Chapter 28
I woke up, my bed was too comfortable and so I had to fight the urge to sleep again.
Tinignan ko ang paligid, it was my old room... kailan na nga ba ulit akong natulog dito? One year ago? Two years? Simula noong nalaman ko ang tunay na kulo ni Sandy?
Napatingin ako sa malaking picture frame na nakadikit sa wall ko, it was me and Mom when I was still a girl. A young girl.
Biglang may kumatok, "sino iyan?"
"Hija, ang almusal mo ay nakahanda na."
Biglang nanlambot ang puso ko, it wasn't Sandy's voice, it was... it was...
Dali akong tumakbo para pagbuksan siya at saka siya niyakap ng mahigpit, "Lola Dorora..."
Nginitihan niya ako, "mabuti naman at bumalik ka, hija." Si Lola Dorora ang tagaluto ng mansion, Lola ang turing ko sa kanya at pamilya. Naging malapit na kami sa isa't-isa dahil simula pa lang noong bata ako ay dito na siya nagtatrabaho. Noong nawala na si Mama ay siya ang nag-iisang pumupunas ng mga luha ko.
"Bisita lang po, Lola. Mamaya aalis rin ako dito." Sagot ko naman sa kanya.
"Ah, ganoon ba." Halatang may bahid ng lungkot ang kanyang boses, "ibang iba na talaga ang bahay na ito, simula noong nawala ang inay mo lahat nagbago." Niyakap ako ni Lola Dorora, for the first time for years, nakaramdam ako ng pagmamahal ng nanay na matagal ko nang inaasam.
"Hindi na po ako mag-aalmusal..." baka kasi andoon ang mag-asawang magagaling at kumakain, "aalis na po ako agad."
Naging malungkot ang ekspresyon ni Lola, "gusto mo bang baonan kita ng pagkain?"
"Sige po, Lola."
~*~
Umuwi ako kanina ng walang paalam sa mansion, kung magpapaalam pa ako sa mag-asawa ay hindi ko na talaga matitiis pa ang kaplastikan ni Sandy at baka may masabi pa ako na kasing pangit ng pagmumukha niya.
Binuksan ko ang kwarto ko, nagulat ako dahil nakita ko roon si Travis, tatanungin ko sana sa kanya kung ano ang ginagawa niya sa kwarto ko pero nagsalita agad siya, "where had you been?" His tone was demanding for an answer.
Yumuko ako, "wala ka na doon..." sagot ko.
Narinig ko ang bawat hakbang ni Travis palapit sa akin, "wala na ako doon?" He mimicked. "Kai, you don't know how much you worried me."
Bigla niya akong niyakap ng mahigpit, tumingin ako sa kanya, he had dark circles around his eyes but it only made him hotter and mature. Nagbuntong-hininga ako, "sa mansion ako ni Dad natulog..." I answered.
"I thought..." Travis stopped, he looked at me, "I thought you were in trouble again."
"Sorry..." Bulong ko, soft enough for Travis to hear.
"For what?"
"For... for everything." Sagot ko naman, I suddenly felt the urge to cry but I blinked the tears away.
Tumawa si Travis, "don't be sorry, Kai... it doesn't fit the character I saw in you."
"What character?"
He grinned. "Pasaway. Uhm... brat. Troublemaker. Hindi marunong makinigー"
"Oo na! Tama na!" I glared at him.
Ginulo niya ang buhok ko, "you know the strawberry cake?" I nodded. "It was too sweet..." I felt my heart shatter, "exactly as how I want it to be." Biglang lumiwanag ang ekspresyon ko at nakahinga ako ng maluwag.
Tinignan ko si Travis, he was blushing...
"U-Uhm... thanks? Thanks... for baking the cake for me."
"Paano mo naman nalaman na ako ang gumawa?" Tanong ko.
"Your kitchen was a mess, it is enough proof to know it was you and you asked my favorite food to Grey." Travis grinned. "Thanks for the effort, Kai."
"Masarap ba ang cake?"
"Yup. Hindi man siya ganoon kasarap tulad ng gawa ni Mama, but for me, it was the best I ever tasted for years because I felt the love and effort." He chuckled, "I'm saying stupid things. Right?"
"Not really."
~*~
I asked Travis kung tuturuan pa ba niya ako mag-manage ng kompanya, he told me that he no longer have any to teach and the other aspects are already for me to discover.
Habang tulala sa kama ay may nakita akong papel na naka-fold sa desk ko. Kumunot ang noo ko at dali itong binuksan only to see a handwriting similar to Travis' penmanship.
Pack your things, tomorrow morning, we'll be going to a private island of mine for 3 days.
My eyes widened.
Dali kong tinawagan si Travis, he answered after four rings. "Don't tell me you're in trouble." Bungad ni Travis, pinaikot ko ang mata ko.
"I saw your letter. Can I invite my friends?"
He paused. "Yea." Sagot niya, "if that's all Kai, I need to go. I'm busy right now finishing my works for the next three days."
"I can come and help."
"No thanks. You will only slow me down." Binabaan na niya ako ng tawag, that jerk! Am I really a nuisance for him?
Umiling na lang ako at isa-isang tinawagan ang mga kaibigan ko at si JM para i-inform sila na pupunta kami sa isang private island ni Travis for a little vacation.
Mabuti na lang at wala silang appointments or schedules or plano sa mga susunod na araw kaya naman go sila, syempre sinabi ko na si Travis ang may pakana nito at isa na itong paraan para mas makilala pa nila si Travis at hindi lang siya makita bilang bilyonaryo.
After a moment, I just found myself packing for my things for the next three days.
