Point of Safe Return (Crossroads Series #1)

Kabanata 7

Pagkatapos maligo ay nanatili ako sa kwarto. Muli lang akong lumabas nang tawagin na ako ni Lola dahil aalis na raw kami.

I tied my hair in a bun and wore my slides. I’m just wearing a high waist black leggings and a cropped plain white shirt, showing a bit of my skin. I did not bother dressing up dahil sa bahay lang naman nila Raja, so I assume it’s just a casual dinner.

“Let’s go.” My mom stood up the moment I got to the living room. Tumayo rin si Raja at sinulyapan lang ako saka sumunod kay mommy.

Umirap ako at sumunod na rin.

Our SUV was parked at the plaza. Malawak naman ang bakuran namin, kaya lang ay madaming tanim, madaming mga puno. There’s no enough space for an SUV.

Daddy was already beside the vehicle, talking to someone on his phone. Pumasok na si Raja kaya pumasok na rin ako’t tumabi sa kan’ya. Ilang sandali ay sumakay na rin si daddy. He was about to start the engine when he looked at me in the rear-view mirror.

“Gan’yan na ang suot mo, anak?”

“Yes?” Kunot noo at patanong kong sagot. Lumingon na rin si mommy sa gawi ko.

“You should’ve wear a dress, something like that.” Dad said and manoeuvred the car.

“Why? D’yan lang naman tayo, ‘di ba? Hindi naman tayo lalabas ng barangay.” I explained.

Bumuntong hininga lang si dad at hindi na sumagot. Hinaplos ni mommy ang braso n’ya habang tumatawa.

“Ayos na ‘yan dad, mabuti nga at hindi s’ya naka shorts.” My mom laughed.

“Right. I should’ve just wear shorts.” Raja chuckled out of nowhere.

Nandito pala 'to? Muntik ng mawala sa isip ko na kasama nga pala namin s’ya.

Just three minutes and we’re now in front of a tall black gate. Nakapalibot ang matataas ding pader na kulay puti. Sa isang busina lang ay bumukas na rin ang gate. My playmates used to call this mansion a white house. Puting pader ang bakod at kapag nasa malayo, tanaw mo ang puti ring mansyon sa loob.

Pagpasok ng sasakyan sa loob ay bumungad sa amin ang malawak na fishpond. Damn, the size seemed like a 200 meters swimming pool. Maganda pero nakakapanibago. Kung iba siguro ay swimming pool talaga ang ilalagay sa bakuran.

Sa dulo ng pond ay may fountain. Madami ring halaman sa paligid. The exterior of the mansion was modern. Puti at itim lang ang kulay na makikita. But when I stepped outside the car, I realized that the details of their doors and windows we’re gold. Itim na hardwood ang pinto, pero ang pintuan ay ginto. Damn.

Raja is a real rich kid.

Nakaunipormeng kasambahay ang nagbukas ng pinto, binati kami nito at iginiya papasok. Agad akong napatingala sa enggrande nilang chandelier, at mula sa gitna ng sala ay tanaw ang hallways sa ikalawang palapag ng bahay. I realized then that their staircase isn’t grand, it is simple and it doesn’t consume a lot of space. This is the first time I see a staircase like that, simple, but the gold railings are enough to make it look extravagant.

“My parents are probably in the dining room, Tito. Magbibihis po muna ako at susunod nalang.” Raja spoke but I’m still lost, mesmerized by the simplicity of their mansion and how all these gold details can make it classic.

Their house helper led the way to the dining area and there, I saw her mom, preparing foods in a white, long dining table. Nakangiti itong lumapit at bumati sa aking mga magulang. She turned to me and I kinda lost my breath when she suddenly hugged me.