Yellow Ribbon

Chapter Seven

“You can leave the luggage, ladies. My name is Fishermann Shuck. You can call me Uncle Fish.” pukaw sa amin nito. Hindi pa rin makapaniwala ang mga kasama ko habang ako ay tinitignan lamang ang matanda ng maigi lalo na ang kanyang ngiti.

His teeth was so clear that its reflecting the sunlight. My eyes narrowed. I find his smile genuine, but it doesn’t reach his eyes. It was stretched enough to form a grin. Isa-isa naming binitawan ang mga bitbit namin. I sighed heavily.

“I think we’re confuse.” komento ni ate Rheena.

Nauna na akong maglakad sa kanila. Pinanood naman kami ni Uncle FIsh na lakarin ang staircase ng mansion. Napansin ko ang mga tauhan na kinuha na ang mga bagahe.

“We are really confuse.” sang-ayon ni ate Aea.

Wala nang nagawa ang mga kasama ko kundi ang sumunod.

Nang makarating sa tuktok ng staircase ay agad kaming pinagbuksan ni Uncle Fish ng pintuan. Tahimik lamang kaming pumasok sa bulwagan ng bahay. This is new to me, I just didn’t react since Joji already gave me a briefing about this.

Ate Athena still has pale face while everyone just frowning. Dinala naman kami sa isang living room. The room was full of sofa beds and there’s even a bean bag at the carpeted floor. We were almost fit at the long sofas but I choose to sit at the bean bag. The floor was marbled gray and there’s more painting in the walls.

Maya-maya ay may nagsidatingan na mga babaeng naka-uniporme na may dalang mga refreshments sa tray. Napuno ang lamesang nasa gitna namin. Tumingin lamang kami sa isa’t-isa at nagkibit ng balikat. Uncle Fish walked in after the maids put all the refreshments.

“You can wait for young miss here, ladies. If you want to roam around the room, you can. The food at the table are all yours so I may leave you for now.”

Pagka-alis na pagka-alis niya pa lang.

“What the hell is happening?” si ate Tine.

We can’t blame her. We really can’t.

“This is not what I expected!” sigaw ni ate Aea. Halos lahat sila dito ay natataranta, o di kaya puno ng tanong ang mga mukha. I just pretend here that I’m innocent too.

“Ano bang inaasahan mo ate?” singit ni ate Jaja. Inirapan naman siya ni ate Aea, umiling na lamang ako.

“Maybe because she’s a physician, right? Di ba malaki naman ang sweldo ng pagiging doctor?” nilingon namin si ate Rheeza.

“Hindi noh, take it from me, who’s husband is also phsyician.” ngumiwi ako, ganoon din ang iba. Ano ba naman yan ate Glads. Ikaw na ang mayaman ang asawa.

“My parents are both doctors, but we do not have a butler on our own.” ate Dynne who was already eyeing a painting near her. Sumang-ayon ang iba sa kanya.

“We should also consider what Athena said earlier. How about we search it on the internet?” ate Rheena suggested. Everyone agreed and took their phone out.

Kumuha naman ako ng inumin sa harapan ko dahil kanina pa ako nauuhaw. Ang init sa labas ay hindi pa rin humuhupa sa katawan ko kahit na nakabukas ang aircon ng kwarto.

“Someone’s thirsty.” komento ni ate Jaja nang makita akong umiinom na.

“Everyone’s thirsty.” I said, as a matter of fact. Tinawanan niya lang ako.

Dahil sa nauna akong uminom ay binatawan na rin nila ang kanilang mga cellphone at kumuha ng kanya-kanyang inumin na nakahain. Kumuha ako ng cookie sa isang platter at kinain iyon. Kanina pang alas siete ang agahan ko, tapos hindi ka pa magugutom sa layo ng nilakad namin kanina?

We all settled on the food in front of us. Halatang mga gutom. Ate Tine still has her fan in his hand.