Hiding His Daughter

CHAPTER 48

GLAIZA AND ANDREA'S FRIENDSHIP

Glaiza's POV

When both my parents died, I decided to live in the city. I was 16 at the time. That's where I met Eduardo Romanova. I remember it clearly: I was sitting on a bench in the park, feeling utterly lost, when he sat down beside me.

"Rough day?" he asked, his voice gentle.

I nodded, tears welling up. "My parents... they're gone."

He offered a comforting smile. "I'm Eduardo. It's okay to cry. Sometimes, that's the only way to let it all out."

We sat in silence for a while, just listening to the sounds of the city. Then he said, "My name's Eduardo. Want to grab a coffee?" That coffee turned into hours of conversation, and Eduardo became my friend.

Naging mas close kami sa isa't-isa dahil halos araw-araw kaming magkasama kahit sa pagtatrabaho dahil ipinasok niya ako sa palengke kung saan siya nagtatrabaho at dumediskarte.

Siniko ko siya upang bumili saglit ng makakain namin dahil lunch break na namin. Nagkamot siya ng ulo. "Last libre ko muna ito, ha?" nginiwihan ko siya.

Naglabas ako ng pera sa bulsa ko. "May pera ako, ano akala mo sa akin dikya?" asik ko, ngunit umalis na siya at hindi kinuha ang pera ko. "Baliw." bulong ko at naupo.

"Can we join you?"

I looked up, surprised. A girl with bright eyes and a dazzling smile stood before me and a boy.

"Sure, go ahead," I mumbled, pushing my pasta aside.

"I'm Andrea, this man beside me is Freddieric" the girl said, settling into the seat across from Glaiza. "You're Glaiza, right? I've seen you around together with Eduardo." Andrea's smile was disarming, and she seemed genuinely interested.

I nodded, feeling a slight sense of relief at not having to endure the silence alone.

"You seem a little... down," Andrea observed, noticing my withdrawn demeanor. "Want a cookie? I brought way too many."

Andrea pulled out a box overflowing with colorful cookies, a generous offering that surprised me. It was a sweet gesture, one that warmed me slightly.

English itong girl na 'to, kilala ko ito dahil kay Eduardo, blockmates sila.

Si Eduardo lang naman kaibigan ko rito sa school, malay ko kung binabackstab na ako ni Eduardo sa ibang tao.

"Where's Eduardo, by the way?" tanong niya at sinubuan yung kasama niya ng kinakain niyang cookies.

Umiwas ako ng tingin, dito pa talaga sa harap ko nag subuan.

Tumikhim ako. "I asked him to buy our food." saad ko sa malayo pa rin ang tingin.

Hindi na ako nakarinig ng kung anong salita sa kanila ngunit nagsisikohan sila.

"You ask her, you are the one who's curious." rinig kong bulong ni Andrea.

"I'm shy, okay? Go ask her." bulong na balik nitong Freddieric.

Bakit pa ba nagbubulongan 'tong dalawang ito? Naririnig ko naman.

Tumikhim ako, napaharap naman sila sa akin. "Ano ba gusto niyong itanong? Rinig ko bulungan niyong dalawa." saad ko.

Ilang na ngumiti sa akin si Andrea. "Ah, Freddieric is curious... Are you in a relationship with Eduardo? Or what's your relationship with him?" maingat niyang tanong.

Kung may iniinom lang ako panigurado nabilaukan na ako.

"Friends lang kami," saad ko, dumating naman na si Eduardo. "Tagal mo." asik ko ng maka upo siya sa katabi ko.