"Sigurado ka bang okay siya Madam?" Mikay asked, her voice barely above a whisper. Hindi siya naniniwalang walang mali sa batang nasa harap nila ngayon, sa lahat ng bata na idinala ni Ysa sa cafe ay siya yung naiiba. Sa tingin palang nito parang hindi kana masisinagan ng araw if you messed up with her.

Kumbaga living chucky.

"Of course! She just needs some time to warm up," Ysa reassured, though the unease lingered in the air.

"Luna, mag hi ka muna sa mga Ate mo dito sa cafe.." Luna stared at her as if she hadn’t heard a word. Her gaze was fixed on a something that just caught her attention, it was a chocolate cake behind Ysa.

"Luna?" Tanong muli ni Ysa, "sige na batiin mo na sila.."

But Luna remained silent, her hands tightly clasped together, and her expression did not change. The warmth of Ysa's presence no effect on the girl's cold aura.

"Luna, gusto mo ng gatas?" This time Mikay was the one who asked.
Her question hung in the air, an awkward attempt at connection.

"Do i look like a baby? And I don't like milk." The kid replied coldy and no emotion.

The other staff exchanged glances, sensing the tension only intensifying. Ysa chuckled nervously, trying to lighten the mood.

"Uh...guys, I'll take care of Luna here...pwede na kayo bumalik sa mga trabaho niyo." Ysa said na sinunod naman kaagad ng kanyang mga staffs.

Gently, Ysa held Luna's shoulder and guided her to the nearest table. Though she had her own office inside the café, she couldn’t let Luna be there since she hadn’t organized her things yet.

"Diyan kalang muna, may gusto ka ba kainin?"

Luna continued to stare blankly at the chocolate cake, her thoughts elsewhere. Ysa sighed, trying to draw her out of her shell.

"Luna, please look at me. May gusto ka bang kainin?" Ysa asked gently, hoping to engage her.

Meanwhile for Luna, she was debating with herself to tell Ysa what she really wants. Natatakot siya na baka kapag sinabi nito ang kanyang gusto ay magagalit siya at sigawan, lalo na at nakikita niya na maraming tao ang nasa paligid.