SOMEBODY THAT I USED TO KNOW

Chapter 6

"Ate Sid sumama ka po samin ni Papa sa party huh. Pag hindi ka po sumama hindi na lang po ako aattend doon." She think about the possible scenario. She pictured out how his teacher Valerie will going to react. Parang inaasahan niya na ang hindi magandang reaksyon ng guro. Rienzo's teacher is  obviously have a hots for Reston. She wouldn't be surprise, even before, women with his age, higher or even lower salivates towards him. Hindi niya na lang inalam kung pinapatulan ni Reston ang mga iyon.

"Let me see Rienzo. But i won't promise to say yes for now."  Nakita niya kung paano napalitan ng tamlay ang kaninang masiglang aura ng bata.

"I'll try okay..ayoko lang kasing paasahin ka. Malay mo may kailangan pala akong puntahan tapos hindi ako makasama." Pangungumbinsi niya rito. She also think that it is not a good idea attending such party with Reston. The latter serves as the father material of the child. And she is just a nobody to him. Alanganing sumama siya. Baka anong isipin ni Valerie. She don't want to be the villain in their love story.

Dumaan muna sila ni Rienzo sa mall para bumili ng mga damit niya. She even bought some for kid. She thought she needs more clothes because she's planning to stay till the end of the month. Gusto niyang makasama ang kanyang Lola sa Pasko at bagong taon. She already informed her Dad about it.  He never agree nor say no. He said if she could have time to come home during those special occasions,  he would be glad.

Her whole week revolves on that uncomplicated routine. Waking up in a peaceful morning. Inhaling fresh air of the surroundings. Being a way in the city. Being a nanie with Rienzo. Everything seems not bad afterall.

It's been a week since he left. She never dared to ask question to her Lola or Rienzo when he's going to come back. Even to Mang Nora but being the talkative to its nature she is, she mentioned it anyway ng minsang nagpagpasyahan niyang magpaturo dito kung pano magluto ng sinigang. Nasa  kusina sila ng mapag usapan nila ang tungkol sa party ni Rienzo sa byernes.

"Naku, baka wala pa noon si Reston sa christmas party ni Rienzo. Hay naku magtatampo na naman ang batang yun. Sabagay baka umuwi iyon dahil sa 18 ang birthday ni Ate. Kailan nga ulit iyong party ni Rienzo?" She asked apathetically.

"Sa friday po. December 16." She answered back while pealing the onion ang garlic.

"Besing besi talaga ata ngayon sa trabaho ang batang yun, madalas naman na tumatawag iyon para mangamusta pero ngayon madalang." Manang Nora said with a funny accent. Inabot sakanya nito ang patatas upang sunod na mabalatan. She tried to peal it right but it seems the otherway around. Halos maubos na sa balat ang patatas. Wala ng halos natira. Manang Nora instructed her how to dobit right.

"Hindi ho ba siya tumatawag ngayon?"  Pagkumpirmang tanong  niya sa sinabi ng kausap kanina.

"Ah oo hija, kaya nga hindi rin namin alam ni ate kung kailan siya uuwi. Basta yung huling tawag nila ni ate ay masyado lang daw siyang busy at hindi daw siya makakatawag ng madalas at huwag daw mag alala." Pagkukwento nito.

The second attempt of pealing the potatoes looks better than the first.

"Bakit daw po Manang?" Takang tanong niya. Umiling lamang ng paulit ulit ang kausap.

Natapos ang kanilang cooking tutorial ng halos wala rin siyang masyadong natandaan. Nag kwento pa kasi ang matanda ng kung anu-ano.

Magpapaturo na lang siya ulit ngunit inisip niyang hindi na dito. Baka sakanyang Lola Oesa na lang. Mauubos lang kasi ang oras nila sa kwento pag ito ulit ang magtuturo sa kanya.

Hapon ng araw na iyon ay sinundo niya ulit si Rienzo. Actually, the boy loves it whenever she's the one picking and sending him up to school. Na aamaze kasi ito sa sasakyan niya. At young age, the boy seems to have a good taste too with cars. Naisip niya tuloy si Reston. With his money, he can definitely afford a luxury car too but then he settle to his simple pick up. Not that she buy her car with her own, it was a birthday gift from her Dad when she turned eighteen. She didn't have a grand debut party. She didn't want though because of what happened. Tanda niya pa noon na silang dalawa na lang ng kanyang ama ang nag celebrate. Her mom didn't say no but she know for a fact that she don't want too. She used her out of the country trip in Europe as an excuse. But she could surely fly back if she wanted. But she didn't. She just greeted her over a phonecall. She's very glad she did. Isang simple dinner lang ang naganap noon with her Dad sa isa sa mga paborito niyang restaurant. Pagkabalik nila sa mansion ay isang black Aston Martin na nakaparada sa may harap ng kanilang maindoor ang sumalubong sakanila. She thought she had an unexpected visitor that time but when her Dad lend her the key, she realized that it was for her. At first She was hesitant to accept the gift, she knows that it was one of  his brother's favorite kind of car. But then her Dad convince her. That his gift is one of the living evidence that his Kuya will always be remembered. That through this car, the memories of her Kuya will continue to be alive no matter he's gone. By giving worth to what he loved and in his passion, she thought that her father is right. In that way, she knows that her brother will be happy up there.