Art of Serendipity

44

"Where is she?" I asked the receptionist. Iginiya niya agad ako sa restaurant ng hotel. Wearing her luxury clothes and Dior bag that obviously came in our money, tumayo siya at ngumiti nang makita ako.

"Hello, Miles. Long time no see. How are you, sweetie?" she asked in a very motherly tone. I almost choked.

My brow shot up. Why the sudden change of mood? Ang bait niya, hindi naman bagay sa kaniya.

"What do you need from me po?" There is no reason for me to acknowledge her anymore. I want to go straight to the point.

"Uh, I just want to see you? I want to check my daughter if you're just doing fine. Kumakain ka ba ng maayos, hmm?"

I scoffed sarcastically. "What exactly do you want from me, po? I have important things to do more than you and I won't waste my time having a nonsense conversation with you po so please, just spill the tea."

She cleared his throat. "I'm s-sorry... I'm so sorry for everything I did. I know, I did not become a good mother to you and I apologize for that. Please, forgive me and I promise, I will be a good mother to you. Promise, Ayannah. Give me my chance."

Umawang ang labi ko. Give her her chance? Do I owe her that? Sa pagkakaalam ko ay maraming pagkakataon na akong nagbigay sa kaniya ng chance at palagi niyang sinasayang iyon. Normal lang naman ang mapagod magbigay ng chance sa isang taong hindi naman deserving.

"What happened, Tita Donna? Sinukuan ka na rin po ba ng pride at ego mo?" Taas-kilay ko sa kaniya. I couldn't imagine her saying sorry for everything she did. Ngayon niya pa ba mare-realize ang mali niya kung kailan masyado nang malala ang nagawa niya? She's craz, reallyy.

Tumayo siya at sinubukang hawakan ang kamay ko pero iniiwas ko na ito agad. "No, hija. I'm serious. I am really sorry. Please, forgive me this time. Forgive your mother, please."

"You know what, Tita Donna? I can actually forgive you po e. I can forgive you if the only issue here is you, for not being a mother material for me. Hindi po ako mababaw na tao para hindi ka patawarin dahil lang hindi mo po nagawa ang role mo bilang isang inasa akin because trust me, naiintindihan ko po 'yong part na 'yon dahil alam kong wala kang anak... pero ang bastusin po ang mommy ko sa loob mismo ng pamamahay namin? That's a different thing, Tita. That is a different level of your audacity. Doon pa lang po, alam kong hindi mo kayang maging mabuting ina sa akin. Good thing, you don't have a child because your child will only be miserable just in case." I clenched my fist after saying that. I hope that's enough for her because if she really repents her mistakes, she will swallow all my hurtful words for her.

Hindi siya makapaniwalang tumingin sa akin. "As you can see, hija. Your father wants to throw me out and these were all started when you became a rebel so can't you see? I'm trying my best to apologize to you because I know that your opinion only matters for your father. Kung papatawarin mo ako, makakausap mo ang daddy mo para hindi ako paalisin sa inyo kaya please, forgive me."

"This is b*llshit..." I mumbled. "So, are you saying that once I forgave you, you expect me to talk to my father to not sue you, po? Really? Can you hear how desperate you are, Tita Donna? Hindi na po talaga ako naniniwala na magbabago ka so I will never bother myself forgiving a crazy woman like you. Excuse me, po."

I looked at her from head to foot before turning my back but of course, hindi niya ako hahayaang umalis kaya hinawakan niya ako. Inis kong tinanggal ang kamay niya pero napalakas iyon kaya natumba siya.

"Ouch..." she mumbled while holding her butt.

Lumapit ako agad sa kaniya para tulungan siya. "I'm sorry, Tita. Hindi ko po sinasadya-"

"No! You pushed me! You are disrespectful!" she exaggerated. Napatingin na sa amin ang ibang customers doon. Tsk, this woman is causing a scene again.

Sumenyas ako sa mga crew para tulungan si Tita Donna. Sumasakit ang ulo ko dahil kay Tita Donna. Hindi ko alam kung ano pang matatawag ko sa kaniya, kung desperada ba o delusional.

"Tita Donna, I don't know what's up with you. Umuwi ka na lang po kaya." Nawawalang pasensiya ko siyang tinignan.

Galit ang balik ng tingin niya sa akin. "Hindi na nakikinig sa akin si Michael dahil sa 'yo, you know that? So, I will make sure that you will regret that you were born, you useless girl!"

