Catching the Warm Sun(Maldita Series #1)

Kabanata 37

Kabanata 37
Party

From the start, I'm just a child to him...I don't know that we'll ended here. We're walking slowly as we go near to my grandparents mansion. He's holding my hand and it makes me more nervous. Ngumiti ako at ni-relax ang sarili. I'm with him. I can do it.

He was about to knock on the door when it suddenly open. Ate Maria's shock face welcomed us. She immediately call the two oldies.

"Apo!"

Lola said in excitement while still on the staircase. Sinalubong ko na siya.

"Hi, Lola!"

Niyakap ko siya. I know it is unexpected. Hindi ko namalayan na nasa likod pala namin si Leiou.

"Lola." he asked for the hand of my Lola for respect. Napangiti ako. I don't know that he has that manner. I don't do that to my Lola and Lolo. I saw Lolo entering the living room. He's wearing his cap. I am so happy that I hugged them again. It feels so warm.

"Bakit kayo naparito?" si Lolo.

"We came here to visit you two Lolo. Kailangan ba may dahilan?" biro ko.

"Wala. Ang akala ko'y mamanhikan na itong si Leiou.." napailing si Lolo habang nakangiti.

"Sa susunod po na pagpunta namin, pag-uusapan muna namin ni Eileuthea. ‘Wag po  kayong mag-alala, malapit na." he look at me.

"Gano'n ba. Bilis-bilisan niyo lang para naman makita ko pa ang apo ko." nagulat ako do'n sa apo.

I thought he's against about Leiou but now it looks like he's already dying!

"Lolo!" pagsaway ko sa kanya. "Makikita niyo, you're still young and strong." tumawa lamang si Lolo.

“So magkakaapo na ako?” nalaglag ang panga ko.

"Bilisan daw natin. Let's go home." bulong ni Leiou ng makaalis sila Lolo sa harap namin.

Kinurot ko ang tagiliran niya. Nag-init ang pisngi ko sa kahihiyan.

Before the day ends, we left La Purusima so I can go home. He take me home. Mommy is worried so he said that he'll come with me to face my mother.

I can't believe that this is really happening. To have Leiou in my side..to have him in my life gives me another reason to continue on living my life...happily.

"Mommy.." tawag ko ng magising ako kinabukasan. Lumingon siya. She's in her room drinking coffee. There's a two cup in the small table. My heart breaks at that. I saw the sadness in her eyes.

Bakit kailangang mangyari kay mommy ito?Daddy is her first love..first boyfriend but why did the fate let it happen?I hugged her tightly, I know she's lonely.

"Why, hija?" she asked while caressing my back.

"Are you okay, Mom?" tumango siya at ngumiti.

"Of course."

"Pupunta po si Leiou mamaya. He wants to meet you."

"Kayo na ulit?" she ask maliciously. I pout and nod my head. "I'm so happy for you, anak." hinawakan niya ang mga kamay ko.

"Mom...why don't try to have a boyfriend?" suhestiyon ko. Natawa si Mommy.

"I'm old, Eileu."

"Why not?Love is not only for young!" sagot ko. She's in her late forties. Not that old, right?

She gave me a faint smile. Tumingin siya sa labas.

"You know what, anak. My heart will never forget." she pointed her chest. "We promise that we'll never forget our love for each other. Wala man siya sa piling ko ngayon...hindi niya man tinupad ang pangako niya sa akin, ayos lang. My heart only beats for him..eventhough his heart was not belong to me."

I heard the sound of sadness in her voice...no, I saw it. I saw it in her eyes. I hug her hoping that I can wipe away those tears and  sadness of the past that gives a flesh scars in the present.

Narinig ko na ang pagtunog ng aming doorbell. Hindi pa ako tapos mag-ayos. Maaga pa naman. Isinuot ko ang hikaw ng mabilis. Napagkasunduan namin na isasama niya ako sa party ng kanyang mga kaibigan. He'll just stay here for a bit to talk to mom.

