I.N.F.I.N.I.T.Y. ∽

19

* N A T H A L I E *

Dumbfounded.

I stand up by reflex and bow. "I'm so sorry, Ma'am. I didn't know you're Madam Alonzo. Sorry for being rude." Umayos ako ng tayo. "B-but that incident... I'm not sorry for it." Matigas kong sabi.

She just look at me without any emotion on her face. "You're not sorry for slapping my grandson?"

"Yes, Madam. I personally think that Irvin Alonzo deserved what I gave to him. He kissed me in front of hundred people in the Academy and as a girl, I felt so humiliated. So, I want to say sorry again, Ma'am but I'm not sorry for what I've done." I bow again saka ko umayos ng upo.

Owkay, Nathalie. Just what the heck did you do!?

Parang bolang dinidrible yung dibdib ko. Hindi ko alam kung saan ako humugot ng lakas ng loob at nasabi ko yun sa harap ni Madam Olivia Alonzo.

Hello, Nathalie! It's Madam Alonzo! God. Ihahanda ko na ang sampal na malutong galing kay Mom dahil nakick out ako.

Kasalukuyan kong nireready ang sarili ko sa matatanggap kong kumikinang kinang na expaltion notice galing kay Madam nang makarinig ako ng tawa. I look at her and found her laughing hard while holding her stomach. Eeeh?

I just watch her laughing. Maya-maya rin ay tumigil lang siya at tumingin na naman sakin. Hindi na katulad kanina na wala siyang reacgion, she's now smiling at me.

Uhmm... anong nangyayare?

"I know now." Sabi nito habang tumutango tango.

"W-what, Madam?"

"Alam ko na kung bakit ayaw ka ipakilala samin ng batang iyon. Because you're not just a simple woman at alam niyang magugustuhan kita."

Magpapaliwanag na sana ko nang magsink-in yung sinabi niya sakin. G-gusto niya ko? Hindi siya nandito para i-expell ako?

"Yes, dear. I'm not here to expell you. I'm just here to see what kind of woman are you. What kind of woman that my grandson starting to love."

Hindi ko narinig yung huli niyang sinabi at hindi na naman ako nakapagsalita pa nang tumayo na siya. "But! Not because I like you, doesn't mean you will not be punished!"

"E-eh?" Akala ko ba...

"As chairman of Alonzo Academy and as grandmother of the guy you slapped, hinahatulan kita ng parusang... isang buong araw kita makakasama."

____

Sa totoo lang, I don't know what's happening... Like, akala ko ieexpell ako ni Madam pero magkasama kami ngayon sa Mansion de Alonzo. Yes, asa mansion kami ng mga Alonzo!

Tinitignan ko ngayon ang mga picture frames na nakadikit sa wall. I admit, Alonzo's genes are no joke. Magandang lahi talaga sila. Medyo sumablay nga lang kay Perv.

Napatingin ako sa pinto nang bumukas yun at iniluwa ang masungit na kapatid ni Perv--- si Ircy. "What are you doing here?" Tamo. Nagtaray agad. Geez. Hindi ko talaga feel 'to!

"She came with me, Ircy."

"Ha? Lola, are you serious? Irvin will surely get mad if he get to know this."

"Edi wag ipaalam. Anyway, why are you talking to me? Go upstairs and lock yourself, like you always do." Napanganga ko. Napatingin ako kay Ircy para makita ang reaction niya pero ni katiting walang nagbago dun. She look at me and give a half smirk saka naglakad pa papaakyat.

"Ms. Alcantara."

"Y-yes, Madam?"

"Stop calling me Madam. Just Lola."

"E-eh?" She just nod and take a sip of her tea.

"Sorry for what you just saw. That how we normally do in ths mansion." Umayos siya ng upo at tumingin sa naglalakihang picture frames sa paligid. "Ganda ng lahi namin 'no?" Sabi nito habang nakangiti ng nakakaloko at tinataas taas ang kilay niya. Pfft. Lola nga 'to ni Perv.

"A-ah, opo. Hehe."

"So," panimula ulit nito saka tumingin sakin. "Gusto mo bang malahian ng ganyan kagandang lahi?"

Literal na napalaki ang mata ko at muntikan na kong mabilaukan sa sinabi niya. "HAHAHAHAHA! You're really cute, Nathalie! I really love your reactions! Bet na bet ko!"

S E R Y O S O ?

"Hahaha! Pardon, my dear! I just really like you and your reactions. Shookt na shookt ka eh! Haha!" Omg... this granma and her words. "Okay, okay. Change topic na us. Tell me what usually Irvin does in Academy."

"Being nuisance to my life." I intentionally said. Lol. I'm just being honest here.

But you know what? Feeling ko hindi ko na dapat sinabi yun. Hindi sa takot ako sa fact na Lola niya ang nasa harap ko. Kundi sa ngiti ni Lola ngayon!

"J-joking. Hehehe--"

"You're such a great woman, Nathalie."

"E-eh? Ah, t-thank you po."

"I think I should arranged your marriage as soon as I can."

"WHAT THE FUCK?" Sigaw ko.

Putek. That's the worst thing I ever heard!

"Hahahahahaha! It's a joke! Hahaha! Don't worry, hindi ko kayo pipilitin sa isa't-isa! 'Cause I know sooner or later, you two will fall in love with each other! Yey! Pero kung maisipan mo naman, sige gora tayis jan!"

"Sorry, Lola. But that will never happen." Nakangiti at confident kong sabi.

"Yan din ang sabi ko sa magulang ni Bernardo nun! Tignan mo naman, may babaero, may bruha, may anghel at iba't-ibang klase na kong apo!"

"Bruha?"

"Oo, si Ircy. Bruha yun eh. Hindi lang halata sa mukha niya kasi may pinagpala siyang lahi galing sakin pero maitim ang budhi ng gagang yan! Ay saglit may ibibigay ako sayo!"

Oh my gosh. Mas mababaliw ata ko sa Lola ni Alonzo.

Bumalik siya sa tabi ko saka iniabot sakin ang isang photo album. "It's Irvin's!"

"Ahhh." Walang gana kong sabi. Dude, wala naman akong paki sa manyak na yun no.

"Wanna know his darkest secret?" Napatingin ako kay Lola. I nod and smirk.

"I'm planning to reveal this on his 21st birthday but... I think mas mabuti na ikaw ang maglabas nito." She opens the book at halos hindi ako makapaniwala sa nakita ko.

"Teach him lesson for me, dear Nathalie."

"Sure, Lola. I will give the lesson, he will never forget."

Hello, Irvin Alonzo. Our real game starts now.