Avenues of the Diamond (University Series #4)

18

"Next time, Ate, let's try baking! I'm craving brownies!" 

I looked at Naomi, who was already skipping through the stairs like an excited kid holding her camera. She said she would edit the photos first before sending them to me so I won't judge the raw ones. I said I wouldn't do that, but she still insisted so that she could practice too. 

"Do you want to go to some photography workshops? I can get you slots," I told her. Some orgs in Ateneo liked holding workshops for photography, and I knew a lot of people who could help her. She looked very much determined to learn more about it. 

"Really?" she asked as her eyes lit up. She was finally accepting my help. She used to reject everything I offered back then. It was a sign that she was already accepting me and my clean intentions. 

"Of course. I'll see what I can do. I'll text you kaagad," I told her, smiling a little. "The next time I come here, I'll bring baking ingredients! Or you can come to my house?" 

"Kuya Clyden is scaring me." She scowled and rolled her eyes. She even hugged herself and acted like she was shivering, which made me laugh. 

"No, he's not that... grumpy," I tried to defend my boyfriend but he was really scary in first glance. Maybe because he had this intimidating aura around him wherever he went. The glasses were already one thing but his overall look screamed intelligence. Sa isang tingin mo pa lang sa kanya, alam mo nang marami siyang alam. Parang nakakatakot magkamali sa harapan niya. 

But in all fairness, Clyden wasn't like that. He was very patient with me, kahit ganito ako. Kahit ganito pa ako mag-isip, kahit minsan hindi kami nagkakasundo. He would sometimes look pissed, but he was always willing to educate me on things I was unaware of. I loved that about him. 

"Mom is already here," I said as I looked outside the window. Naomi suddenly went quiet. Fear and nervousness were both evident in her eyes. My lips parted as I realized her attitude toward my mother. "Go upstairs na." 

"I will." She nodded and gave me a small smile before running upstairs to avoid seeing my mom. Mom was like a monster she couldn't face. Was Mom that cruel to her? 

My mom entered the house looking angry while talking to someone on the phone. I heard her shouting to clean something or else she will come for the person's family. My brows furrowed as I watched her get inside the mansion, holding her paper bags. She threw them over the couch and ignored me. Or maybe she didn't see me at all beside the staircase. 

"You will pay for that amount! How could you lose it?! You have until tomorrow to bring it back, or else you're out. You hear me?!" My mom continued yelling. When she finally ended the call, she frustratingly held her head before looking at my side, parting her lips. "Maureen! You're still here!" 

She looked like she was caught doing something I shouldn't see. I still gave her a fake smile before showing her my car keys. "I'm on my way out. Who were you talking to?"

"It's just an employee of mine. Take care on your way back, dear." The anger in her face suddenly vanished, replacing it with warmth. I almost got fooled.