"Empres mama..." Agad ay niyakap ako ng aking ina ng makalapit ako sa kanila ni Clover Yvangeline.
Hinagkan ko sa noo si Empress mama.
Nasa loob kami ng private office ni Clover Yvangeline sa Airline office...
She manage the airlines and shipping lines of the Empire.
Alam kong namiss nya ako at ganun din ako sa kanila... Ngunit hindi ito ang tamang panahon para sa pagbisita sa akin...
"Carlos Ytan... My eldest. Empress mama missed you." Anito sa akin .
"I missed you too Empress mama." Sabi ko sa mababang tinig.
Nang humiwalay sa akin si Empress mama ay hinarap ko naman ang queen naming at. Ang kaisa isang babae sa aming magkakapatid na nakataas ang kilay sa akin... Naiiling na nilapitan ko ito at hinagkan sa noo.. "How's our Queen?"
Hindi na ko nagulat ng sampalin ako nito...
"CLOVER YVANGELINE!" singhal ni Empress mama.
Napangiti na lamang ako ng yakapin ako ng mahigpit ng reyna namin.
Sanay na ako na tuwing nagkikita kami ay sinasampal nya ako bago yakapin since the day she found me at wet market.... Our mother explained the reason to me... It was because I am the root of her heartbreak... My accident and lost lead her to her suffering... And I am not done searching that fucker who broke my queen's heart... And my neice and nephew!"Sorry, Carlos Ytan... My hand slip to your face." Anang kapatid ko.
Ngumiti ako sa kanya. "As always." Sabi ko.
Iginaya ko sila palabas ng opisina ni Clover Yvangeline patungo sa elevator... I pushed the Parking space button.
"Empress mama... Queen.. Where do you want to stay?" I asked. "You can stay at my place...if you want..." Sabi ko praying they won't agree with it
Tinaasan ako ng kilay ng kapatid ko.
"Empress Mama and I will stay at your Mansion here ... Kuya...for the next two days... Then we'll take ouf flight to France... We'll stay there for a week..before flying to Africa... " paliwanag ni Clover Yvangeline
Huminga ako ng malalim... "I'm afraid ...I can't be with you for the next two days... I have an important appointment...and I can't cancel it." Paliwanag ko.
Nakita kong nalungkot ang Empress mama sa sinabi ko.
"Oh... Akala ko ay makakasama ko ang aking panganay. " anito
Tila bumigat ang dibdib ko sa nakita at narinig ko...
"Empress mama... I can stay till tomorrow afternoon." Sabi ko
Ngumiti naman siya na tila ikinatuwa ang sinabi ko.
Inalalayan ko sila ni Clover Yvangeline sa pagsakay sa akin sasakyan bago ako sumunod...
"Empress mama... You'll be visiting Crisostomo Ymar on Africa ? " I asked.
Magaalala kaming lahat sa aking ikatlong nakababatang kapatid... Siya'y kasapi at mataas ang katungkulan sa U.S. Navy Seal... Ngayon ay natalaga ito sa Africa... Kung saan mayroon itong ieescort na isamg grupo ng volunteers ... The head of that group is a very important person and someone's after to that person... as Ymar's said last time we talked.
Empress mama's beautiful face tainted with worriness and sadness..
"Yes. That brother of yours will be the death of me...Carlos. I want him to stop from being a Seal. I can't sleep properly knowing he is on danger." Malungkot na turan ni Empress mama. "Kayong magkakapatid ang papatay sa akin...Carlos Ytan..." Naluluhang sabi pa nito.
I felt guilty... I know.. my mother wants me to go home..and so with my other siblings... But we have our own mind and will to decide.
"Mama..." Nasabi ko na lamang.
"You can't blame me Carlos Ytan! I'm your mother... And it is natural for me to feel this way!" Anito sa matigas na tinig
Hindi na lamang ako nakasagot at nagkatinginan kami ni Clover Yvangeline na kababakasan ng kalungkutan at guilt ang mgat mata... Na alam kong makikita sa akin...
....
"Mr. Stavros will arrive on Wednessday. His assistant called... Something important came up...""Noted baba." Napatingin ako kay Roquil Ytan ng marinig ang pilyong tawa nito...nanlalaki ang mga mata ko mg makita kung anong ginagawa nito... "Baba... I'll call you back later...bye." Binaba ko ang phone ko . "ROQUIL YTAN! STOP MAKING FUN OF YOUR BUTLER!!!"
Napatingin ito sa akin at ngumiti ng napakainosenteng ngiti na tila hindi nya sinusulatan ang mukha ng kanyang butler na nakahiga sa buhanginan at nakalibing ang katawan liban sa ulo.
Sumasakit ang sentido ko tuwing ginawa niya ang mga antics nya na namana nya ata kay Chaos...
"Ninay...I am not making fun of my butler... I love him po to do that. This is a form of art. I want to be a tattoo artist!" He said smartly.
Napapikit ako sa sinabi nito... Bakit ang talino ng batang ito?!
"Don't give me that alibi lil monster. Help Mr. Wilson to get up right for instance!" Utos ko rito
Huminga ng malalim ito at walang magawa kundi ang sundin ang utos ko...
Nakita kong nakangiti lamang ang mabait nitong butler... I think ...Roquil Ytan's butler and dama need salary adjustments ...
"Monique... Kindly call the resort management ...cancel Mr. Stavros reservation..." Bilin ko dito.
"Consider it done...Dutches" sabi nito
"Clara... Kindly call Mr. Stavros' assistant... Tell him the details of the family dinner. And kindly inform him that there are only two reserved seats for his boss." Sabi ko.
Nakita kong namumulang tumango si Clara sa akin... Napapangiti na lamang ako..."And Clara... Inform the HR for the necessary salary adjustment for Mr. Wilson and Nurse Betinna. " pahabol ko
"Noted ...Lady Rebel." Sabi
Napabuntong hininga ako ng maiwan na akong magisa sa ilalim ng tent namin...
Pinanood ko ang nakangiting anak ko habang tinutulungan si Mr. Wilson sa pagtayo... Napangiti pa ako ng yakapin niya ito ...
My lil monster maybe a lil evil...but he is an angel at heart...
And I am afraid ... That one day... He'll break my heart... Coz ...I can't give what he wants...
A father.
BINABASA MO ANG
Stavros 1: Until You Were Gone
Romance"Ever since I left you I've been trying to get you back And it keeps getting worse I'm burning on the inside And the truth is that I didn't know how good you were Until you were gone..." -Until You Were Gone (The Chainsmoker)