60 Days with Mr. Heartless

INTRO II Run Baby Run (Part 1)

Avaleine Sorrentino.

Milan, Italy.

"See you tomorrow, girl! 'Bye!" Teddy, one of my pep squad friends bid me goodbye after they drop me off at my house.

I gave the girls a flirty flying kiss then smack my bum in front of them, it's a form of our goodbye as a pep squad team. As usual they laugh at me before their car vanished into my sight.

Napailing akong pumasok na sa bahay namin. As usual, the guards and maids in our house greeted me with respect which I greet them back with the same love and affection.

Well, my parents raised me well despite having a golden spoon in my mouth. In addition to that, my Filipina personal maid who I called Mom also help my parents to raise and teach me life stuff, that's why I know how to speak tagalog because when she came in Italy when I was just 5 years old, she didn't even know how to speak Italian and she just know a little english, that's why she decided to teach me tagalog instead. At bilang tulong na rin ng pamilya ko sa kaniya, sinuportahan s'ya nila Mommy at Daddy sa kagustuhan niyang turuan ako ng lenguahe nila para magkaintindihan kami, palagi kasing wala sa bahay ang parents ko dahil busy sila sa paghawak ng aming family business. At saka maganda naman iyon na marami akong alam na lenguahe because in our family, it's kinda required to learn a lot of languages. It is a form of respect here. The more language you knew, the more people will put their trust and respect on you. And someday, I'm gonna be handling our family business, kaya maaga pa lang ay ti-ne-train na nila ako kahit 19 years old pa lang ako ngayon.

Well, so much for being an only child, huh?

People says it's a privileged to be an only child, well it is, good thing I have a lovely parents who makes sure that I've got all the love and support that I need. But sometimes, it's just hard.

Isang buntong hininga ang pinakawalan ko dahil sa pagod sa school and practice sa pep at the same time. At mabuti na lang din at nandito na si Mama Ofelia; my Filipina maid who always cooks me good food whenever I came home from school.

Napapikit ako sa aroma ng niluluto niyang sinigang na naging paborito ko na. Gosh, I'm so freakin' in love with Filipino food. I can't wait to visit the Philippines when summer breaks come.

My parents promise me that we're gonna travel together with Mama Ofelia in her country because, after years of staying in Italy, she's finally going home and we're all excited for her...

Pagdating ko sa may kitchen area sa kung saan kasalukuyang nagluluto si Mama Ofelia, masaya kong binaba ang duffle bag na dala ko sa high stool sa may bar area at tinakbo si Mama at niyakap sa likuran nito.

Napatawa siyang humarap sa akin. "Magandang gabi sa 'yo, anak! Sakto lang ang pagdating mo dahil malapit na rin itong matapos at!" masayang dagdag pa nito sabay wiggle pa ng kaniyang maninipis na kilay.

Gosh, she's so cute! I was wondering tuloy if halos lahat ba ng Filipina ay maninipis ang mga kilay? Hers looks like Monalisa's eyebrows though. It's barely even there.

Mama Ofelia is just the same age as my Mother, that's why they got along perfectly. They're only 42, so they don't look old for their age. Kaya naman parang lang kaming magkakapatid kung tutuusin.

Umupo ako sa high stool at masayang hinarap si Mama. "At ano po, 'Ma?"

Bahagyang kumunot ang noo nito na parang naguguluhan pero kaagad din siyang umiling. "Hmm, baka nakalimutan ka lang nilang tawagan kanina. Maagang umuwi kasi ang parents mo kanina at heto nga at kakatapos lang namin ng ibang cook sa iba pang pagkain na pinaluto n'ya at ngayon ay patapos na rin ako sa paborito mong ulam dahil alam kong pagod ka sa practice mo sa pep. May bisita ata kayo ngayong gabi kaya s'ya nagpahanda nang marami ngayon." paliwanag nito.

Ako naman ay namilog ang bibig saka napatango-tango but deep inside me ay napapaisip ako kung bakit ako nakaligtaang tawagan ni Mommy dahil hinding-hindi nakakalimutan ni Mommy na i-inform ako kung may importante man kaming bisita na pupunta sa bahay. As in never...

Unless they're hiding something from me. Again.

The last time they did hid things from me, it almost killed me because I run away from home and took their car. Gusto kong magpakalayo-layo noon dahil nahuli ko silang nag-uusap, and my mom was crying because my father cheated on her. Gusto ng divorse ni Mommy but then I overheard them and of course it was so painful, I have to get away and run just to ease the pain but then I ended up in a terrible accident that it almost cost me my life.

