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ARCHER opened the car door for me. Malaki rin naman pala ang bahay nila. It was contemporary. N'ong pumasok kami sa loob ay hindi ko mapigilang mapa-wow sa isip ko. Well, mas maganda ng ten times ang bahay namin pero may something sa bahay nila na labis nagpahanga sa 'kin. That's so weird because I couldn't point out what it was exactly.
"Please feel at home." Archer said. He's stern and looked nervous as hell.
"Why would I? We're not even friends." Kaya lang naman ako nandito dahil nagkasundo kami na dito mag-practice for two weeks para sa performance namin. For the reason na ayaw ko nga siyang papuntahin sa bahay namin.
"Right." Matabang na sagot niya at nag-iwas na ng tingin.
"Archer, ikaw na ba 'yan?" Isang magandang babae ang sumulpot sa harap namin. She came out from what I think is kitchen because she's wearing an apron. She had a resemblance with Archer. She must be her mother. But she doesn't looked like a mother to me. Para lang siyang ate ni Archer.
Medyo nabigla siya nang madaanan ako ng kanyang mga mata, but she gave me a warm smile, nonetheless.
"Hi." She greeted then, turned to Archer. "Hindi mo sinabing may bisita ka."
Archer's face instantly turned red. "Ah...Mom, this is Harriet, classmate ko. Kami ang magkasama sa recital. Dito sana kami magpa-practice."
"Oh, you must be the Montes' heiress?" The woman eloquently asked. I love the way she talks.
"I am." Proud namang sagot ko. "Good afternoon, Ma'am."
She nodded and smiled. A smile that has thousand meanings.
"Aakyat na kami sa kwarto, Mom." Natatarantang sabi ni Archer maya-maya. He looked like he's scared his mom's gonna ask more questions. I mean, that's fine with me.
Natawa ang ginang sa inakto ng anak ngunit tumango rin. "Dadalhan ko kayo ng snacks."
"Let's go." Si Archer na halos hilahin na ako paakyat sa hagdan.
Maganda at malaki rin ang kwarto niya. It was neat for a guy's room. But what do I expect? That's Archer. He's a naturally clean and organized guy. So organized that I wanted to throw up.
Naupo ako sa swivel chair habang inaayos ni Archer ang mga nakaayos nang gamit sa kanyang study table. This guy is OC. pagkatapos n'on ay nagbukas na siya ng diskusyon.
"Hindi pa tayo makakapag-practice dahil hindi pa maayos ang piece natin. Kailangan muna nating i-plano ang lahat ng gagawin natin sa performance natin. Like our entrance, our exit, the lighting..."
Naitirik ko ang mata sa kisame. He's so serious! "Do whatever you like. I just want a dramatic entrance and I'd be happy."
Tahimik siyang tumango at nagsimulang magsulat sa makapal niyang notes. I shook my head. Bahala siya sa buhay niyang mag-plano. I have to do my homework in Mathematics. With that in my mind, nilabas ko ang libro at notebook ko mula sa aking bag.
I am so ready for another headache.
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UMIBIS ako mula sa Bentley ni Archer nang itigil niya 'yon sa harap ng malaking bahay sa loob ng Paradis. I mean I grew up in a mansion so things like this shouldn't surprise me at all, but wow.
I was literally gaping as I looked up at the huge house in front of me that was erected in the middle of this beautiful prairie. It was like one of those upstate mansions in New York. The exterior was so classic and damn stylish. It's so beautiful I wanna cry.
Natauhan lang ako nang marinig ang pagsara ng pinto ng sasakyan ni Archer, tanda na nakababa na rin siya. Hindi ko siya nilingon ngunit nadama ko ang kamay niya sa baywang ko. We walked through the pathway as he lead me to the mansion's French doors.
