I Brought My Heart To Hong Kong

Chapter Twelve: Saw

Chapter Twelve
Saw

A week that passed while we're in Hong Kong is, so far, bliss but still indulging. Kahit nasa mansiyon lang simula nang magpunta kami sa Victoria Peak at wala pa kaming plano kung saan gustong sunod na magpunta, never ata akong na-bored kasi may kasama ako.

The misunderstanding of Chloe and Won were resolved now, too. Won clarified he's just planning to but never said he's decided about turning Querencia down. Paranoid lang daw si Chloe para mag-react ng ganoon. Hindi ko rin siya masisisi. Kung ako ang nasa posisyon niya, baka ma-praning din talaga ako kapag nakompromiso ang pag-aaral ni Won.

Speaking of Jayden and Zywon's admission to the university, Tita Erine threw a mini party for them. Isang gabi kami nag-celebrate sa commonroom kasi nanlibre si Tita ng pizza. For my case, at least, they didn't try to ask me kasi hindi pa rin ako handang malaman.

"Ma'am Hailey?" rinig kong tawag ni Ate Weylan nang lumabas sa garden kung saan kami nag-aalmusal ng mga kaibigan ko. Nilingon ko ng may halong pagtataka.

"May tawag po kayo," she told me.

Chloe eyed me curiously as I stood up from my seat. Nabitawan ko tuloy 'yung chopsticks ko. Na-curious din ako kung sinong tumawag. Was it my dad? My mom? But dad just called me good morning earlier, imposibleng sila ulit.

"Galing kay Ma'am Hildana po," dagdag ni Ate Weylan nang makita ang pagtataka ko sa mukha.

Nagpaalam ako para sagutin ang tawag kahit 'di ko pa nga nagagalaw ang wonton noodles ko. Sinundan ko si Ate Weylan na nagpunta sa sala ng mansion. Hawak-hawak ni Ate Mina, isa pang kasambahay, ang telepono at ibinigay sa akin.

"Lola?" tawag ko sa kabilang linya.

I've never seen my grandparents after the dinner when we got here. Ang sabi ni Tita Erine, busy sila sa hotel na pinamamahalaan. Kapag aalis sila, sobrang aga, tulog pa kami. Kapag dadating naman sila, gabi na. Mga oras na tulog na kami. Minsan pa nga raw hindi na sila umuuwi at sa hotel na lang madalas mag-stay.

I sometimes feel bad about it. My grandparents are already too old to even settle for tiring work. May pinagmanahan talaga si Daddy. Maski sila kasi ni Mom sobrang hands-on sa trabaho.

"Hailey, hija," my Lola called. "Good morning."

"Good morning, Lola. Kumusta po?"

"Nag-almusal na ba ang apo ko?"

"About to, La," sagot ko. "Bakit po?"

I wonder what's up with Lola today. Hindi naman siya tumatawag kapag nasa trabaho maliban kung may kailangan siya ngayon.

"I see," she began. "Get dressed after, then. I'll introduce you to my friends and tour you around the hotel. It's a perfect day to do it."

Napa-awang ang bibig ko.  "Today?'

"Yes, hija. Do you have plans with your friends?"

Napailing ako. "Wala naman po."

"Okay," she said. "So, should I see you here?"

I gasped quietly. Ngayong araw na? Paano ang isusuot ko? Dapat bang casual wear lang? Streetstyle? E, 'yun lang ang dala ko!

"Lola, I think I don't think I have any proper clothes to wear for the occa-"

"Don't worry about it," she finished me up. "I notified Weylan to organize everything. Gerard will drop you off here." Saglit siyang tumigil at bumuntong-hininga. "I'm sorry for your friends, hija. I'll book you a better experience in Meraki next time. I only need you today for now."