Good thing I survived. And when I fully recovered, my parents promised me that they're not having a divorse and they also promised that they're not gonna hide anything from me ever again.

But now, this again... I just hope it's nothing serious but damn! My heart is hammering in nervousness right now.

"Anak? Okay ka lang ba?" may pag-alala sa boses ni Mama Ofelia na tanong nito sa akin. Hinawakan ako nito sa pisngi para obserbahan kung may problema ba but I just gave her a toothy smile para hindi ito mag-alala sa akin.

She tends to worry a lot, especially kung involve ako. Parang anak na nga kasi ang turing nito sa akin.

"Pagod lang po siguro 'to, 'Ma. Anyway, papasok lang po ako saglit sa room ko para maligo. I'm sweaty and I feel so gross. Yuck." maarteng umakto ako na parang nandidiri dahilan para tumawa na si Mama.

"O's'ya sige na. Kakatukin na lang kita kapag ready na ang dining table." she winked at me before I turn my back on her then marched to my room on the second floor.

******

"Darling?" It's my mom outside my room, knocking.

Napabalikwas ako ng upo sa bathtub ko. Sh*t!

"Wait a sec, Mom! I'm going to dress now!" Sigaw ko at nagmamadaling nagbanlaw ng katawan.

Damn, how long that I've been sitting here anyway?

"Oh no rush, darling. I'm just going to check in on you because Ofelia said that you came home 1 hour ago. Are you okay though? Can I come in?"

No, I'm not okay, I'm worried. Gusto ko sanang isatinig dahil kanina ko pa pala iniisip ang bagay na kung bakit may bisita kami ngayon at kung bakit hindi nila ako tinawagan para i-inform.

Gosh, living with anxiety is not easy as people think. Ang hirap-hirap mag-overthink. Nakakapagod. At nakakasira ng sanity! Ugh, I hate this!

Kaya hindi ko rin masisisi si Mama Ofelia kung bakit bi-ne-baby n'ya ako at lahat ng tao rito sa Mansion because they know, I've been through a lot already. They're just protecting me, I know.

Pero ano na naman ba itong paparating sa buhay ko? Malakas kasi ang feeling ko na hindi magiging maganda ang kahihinatnan ng gabing ito. I knew it because I've been through it once.

Gosh, ayaw ko lang na maulit 'yon. I'm scared...

I inhale, exhale multiple times just to normalize my heart beating again. Then after I gather myself, I finally said to my mother that she can come in to my room. Ayoko lang makita n'ya akong ganito. I'm sure mag-wo-worry ito sa akin. She always does. They always do.

I put a smile on my lips when our eyes met. She gave me a kind smile then took a sit on the edge of my queen-sized bed.

Nagtungo ako sa walk-in closet ko at pumili ng isusuot ko ngayong gabi.

"Mama said that we have a guest coming. What dress should I wear though?" I asked her while staring at my neatly arranged dresses in my now wide-open closet.

I have OCD, so yeah, I'd like things in order.

"Ahm, just wear casual, darling." sambit nito sa malamyos na boses. It's soothing, but I can't help but wonder why she seems a little off.

May iba sa kaniya, I felt that. Hindi lang naman ang magulang ang nakakaramdam kapag hindi okay ang anak, gano'n din ang anak sa magulang. Saka siguro nature ko na rin siguro ito dahil bata pa lang ako ay gusto ko nang maging doctor pero alam ko naman ang kakayahan ko at kung hanggang saan lang ang kaya ng utak ko, alam ko hindi ko kayang mag-doctor dahil hindi naman ako gifted sa utak.

But I sure want to be in the medical field someday though. Soon enough din naman ay ga-graduate na ako ng high school. Siguro kung hindi ako nag-iisang anak at tagapagmana ng isang kumpanya, pipiliin ko ang close to being a doctor and that's being a nurse or whatever pre-med that might catch my attention.

I mentally sigh and just get the stripe v-neck lapel bow dress then showed it to my mother.

"How about this?"

"That is p-perfect, darling." she smiled then coughs which worries me more and more.

Kaagad akong lumapit sa kaniya at sinipat ang noo nito. "Mom, are you okay? Your skin feels so cold and you looked pale. Have you visited our family doctor and have this check? Mom, you're not okay, so please don't try to hide it from me."

