Once upon a Time

CHAPTER FORTY EIGHT: Nutcracker Dance

Yana

I look at my legs na tadtad ng salonpas. Masakit ang buong katawan ko because of that sudden mountain climbing I did yesterday.

"My poor legs." I said habang hinihimas ang mga binti ko.

"Ano naman kaya ang susunod na hihilingin nung Beast na yun? Kaasar dapat isang coupon na lang pala binigay ko dun. Tsk!"

Ang mas kinaasar ko pa sa lahat ay ang kadayaan nung Beast na yun! Imagine? Hindi talaga nya sinabi sa akin kung ano yung hiniling nya dun sa balon!

My door suddenly flung wide open and I saw Laylah running towards me. She started pulling me.

"Teka Laylah. Saan ba tayo pupunta?" I ask her. She pointed towards the direction of her room kaya I got off the bed and followed her.

Pagpasok namin she pointed at the Ballerina Dress on her bed.

"Wow! Sayo ba yan?" I excitedly ask her.

Laylah picks up the dress and gestured me to wait for awhile. She then went inside the bathroom and after three minutes came out wearing the dress.

"Ang ganda Laylah!" I exclaimed. Laylah jumps up and down. She looks so happy.

"She insisted on buying one kahapon nung pumunta kami sa mall." Don Gabriel's voice came from behind me. Nakatayo na pala sya sa may pinto.

"Mukhang gusto po yata nya ng ballet Don Gabriel."

"I'm just so happy that she is smiling already and that is thanks to you."

"Naku wala naman po akong ginawa kundi yung alagaan po si Laylah."

"I still believe na ikaw ang dahilan ng malaking improvement ni Laylah at Ramiel."

I flinched upon hearing his name. Masama na ang epekto nya sa puso ko. Just by hearing his name kumakabog na agad yung dibdib ko.

"Kung hindi lang sana sa kasunduan baka inudyukan Ko na ang anak Kong ligawan ka. I would love to have you as a daughter in law." Don Gabriel said dahilan upang masamid ako.

He started laughing.

"Sige Mauna na muna ako sa inyo madami pa kasi akong kailangang gawin na trabaho." he said then he left.

I focus my attention back to Laylah. Ang cute nya talagang bata. (^_____^)

She gave me a DVD. I look at it and find out that it was a ballet performance of the nutcracker dance. We sat by Laylah's bed then we watch it.

After an hour...

"YOU'VE GOT TO BE KIDDIN' ME!!!!" umalingawngaw ang boses ni Raphael sa living room. Nagtago sa likod ko si Laylah.

"Ano ka ba?! Natatakot tuloy ni Laylah oh!" saway ni Michael sa kanya.

"Do you honestly think na mapapasuot nyo ako nyan?" Raphael shouted once again.

Kinuha ni Nathaniel yung isang costume sa table at iniladlad ito.

"Mukhang okay naman eh." he said.

"Those are God damn tights! Di nyo ako mapapasuot nyang damit na yan!" he exclaimed.

"Pasensya na po mga Señorito ha pero request po talaga ni Laylah yan eh." I said to them.

"We would be happy to do it for her. Right guys?" Michael said. Tumango na lang yung iba kahit obviously napipilitan lang sila.

"And Anael! Saan ka naman pupunta?" Nathaniel said kaya napahinto si Anael na nasa pintuan na pala.