Red Light, Green Light

Eighteen

Two weeks have passed, it was hell of a ride from going to Colombia and then Japan. Wala na talaga ako magagawa sa buhay ko. Bilhin ko kaya isa sa mga isla sa Pilipinas?

"Ate" inabutan ako ni Jairos ng mainit na tsaa, nakita siguro nito natutulala na naman ako. We we're sitting in the balconoy. Auntie Caramina and my Dad sat across frome me and Jairos. 

I think this was the first time we're all together again without discussing business on the table but just a normal family. 

I don't usually go home to this house and act all comfortable, I used to think they're not even my real Family. But I am starting to warm up to Auntie Caramina and Jairos now

Little steps.

"How was Bogota, Melzhaine?" Tanong ni auntie while she grabbed a toasted bread for my Dad, who was silently sitting on his seat, reading the daily paper

"It was fine" I replied, my eyes not living the cup of hot tea on my hands

"I heard Mister Elliot visited and nagkita daw kayo?" Jairos questioned, dinadasal ko talaga na hindi ma bubuklas ang usapin na yan. Not especially if Evron's in it during my stay in Bogota and in Tokyo

ngunit ay hindi ko babanggitin. What am I gonna tell them? I'm doing a background check on my Father's friend? Business partner niya pa above all else

"It was by chance. I didn't even know what he looks like if hindi pa siya nagpakilala" I replied frankly, tumango lamang si Jairos

"So? what did you do in your Mother's home? Nakausap mo ba ang Abuela at Abuelo mo?" Tanong ni Dad pero parang may tono ito sa boses na pang-uuyam. It's as if he's hinting something, like he sounded he was in discomfort ng binanggit niya si Abuela at Abuelo.

"They wanted me to bid their regards to you Dad" 

"ganon ba" I lowkey heard him snort. Hindi ko alam bakit ansama ng modo niya ngayon

"Hon, why don't you message them. Kamustahin mo lang sila" Auntie Caramina suggested. Though it's only for formalities sake. I know my Grandparents does not have this closeness with my Father, but I don't get the idea why all of  a sudden Dad acts like this

"No need. Tama na yung nagpakita na si Melzhaine doon, So what did you discussed ? That's I was simply letting my Daughter run back to Bogota just because she was having tantrums inside the business?" Tumayo si Daddy at binagsak ang dyaryo na hawak niya sa lamesa

"G-Galvan" pagpapakalma ni Auntie, I simply sat there my hand over my other hand in silence and a poker face

"Do you have any idea, how much of a talk of the town we are right now Melzhaine? Nakakahiya ka! I cut of your credit card but still- walang nag bago, Evron made an effort to come back here to the Philippines, offerin to train you pero ano? Parang nilalaro mo lahat ng oras ng mga tao dito!" 

Na pahawak si Daddy bigla sa kanyang dibdib, worried started to paint Auntie Caramina's face as she guided Dad indoors.

I sighed deeply, still keeping my composure pero parang may namumuong mga luha sa sulok ng mga mata ko, Jairos then gave me the tissue box without saying a word. I don't usually get affected by these things kasi nasanay na ako na madalas kaming mag away ni Dad sa maliliit na mga bagay, but today was just different

"You probably hate this Family, Jairos, you probably don't like me as your sister too huh" Natawa ako

"On the contrary, wala naman akong reklamo so far, Ate- Simpleng tao lang ako, I can learn to adapt"

I really wished I hade some of Jairos's traits, especially his iron-willed character.

"Walang duda ay magiging mabuti kang lider, Jairos. You can probably even be CEO now"