Hey Harry!

Chapter 7

Business Trip

Like a normal day, we had our classes. And just like other students, kanya kanya ng mga barkada pagdating sa loob ng cafeteria. 

"Trixie, you attended the birthday party of Harry's mom!" Naghaharumentadong bungad ni Athena kay Trixie. 

She just smiled and nodded to it. She also gave me a knowing glance, but I just looked at her too. Well, iilan lang naman talaga ang may alam na magkababata kami ni Harry, and I don't plan to tell everyone about it.

Although Athena's my best friend, but I think it's not necessary. Or maybe I'll try to break it to her someday. That's just out of my concern actually. He's just somebody that I knew.

"Ikaw Miarah, san ka nagsusuot kagabi?" Baling ni Athena sakin gamit ang mga mapanuri niyang mga mata. Her ponytail's swinging infront of me as she asked me.

I slightly bit my lower lip, while looking at their faces who're expecting an answer from me. I was about to tell her that I went to the same event, but Trixie answered for me. 

"Maybe she went shopping, you know, girl thing." She winked at me. 

Athena curiously eyed at me, then smiled sarcastically. Like she was disappointed or what. 

Is it because I didn't accompany her instead? Pero hindi naman ganoon kababaw mag-isip si Athena. She's actually a witty person, and I don't know what was that all about.

Nahilaw ang ngiti ko doon. Hinayaan ko lamang silang mag-usap sa kung anu-anong mga bagay habang tumatango lamang ako kapag sinasali nila ako sa usapan. 

Di kalaunan ay tumunog ang bell, hudyat na tapos na ang break.

"I always wonder why you're keeping it as a secret." Bulong sakin ni Trixie nung nauna maglakad si Athena samin.

"It's not a secret, but I'm not planning on broadcasting it to the public." 

"Baka magtampo si Athena sa'yo niyan kapag nalaman pa niya sa iba." She furrowed her eyebrows at me. 

"Why does it sound as if you saved me from an embarrassing issue?" Tumaas naman ngayon ang kilay ko sa kanya. Anung gusto niyang palabasin?

"Chill Mia. I just saved an excuse for you. Don't get mad at me for the faults you're doing." Sabi niya at tinalikuran na ako. 

I can't even understand myself for doing it. It just comes naturally that I don't speak about it. If she wants me to break it to Athena, then I'll go for it.   

Natapos ang araw, and same as usual, magkasama sina Athena at Trixie para sa practices nila for this day. Galit na galit pa nga raw ang coach nila sa pag-aabsent ni Trixie, but as always, she got away with it without any punishments.

I contemplated on watching their practices today, or just leave and take a rest. Since tapos narin naman ang exams, I have all the time today. 

"Sasama ka ba sa'min Miarah?" si Athena.

"Yeah..." Wala sa sariling sagot ko sa kanya. I was busy checking my phone for any notifications and messages, and I found 3 messages and 2 missed calls there. 

Mark: Any appointments for today?

Mom: Anong oras ang uwi niyo ngayon at pipick upin ka ng daddy mo.

Mom: Mia answer your phone!

Dali dali kong dinial ang number ni mommy, and she sounded so irritated when she answered it.

"What's the use of that cellphone Mia!" Bungad na talak sakin ni mommy.

"I'm sorry. Kakatapos lang ng klase namin." I apologized.

"Nasa labas kami ng school niyo. Nakahazard lang kami kaya bilisan mo." 

"Sige sige parating na." Sabi ko, kaya nilingon narin ako nila Athena at Trixie. 

"Sorry, gotta go!" Paalam ko sa kanila at dali dali nang tinakbo ang gate namin. I didn't even anymore waited for their replies.

Pagkarating ko doon ay agad kong hinanap ang itim na Ranger. Sakto, ay nakita ko ito sa kabilang kalsada kaya naman ay agad ko itong pinuntahan. 

On my way to it ay tinawagan ko si mommy upang ipaalam na andun na ako. 

"Oh asan ka na?" Tanong niya habang binubuksan ko ang pinto ng ranger sa likurang bahagi nito.

"Here!" Masigla kong bati, ngunit wala sa loob sila mommy or daddy.

"What? Ni anino mo nga hindi ko pa nakikita." 

Then I just realized what mistake I have done when I entered the car. It wasn't the same scent we had with ours. The accessories isn't the same, and the man infront isn't my dad!

"Oh, it's you. Harry's childhood friend." His eyes narrowed as seen on the rear mirror. With his eyeglasses, he looked so strict that my ghost almost ran away from my body.

Shit! It's Harold fucking Galvez!

"S-sorry." Sambit ko at agad na bumaba ng sasakyan niya. 

Lumayo ako rito ngunit pagbalik ko ng tingin rito ay nakababa na ang bintana nito at kinawayan pa ako. He looked amused at the same time that I wished I was dragged to hell that time.

Abot tahip ang paghinga ko pagdating sa sasakyan namin. Shit, that was the most embarrassing moment of my life. I've never thought I'd make such katangahan.

"Anung nangyari sa'yo? Ba't parang nakakita ka ata ng multo?"

Shit, mas mabuti pang multo ang nakita ko kaysa sa mukhang demonyong yun.

"W-wala. Let's just go mommy." Sabi ko at iminuwestra pa ang kamay ko upang tumuloy na kami.

"We're actually going to renovate our house my dear." She said as a matter of fact.

"And so?" 

She just smiled at me, then looked at dad too who was also anticipating my reaction to it. 

"But me and your dad will have to leave you for like one week because of his sudden business trip..." She trailed off like she was still about contemplating on telling me about it because she's still weighing my reactions.

"Mom, just please continue and I will readily listen to it." Pagsuko ko sa kakabitin niya sakin.

"You and Kiara will stay at tita Leanne and tito Ferdinand's mansion for just one week baby. Just one week, and we'll be back after that time." 

"What?! Mom, why? I mean how? Oh God, please ma. Pwede bang sa hotel nalang kami magstay?" 

I was so frustrated with the fact na kailangan naming tumuloy sa kanila. I've actually grew acquainted and known to the Fuentevelos, but living with them is too much for me! 

"At sino ang magbabantay sa kapatid mo Mia? Don't be so selfish about this. It's just one week. Isa pa, i've already told your tita Leanne and she's actually glad to let you stay there."

Napasapo ako sa ulo ko pagkarinig nun. Oh great. Now she got me there. 

Kiara can't be left all alone in the hotel after her classes. Isa pa, halfday lang siya sa klase dahil nasa preschool pa siya, and I can't be there to fetch her everytime. 

I can even feel my face burn up with embarrassment and frustration. Much more nung nakita ko kung saan patungo ang sasakyan namin ngayon.

"So this is the reason kung bakit halos paliparin mo ako kanina?" Iritado kong tanong sa kanila, but she just gave me a nod. 

"We're going to have a dinner with them before kami aalis ng daddy mo mamayang madaling araw. We've packed your things already and all is set for your stay there. Just remember to be good okay?" 

She said, and our car was parked infront of a grandeur house with its water on the fountain flowing rigorously, signifying their riches in front of me.