CHAPTER NINETY-SIX

ONE way mirror tint ang meron ang kotse kaya nakikita ko sila sa labas pero hindi nila ako nakikita dito sa loob. Kitang-kita ko ang pagtitig ng matanda sa loob ng kotse na para bang nakikita niya ako. Napalunok ako.

Mukhang alam ko na kung saan ako nagmana ng kasupladahan.

Dahan-dahan akong naglakad palapit sa may pinto. Binuksan ko 'to at bumaba. Lahat ng mga mata ng kasamahan namin ngayon dito ay sa'kin naka-tuon. Lumapit ako kay Kuya at tumabi ng tayo sa gilid nito. I never did an eye contact to everyone.

"So... this is my nieta?" tanong nito sa seryosong tono.

"Si, Mama," sagot ni Papa.

Damn! She looks scarier in person.

Nag-angat ako ng tingin ng pasimple akong kalibitin ni Kuya at sa hindi inaasang pangyayari ay nagtama ang mata namin ni Lola. Mag-iiwas sana ako ng malapad itong ngumiti saka inisang hakbang ang pagitan naming dalawa. Niyakap niya ako ng mahigpit na ikinagulat ko para manigas ang katawan ko.

"Jesus! My nieta is so pretty like her abuela!!!" anito ng ilayo niya ako sa kanya. Hinawakan niya ako sa magkabilang pisnge ko. "How are you my nieta?"

Pilit akong ngumiti sa kanya. "Hi..."

"Mama, let's go—"

"Don't you dare to stop me, Jude! I will surely be mad at you! You never mention that my granddaughter is so pretty in person!"

Umawang ang labi ni Papa samantalang sila kuya naman ay tumawa lang ng mahina.

"I'm your Abuela, my hija. I'm Xiomara," malambing niyang wika.

"I'm happy to finally meet you in person, Abuela," nakangiting wika ko na kinatigil nito sandali pero agad ring nakabawi saka ngumiti.

"Me too, hija. Me too!" Humarap ang matanda sa mga kasamabahay na nakapila sa gilid.
"My nieta is finally home. La tratarás como nosotras."

"Si!" sabay-sabay na sabi ng mga kasambahay.

Humarap sa'kin si Abuela. "How are you, hija?"

"I'm fine. Thanks for asking... by the way... we bought your favorite food like what Papa said," ani ko habang nakangiti ng maliit.

"Oh! Gracias."

"Let's go inside, Abuela, we're still tired," yaya ni Kuya Nat kay Abuela.

Humarap ang matanda sa dalawang lalaki bago lumayo sa'kin. Lumapit ito sa dalawa pagkatapos ay niyakap isa-isa. Gumanti ng yakap sina Kuya.

"It's a long time since the last time I saw you Nathaniel. You never visit me here!" anito sa tonong nag-tatampo.

"Lo siento abuela. Estoy un poco ocupado, pero no te preocupes. Todo será diferente ahora," anito.

"Bueno. ¡confío en ti!" humarap naman si Abuela kay Kuya Ivan. "La última vez que te vi, Iverson, tenías el pelo corto. ¿Por qué tienes el pelo largo ahora? ¿Quieres que me lo corte, nieto?"

"No, Abuela, por favor, no. I don't want to have a short hair now. I want to try it long," kuya said in pleasing voice.

"Hmm... okay. But tie your hair," anito bago muling bumalik sa'kin ang tingin. "Let's go inside, nieta. I'll tour you around the house. I'll saw you your room."

Hinila ako ni Abuela papasok ng bahay. The house looks like a modern Spanish design. Nice.

Nakasunod sa'min ang mga lalaki sa labas. Namangha ako sa living room nila. Siguro'y kakasya ang higit benteng katao do'n. Parang royals ang nakatira dito sa bahay na 'to. It's not actually a house, nor a mansion it looks like a palace.

(A/n: and in this moment, napagtanto kong tatagalugin or English-in ko na lang 'yung usapan nila para 'di us pare-parehong mahirapan pero isipin niyo na lang na nag-uusap sila gamit ang salitang Spanish, 'yon langs, adios!)

Naglakad kami hanggang sa makarating kami sa may hagdanan. They have an imperial staircase. Sa kanang hagdan kami dumaan. Ang tatlong lalaki naman ay nasa kaliwa at nakamasid lang sa'min ni Abuela.

"Maganda po ang bahay ninyo... gaano kadaming kwarto ang meron kayo dito?" tanong ko dito ng makapanik kami sa taas. Papunta kami sa kaliwang bahagi ng bahay, madaming pintuan ang meron.

"Mabuti't nagustuhan mo. Matagal na ang bahay na 'to... dati kasing palasyo 'to ngunit inukupa ng pamilya natin simula ng ibenta ng dating nagmamay-ari. Wala naman daw kasing titira kaya pinagbili na lang," pagpapaliwanag nito.

Tumango ako. Huminto kami sa tapat ng isang pintong kulay itim. Nilingon ko si Abuela, nakangiti siya sa'kin.

"This will be your room, nieta," wika nito kasabay ng pagbubukas ng pinto. Tumambad sa'kin ang isang magarbong silid.

"Wow," I uttered when I walk in.