Naabutan ko sila sa sala. Dumapo agad ang mata niya sa akin habang pababa ako.

"Aalis na kayo?" tumango ako at ngumiti.

"Sorry, mom. Next time." pampalubag loob ko kay mommy. Gusto niyang makausap si Leiou kasi.

"Tita, mauuna na po kami."tumango si Mommy. I kissed her and wave goodbye. She must be lonely again.

"Leiou.." lumingon siya sandali at ibinalik muli sa kalsada."I'm nervous."iyon ang lumabas sa bibig ko.

"You don't have to. Mababait sila." tumawa siya. Hinampas ko ang hita niya. Nagkaroon siya ng pagkakataon para makuha ang kamay ko."I've watched all your performance..."he stop. Nanliit ang mga mata ko.

"I mean..your performance on stage!" humalakhak siya. Kinurot ko siya sa tagiliran. "Aray, Eileu!Kapag ako gumanti mamaya...mapapasigaw ka din." tinampal ko naman ngayon ang biceps niya.

"So you're stalking me?" hasik ko.

"Yeah. You can say that." nagkibit-balikat siya. Damn. I had a lot of performance in stage before!

Nakarating kami sa bar kung nasaan daw madalas ang mga kaibigan niya. Marami ang tao. Sumasayaw ang iba't ibang kulay ng ilaw.

Tinunton namin ang hagdan sa itaas. Sa isang table ay nakaupo ang tatlong lalaki at ang tatlong babae.

I saw one of them is sir Lorenzo. I don't know how can I interact with them!especially to my teacher before!

"Bro!Finally!" sabi ng isang lalaki. Nagtawanan ang dalawa maliban kay sir Lorenzo na matabang ang tingin sa at mukhang may hinahanap. He's holding his phone. Mukhang may ka-text.

"Hi.." nahihiya kong bati. Ngumiti naman ang mga babae sa akin.

"Si Eileuthea Sandejas, girlfriend ko...fiance pala." they offer their hands to me that I've accepted.

"Hi!I'm Nixon."

"Owen." sinipa ni Nixon ang paa ni sir Lorenzo na tulala.

"Lorenzo. Nice meeting you again." saad niya. Siniko pa ulit ni Nixon. "She knows me, bro. She's one of my former students."

"Where's you're girlfriend?" tanong ni Owen.

Ang mga babae ang nakipag-usap sa akin.
Leiou's hand is on my thigh. Minsan ay nasa baywang.

"You can drink." he handed me the alcohol. "Basta kasama mo ako, okay lang." bulong niya sa tainga ko. Nakiliti ako. Naamoy ko hininga niyang amoy alak.

Lumalalim na ang gabi. Nixon is a bit joker kaya tawa kami ng tawa. Sir Lorenzo suddenly stand up in the middle of our talk. Iniwan niya ang babaeng nasa tabi.

Sa huli'y ininom ko ang alak. Humagod sa lalamunan ko iyon.

"Let's go, Eileuthea." anyaya ni Heidi sa akin. They want us to dance. Maraming tao doon ang sumasayaw.

Humalo kami sa dagat ng mga tao. Sumabay ako sa musika. Pumikit ako dahil medyo nahihilo na dahil na rin sa ilaw. May lalaking nasa harap ko ng dumilat ako. He's tall but I ignored him. He's dancing like a gay. Yuck..

May gumapang na kamay sa aking baywang. Naamoy ko ang pamilyar na pabango. Idinilat ko ang mga mata ko. I smiled at him. Inilapit niya ang mukha sa akin.

"I just can't sit there and watch you dance here." he said. I don't know can I manage to listen to it despite of loud music. Wala akong ibang naririnig kundi ang boses niya.

I gave him a smack kiss on the lips. Now, I really appreciate his presence. When you learn on how to appreciate things, you'll understand every bit of it. You'll feel happy and contented.