A Close Second

Thirty Sixth

"What do you mean bisita?"

It was a peaceful afternoon. I was sitting at the sofa, both feet pulled up para isandal ang librong binabasa ko nang dumating si Yaya Rosario sa tapat ko, informing me na may bisitang dumating para sa akin.

It had been two weeks since the party, and this had been the first time that somebody else had gone to visit me. It's only 1 in the afternoon and I wasn't really expecting anyone to visit.

My pre-college summer wasn't really shaping up to be the best that I would've hoped for.

Thea had been constantly texting me and I reply with her a bunch of times but I always declined going to the Alcantaras right now.

Jacob had asked me thrice na to hang out with him and Thea, but I didn't really want to be a third wheel with them and then there was a distinct (although slightly near) possibility na kasama namin ang barkada ni Jake kaya naman tumanggi na ako.

Maraming tanong ang kailangan ko pang sagutin sa sarili ko: What was next for Madam Beatrice? I've been reading novels, to the point that I finished one in two days, and now I just started a new series, currently in book 2.

That was until Yaya Rosario had just said na may bisita daw ako.

"Pinapasok ko na. Nandoon siya ngayon sa azotea." She says.

Who though? I still stood up, holding my copy of City of Ashes against my chest. Naka tank top pa man lang din ako, and short shorts. Good thing though that I had a kimono jacket draped sa may sofa, and I took that, putting it on.

Yaya Rosario smiles at me. "Sige na, hija." Sabi nito. "Dadalhan ko nalang kayo ng meryenda ninyo."

Hawak parin ang libro ko, nagpunta na ako sa direksyon ng azotea, the soles of my flats clacking into the marble. Wala si Conrad, because of Taekwando lessons, kaya wala rin akong magawa dito sa bahay na ito.

"Hi, good afternoon." Bati ko paglabas na paglabas ng door and I'm a little surprised to see who was rising out of his seat. "Andrei, what a pleasant surprise."

Andrei smiles at me, hands in his pockets habang nakatayo dun. Lumapit nalang ako, awkwardly giving him a hug before inviting him to sit down. He obliges though, and I sit, resting my book sa may lap ko.

"What are you doing here?" I ask him, tucking my hair behind my ear.
He smiles. "It's summer Beatrice." Sabi niya sa akin. "In case you forget. We still have a project to run after."

I was a little confused, and then I remembered the orphanage. Oo nga no? Ang tagal ko nang hindi nababalitaan yun. So far, I thought nag assign na ng bagong tao sila Mommy to look over the project.

"You mean hindi pa siya tapos?" tanong ko.
Natawa siya sa sinabi ko. "You know, it doesn't just take three months para matapos ang isang building, right?"
I gave him a look. "I'm sorry. Was that sarcasm I'm detecting?"
"I'm sorry. I kid." He says. "Anyways, you'll be happy to know that it's well under the way."

Napatango nalang ako sa kanya. I wasn't sure why he was giving me an update with that project right now.

"I appreciate the update, but can I ask why you're here?"
"The last time Dad told me, it was you who's still in charge. As per Tita Carla's instructions." Sabi nito. "And congratulations by the way, little miss Valedictorian."

Nangiti ako, saka naman dumating si Yaya na may dalang isang tray na may dalawang basong juice at mga cookies. Nginitian siya ni Andrei saka naman pinasalamatan. Nang makaalis si Yaya, ako naman ang nagsalita.

"Thank you." Sabi ko sa kanya. "But back to our point. Hindi kasi ako aware na ako parin ang in charge. I mean, ang alam ko, naglagay na si Mom ng mga taong mag ooversee dito since I requested it. Hindi na rin naman kasi kinaya ng schedule ko noon, lalo na nung mag finals na."
Andrei nods. "I see..." he says thoughtfully. "I understand completely. I mean, of course, times then were busy. And tama ka rin, nagpalagay si Tita Carla ng mga taong mag ooversee nito, but when I went to ask them, sinabi nila na ang ginagamit parin daw is your concepts."
"Are you kidding me?"