Shadows in the Rain | FILIPINO | Completed

- Chapter 8 -

Later that afternoon, isinama ako ng mom at aunt ni Cliff na mamasyal all throughout the different tourist spots in Baguio. Una namin na pinuntahan ang Baguio Cathedral, otherwise known as Our Lady of the Atonement Cathedral. Once there, we offered our prayers and lit some candles.

The next place we went to was Burnham Park. Ito daw ang 'mother of all parks' sa Baguio City. Ang daming mga turista! Noon ko pa talaga gustong magpunta dito. Nag-rent kami ng dalawang bisikleta for me and Cliff's mom, tita Caitlyn. Hindi daw marunong magbisikleta si tia Sandra, ang aunt ni Cliff, kaya nag-enjoy na lang ito sa panonood sa amin.

Nag-boat ride din kami sa Burnham Lagoon. Grabe! Ang lamig pala ng Baguio City weather. Mabuti na lang at siniguro ko na magsuot ng sweater.

Pagdating ng late afternoon ay nakarating kami sa La Trinidad Strawberry Farm. Medyo malayo ito sa city proper pero sinadya na rin namin dahil mahilig daw sa strawberries si Cliff at ang ama nitong si tito Gabriel. We picked our own strawberries, marami-rami rin dahil gagawa daw ng strawberry pie si tita Caitlyn.

At katulad ni Cliff, the two women in their family were both so easy to talk to. We had so much fun! Halos mapuno na ng group pictures namin ang phone ko.

"We're really glad that you came with us today, Fiona. Palagi kang bukambibig ng pamangkin ko lately so we told him na hindi pwedeng hindi ka niya isama this time around," tia Sandra said.

"Thank you po! Nag-enjoy po talaga ako," I said then asked, "By the way po, ano naman daw po ang pinagkakaabalahan ni Cliff at ng dad niya today?"

Napansin ko na nagkatinginan muna silang dalawa bago ako sinagot ni tita Caitlyn. Nag-iwas naman ng tingin si tia Sandra.

"Naku, hayaan na natin ang dalawang lalaki kung ano'ng ikina-busy nila at the moment. Us ladies have our own kind of fun," tita Caitlyn said while laughing. Nahuli ko na nagkatinginan ulit sila at pareho pang lihim na napangiti. Hmm, bakit kaya?

Dumidilim na ang paligid nang mag-decide ang dalawa kong kasama na mag-relax muna sa Malcolm Square bago umuwi. Halos isang oras na kami dito until tita Caitlyn pulled out her smartphone from her bag. She read a text message, smiled, and then turned to us.

"Alright! Tour is over, ladies. We need to get going," she said.

"Fiona, ida-drop off ka lang namin sa residence ha," tia Sandra said as she drove the car back to the colonial manor. She checked on me through the rearview mirror.

Nasa passenger's seat naman nakaupo si tita Caitlyn. She turned to look at me. Kumportable akong nakaupo sa back seat as I looked at them.

"May pupuntahan pa po kayo?" I asked.

"Oh, don't mind us, dear. May bibilhin lang kaming mga matatanda sa night market," tita Caitlyn said.

"Hinihintay kami ni Gabriel sa isang café in town," tia Sandra said.

"So we'll leave the house for a while to you two young lovebirds," tita Caitlyn said and then gave me a playful wink.

Napatango na lang ako at napangiti sa kanila. I felt my cheeks blushing.

"Mabuting tao si Clifford, manang-mana sa papa niya. You don't have to be scared of him," tia Sandra said with a chuckle.

"Opo, may tiwala naman po ako sa kanya. So far, gentleman naman po siya," I said, nodding in agreement.

"Cliff doesn't usually introduce girls to the family. May mga naging girlfriends siya in the past pero hindi namin nalalaman iyon unless we catch him in town or in school with the girl or may ibang taong nagsasabi sa amin. He's that sneaky," tita Caitlyn said laughing.