Binangga niya pa ang balikat ko bago siya umalis sa harap ko. I sighed heavily and brushed my hair frustratedly. Hindi ko alam ang gagawin ko kay Tita Donna. I don't want to tell this to my father because it will just make things worse. I can't also tell this to Levi because he's having a party right now, I don't want to ruin his happy time. Kung bakit ba naman kasi sinisisi niya ako sa nangyayari sa kaniya. Paanong naging kasalanan ko iyon? Ugali niya ang sisihin niya at h'wag ako.

Inis akong lumabas ng hotel at nag-taxi papunta kila Levi. I hope I won't ruin his mood right now, so I'll try my best to act normally to him, like nothing bad happened. I fixed my look before walking towards their mansion where the party is heading when I got at their house.

Nang makita ko si Levi na nakikipagtawanan sa mga pinsan niya ay huminto ako para pagmasdan siya. Even from a far, his presence can bring comfort to me. Posible pala iyon, ang makita ang ngiti niya ay parang nawala na agad ang mabigat na iniisip ko kanina.

Natigilan ako sa pagmamasid sa kaniya nang makita kong maya't-maya ang tingin niya sa phone niya. Napangiti naman ako. Is he waiting for my message? Oo nga pala, sinabi kong magme-message ako sa kaniya pero sa sobrang frustrate ko ay basta na lang ako pumunta rito. Well, I have my gift for him so let's call it a surprise.

I was about to go near him, but I suddenly stopped when his mother approached him, may kasamang babaeng mukhang kasing edad ko lang din. It looks like his mother introduced the girl to him and Levi complied. Sumusulyap pa rin si Levi sa phone niya habang kausap 'yong babae at 'yong Mommy niya. I'm just waiting for his mom to go away before I go near him, I really feel suffocated with his mother's presence. Hindi ko kayang makatagal sa isang lugar kung nasaan din siya, kung hindi lang dahil kay Levi.

Hindi ko alam kung ilang minute akong nakatayo roon pero nang makaalis sila ay lumabas din si Levi. I stalked him from behind and he went to their garden, kung saan walang tao at hindi na masyadong rinig ang ingay sa loob. He dialed someone on his phone and my phone suddenly vibrated. Although, I knew who is calling, I still checked it and saw my boyfriend's name. He's worried, huh?

"Hmm?" I answered in a little voice, so that he won't notice that I am already here.

"Love, are you done? Can I pick you up na?" rinig ko na ang pag-aalala sa kaniya, sa phone man o sa personal.

"You don't need to..." I mumbled.

"Hey, susunduin na kita. Now na. I'm not enjoying the party because you're not here..."

Habang sinasabi niya iyon ay naglalakad na ako palapit sa kaniya. The phone is out of my ear now because I can hear him more clearly. Nakatalikod pa rin siya kaya hindi niya ako napapansin at nakikita dahil focused siya sa phone niya.

I hugged him from behind. "But, I'm already here..."

Nagulat siya kaya agad siyang humarap sa akin. "Love. Dapat tinawagan mo ako. Why did you go here all by yourself?"

I smiled. "Matatagalan lang kapag nagpasundo pa ako sa 'yo. I rode taxi."

He glared at me for a second but when I laughed more, his eyes soften. "Kumusta 'yong pinuntahan mo kanina? What is that, by the way?"

I did not dare to open my mouth to talk. Ayoko na sanang malaman niya pa pero kung gusto ko mang ipaalam, not now.

Iniangat ko ang gift ko sa kaniya. "To get this!"

He stared at me suspiciously. "Pero dala mo na 'yan kanina, ah?"

You're not really good at lying, Ayannah.

"Hindi, ah? Baka yung DSLR 'yong nakita mong dala ko kanina?" pakunwari ko. Nasa kotse na talaga ito kanina kaya hindi ko alam kung napansin niya. Hindi rin naman niya tinanong kanina dahil hindi siya mahilig makiusyoso as long as wala akong sinasabi.

Kumunot pa lalo ang noo niya. "Are you sure? Bakit natagalan ka pa kung iyan lang naman pala ang kukunin mo?"

Napaiwas ang tingin ko. "I called Ate Noreen pa kasi so medyo natagalan nga."

"Sino 'yong tumawag no'ng nasa car tayo?"

Bakit ang dami pa niya kasing tanong? Nase-sense ba niya na may mali?

"S-si Ate Noreen din!" confident kong sagot. I'm sorry Ate, you have to save me this time.

"But you're not calling your Ate Noreen 'Tita', Aya," he said in certainty.

Oh, no.nIs he an investigator or what?

I laughed. "I was just teasing her. Ayaw niyang tinatawag ko siyang ganoon. Kasi naman, nagalit ako sa kaniya kasi inaasar niya ako. That was just a petty fight with her so don't mind it. Here, look at this..." I gave him the paper bag so that the topic will change.

