what if we happened

29. Keeping His Promise

Chapter 29: Keeping His Promise

Seren

I was in a deep sleep when I heard a knock suddenly echo through the room.

"'Ma, I'm not hungry yet! Kumain na kayo, mamaya na lang po ako. Tulog pa ako!" pilit kong sigaw sabay talukbong ng kumot sa buong mukha, trying to ignore the knock.

I had stayed up so late last night dahil sa pagiging delulu ko kaya feeling ko ilang oras pa lang ang naitutulog ko. I don't want to get up yet. Bonus pa na sobrang lamig ngayon dahil makulimlim sa labas, masarap matulog nang matagal kapag ganito ang panahon.

"Handa na raw ang almusal, sabi ni Mama."

Sa isang iglap, tila tinakasan ako ng antok sa buong katawan nang makarinig ako ng pamilyar na boses. It literally made my eyes flew open. Imposibleng kapatid ko ang may ari ng boses na iyon dahil hindi pa matured ang boses nito, it wasn't my father either because I knew for sure he was already at work and I am very familiar with the sound of his voice.

Don't tell me . . .

I threw off the blanket from my face.

No way.

It couldn't be him.

"Mama?"

"Aking Salome! Oras na ng pagbangon!"

"Elias? Ikaw ba iyan?" I blurted out, now fully awake. Napasampal-sampal ako sa mga pisngi ko, umaasang baka nananaginip pa rin ako. "Sa pag-o-overthink mo kay Elias, nag-ha-hallucinate ka na," pakikipag-usap ko pa sa sarili ko.

"Sino pa ba?" natatawa niyang tugon.

P*tang*na. Siya nga!

The first thing that comes to my mind is . . . wala pa akong makeup!

"Seryoso ba?!" hindi makapaniwala kong tanong at napaupo dala ng kaba.

"Labas ka na, kain na raw tayo sabi ni Mama," he called from the other side of the door.

Wait? What did he just say? Anong Mama? Bakit niya tinatawag na Mama 'yong Mama ko? As far as I know, Tita ang sabi ni Mama na itawag sa kaniya ni Elias, so why was he calling her that now?

Hindi na ako nakapagsalita. Panic flooded my veins. I was more concern about how I look. I quickly glanced at the clock. It was way too early! I wasn't ready for this! Ano ba kasing ginagawa niya rito at bakit diretso agad siya sa tapat ng kuwarto ko? I hadn't even gotten the chance to brush my teeth!

I reluctantly got out of bed and made my way to the mirror to check myself. The reflection that greeted me was nothing short of horrifying. Ang lusog ng eyebags ko dahil sa puyat, ang pale rin ng labi ko and my hair was a mess. Great!

What if he saw me like this? I won't let that happen!

"Shocks! Ang pangit ko," I whispered to myself.

"Salome, tara na. Kain na raw. Bangon ka na riyan!" Hindi pa rin umaalis si Elias sa tapat ng pinto at kumatok pa ng dalawang beses. Mabuti na lang naka-lock 'yon, kung hindi ay baka nabuksan na niya iyon kanina pa. I would've been completely exposed!

But at my second thought, this is a lady's room, hindi ako basta-bastang papasukin ni Elias. I know him enough.

"Oo, wait lang! Just give me a second." I shouted back, panicking. "Mauna ka na sa dining, susunod ako."

"Sige, bilisan mo. Ayaw kong mainis si Mama sa iyo."

Bakit ka ba Mama nang Mama?

I grabbed the nearest brush and comb through my hair just to make myself look even a little presentable. The thought of seeing Elias without any makeup was already enough to make me feel self-conscious. I wasn't about to face him looking like a total mess. Dapat maganda ako palagi sa mga mata niya. Bakit kasi wala manlang siya pasabi na pupunta siya?