PAUL LEVI'S POINT OF VIEW
Umupo ako sa may couch pagkatapos kong mag-shower. It's been a long, long day. Kailangan ko pang tapusin ang cake para sa party ni Skye. Speaking of that, 'twas a right choice for dad to tell me na 'wag ipahawak kay Ali.
Binuksan ko ang laptop ko at naghanap ng mapapanood. Well, a Netflix time before sleeping would do. Habang nakatuon ako sa laptop ko, may kumatok sa kwarto ko.
"Pasok." Kalma kong sabi. Si Skye.
"Oh, akala ko magpapahinga ka na? Galing ka sa kwarto ni Ali, diba?" sabi ko ka kanya at dire-diretso lang siyang naglakad papunta sa tabi ko at umupo. Tinitigan ko siya. He doesn't miss a night na bisitahin si Ali sa kwarto niya para kamustahin.
"Kuya, about what Vince told you..." sabi ni Skye. Ramdam ko ang pag-aalala niya. Not only for Ali but for all of her friends. Though Skye is in Thailand for three straight years, hindi yan nagpapahinga pagdating kay Ali. He is always updated, from our exchange messages and dahil sa rin sa hacking skills niya.
"I think it's gonna be complicated." Sabi niya.
"Huh? Paano?" tanong ko sa kanya.
"Hindi ko lang alam, pero pakiramdam ko, this is all connected to what happened last year."
Napatingin ako sa kanya. "Skye, matagal nang tapos 'yun. And kahit may mga maliliit na threats si Mia kay Ali, shouldn't they reveal everything in just one blow? I mean, kaya naman nila diba?"
"May point ka kuya, pero I think they're not doing that kasi gusto nilang makipaglaro kay Ali. First, by using her friends. Calyx, more precisely."
Kung sabagay. Sa nangyayari, hindi imposible ang sinasabi ni Skye. Kung tutuusin nga, si Calyx talaga ang pakay nila ngayon. Pero bakit?
"Why Calyx?"
Napatingin si Skye sa akin ng seryoso. "Jealousy, anger, you name it all. Not just that, but Calyx is the closest person to Ali. They're betting he knows everything and every detail of her. So I think, kung gusto nilang paalisin si Allison sa MIU, at gusto nilang makaganti sa kanya, stealing her friends would make her move."
Napatango ako. "Fair point."
Sa mga ganitong klaseng bagay, si Skye lang talaga ang magaling sa ganito eh. And I know, without him saying, do not tell it to Ali. Alam niyang mag-aalala lang si Ali and right now, he doesn't want to spoil her day.
"I'll go to Vince's tomorrow kuya. After bringing Ali to school, that is." Sabi ni Skye. Nginitian ko siya at tumango.
"Enough of that. How's Sofia?" tanong ko.
Napangiti siya. "Jet lagged." Sabi niya saka tumawa. "After 5 minutes pinalayas na niya ako at hindi daw maganda ang pakiramdam niya. But well, she's fine as always."
He always smiles this way when talking about Sofia. Hindi ko lang alam kung bakit hindi pa niya inaamin sa sarili niya na may gusto siya sa kanya. Ever since college, they're always together. And they would always look at each other dearly. Surprisingly, walang aminan na nangyari and they parted ways to different countries. But I guess, they always had communication.
"Sunduin ko nalang daw siya tomorrow evening." Sabi ni Skye.
"Mmhmm. About that, where are you going to hold it?"
"Probably here at home. Hindi naman ganun karami ang bisita ko. And I'd really want it to be private. Naisip ko na rin na sa resto mo sana, but I thought, it would be trouble." Sagto niya sa akin.
"At gaano naman ka-'onti' ang bisita mo?" panunukso ko sa kanya. He would always say that then he invites everyone.
Natawa siya. "Maybe more or less 70 people."
"Okaay. Leave the food on me, well of course, walang libre bro." sabi ko at tumayo para kumuha ng damit.
"No problem bro. I ain't gonna take it free anyway." Sa niya. Tumayo siya at pumunta sa may table kung saan nakapatong ang plan ng bagong resto sa Laguna.
"Oho, you're expanding?" tanong niya.
