Hanggang Sa Dulo

CHAPTER 8

Chapter 8

I took a bite on my macaron, abala ako sa pagtingin sa magazine na nasa table. The Vogue magazine was featured with my shoots.

"Nakalimutan ko yong address!" rinig kong paguusap sa may gilid ko. I didn't mind them kahit naririnig ko sila. Nakatalikod naman sila kaya binalewala ko na lang.

"Message mo na lang. Bakit mo ba kinalimutan?" asik nong isa.

Bumaling na ulit ako sa magazine na hawak ko, I placed it on the center of my table. Tinuon ko na lamang ang atensyon ko sa kinakain ko.

"Sinubukan ko na, wala namang reply!"

Kumunot ang noo ko nang magring ang phone mula sa gilid ng frappe ko. Unknown number. I took the call, bumungad sakin ang pamilyar na tinig.

[Ella! I miss you.] bungad nito.

"Arisa?" I asked. "Pano ka nakatawag?" pagtataka ko.

Tagos mula sa phone ang kanilang sinasabi, I muted my phone dahil nagdududa na ako. Sandali kong pinagmasdan ang mga babae na dalawang mesa ang agwat mula sakin.

"Face your back..." I uttered, hesitating at first.

[Bakit?] takang tanong nito.

"Raise your hand." utos kong muli.

[A-Ano ba namang pinapagawa mo samin, Ella...]

My brows furrowed when a girl from the next table raised her hand. I chuckled before ending the call. Agad na lumingon sa gawi ko yong tatlo, they almost dropped their jaw when they finally caught me.

"Ella!!!" nag-uunahan pa sila patungo sakin.

"I miss you!" they uttered, niyakap ako ni Cassy.

Nilahad ko na lang ang bakanteng pwesto sa gilid ko, malaking couch naman ang sakop ko.

"How are you?" bungad ni Kate. "Is this... fate?" she joked.

"Oo nga!" tumatawang sambit ni Cassy. "Nakalimutan namin address nyo."

"I'm fine." tugon ko kay Kate. "Kayo, how's life?"

"I can't say much about life, puro business ang inaatupag ko." Arisa sighed. "Dad made me study our company, after graduating I'll manage VPTS."

Valler Pineda Telecom Software, the largest software development company that was established by Arisa's great grandfather. They made it to top 10 last summer.

"And how about law?" my brows furrowed. I thought she'll take law.

She shrugged. "I might switch a strand."

"I'm still worried about my strand." napalabi si Kate.

"You'll take med-school, diba?" agap ko rito.

"I'm stucked between med-school and taking up to our company." she hissed.

Napaayos ako ng upo. "You mean the Salvaneer?" I asked, napairap na lang sya sa kawalan.

Salvaneer was well-known as Salvador Pioneer Insurance Corporation. They ranked top 3 in pioneering companies last month for the developments and unique techniques they have.

"Walang may plano sa mga kapatid ko na mamahala don, wala akong choice." she complained.

Bumaling ako sa pinsan ko. "Cassy, you'll help me out. Lumipad si tita tungo sa Japan, inaayos ang kasal ni Amara."

She gasped. "Amara's getting married? Kanino?"

"Imamanage nya ang hotel after marriage?" sunod ni Arisa.

I shrugged. "Walang nabanggit." bumaling ako kay Arisa. "I'll manage our hotels."

"And Cassy?" tanong ni Kate bago sumulyap sa pinsan ko.

"Wag nyo na akong idamay, wala akong planong pasakitin ang ulo ko dyan." nakangiwing sambit nya habang kumukuha sa ice cream nya.

"As I've said, Cassy will help me out."

"Hotel?" takang tanong ni Cassy. Umiling agad ako.

"LU?" she quickly uttered. Tinanguan ko agad sya.

"I'll need your help for a while, the hotel needs to make it to five-star." I explained. "Kahit isa lang sa mga hotel natin, at least. I can't manage them both at the same time."

"Wala pa rin ba si ate?" she worriedly asked.

Mapait akong napangiti. "Wala."

We discussed about our companies before we went home. Uuwi rin daw sila bukas dahil may mga aasikasuhin sila. VPTS has an emergency, kailangang umuwi ni Arisa to manage it.

"You'll use your rooms?" I asked them.

May sarili silang kwarto rito. Sa tagal kong nagstay dito, madalas silang bumibisita kaya nagpaayos sila mommy ng sariling kwarto nong tatlo.

"Nope!" they uttered in unison. "Sa kwarto mo." pipigilan ko pa lang sila nang unahan na nila ako papasok sa kwarto ko. Oh, geez!

—————