I roamed my eyes around the room. This room is so beautiful. The color is purple, gray, white and gold. It has a large window with a purple curtain with gold on top. The bed is king size and color purple too.

Nilapitan ko ang kama at dinama ang head board. It's leather. May pa-hugis crown siya sa taas na kulay gold samantalang 'yung leather is purple. The pillows are color white and gold. There's a two side table with a lamp on top. It also has the color white and gold. There is also have a two single-seater in the side of the room.

Sa likod ng mga side table ay may poste. Sa itaas no'n ay may LED lights na kulay purple na mas nakakapagbigay ng buhay sa silid. May stained glass Chandelier SA gitna ng kwarto.

Mayroong dalawang pintuan ang silid. Lumakad ako papunta sa isang pintuan. Binuksan ko 'yon. Tumambad sa'kin ang malaking walk-in closet. Pumasok ako sa loob. Ramdam ko ang mga tingin sa'kin ni Abuela habang nagmamasid ako sa silid.

The closet is purples too, while the handle is gold. It has six doors for the cabinet, two sides of the rack for shoes, and there's a whole body mirror near the window. There's also an empire type of chandelier in the middle of the ceiling.

The room has an aircon so you won't feel sweaty at all. I look at Abuela.

"Is this room is mine?"

She nod, "yes." She answered me while smiling.

My eyes widened. "I don't deserve this—"

"No. You deserve this, nieta. You deserve more!" pagpuputol nito sa sasabihin ko. Nilapitan niya ako saka kinuha ang kamay ko.

"I'm sorry, nieta. Forgive this old lady if we haven't found you sooner. You are a Law. You deserve more than these things. We didn't get the chance to be with you in the last eighteen years so let us make up for those years because if I'm the one who'll choose. I will give you a lot and a house. More cars, condos and many material things just to redeem those years," she said with full of emotions.

I can feel her sadness in her voice. I pity her. We lost years to know each other. I approached her and took her hand.

"Don't worry, Abuela... we have all the time to bond. I have a one week semestral break before we go back in New York. That's a lot of time," I will ease into her even though I don't know if that will work.

She held my cheeks. "Yes. Yes, nieta. We will bond, and that will be going to start later! I will leave you here first. You can tour around or freshen up before sleeping. I know jet lag will attack later so take a rest, my little princess. I will go downstairs to ready our food, okay?"

I nod. "Okay, Abuela. Take care," I reminded her.

She kissed my forehead before leaving my room. I'm just following her through my eyes. She left my walk-in closet, later on, I heard the door opened then it closed again. And when I am by my own, I roam my eyes again in the room before walking out there.

I went to my bed, where I sat comfortably. I leaned my back against the headboard then I yawned. Before I even notice. I fell into oblivion.

****

I WOKE up because of the sound coming from my room. Two people are talking loudly without thinking I am here sleeping.

I opened my eyes to see my brother and cousin. They are eating something at the table while watching a movie on Kuya Nathaniel's phone, I think? I sat down and looked at them.

"Hm...Abuela knows my favorite! This is so great!" Kuya Nat said while chewing the food.

"Yeah. I miss this Tarta de Santiago..." Kuya Ivan agreed.

They look satisfied with what they are eating. I stood up to when and walked towards the two of them.

"What are you eating?" I asked before sitting down in Kuya Ivan's lap.

Kuya Ivan messed my hair before putting down his plate. He holds me in my waist.

"A Tarta de Santiago," he said.

I frowned. "What is that?"

"Spanish Almond Cake," Kuya Nathaniel answered sake, so I looked at him.

"Really?" I took Kuya Ivan's plate then I ate a bit to taste it. My eyes widened when I looked at them. They are smiling at me.

"That is homemade and our favorite food!" Kuya Nathaniel said.

"This cake will be my favorite soon. Yummy," I said while savoring the cake.

Tinitingnan lang ako ng dalawang lalaki, minsan ay sinusubuan ko si Kuya Ivan ng cake kapag gusto kong mag-share. Halos naubos namin ang buong cake dahil sa sarap. Bakit ngayon ko lang nalaman na may gano'ng klaseng pagkain pala?

Nang mabusog kaming tatlo ay tumayo ang dalawang lalaki para lumapit sa kama ko. Do'n sila padapang nahiga. Sa pagkakataong 'to ay kitang-kita ko ang mga mamasel nilang likod dahil sa sandong suot.

Ngayon ko lang napagtanto na magka-iba pala ang skin tone ng dalawang lalaki. Noon kasi ay pareho silang maputi pero ngayon ay hindi na. Si Kuya Ivan ay may pagkamaputi pa rin pero nag-mature ang hitsura dahil sa mahabang buhok. Si Kuya Nathaniel naman ay morenong-moreno dahil palaging nagbibilad sa beach ng Florida ang lalaki.

"Anong ginagawa niyo dito sa kwarto ko?" tanong ko pagkaraan ng ilang minuto.

"Tiningnan lang namin ang kwarto mo kung gaano kaganda dahil ibinibida sa'min ni Abuela 'to kanina," sagot ni Kuya.

I nod. "Okay... I'll go outside, please clean my room before you leave," paalala ko sa kanila bago tumayo at naglakad palabas ng kwarto.