Between Dusk and Dawn (Love Lies in Ilocos Norte) COMPLETED

III

I stared incredulously at Tita Martha. May posibilidad kayang niloloko lang niya ako behind those innocent smiles?

"I can properly manage my house Mama." Xekiel's kuya said after a while. Hindi ko na naisip na nandyan pala siya.

Tita Martha scoffed. "Anong kaya? I went to your house yesterday pero wala ka. I entered it of course, and saw your mess! Although I understand kasi nagtratrabaho ka..."

And Tita Martha went on. Marami pa siyang sinabi sa anak niya tungkol sa mga dumi na hindi niya naayos, sa oras na masasayang kapag siya pa ang nag ayos, at hindi rin lang daw maayos kung siya ang mag aayos.

Naguusap sila, while I just stood there looking at them fighting off kung saan ako magtratrabaho. Suddenly I felt like hindi nila ako gustong magtrabaho kaya nila ako pinagpapasahan.

"You'll clean his house Roxette, every weekends. Don't worry nagtratrabaho parin siya sa mga ganoong araw." Tita Martha turned to me. "You'll come to me for your pay, or I'll just give it to Remy kung wala kang oras."

I just nodded. As much as I don't want to go away from Mama at magtrabaho na lang sa ibang lugar, especially it's Xekiel's brother, wala akong choice.

I can't just say no just because I don't want to. I need money at kung ito ang paraan para tulungan si Mama, then I'll gladly do it.

Tumingin ulit si Tita Martha sa anak niya. "Maglilinis siya sa bahay mo okay?"

"What choice do I have?" he muttered. Nginitian lang siya ni Tita Martha at tumingin ulit sa akin.

"I'll give you the address of his house. Wait, kukuha ako ng pagsusulatan" bago pa ako magsalita naka alis na si Tita Martha, leaving me, us, behind.

Kung awkward ang nararamdaman ko kaninang lunch, mas awkward na naman ngayon. I looked at things para hindi lang siya matignan, cause I can feel now that he is glaring at me again.

Would it be too rude kung lalagpasan ko siya at pumunta na kay Mama? But he will be my new boss, and that fact really scares me. Kung gaano kabait sina Tita Martha, ganoon naman yata kasama ang kuya ni Xekiel.

I just stood there and so he did. Para na kaming estatwa, nakatayo lang roon. Though my eyes are wandering from ceilings to floors to every bit of furniture in their house. Pero ni isang beses ay hindi ko siya tinignan.

"Do you clean well?" I jumped a little at his voice.

Pero dali daling nawala ang takot at napalitan ng offense.

Kaya niya pinipilit kay Tita Martha na kaya niyang mag isa kasi akala niya wala akong alam sa pagtratrabaho. Is that why he is also glaring at me on their table?

Or gusto niya lang ng expert na taga linis? Or is he judging me by my age, for I am still young at seventeen?

"Bata pa ako tinutulungan ko na si Mama sa paglilinis rito." I said calmly pero may nakatakas paring bahid ng iritasyon.

"Sir." I finished not wanting to sound rude.

He's still wearing the same serious and flat face. Hindi siya nakangiti pero hindi rin nakasimangot, poker as what they call it. Hindi ko alam kung paano niya iyon nagagawa pero mas lalo lang akong pinapasimangot ng emosyon niya.

Though he's not glaring at me anymore, his eyes are moving, studying me. Suddenly I feel self conscious.

Nakasuot lang ako ng simpleng T-shirt at leggings, nakatali ang hanggang bewang na buhok at sigurado akong kahit hindi ako magsalamin, haggard na ang mukha ko.

He nodded slowly, hindi parin tinatanggal ang mata niya sa akin, "That's good, then. Will you be able to start bext week?"

Ikinuyom ko ang kamao ko nang nagsalita na naman siya, para pigilan ang sarili ko sa pagtakbo dahil sa takot. Sabi niya kay Tita Martha hindi niya kailangan ng tulong sa pagaayos ng bahay, pero bakit tila nagmamadali siya?