He sighed ang get the paperbag from me. Binuksan niya iyon at agad kinuha ang laman. I brought him paint brushes, different sizes. Alam kong marami na siyang ganoon pero napansin ko kasing napupudpod na yung iba kaya bumili ako. Good thing I found his favorite brand.

Hindi na niya napigilan ang ngisi niya habang pinagmasdan ang regalo ko para sa kaniya. "Thank you pero hindi ka na sana nag-abala pa."

I tiptoed and pinched his cheeks. "Congratulations, love. I'm so proud of you!"

Tumawa siya at tumitig sa akin na parang may sinabi akong nakakapag-pagaan sa puso niya. Well, I'm really proud of him and I will always be. He deserves all the congratulations and counting.

"Let's date tomorrow," pag-aaya niya bigla.

I chuckled. "Sure ba!"

Inaya ko na siyang bumalik sa loob dahil baka hanapin na siya. I let him bond with his cousins and friends, pinapakilala naman niya ako but I insisted not to. Sa dami ba naman ay nakakahilong alalahanin ang pangalan nilang lahat. I'm not really sociable although I know that I should be because my dream job requires to have a sociable personality. Sadyang hindi ko lang kaya sa ngayon. My mind is too crowded to even socialize.

"Ayannah, right?" I suddenly heard a voice from behind.

Nagtataka akong humarap sa nagsalita pero agad ding napatungo ng makilala ko kung sino iyon. It's Levi's mom, wearing his elegant dress and looking so stunning. Kasama niya pa rin 'yong babae kanina and they are both stunning while me, nakakapanliit ang suot ko dahil wala naman na akong time para magpalit dahil galing pa ako ng VillU plus from what happened earlier, I don't think I could change my clothes.

I smiled, feeling a bit nervous. "Hi, Doctora Velez. It's nice to see you po."

"It's nice to see you too, Ayannah Vegas," she smiled sweetly, too. "By the way, this is Cristine," she introduced the girl.

Nginitian naman ako ng babae kaya ganoon din ang ginawa ko. I surveyed her over all appearance. She has these westernian features, so I bet she has a foreign blood too. She has this coral-black hair just above her shoulders and her smokey eyes are more defined. We are similar in nose and neckline. Halos magkasing-tangkad din kami and she's undeniably gorgeous pero ang hindi ko maintindihan, bakit ipinapakilala sa akin ng Mommy ni Levi si Cristine?

"Uh... Hello, Ayannah," her soft voice greeted me. Mukhang mabait naman siya. I hope.

I smiled again but I'm still wondering. "Hi, uhh... Nice to meet you, Cristine."

"Ayannah, Cristine is a med student and she's beautiful, isn't it?" Doctora Velez said while gently stroking Cristine's hair, nginitian naman siya nito.

I think I know where this is heading to. The moment Levi's mom told me that Cristine is a med student, I already knew why she is doing this. Ayaw ko na lang magsalita bigla. I felt a bitter reaction inside me, and even if I am already hurting inside, I still had to maintain my formality.

Tumango ako ng dahan-dahan. "Yes, Doctora Velez. Good for her."

"Of course! And I also like her for my son," she said straightly, hindi man lang nagpaligoy-ligoy. Napakalaki ng ngiti niya ngayon. I knew she will say that. Med student tapos medyo kaedad lang namin ni Levi, e.

"Nako, Tita. Please, enough for the compliments, you are more beautiful than me," nahihiyang ani ni Cristine.

"Yeah? But you like my son, right? You know what, hija... I'm still wondering why you two broke up. Sayang kayo ng anak ko."

Broke up? She was Levi's girlfriend? Akala ko ba never pa siyang na-inlove? What is this? A joke?

So, basically, this is Levi's ex, huh? What is my f*cking role here? Talagang ipaparinig nila sa akin ito?

"It's not sayang, Tita. We can still get back together. I know that he still loves me. 'Yon pa, e mahal na mahal po ako ng anak mong 'yon. I did not move on, so I bet he's not, too." Tumawa pa si Cristine.

"That's the spirit, hija. I really like you for my son. Hindi 'yong ibang babae lang diyan sa tabi-tabi." Doctora Velez glanced at my way.

"Excuse me po," I excused myself because I no longer belonged there. Parang isinusuka na ako ng mom ni Levi.

Alam kong gabi na pero hindi ko na ininda pa iyon at agad na pumara ng taxi. Nagpahatid agad ako sa Hotel at ayoko ng bumalik pa roon.

I just had enough.

~~~