Once upon a Time

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR: I own my Heart

Yana

I went inside the kitchen with Laylah tugging along with me early the next morning.

Wala masyadong trabaho ngayon sa mansyon and everyone has a lot of free time.

Everyone at the kitchen were all busy watching a movie. Misis Morticia and Francesco are boy crying heavily because of the movie. Laylah looks at me then she covered her mouth and giggled. I smiled at her.

Lumapit kami ni Laylah kay Manang Deli. Sya lang ang mukhang hindi apektado sa pinapanuod nilang pelikula.

I was startled ng biglang humagulgol ng malakas si Francesco.

"Popoy ramdam ko ang sakit na nararamdaman mo!" he said in tears.

Laylah started giggling once again while Manang Deli shook her head.

"Alam mo ba na pang sampung beses na yata nila napanuod yang si Popoy at Basha pero lagi pa din silang naiiyak?" Manang Deli said.

Inupo ko si Laylah sa upuan at inabot sa kanya ang isang baso ng gatas.

"Nakakatuwa naman po sila mukhang saulo na din nila yung mga lines." I said when I noticed Misis Morticia and Francesco na sumasabay sa pagsasalita ng mga characters sa pinapanuod nila.

"May lakad ba kayo ni Señorita Laylah ngayon?" Manang Deli asks.

"Ipapasyal ko lang po sya sa mall. Pinayagan na po kami ni Don Gabriel."

"Kaya naman pala mukhang excited si Señorita ngayon." Manang Deli said habang hinahaplos ang buhok ni Laylah.

Nakiramdam ako. There seems to be something off today. Did I miss something? Parang may kakaiba lang sa paligid.

It's too quiet.

Suddenly it hits me. It is indeed too quiet! Wala sa paligid ang De Vera Boys. Umuwi na kaya silang lahat?

"Manang Deli umuwi na po ba yung mga pinsan ni Laylah at Ramiel?"

"Hindi pa pero nagkayakagan sila sa Country Club na magpipinsan. Pinagmaneho sila ni Igor. Ganun talaga ang magpipinsang yun. Kung ano na lang maisipan gawin talagang gagawin nila. Ayaw ngang sumama ni Señorito Ramiel pero pinilit nila."

Speaking of Ramiel. May naisip na kaya syang three wishes? At kung meron man kaya ko naman kayang tuparin?

Laylah started tugging my sleeves. It seems like gusto na nyang umalis.

"Sige po Manang aalis na po kami ni Laylah naghihintay na din po si Francois sa amin sa labas eh." I said.

"Yakagin nyo kaya si Señorita Yumi? Maiiwan kasi sya mag-isa dito sa mansyon." Manang Deli suggested.

That would be a great idea!

Outside Yumi's room...

"Hi Yumi!" I greeted her pagkabukas nya ng pinto.

"Yana kayo pala! Do you need anything?" she asks.

"Ipapasyal ko kasi si Laylah sa mall baka gusto mong sumama."

Yumi gave me a huge smile.

"Talaga? I can join?"

"Oo naman! Bakit naman hindi?" I said.

"Thank God! Nabobored na ako dito eh atsaka bukas pa babalik si Mommy. Wait lang ha I will just change clothes." she said then she went back inside.

After two minutes Yumi came out. The three of us headed down and out the mansion where our ride is waiting for us.

While we were on the road my phone started ringing. It was Jane.