Leaving Was the Easy Part (Millennia Series #1)

08

#LWTEP08

I turned to whoever called me.

"Atty. Cariaso!" I greeted happily.

"I knew it was you! Tita Madel na lang," tipid lang akong ngumiti.

"How are you hija? I've seen you here for a couple of times but I wasn't sure if it was really you, the daughter of Pros. Rios. Did you transfer schools?" Sunod-sunod niyang tanong.

Of course, I was taken aback. Hindi ko inasahan na may kakilala dito ang daddy ko. I know, he's that influential but still.

I tried to compose myself.

"Uhm, no. I-I did not transfer school, I'm here to visit a friend." I said as a matter of fact.

"And I'm doing fine, thank you! How about you po?"

Mas lalong bumibilis ang tibok ng puso ko dahil sa mga tingin niya. Para niyang sinusuri ang bawat salitang lumalabas sa bibig ko. Para tuloy akong nililitis para sa isang kaso.

I've known her for being my dad's associate before. Batchmate ko rin ang anak niya back when I was still in highschool.

"I'm doing fine too, hija. Actually, I teach here part-time. Legal Management." Nanlaki ang mata ko sa sinabi niya.

"Really? I took up Legal Management but in UP." I smiled at her.

I'm still wondering kung anong iniisip niya kung bakit madalas ako dito. I mean, isusumbong niya ba ako kay dad? I don't really care about what other people might think kung bakit ako laging nandito. Totoo naman kasi. But I don't want my dad to get the wrong idea.

"That's great! Following your dad's footsteps."

I pursed my lips. Really?

Tumango-tango na lang ako.

"I'll head now." Paalam niya.

Nataranta naman ako.

"Will you tell my dad I'm frequent here?" I need assurance.

She stopped for a while.

"I will have to decide on that," she smiled and kissed my cheeks before walking away.

It was dreadful. I know that anytime soon, my dad will call me.

Hindi ko na kinayang mag-hintay sa kanila kaya umuwi na lang ako. Sinabi kong sumama ang pakiramdam ko at kinailangan ko nang umuwi. Hindi naman na sila nagtanong pa at pinagpahinga na lang ako.

I haven't gone there for almost two days already. Nagpahinga lang kumbaga. That girl Monique, stressed me. And I haven't heard anything from my father yet. Hindi pa niya alam? I don't know.

"You're early," sambit ko nang maabutan ko si Bea na nasa countertop at may tinatype sa laptop niya.

Kagigising ko lang at magluluto pa lang sana ako ng breakfast nang maabutan ko siya doon. May toasted bread, butter, and coffee na din na nakahanda.

"Yup! Just finished something." She took one bread and ate it.

Tumango ako at dumiretso sa likod niya para makagawa ng tea. It's not always that the two of them cook, hindi kasi masyadong marunong. But it's nice to try.

"Powerpoint? May presentation ka?" Taka kong tanong nang makita ko kung anong ginagawa niya.

Nagtaka ako dahil hindi pamilyar ang format na ginagawa niya. Matagal bago siya nakasagot.

"It's... Samuel's." Kumunot ang noo ko sa sinabi niya. "He asked for help about their major peta. Madali lang naman so pumayag na rin ako. And besides, may kapalit naman 'to."