The Letters of Paris

Chapter 05

"Dr. Hypatia Esquivel's clinic, how may I assist you today?"

"It's me... again, her daughter. May I speak with her?" Pinaglaruan ko ang laylayan ng damit ko para maibsan ang munting kaba na gumagapang sa sistema ko.

"Good evening Miss Ross. Dr. Hypatia's currently in flight. Should you leave a message?"

I let out a deep sigh, pang-apat ko na itong tawag ngayong araw. "No... may I ask where she's heading instead?"

There was a minute of silence before she spoke again. "I apologize, but she didn't leave any directive."

Napakagat ako sa labi ko sa dismaya. Same question, same reply.

"It's alright. Please tell her assistant that I called," I said.

"Absolutely. Will that be all?"

Natahimik ako ng ilang segundo bago sumagot. "Yes."

"Then, have a nice day Miss Ross."

With that, the call ended. Isang buwan na ang lumipas simula noong huli namin nakausap si Mama. She's been avoiding our calls and texts, even her secretary. This has never happened before, kadalasan tatawag na 'to o hindi kaya ang sekritarya niya bago matapos ang buwan.

"May nangyari ba?"

Napalingon ako sa pamilyar na boses at umiling sa kanya.

"It's your mom, right?"

Xenon sat beside me while I stared at him. His quiff cut still made me curious about how soft his hair is. He had bible-black eyebrows that complemented his moon-shaped eyes.

A soft chuckle got out of my lips when he looked away, doon ko napansin ang pamumula ng kaniyang tenga. How adorable.

"Kumain ka na ba?" Pag-iiba ko ng usapan.

He shook his head at lumingon na parang may hinahanap kaya sinundan ko kung saan ito tumingin. Nahagilap ko ang mga kaibigan niyang tuwang nagkkwentuhan habang naglalakad papalapit saamin dala-dala ang pagkain. I searched for Nina pero hindi nila ito kasama.

"Nina–"

I cut him. "It's fine, may karapatan siyang magalit sa nangyari. I'll just talk to her again."

Iniwas ko ang paningin ko sa kaniya at ngumiti ng malapad dahil kumabit sa braso ko si Cindy.

"Blooming as ever..." She squeezed herself to me and gave us a meaningful grin.

"Hindi mo kasama si Maeve?"

I gazed at Jason. Everyone looked at me, hinihintay kung ano na namang palusot ang sinabi saakin ni Maeve.

"She told me may bisita raw sa bahay nila." I said what she told me. Simula noong umalis si Mama naging mailap si Maeve at kadalasan malalim ang iniisip. May oras na biglaan itong umaalis at hindi ko na matawagan.

Halos araw-araw na akong sumasama kina Xenon dahil pinagtutulakan ako ni Maeve sa kanila. Minsan naman, ihahatid pa ako ni Xenon dahil tinatakasan ko si Thein.

I stared at my almost healed wound when they started talking to each other again. Nang maramadamam kong nakatitig saakin si Xenon nginitian ko lamang ito ng tipid bago iniwas ang paningin sa kanya.

"Nasaan ang pagkain ni Paris?"

I was surprised when Xenon asked. Pasimple kong hinawakan ang damit niya para pahintuin ito pero hindi niya 'ko pinansin.

"Gosh," biglang usal ni Cindy at hinawakan ang kamay ko. "I'm sorry, nakalimutan ko."

Umiling-iling ako at tumawa ng mahina. "Ayos lang. Hindi pa naman ako gutom."