She tsked then caressed my arms lightly. "Hush. Don't worry about me. I'm fine. It's just cough and fatigue."

Hindi na ako nakipag-argumento dahil alam ko namang walang patutunguhan ito sa ngayon. Pagkatapos na lang ng dinner namin ay doon ko s'ya kakausapin. Because something is definitely wrong with her.

Nagbihis na nga ako at pagkatapos kong mag-ayos ng buhok at nag-make-up para maging presentable sa kung sino mang bisita namin, sabay na kami ni Mommy na bumaba ng dining room at pagtataka kaagad ang bumulot sa akin nang makitang may kasama ng isang lalaki si Daddy na nakasuot ng black suit. Wari ko ay ito na ang bisitang sinasabi ni Mama Ofelia.

I mentally gulped when our gaze met. His steele-like eyes are cold as dead. Nakaka-intimidate ang mga titig n'ya at mas lalo na ang aura nito.

No wonder at ang tahimik ng mga maids namin, including Mama Ofelia na parang ilag na ilag sa lalaking bisita namin ngayon. Usually kasi ay kahit may bisita ang parents ko whether business partners or just colleagues or family friends ay nakikihalubilo ang mga maids namin sa kanila. Gano'n ka open ang pamilya namin.

Pero ngayon, ibang-iba ang atmosphere rito.

"Ah, here they come at last!" My father beamed in excitement.

I see that he's just trying to lighten up the mood in here but our guest sure doesn't like being chirpy and chill because he's just eyeballing me the whole time I set a foot in our dining room.

Gosh, I'm starting to feel uncomfortable around this man.

I mean, he looks fine though. More than fine because he's so attractive.

Sa tingin ko ay nasa mid 20's pa lang ito at sa tindig ng ma-muscle niyang katawan, alam ko nang ginagalang talaga ito.

Nang makaupo kami ni Mommy ay mas natitigan ko pa ito ng husto.

Well, hindi lang pala s'ya attractive, he's also hot. Like hella hot.

Chiseled jawline, thin rosy lips, aristocratic nose, perfect groom eyebrow, and clean face, no beard or piercing or whatsoever, just perfectly clean face with a brush-up dirty blonde hair.

Gosh, ganitong-ganito ang mga pinapangarap na lalaki ng mga kaibigan ko sa pep squad.

He's a classic Italian bachelor.

But no matter how hot or attractive he is, I still don't like him at all.

Ewan ko ba. Mabigat kasi ang pakiramdam ko sa kaniya. And I'm great at sensing bad people. But he's my parents' guest, so I'll give him the benefit of the doubt. Ayaw ko namang maging judgmental nang gano'n kadali.

Nagsimula ang dinner namin sa small talk which is my father leads all the talking, their guest isn't a big talker though. Sa tingin ko nga ay mabibilang mo lang sa daliri ang mga words na lumalabas sa bibig nito. Parang ngang bored na bored ito kung tutuusin at mukhang iritado na rin s'ya.

Napaigtad na lang ako nang bigla niyang binaba ang utensils n'ya sa plato dahilan para mag-create ito ng malakas na sound. Lahat kami sa dining table ay napatahimik at napatingin sa kaniya.

Pinagdaop n'ya ang kaniyang mga palad at pinaglagutok ang mga daliri nito. Dinig na dinig din namin ang paghinga n'ya nang malalim.

"Can we just get to the business, Sorrentinos? Hmm, shall we? Because I don't have all night. Did you even tell your daughter about the plan?"

"Tell me what?"

My father cleared his throat when I looked at them in confusion.

"Ahm, maids please leave us alone here,"

Kaagad namang umalis ang mga maid namin including my Mama Ofelia na may malaking pag-alala sa mukha n'ya.

Okay, I'm getting more and more anxious here. I'm starting to feel the panic attack coming in my way but I'm trying my very best not to because I want to know what's going on here.

Nang masiguradong wala nang maids o kahit na sino ang nasa dining room kundi kami na lang, my father finally made eye contact with me. Si Mama naman ay hinawakan ang kamay ko na nasa itaas ng dining table.

Nagpalipat-lipat ang tingin ko sa kanilang dalawa.

"Mom? Dad? What is going on here?" nahihintakutang tanong ko sa kanila.

My parents exchange a look as if they're debating who's gonna tell it to me but then my father cleared his throat again to get my attention.

"Darling? We invited Mr. Rio Russo here because we want you to meet the person that we chose to be your husband..."

To be continued..