The Immortal Blood [Taglish Version]

CHAPTER 28 - LUNCH

Jade Cardwell

KASAMA namin ni Christian ang magkapatid na Elle Marie at Ethan Matthew sa isang Italian restaurant. Si Elle Marie at si Christian ang madalas na nag-uusap, samantalang tahimik lang kami pareho ni Ethan.

"Elle Marie is model based in France. She looks dashing on runway, pero spoiled brat ang babaeng 'yan. Sabagay, ano pa ba ang aasahan mo sa Brelsford Corp. princess," sabi ni Christian.

"The Brelsford Pharmaceutical Corp?" gulat kong tanong sa kanya.

"Wala naman ako balak magtrabaho sa company ng daddy ko. Dapat si Ethan ang mag-take over ng family company. Right. Ethan? You're awfully quiet, my baby brother."

Ethan sharply looked at Elle Marie and Christian as if asking them to shut up. Hindi ko alam kung badtrip siya sa ginawa ni Christian sa biglaang lunch date namin na apat.

"Bakit ka nga pala nasa Seattle, Jade?" biglaang tanong ni Ethan.

The Greek god finally spoke.

"Vacation trip lang. Hindi ko inaasahan na magkikita kami ni Christian sa isang coffee shop and the rest is history. Kilala mo na naman siguro ang kaibigan mo, unstoppable. He can't stop blabbing about himself."

"Jade, alam ko naman na nag-enjoy ka sa bawat minuto na kasama mo ang isang Chirstian Almonde. Bro, this girl is surely falling for me," biro ni Christian sabay lagay ng braso sa balikat ko.

"Jade, if I am not mistaken, nakatira ka sa bahay nila Dean Atkins. Tama ba?" tanong ni Ethan as if hindi nag-eexist si Chris and Elle Marie.

"Ninong ko kasi si Dean Atkins at siya na ang tumatayo na guardian ko. Ang uncle ko kasi ay medyo bata pa parang maging guardian ko. Nasa same subdivision kami ni Ninong George, pero magkahiwalay kami ng bahay. Paano mo nalaman na close kami ni Ninong George?"

"Well uhmm.."

"Jade, hindi ba nasabi ko na sa'yo na ultimate stalker mo si Ethan? This man is crazy about you, Jade. When I say crazy. It is like super insanely crazy," singit ni Christian.

"Chris, you're the one who is scaring her. Jade, huwag ka maniniwala diyan kay Christian. Kalalabas lang niya ng mental institution. Nag-aadjust pa siya sa normal life," nakangiti na sagot ni Ethan.

"Yeah right, bro. Who would believe that you're in love with her when you change your girls every week?"

Naging maayos naman ang lunch naming apat. Kung kanina ay tahimik si Ethan, ngayon ay nagtatanong na siya ng pa-isa isa sa akin.

"So Jade, I've heard about your parents. I'm sorry about what happened. I am sure a lot of people grieved their death," sabi ni Elle Marie sa akin.

"Masakit pa din sa akin sa ngayon ang nangyari, pero iniisip ko na lang na mga guardian angels ko sila."

"Ayoko sana maging rude, pero para ka na din isang heiress. Your parents are well accomplished doctors and they are even famous in Europe. Alam ko din na maraming naiwan na businesses ang parents mo. Sino nagha-handle ng business niyo?" curious na tanong ni Elle Marie.

"My father has trusted friends and they will continue to handle the company here and overseas. Ang uncle ko na si Angelo Cardwell ang may hawak ng company namin dito. Tulad ng nakagawian ng mga magulang ko noong nabubuhay pa sila, most of the profits are given to charity institutions."

"Jade, kilala ko ang uncle mo. He is exquisite looking and sexy, but he is an inconsiderate, rude and conceited man. Na-meet ko siya once sa isang party. Binati ko siya, pero alam mo ang ginawa niya? He snobbed me like he did not see me," naka-pout na sabi ni Elle Marie na mukhang bitter pa kay Uncle Angelo hanggang sa ngayon.

"Affected ang Uncle Angelo nang mamatay ang daddy ko. Hindi naman talaga siya suplado at rude noon. I am telling you, he was a gentleman and loving brother. My father's death deteriorated him."

