*Ding Dong *Ding Dong
The gate opened. At sumilip ang isang katulong. At pagtingin nya sakin ay halata ang pagkagulat nya.
"Maam Jen! Ay naku maam, kayo nga! Nakabalik na nga kayo. At hindi po talaga kayo nagpasundo." Sabi ni Manang Lita habang tinutulungan akong ipasok ang mga bagahe ko papasok sa bahay. "Haha. Ikaw talaga Manang Lita. Im a big girl now, I want to do things on my own. At nasanay na din akong magisa." Sabi ko pa ng nakangiti pero parang may kirot sa mga huling salita ko. "Eh diba Maam may manliligaw kayo dun. Si Drake. Baka sundan na naman kayo nun dito ah. Tumawag nga siya kanina sa telepono at tinatanong kung nakauwe ka na ba. Grabe Ma'am, ang ganda mo talaga at swerte. Napaka maaalalahanin ng manliligaw mo. Wala ho ba kayong balak sagutin yun? Bagay naman kayo e." Naku napakadaldal talaga ni Manang, hinding hindi ako mabuburyo dito. Nakakaaliw talaga siya. "Manang, alam mo naman na hindi ko talaga siya gusto dahil may iba na kong mahal. Alam mo naman yan Manang. Hmm." "Eh kasi hija, ayun pa din ba? Ang tagal na nun. College kapa nun. Tumatanda ka na dapat iniintindi mo na din ang pagpapamilya. Eh ni hindi ka nga kilala nun. Hehe!" Panunukso pa ni Manang. "Ikaw Manang ah. Ang kulit kulit mo talaga. Change topic Manang. Maloloka ako sayo. Para akong nasa hot seat. Haha!" "Ay naku sige at ikukuha kita ng inumin." Pagaalok ni Manang. "Ako na Manang. Ipaakyat mo na lang yang mga gamit ko."
Nagpunta ako ng kusina at kumuha ng cold water. Grabe ang dami ng nagbago. Iba na ang mga furnitures na mansion, pati na ang pintura. Ang aliwalas at peaceful ng paligid. This is home. Napangiti na lang ako dahil namiss ko nga to. Dito pa din ako uuwi, my home. Nagmumuni-muni ako ng marinig ko ang pagtatawanan sa garden, si Dad yun. Agad naman akong nagtungo sa garden na napakalawak. Nakita kong nakaupo dun si Dad at isang lalaking kasing-edad lang niya. Nagtatawanan sila. Ito ang namiss ko pa, ang totoong kasiyahan sa pagtawa ni Dad. Masaya na siya. Naka move on na. "Dad!" Sabay takbo at yakap kay Dad. "I missed you, Dad! Finally, Im home!" Para kong maiiyak. "Ako din anak. Buti naman at nakarating ka ng maayos. By the way, hija. I want you to meet my bestfriend, he's a childhood friend. Good thing we bumped to each other again. Hija, this is your Tito Allan. Allan, this is my adorable daughter, Jennilyn." We shook hands. "Nice meeting you, Jennilyn. Welcome back." Tito said. "Same here. Jen na lang Tito Allan. And thanks." Respond ko.
We just talked and ate together. "Anak, your Tito and I has a plan. Kasi he has this very stubborn son. He is your Tito's eldest child. He was supposed to take over the highest position in your Tito's company. It is the Fontanilla Enterprises Inc. Unfortunately, a bad break up ruin him. He was always in every trouble. Drunk everyday. He became uncontrolled of himself. He is so wasted. Everything was already planned, in fact he already had the position pero he was so out of his self. Napapabayaan ang company. Inaasa nya nalang lahat sa iba ang trabaho niya. He is not even going to the company. And your Tito is receiving a lot of complains about his son shortcomings. Matanda na kami ng Tito mo, he cant handle Dylan and the company. Since youve been the one whose managing our company, you are well experienced para tulungan sila and you are the one we're giving our trust to. Dont mind our company nandun ang mga pinsan mo, they wouldnt dare neglect their jobs in our company sa US. Theyre responsible." Ang daming sinabi ni Dad. Pero ayaw mag sink in sa precious mind ko. Oh em gee. Dylan is his name? Napaka iresponsable naman ng Dylan na yun. Walang kwenta. Ang layo niya sa Dylan ko. "Wait Dad. I know your trusting me. But if Tito cant handle this Dylan guy, ano pa ko? Wala naman akong super powers para pasunurin yung taong yun. I think we're the same age. It means he must be matured enough para maging responsible son. Oh Dad. What do you want me to do? Babysit that Dylan guy? No freaking way Dad. That's insane." Pagrereklamo ko kay Dad. Ano ko babysitter? Ang swerte niya ah. Ang ganda kong babysitter! "Jennilyn. I saw him. I observed Dylan. Wala. He's helpless. And he wouldnt listen to his Dad, to anyone. I know it was so selfish of me bringing you in this situation. Give it a try. I just wanted to help Allan. He needs me. Its payback time, madami syang natulong satin. Lalo na sa mommy mo. He was even the reason why I have your Mom. He helped us. I'll show you Dylan. At pag nakita mo siya, malalaman mong kailangan ka niya. Walang ibang makakagawa e. Madami ng nag-try na mga relatives nya na i-approach sya pero they all failed. Since you lived in US for a long time baka ibang approach ang magawa mo. Why not try to reach out? We'll go to Dylan. Pag nakita mo siya at ayaw mo syang tulungan, hindi kita pipilitin. You can go." Pagsusuyo ni Dad. I dont know.
Why me?
Who are you Dylan guy?
Why do I feel I have to take this offer?
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Dreamcatcher xx
