Freedom from Seduction (COMPLETED)

Kabanata 12

Purity and Innocence

"Hi, Tita!" I greeted.

I put the lunch bag down. I made the maids pack a lunch bag to give to her son. Tita Cleo said he's been having a hard time in school. Sino ba naman ang lalapit rin sakanya, hindi ba? Masungit na nga, ayaw pa makipagsocialize. I bet the only people who comes to him are those who just need his intelligence. Hindi ko nga alam kung saan niya nakuha ang talino dahil mukhang hindi naman matalino itong si Tita Cleo.

"Hi, Aphro! Thank you for coming by. What do you need?" She asked directly.

I pouted. She really knows when I need something.

"I don't need anything, Tita."

"Oh, come on. You won't come here if you don't need anything." She laughed.

"I came here just to bring lunch for your son!"

She raised her brow. Kinuha na niya ang lunch bag at binuksan iyon.

"Then what are you still doing here?" She mocked me.

I sighed and gave up. Sitting on the high chair infront of the counter, I asked for an apple shake. She nodded and took apples, sliced them and removed the seeds before placing ice on the blender.

"So... what do you want to talk about?" She asked while the blender was crushing the ice.

Pumangalumbaba ako sa counter habang nakatitig sa blender. I really don't want to talk to her about this since she's my Mom's bestfriend but I don't know who else to talk to. I'm so used to talking to four people everytime I have a problem. And we all know who those are. Ngayon, hindi ko naman masabi kay Claire dahil alam na niya. This only leads me to Tita Cleo. Huh. I guess now, Claire can really call me friendless, huh?

I felt the coldness and hardness of the hammer inside my chest. Bumuntong hininga ako at nag-iba ng upo nang hindi maging komportable. I felt the heaviness of my shoulders as if they're carrying the whole world.

"What... what do you do if a mer-person." I closed my eyes. "If a person just shows up to steal everything you have?"

"Hmm." She crossed both of her arms and looked up to find answers on the back of her mind. "Easy. Ruin that person's life." She laughed. Sumimangot naman ako, hindi dahil naasiwa sa sagot niya kundi dahil sumakto iyon sa ginagawa ko at sa gusto kong gawin. "Kidding aside. I don't think a person can just do that, you know. There are a lot of things that can't be stolen away from you. That's if you won't let them. But either way, I don't think someone can steal your family, Venice. Your parents are amazing. I saw their love- I actually saw them almost making love!" She chuckled, her eyes glittering with amazement.

I pouted. Ang buong mukha ay pinatong ko sa counter, letting my hands hang on it.

Of course she can never take my family. But what about the person I want to build a family with? Oh my gosh is this seriously coming out of my mind? Crush ko lang si Zeus! I guess I'm just that possessive!

"But Tita, there are also major things that can be easily taken away. Friends, liberty and even good impressions are just some of the examples. Probably just one out of a hundred."

"True enough. What about education?"

"Oh, please. I don't think I can even remember what my teacher taught me just an hour ago." I immediately raised my head to look at Tita Cleo whose brows raised because of what I said. I laughed awkwardly. "Don't tell my Mom."

"Tsk." She raised one of her hand and slapped me lightly. "That's what I meant when I said it's the matter of letting them or not. You want something can never be taken away? My advice is that. Education. Just don't get amnesia or something that can erase all of it." She kidded.