"Not quite. It's not a restaurant, that is. More like a bistro or a gastropub I think. Haven't decided it yet." Kinuha niya ang papel at tinaas.
"The area's excellent though. For a bistro, kuya."
Lumapit ako sa kanya. "Well, Ali said that too."
"Think wisely bro. I know you will." Sabi niya at binigay sa akin ang papel. "See you tomorrow. Cook us a great breakfast for me kuya. Good Night." Sabi niya at lumabas siya sa kwarto ko.
Dumiretso na ako sa higaan at napatingin sa taas. Bistro, huh?
Nagising ako nang 5am. Well, it's a little bit early so I got up and brewed some coffee downstairs. Umakyat ako sa kwarto ko at umupo sa table. Tinititigan ko ang drawing ng resto sa Laguna nang biglang tumunog ang telepono ko.
"Sir, I have the designes ready. Let's meet when you're free." Sabi ng Chief Engineer ng resto ko. Napangiti ako bigla. Thankfully, this day's starting great. Think I might need to skip work at the resto today.
Nang nag-alas sais na, pinuntahan ko na si Ali. According to her schedule, her class today is 8:00 am but she noted to wake her up early. Well, I can, pero alam ko na puyat siya from last night, and nothing seems to be noted here so I opted not to. Just doing my job as her human alarm clock, I guess. Hahaha.
I will just wake her up around 7 in the morning. Bumaba na ako at nagluto ng breakfast. Maaga sila mom at dad, so I need to make them some breakfast first. I bet Skye's gonna wake up early or pretty late, even though it's a one-hour time difference.
"Ali, gising na. It's 7am already." Sabi ko kay Ali.
"Whaaaat?! Kuya naman, I noted to wake me up early!" sabi niya at agad siyang dumiretso sa Bath room. Kaaga-aga, saan na naman kaya 'to pupunta?
"Come down later, I cooked your favorite." Sabi ko sa kanya. "Will do!" sigaw niya.
Bumaba na rin ako and saw Skye sitting by the bar area, eating ice cream.
"Mukhang masyadong maaga naman yata para sa ice cream, Syke." Pambungad ko sa kanya.
"Mornin'" matamlay niyang sagot. "I finally feel jet lag. Good though may ice cream dito. At least I feel a little cold. Pero ang init pa rin!"
Natawa ako sa kanya. Para talaga siyang bata kapag najejet lag eh. Well, hinayaan ko nalang siya at here comes Alisson. Akala ko nakapalit na siya for school pero naligo lang naman pala siya. I really doubt it, parang may pupuntahan siya eh.
"Oh, akala ko may pupuntahan ka? Kanina lang, atat na atat ka nung bumangon ako eh."
"Hmph." Sabi niya at umupo sa tabi ni Skye.
"Bakit? Anong meron?" tanong ni Skye.
"Kaasar! Sabi nila magmemeeting ng 7am! Tapos malalaman laman kong hindi pala tuloy?!" sabi ni Ali. Natawa naman kaming dalawa ni Skye kaya mas lalo siyang nainis. Ginulo naman ni Skye ang buhok niya habang kinuha ko ang pagkain namin. "Yung tulog ko!" sabi ni Ali at naubob sa bar table.
"Kuya sila mama pala?" tanong ni Ali.
"Nauna na kanina. Sabay na daw sila ni Dad since maaga ang klase ni Mom." Sagot ko.
Nilapag ko ang niluto kong rice with steak and mashed potato at pareho naman silang nabuhayan ng loob at atat kumain. Naisip ko lang, para naman din icelebrate ang pag-uwi ni Skye, let's make something they both love.
"Fix up Ali, I'll bring you to school." Sabi ni Skye kay Ali after kumain kaya umakyat na agad siya at nagbihis. Syempre, excited at si Skye ang maghahatid sa kanya.
After some time, bumaba na si Ali, right in time para hindi siya malate. They both went our leaving me alone. Well, maybe I need to start the cake right now. Before meeting the engineer and finalize things to finish the interiors. And yes, Bistro it is.
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A/N: Henlo!! Another Update for today. Sorry for the Slow update. Bawi ako promise! Hope you'll support 'till the end! BTW, Happy 104 Votes BMG!
Mahal ko kayong lahat! ~AliKendrix
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