Art of Serendipity

11

"Bakit ka naman nagpapabasa sa ulan, huh?? Are you crazy? Where's your umbrella?" sunod-sunod niyang tanong nang makasakay na kami sa kotse niya. I'm all covered with his jacket now and he slightly reduced the aircon because it is so cold, even his car is now wet but it seems like he does not care about it.

"I... Uhm..." I don't know what to answer first. I feel very uncomfortabe. Basang-basa pa ako. Nakakahiya dahil basa na rin ang kotse niya dahil sa akin pero hindi niya talaga iniintindi iyon.

"Come here." He held my arm and gently dried my hair with his towel. "Why are you alone here in the park?"

"W-we have a groupwork here in the park. My groupmates didn't come so..." I said slowly, trying to avoid his gaze because he is looking at me seriously. I look a like a child being taken care of him.

"And why they didn't come? Or atleast tell you not to come?" he asked gently, slightly scolding me.

"I don't know. Baka dahil sa ulan," I stuttered. I said that even though I really know why they didn't come.

He looked at me like I said something ridiculous. As if he knows that I am lying to his face right now. The suspicion in his eyes is very evident. Nag-iwas na lang ako ng tingin dahil hindi ko kakayanin kung sakaling magtatanong pa siya tungkol sa totoong nangyari.

I am also thinking of what would I do if I see those girls tomorrow. I feel like I do not want to pick a fight with them. It will be just a waste of time and effort. What they did is not okay, but fighting with them is useless.

Tsaka masaya naman ako na nakatulong ako sa ibang tao kahit papaano.

"Where's your driver? Bakit iniwan ka niya?" He is really serious. I have to answer him because I really owe him a lot.

"Pinauwi ko kanina. I thought the rain wouldn't come."

"Tsk. Where's your umbrella? Don't tell me, wala ka ring dala?" his voice filled with annoyance. Ramdam ko yung inis niya pero pilit niyang itinatago iyon. Naiinis ba siya sa akin o dahil sa mga dahilan ko?

"I have but I gave it away."

His eyebrow raised. "And why'd you do that?"

I stared at him, nanantya at nanunuri. Okay lang kayang sabihin ko? I mean, maniniwala kaya siya na kaya kong gawin iyon?

"I gave my umbrella to a homeless family..." I said while pointing at that certain family. Nakikita pa sila mula rito sa kotse dahil hindi pa kami umaalis, nagpapahina pa ng ulan.

I looked back at him. His annoyed face turned into a soft one. His eyebrows raised, lined with something between worry and concern and his eyes... His eyes twinkled in amusement and as I stare in his eyes, I feel drowned and hypnotized. Bakit ganoon? Bakit ganito? Dati naman ay hindi ko napapansin ang maliliit na bagay sa kaniya.

"I will take you home but make sure that you will have an adequate time of rest. Baka magkasakit ka, patay ako nito..." he trailed off.

"Patay ka saan?" pagtataka ko. He is always giving me that meaningful responses… and meaningful chills. Na para bang nakasalalay ang buhay niya sa kung sino kapag may nangyaring masama sa akin.

He cleared his throat. "I mean, patay ka sa mga magulang mo kapag nagkasakit ka."

I rolled my eyes. Hindi naman nila malalaman kung sakali mang magkasakit ako. Lalo na si Tita Donna, wala naman pakialam sa 'kin ang isang 'yon. Iyon pa!

Pagdating namin sa bahay ay inaya ko muna siyang pumasok dahil lalo lang lumalakas ang ulan. Baka madisgrasya pa siya, konsensya ko pa. Buti na lang at pumayag siya.

"Nako, Ayannah! Ano ka ba namang bata ka! Bakit naman basang-basa ka? Saan ka ba galing?" iyon agad ang pambungad ni Nanay Luz. Agad-agad siyang kumuha ng tuwalya at pinaupo ako sa upuan para mapunasan niya ako, though, medyo tuyo naman na ako dahil napunasan na ako ni Levi kanina.

"'Nay, ayos lang po ako, maliligo na lang po muna ako. Pakiasikaso na lang po muna si Levi," mahinang ani ko saba dungaw ko kay Levi.

Nilingon naman agad ni Nanay Luz si Levi na naroon pa rin sa bandang pintuan. He smiled when we turned to him. Nanay Luz went to him but I remained in my position. Chini-check ata ni Nanay Luz kung nabasa rin si Levi, but obviously, he is because of me.

After seconds, I went to him. "Do you have spare clothes? Nabasa ko ata ang damit mo."

"Yes, nasa kotse. Maligo ka na kaya? I can take care of myself," agap niya.

"H'wag ka na muna lumabas. Give your keys to Kuya Rolly so that he can get your spare clothes then tell Nanay Luz to escort you somewhere for you to get dressed," I told him before going upstairs.

I didn't stay longer taking a bath because I know that someone's waiting for me. I wore my usual 'pambahay' clothes and went downstairs immediately. Nakita ko agad ang nakahulmang likod ni Levi mula sa kusina. Bihis na siya dahil iba na ang suot niya sa kanina at kasalukuyan niyang pinapanood si Nanay Luz na mag-asikaso ng pagkain.

"Wait until the rain stops before you go home. Okay lang naman 'di ba?" I spoke when I am already standing behind his back, making him turn to me.

"Yeah,"maikling sagot niya. "Sakitin ka raw sabi ni Nanay Luzon?"

Napakunot ang noo ko at sumulyap kay Nanay Luz. "Hindi naman."

Alam ko hindi ako sakitin, e. Well, madalas talaga nagkakasakit ako lalo na kapag nababasa ako ng ambon at malakas na ulan but I only get sick after three days or so on. Madali lang naman agapan at never namang lumala.

"You should drink medicine," he said.

I just nodded and we both went to the dining. After eating, the rain stopped and he immediately went home. Uminom ako ng gamot hindi dahil sinabi ni Levi kundi dahil iyon ang dapat. Ayaw ko rin naman magkasakit. Mahirap kayang magkasakit.

Saturday came and I am planning to go to Ate Noreen. Aayain ko siyang pumunta sa Velez Art Gallery. Surely, she will like the paintings there although, she has no permanent home because our house is currently renovating.

"Welcome, Ma'am Vegas," the crews greeted me and I answered them with a slight nod.

Our hotels are modern ones, ang ibang muwebles ay galing pa sa ibang bansa. We have several branches too and this is the main one. I can only imagine myself handling these big things.

Since we are the owner of this hotel. They let me go inside without checking any of my things. I know Ate Noreen's room number kaya doon ako agad nagtungo nang makapasok.

I rang the door bell and she immediately opened it, wearing just a robe. Napataas ang kilay ko pagkapasok ko sa room niya.

"Hindi ka nagiingat, 'no? What if I'm not the one outside? E'di nakita ka pa nilang ganyan," I immediately ranted without even greeting her.

"An old fashioned woman like you will, of course, scold me. So what if a man sees me like this here? Our security is tight so no one will dare." She rolled her eyes and combed her hair. Matigas talaga ang ulo ng Tita kong ito. Palibhasa ay dalawang taon lang ang tanda niya sa akin. She's young.

I winced. Ang tigas ng ulo! "Make it faster. We are going somewhere."

Hindi na siya umangal kaya inilabas ko ang phone ko. I will message Levi if he is in the gallery. Ngayon lang ako magme-message kaya medyo kinakabahan ako. Should I say good morning first? Or just a simple hello?

Hell, Ayannah! It's just a message!

~~~