A Love To Remember

Chapter 23: Sudden Appearance

Lea

Nagising ako nang mayroong ngiti sa labi dahil kaagad na bumungad sa 'kin ang mukha ni Aga na ngayo'y natutulog ng mahimbing sa tabi ko.

I want to pinch his nose but at the same time, ayaw kong magising siya kaya pinagmasdan ko na lang siya habang natutulog.

Bago pa ako tuluyang maiyak dito thinking about Sabel, dahan-dahan kong iniangat ang braso ni Aga na nakayakap sa bewang ko as I slowly jump from his bed. Dito ako natulog sa bahay nila as what he wanted me to do, gabi na kasi nang matapos ang shooting namin kaya dumiretso na kami kaagad dito.

Hindi magugustuhan ni Chiara na makita ako rito, that's for sure. She loathes me and I can't blame her, sa paningin niya, inahas ko ang Daddy niya mula sa Mommy niya.

Hindi naman gano'n 'yon, binawi ko lang naman kung ano ang nararapat sa 'kin.

I missed our bonding sessions, miss na miss ko na ang dating makulit at palangiti na si Chiara. I always try to make it up to her pero palagi naman siyang lumalayo.

That poison.. I know that was intended for me, masakit kasi may plano pala siyang lasunin ako pero 'di na lang ako umimik. 'Di ko magawang magalit sa kanya.

"Umiiyak ka ba?" Aga asked na ngayo'y gising na, shit, I'm already crying. Kaagad ko namang pinunasan ang luha ko as I smiled at him.

"Hindi, napuwing lang!" wika ko as I sat at the edge of the bed, facing him.
"Morning!" bati ko as I leaned closer and kissed his cheeks, he immediately pulled me into a tight hug at binaon niya ang ulo niya sa balikat ko.

"Umagang-umaga, ang bango mo talaga babes!" he exclaimed, making me roll my eyeballs, bolero!

"Sira!" I said while chuckling, he let go of our hug as he got up from bed.

"Breakfast?" he asked me, kaagad naman akong napahawak sa tiyan ko at kaagad ding tumango.

"Yes please, I'm hungry." sagot ko, ngumisi siya at hinila ako patayo, he interwind our fingers together kaya hawak kamay naman kaming lumabas ng kwarto niya.

We went downstairs at dumiretso sa kusina, naabutan namin si Chiara na animo'y inaantok pa while stirring her cereals at nakaupo sa counter.

"Good morning, beautiful!" bati ko sa kanya, napaangat siya ng tingin as her eyes widened upon seeing us pero agad ding nakabawi.

"What are you doing here?" tanong nito, I was about to answer nang inunahan ako ni Aga.

"Your tone, young lady." aniya as he opened the cupboards at nag-timpla ng maiinom namin. Napailing na lang ako as I sat by at the counter, facing Chiara.

"You have school but then you're so sleepy, try listening to some rock music while you're taking a bath or preparing yourself, it'll keep you awake. I always do that and I tell you Chia, it's working." I told her, tumingin siya sa 'kin at kalaunang umirap.

"Don't need your opinion." she said, napabuntong hininga na lang ako. Ayaw niya talaga sa 'kin..

"Coffee, babes." inilapag ni Aga ang dalawang tasa ng kape sa mesa as he sat beside me. I murmured a simple 'thank you' as I silently stirred my hot cup of coffee.

"How's school?" tanong ni Aga kay Chiara.

"Gano'n, school pa rin. Wala namang nagbago eh." Chiara answered sarcastically and from my peripheral vision, nakita kong mariing napahilot ng sentido niya si Aga dahil sa narinig mula sa anak.

"I'm asking you properly Chiara, sumagot ka ng maayos at huwag mo akong pilosopohin." he hissed, Chiara was about to answer his Dad nang may dumating bigla na katulong, informing Aga na may naghahanap sa kanya sa labas.

Tumaas naman ang kilay ko dahil dun. A visitor at this time of the day? That's unusual. 

"Sino raw?" tanong ni Aga rito, the maid immediately shrugged her shoulders as response.

"Ewan po, 'di naman sinabi eh pero batang babae po, ka-edad ata ni Ma'am Chiara." sagot nito making Aga's forehead crease in confusion. He excused himself at nauna ng lumakad palabas but since I'm curious, sumunod ako sa kanya palabas ng bahay nila.

Chiara's behind me at lumabas rin, pati ata siya naguguluhan din. Lumabas ako ng gate since nandoon daw sila as my eyes automatically widened upon seeing a girl, hugging Aga while crying. There are bags beside her na animo'y naglayas siya sa kanila.

Nang makita niya ako, mas lalo akong nagulat when she ran to my direction and eventually hugged me tight, kung hindi ko nabalanse kaagad ang sarili ko, sigurado, natumba na kami ngayon. What is she even doing?

Teka...sino ba 'to?

I gave Aga a questioning look but he shot me the same one at kahit siya, nagtatakang nakatingin sa babaeng nakayakap sa 'kin. Sino ba 'to? Before I can even say a word, the girl spoke at parang nanghina ang mga tuhod ko dahil sa narinig mula sa kanya.

"Mama.." she murmured softly.

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Note: New character is coming down our way hohoho!