SHE was pouring her first cup of morning coffee nang tumunog ang telepono sa ibabaw ng dining table niya.
She put down the percolator, glanced at the clock and picked up the phone. "Good morning mom." she said sweetly.
Her mother gave a dramatic groan. "Hija hwag mong sabihin na nakavideo call tayo? Not at this hour in the morning."
Tiffany laughed. "Mom ano ba kayo alam kong ganitong oras kayo tumatawag, so i knew it was you. Nobody else would call me at exactly seven."
Napatawa na rin ang mommy niya. "Yeah, i just wanted to be sure and get you before you left for the day, anak alam kong super busy ka palagi. Uhmm by the way hija nakapag-usap na ba kayo ng daddy mo?"
Napakunot noo siya. "Not yet Mom, but not at least this week. Why? May importante ba siya sasabihin?"
Napabuntong hininga ito. "Sinabi niya sa akin last week na may importante siyang sasabihin sayo hija, akala ko nag-usap na kayo." her mom's voice look bothered.
"May alam po ba kayo sa sasabihin niya?" she asked.
"Uhmm...Wala anak eh, uhmm..may meeting ako ngayong 8:00 am nangumusta lang ako, gusto kong magkita naman tayo, okay?" sabi nito.
Nagpaalam na ito at napaisip siya. Her mom sound's weird.
Matagal ng hiwalay ang parents niya, but they are still keep in touch. May sarili ng pamilya ang mommy niya pero ang daddy niya, nagigirlfriend na lang. Ayaw na kasi nitong magpakasal.
Noong naghiwalay ang mga ito labis siyang nasaktan dahil nakita naman niyang mahal na mahal naman ng mga ito ang isa't-isa. Pero sabi nga ng mommy niya may nangyayari talaga sa mag-asawa na susubok sa kanilang pagsasama, at inamin nilang hindi nila nahandle yon ng tama kaya nauwi sila sa paghihiwalay. Pero sinabi nilang pinilit naman nila iwork out ang marriage but sad to say it was meant to be broken.
Pero ngayon masasabi kong mas ayos na ngayon, they are friends at may nag-uugnay pa rin sa dalawa, siya, their only child.
Tawagan ko kaya si daddy? But at this hour? For sure tulog pa yun lalo na at sabado. But i can't help to be worried, baka may sakit na yon..
Her father is already fifty years old and still managing their business, at kahit na minsan lang sila magkita, napapansin niya namang he was healthy as a bull, ahmm ano nga kaya problema?
***
"Miss Tiffany, may tumatawag po sa inyo," sabi ng road manager niya.
Nasa isang kabubukas na casino and resourt siya naroroon. At schedule ng kanyang photoshoot, katatapos lang niya ng ilang shots at binigyan siya ng ilang minutong breaks ng kanyang photographer slash best friend.
Kinuha niya ang phone but when he saw the caller, sumama ang timpla niya. She silent the phone and set it aside in the table.
Maya-maya ay tumabi si Gary sa kanya."You are pensive. Why?"
Talagang kaibigan niya nga si Gary, he could sense anything bothered her.
She delayed answering him by pulling the cap of her bottled water and taking a long swallow of the ice cold liquid.
Tumawa ito at inilagay ang daliri sa baba. "A man huh? Do i know him?"
Inilagay niya ang bottled water sa table, at pinaningkitan ng mata ang katabi. "What makes you so sure it's a man huh?"
He chuckled. "By the soft shadows beneath those beautiful brown eyes." his smile was gentle, "lack of sleep."
