MY LOVELY STRANGER

CHAPTER 43: Moving On

Natapos ang Sembreak ng ganun kabilis.

Parang oras na lumipas ang 20 days.

Unang araw ng school ay pinatawag kaagad ako ng school registrar.

Pumunta ako sa office, only to find out na wala na akong scholarship. Buti nalang bayad na ang tuition ko for this Sem. Hanggang December na yun. Sa January ko pa kailangang magbayad for the second sem.

So totoo nga, kaya nilang iforfeit.

Matapos kong makausap ang registrar ay bumalik na ako sa room. Nasa tabi ng upuan ko si Tristan. Nakipagpalit sya ng pwesto sa seatmate ko.

"May problema ba?" tanong nya sa akin pag upo ko.

I sighed.

"Wala na kasi akong scholarship." malungkot na sabi ko.

Nagsalubong ang kilay ni Tristan.
Nagalit na naman sya sa Pamilya nya.

"Saka ko na yun poproblemahin" ngumiti ako. "Hindi ko pa naman nagagalaw ang sweldo ko mula sa ilang months na pagtatrabaho sa cafe. Kaya ko yung pag ipunan."

Hinawakan nya ang kamay ko. "I'll find ways para sa di ka mahirapan. Hahanapan kita ng ibang sponsor." he assured me.

"Please don't do something drastic against your Dad and grandfather." inunahan ko na sya. Baka kasi sumugod pa sa bahay nila, mahirap na.

"I won't" he said. "They have nothing to do against me now. They have disowned me. So I'll throw them away"

I felt sad upon hearing those words. He was doing fine before I came into his life. Now he has nothing. Even house and car.

He held my chin up. "Three years"

"What's with three years?" tanong ko.

"Just endure it for 3 years. Can you?"

Tumango ako. By that time, graduate na kami pareho at hopefully may trabaho na. Pareho kami ng course na kinukuha. B. S in Computer Science.

He is a fan of games. I recall he wants to set up a gaming company and develop games someday.

Some of his books also has something to do with gaming.

"I have money in bank. I Enough to put up my own company." he said. "But I won't be able to take it. Until I'm 21. That's why. Please wait a little longer"

I smiled at him. I trust him. He can do it.

~~❤

Kinahapunan, sumama si Tristan sa Coffee shop.

Napansin kong pinagmamasdan nya ang labas ng Cafe.

"Bakit?" tanong ko.

"Sa tingin mo, maganda kayang pwestuhan ng arcade yung taas?"

Tiningnan ko ang shop.

"Oo. Kasi marami kami laging customers. Maraming maglalaro nyan. Kaso mukang magastos magparenovate nitong shop. Tsaka baka hindi pumayag ang may ari" sabi ko.

"Tama ka. Mahal nga magpagawa nyan" sang ayon nya.

"May naiisip akong paraan." sabi ko. "Kailangan mo lang kausapin ang may ari ng pwesto kung papayag syang ipaayos mo yung taas. Yung gastos, may magagawa tayo."

Tumingin sya sa akin. "Anong paraan naman"

I showed him our rings. "Ibenta mo to. Alam ko mahirap na desisyon to. Pero sabi ni Mama, ang pera naiipon naman. Mapapalitan mo naman ito kapag lumago na yung negosyo mo"

He frowned. "No way, baby. I'll never take back what I gave" he leaned and kissed my head. "Let's think about other ways ok? Not that"

Ilang sandali nya pang tiningnan ang labas. Tumango tango sya. "Let's get inside. May sasabihin ako"

Pumasok kami sa loob. He is holding my hand hanggang kitchen. Pinaupo nya ako. Tinawag nya rin si Ma'am Cristy.

"Teka, may pag uusapan ba tayong importante?" tanong ko.

"I have a confession to make." sabi ni Tristan. "Mama, pwede ko bang makita yung bankbook ng kita ng shop?"

Nagtaka ako sa sinabi nya.

"Hoy,  hindi pwede yang ginagawa mo.. Baka malaman ng may a---" napatigil ako sa naisip ko.. Hindi kaya???

Tumawa si Ma'am Cristy. "Si Tristan ang owner ng Cafe na to, Chelsea"

My Jaw dropped.

"Bakit hindi mo sinabi sakin?" tanong ko.

Ngumiti sya. "You will refuse to work here if you knew. Isa pa, iniingatan kong may ibang makaalam."

He's checking the bankbook. Tumango tango sya. "This is enough money to expand the building"

"So, ipaparenovate mo na, 'nak?" tanong ni Ma'am Cristy.

"Yes 'ma. Asap sana. Pero we'll try not to close the shop while under renovation. Siguro sa gabi ako magpapagawa" He responded.

Dapat masanay na sana ako sa mga surpresa ni Tristan pero hanggang ngayon, nagugulat pa rin ako sa mga pasabog nya.

Maya maya, iniwan na kami ng manager.

"So, ano pang sikreto mo? Ang dami mong pakulo" sabi ko.

"Galit ka ba?" he leaned closer. Itinukod nya ang siko sa lamesa at ipinatong nya ang pisngi sa palad nya habang nakatingin sakin.

"Nakakainis ka e" nasabi ko. "All this time, wala akong kaalam alam na boss kita"

"Nope. I'm not your boss" sabi nya. "Ang totoo, kay Mama Cristy nakapangalan tong cafe. I gave her money to buy this about 3 years ago. Bata pa ako nun and I can't set up mh own business under my name. Napagkasunduan namin na sya ang magmamanage. Hati kami sa kita. Pero lahat ng kita ng Cafe ay hinuhulog sa bank account nya. Everything is under her name. She's the only one I trust."

"Eh san ka naman nanguha ng pera pambili ng pwesto na to?" tanong ko ulit.

"I told you my dad loves to spoil me with things. On my 15th birthday, I requested 1 million pesos from him. That time he was busy going in and out of the country. Feeling nya may pagkukulang sya sa akin so he gave me the money without asking why I need that much" sagot nya.

"Wow.  Grabe naman pala kagenerous ang Dad mo. And, bakit naisipan mong magnegosyo? Aren't you too young to think about those stuff?" nakakacurious talaga ang pagkatao nya.

"I knew this time will come. Ang totoo, maliit na bagay lang yun kay Daddy. Believe it or not, he deposits money on my bank account every month. But I can't take it. Until I'm 21. Nasabi ko na sa yo. Pero hindi ko na kukunin yun. May sarili akong pera, Trust fund ko from mom, plus her insurance. He can take back everything. Although he doesn't know about this cafe. There's no way he can take it away. I have it all planned." he held my hand.

"By that time, once na makabawi ako, I will give you everything. Just wait ok?" he smiled.

"Hindi ko naman kailangan yung material things eh. Pinili kita kahit alam kong walang wala ka. Kasi pinili mo rin ako. That's enough for me." I replied.

"Aww" pinisil nya ang magkabilang pisngi ko. "Cute ng wifey ko"

Tawa sya ng tawa.