Relentless Love

Kabanata 1

"What do you mean stay with us?" tanong ko kay Mommy.

"We'll support him in his studies while he can help here in our house." Nakangiting tugon ni Mommy.

What? Are they serious? They would let a stranger live here? What if he's a serial killer or a thief? What if he's just pretending so my parents will like him? How can they trust this guy? Ugh!

"Serene?" tanong ni Daddy.

"H-huh?"

"I am asking if you could help Duanne arrange his papers so he could enroll in your school..." si Daddy.

And he's even gonna study in my school! Damn!

"Oh-oh sure, Dad!" Pumeke ako ng ngiti.

Pagkatapos noon ay nagpatuloy lang sila sa pagk-kwentuhan. Dalawampung taong gulang na siya. Wala na ang kaniyang mga magulang at naninilbihan siya bilang maintenance ni Daddy sa bahay sa Pampanga. He has 4 brothers. At lahat iyon ay nakatira sa lola niya.

May katangkaran siya, malalim ang kaniyang mga mata, maganda ang pagkakatangos ng kaniyang ilong, manipis ang kaniyang labi, he even has a perfect white teeth that shows up whenever he smiles and he has a perfect jawline! Is this boy really our maintenance?

Nahuli niya akong nakatingin sa kaniya kaya naman agad akong bumaling kina Mommy at Daddy.

"For the meantime, doon muna siya sa guest room natin tabi ng kwarto mo, Serene." si Daddy.

"At huwag kang mahiya rito, hijo... Feel free in your new home!"

Ngayon ko lang nakitang sobrang saya nina Mommy at Daddy. Not that I didn't see them happy for the past years. It's just... It's different.

Yumuko ako ng bahagya.

This stranger could give my parents pure happiness without giving a single effort. And me? Well, I make them happy. Because I am their daughter. That's all.

I texted my friends.

Me: Wanna party tonight?

Ali: G!

Kish: Sure!

"Serene... Could you bring down your phone for a moment?" medyo inis na tugon ni Mommy.

"Your mom wants you to tour Duanne around the house." wika ni Daddy.

Wow! Ano siya, artista? VIP? He can wander himself! Bakit ba kailangan ako pa?

Nagpabuntong-hininga na lamang ako at tumango.

Pagkatapos ng hapag, niyaya ko na si Mr. Duanne Radificus, our 'VIP', para iikot sa buong bahay.

"Uhm.. Hello." Shit! Paano ko ba to uumpisahan?

Tinignan niya lamang ako at walang kaemoemosyong bumaling muli sa harap.

Sinasabi ko na nga ba, may masamang balak 'tong lalaking to! Mabait lang pag nandiyan si Mommy and Daddy!

"Paano nga pala kayo naging malapit ni Daddy?"

"Tinutulungan niya ako sa mga drafts ko."

"Oh! So you want to be an architect?"

"Engineer." pagtatama niya.

Ha! I knew it! He only uses my Dad because he wants to achieve his dream.

"Buti pumayag kang ilayo ka sa pamilya mo?"

"It's for the best."

Sungit naman neto! Binilisan ko na lamang ang lakad ko at nagtungo na sa taas.