"Mayaman ang parents mo, Jade. They probably have the connections in all medical-related market. The only difference is that your parents were good enough to share your money to the needy. Matagal ko na hinahangaan ang daddy mo. He was like the most sought after doctor as he is talented and good looking."

"How did you know much about my father? Kilala mo na ba ang daddy ko noon pa?"

"Yes, I met your dad when I was a kid. Magkakilala na ang daddy mo at daddy ko noon pa. I had a big crush on him ever since I saw him when I was little. He has a pair of dark eyes just like you."

"Wow, hindi ko alam na kilala mo pala ang daddy ko."

"Anthony Cardwell is such a good man. He prioritize his family more than anything else. Alam mo ba na ang daddy mo ang aking first crush and love?" tanong ni Elle Marie sa akin.

"First love?" naguguluhan kong tanong.

Umayos ng upo si Elle Marie at excited na nag-kwento sa amin kung paano niya nakilala ang daddy ko. Kahit si Christian at si Ethan ay tahimik na nakikinig sa kwento ni Elle Marie.

"Anthony Cardwell was a student scholar of Ernest Brelsford, my father. Years ago, nagkaroon ng car accident ang daddy ko and it was your dad, Anthony Cardwell who saved him," panimula ni Elle Marie.

"Anthony bravely pulled out my dad's body in the car crash before the car exploded. Siya din mismo ang nagdala sa daddy ko sa hospital. He fled the scene once my dad was already being taken care of."

"Nahanap ba ni Ernest Brelsford ang daddy ko?"

"Dad tracked him and he found out that Anthony was a poor high school student. He is talented, smart and most of all, kind hearted. Ang ginawa ng daddy ko, he offered your dad a scholarship grant. Utang ng daddy ko ang buhay niya kay Anthony Cardwell kaya hindi pumayag ang daddy ko na hindi niya matutulungan ang daddy mo sa pag-aaral."

Hindi lingid sa akin na mahirap ang daddy ko at si Uncle Angelo noong bata pa sila. Pareho silang nagsikap na magkapatid kaya nakamit nila ang tagumpay.

"Elle Marie, hindi naman nasabi sa akin ng daddy na ang pharmaceutical magnate pala na si Ernest Brelsford ang tumulong sa kanya. Sana nakilala kita noong bata pa ko."

"We actually met before, Jade. Bata ka pa siguro noon kaya hindi mo ko maalala. Una kita nakita sa Disneyland Tokyo. You were wearing those Mickey Mouse headband and you were carrying a big Mickey Mouse stuffed toy. Ethan can't stop asking about you since then. Right, baby brother?"

"Wala na ako masyado maalala about sa Disneyland Tokyo. Bakit kaya hindi nabanggit ng daddy ko na close pala sila ni Ernest Brelsford?"

"Sa Europe na kasi kami nag-stay na buong pamilya. Ang alam ko, may constant communication ang parents natin pero bihira sila magkita. Si Ethan nga gusto niya mag-aral sa Fordbridge High, pero hindi siya pinayagan ni daddy. Nang mamatay ang parents mo, my dad became sick and fragile. He mourned their deaths and followed your father a year after."

"I am sorry to hear that. I can't believe that our parents were close to each other."

Hindi ko alam ng ang daddy pala ni Ethan Matthew at ni Elle Marie ang sinasabi ni daddy na tumulong sa kanya at kay Uncle Angelo. Small world dahil hindi ko inaasahan na magkikita kita kami ngayon. Tumahimik kaming apat, pero biglang nag fake ng cough si Ethan.

"Jade, bago mamatay ng daddy ko, he also asked me a favor to look after you. You are the reason why I moved to Fordbridge."

"What do you mean?"

"My dad wants me to court you and to marry you someday. Gusto niya maging isang pamilya ang mga Cardwell at Brelsford, pero huwag mo isipin 'yon, Jade. We are both free to decide kung sino ang gusto ng puso natin," nakangiti na sabi ni Ethan.

Kaya siguro interesado si Ethan sa akin dahil binilin ako ng daddy niya sa kanya. Kahit saglit ko lang nakasama ang magkapatid, naramdaman ko agad na tanggap nila ako bilang bago nilang kaibigan.