Hotel De Amore

Chapter 25

Kabanata 25

“Nay, ano sa tingin mo ang regalong makakapagpapasaya kay Jandro” tanong ko kay nanay noong isang hapon habang nag-aasikaso siya ng mga customer sa tindahan namin.

Isang linggo rin kaming nawala dito sa palengke dahil may posibilidad na maging kritikal ang pagbubuntis ko kapag hindi ko alagaan ang sarili ko nang mabuti.

Kaya ayon, nakapagdesisyon si nanay na hindi muna siya magtitinda para samahan ako.

Kaya ngayong panibagong linggo na rin ay  naisipan na ni nanay na magbukas ng tindahan. Sa susunod na linggo kasi ay nagplano na si nanay na pupunta kami sa probinsya dahil isa naman iyon sa nirason niya kay miss Venice.

Bibisitahin kasi namin ang libingan ni tatay at pasalamantala kaming mananatili sa bahay ni lola, ang nanay ni tatay.

“Ikaw” tanging sagot niya na ikinakunot ng noo ko.

“Nahihirapan nga ako e... Kaya nga ako nagtatanong sa’yo ’nay” nakabusangot kong
aniya.

“Ikaw nga... Kahit kasi sarili mo lang ang dalhin mo, saktong-sakto at sayang-saya na si Jandro nyan” panunukso ni nanay na inirapan ko na lang at saka inasikaso ang bagong mamimili but all the thoughts and ideas that have been running inside my head vanished when I saw who the customer was.

“T-tita Alianna...” mahinang pagtawag ko and even with her black shades on, I can still see that she's not surprised at all.

She looked like she's expecting me.

She smiled at me before she looked down at the different kinds of vegetables and pointed some that she wants to buy.

“Starting today, I'll be your store’s new suki!” nasasabik na aniya ni tita Alianna pero mahahalata mo pa rin talaga ang pagka-elegante sa kaniya.

Sa pagsasalita niya, sa bawat galaw niya, sa kahit saan siya lugar, sumisigaw ang aura niya kung gaano siya ka-elegante at kababae.

“B-baka po mapano ka’yo dito tita, may mall naman po. Mas maganda po roon, mas aliwalas rin, at mabango” nahihiyang aniya ko habang binabalot ang binili niya.

“Don't treat me differently just because I looked like this, Amelia iha. I once been in that position you are in” nakangiting aniya that confused me.

“Calling out for customers and selling out fishes, pork, beef, vegetables, and fruits. Those memories are the ones I treasure the most” nakangiting aniya at kinuha ang plastic na inabot ko sa kaniya.

“I know it sounds unbelievable but that's the truth” natatawang aniya that only made me smile.

But then her smile vanished as if she just remembered something.

“And about your situation right now with my son, iha. I'm not clueless about what's happening between you two and all I can say is be strong. Not for both of you and Jandro but for yourself” she smiled and held both of my arms sincerely.

I can't help but to pout. She's so calm..so pure. I won't be wondering now where Jandro gets the calmest side of him.

“But I will tell you something ironic Lia, Jandro is just like his father when it comes to risking their life for the love of their life because we did the same thing back then” nakangiting aniya as she sighed as if those memories from the past never got to be forgotten every single day in her life.