Back To You [Completed]

Chapter 8

"Senyorita!" masayang bati sa kanya ng mga tauhan ng makita siyang palabas ng patio.

"Kain na po!" anyaya pa ng iba.

"Salamat," sagot niya at nginitian ang mga ito. Anton was holding her hand and supporting her while she walks. Iniupo siya nito sa mesa kung saan mapapanuod niya ng maayos ang sayawan.

"I'll just get us food," paalam ni Anton ng makaupo na siya ng maayos.

Tumango lang siya dito at ibinaling ang tingin sa mga nagsasayahang mananayaw at musikero sa gitna. Nagbatian ito sa kanya at tinanguan niya ang mga ito. Masaya siyang nakikitang nag-eenjoy ang mga ito.

"Senyorita, mabuti naman at nakababa kayo!" bati sa kanya ni Thomas. Kasama nito sina Elmo at Jaime.

"Kamusta po ang pakiramdam ninyo?" tanong ni Jaime.

"Ayos naman. Masakit pa rin 'yong sugat pero kaya ko naman. Salamat nga pala sa pagdadala sa akin kaagad sa bahay after the incident." Nginitian niya ang mga ito.

"Walang anuman, senyorita. Pwede ka bang maisayaw mamaya?" tanong ni Thomas. "Kung kaya mo lang naman. Pwede kitang alalayan para-"

"No. She can't dance unfortunately," sagot ni Anton. Inilapag nito ang mga pagkaing dala sa mesa.

"Senyor," bati ng mga kalalakihan kay Anton.

Thomas looked defeated again. "Sige po, senyorita. Magpagaling kayo."

"Salamat, Thomas!" sagot niya at umalis na ang mga ito.

"Seriously, I just left for a few minutes at pinopormahan ka na naman ng lalaking 'yon. Mukhang hindi kita pwedeng iwang mag-isa dito." He gave her a spoon and fork. "Eat."

"Pero nasa Maynila ang mga negosyo mo. Kailangan mong bumalik doon whatever happens. At mukhang nag-eenjoy ka naman kaapag nasa Maynila ka. Nalilimutan mo ngang kamustahin man lang ako dito o tawagan," may hinanakit na saad niya.

He stopped slicing the meat on his plate and looked at her. "You wanted me to call?" ngiting-ngiting tanong nito.

Umiling siya. "Hindi naman. What I mean is you didn't even call me for the past two days-"

"So you want me to call?"

Umiling ulit siya. "You don't have to. I don't want to. The point is you didn't even exert some effort to call and ask how I am." She focused her attention on the pineapples on her plate.

He was smiling widely now. "Uh-huh. Okay, don't worry, babe. I'll call you next time. On second thought, I'm afraid there won't be a next time. I'll bring you with me to Manila once I go back."

She looked up to him. "What?"

"I'm afraid 'pag iniwan kita dito, baka makagat ka na naman ng ahas or worse, Thomas might see a chance to steal you away. So from now on, I'll bring you with me when I have to go to Manila which is usually Mondays til Wednesdays only."

She frowned at his offer. "I have to be here. Sino ang magbabantay sa hacienda?"

"We'll be here Thursdays and Fridays to see through the hacienda. Don't worry. Mang Topasyo looks like a very efficient man." He pointed to her food, still untouched. "You better start digging kung ayaw mong subuan kita sa harap ng mga tauhan natin."

She started eating but still bothered. "This is my home; you can't just expect me to leave every week and be with you."

"From now on, your home is wherever I am," seryosong wika ni Anton sa kanya.

Manang Lita came to their side all of a sudden. "Juice, senyor?"

Tumango si Anton.

But her mind couldn't concentrate now. Her heart was beating wildly sa sinabi nito. Yes, she was going to be his wife soon. And it was slowly sinking in. Could it be possible na may nararamdaman din para sa kanya si Anton? Kaya gusto nitong palagi silang magkasama.