Art of Serendipity

01

“How’s school, sweetie?" my dad asked me. We're here in our breakfast table. Me, Daddy and his second wife.

"Fine, Dad," I answered briefly. Hindi naman na nila kailangan malaman pa ang pinag-gagawa ko sa school. Wala rin namang magbabago.

Nilagyan ako sa baso ng juice ni Nanay Luz. Si Nanay Luzon na tumatayong pangalawang ina sa akin. She's with us during my mother's pregnancy, when I was born and even when my mom died. Through ups and downs, she is here… unlike my godd*mn stepmother.

I smiled a bit. "Thank you, 'Nay Luz."

"What do you mean by fine, Miles? Just a little reminder, you have to study well in your chosen course. Don't just settle with 'fine'," Tita Donna pointed out. Giving me an authority look which I don't need.

Chosen course? Nagpapatawa ba siya? Hindi ako ang pumili ng course na iyon. Hindi sa sarili kong kagustuhan iyon. I chose hotel management because of our business. I chose hotel management because that's what we need.

Despite the irritation. I still managed to nod, not wanting to talk. I never considered Tita Donna as my mother because she's not like a mother material for me. Malayong-malayo sa alaga ni Mommy at Nanay Luz. She only likes attention, inheritance, and money... and besides, she never considered me as her daughter, too. Quits lang kami.

"Hon, did you already purchase what I told you before? The Dolce&Gabana bag?" dagdag na ani ni Tita Donna ngunit ang paningin ay na kay Daddy na.

I immediately interrupted Daddy before I could roll my eyes again in front. "I'm going, Dad." I kissed his cheek. Tinapunan ko lang ng tingin si Tita Donna na nakataas na ang kilay sa akin.

"Take care, my princess," Dad's low voice reminded me.

Pagkatalikod ko ay agad na akong umirap dahil sa huling salita ni Tita Donna.

"Look at your daughter, Michael. She didn't even kiss her mother. What a brat."

Bago ko pa marinig ang sagot ni Daddy ay lumabas na ako sa mansyon. Bakit ako hahalik sa kaniya? And, what? Mother? Mother, my foot! Isa lang ang nanay ko at iyon ay si Mommy. Isa lang din ang tinuturing kong Ina at iyon ay si Nanay Luz. Not her.

"Nanay, aalis na ho ako." I blessed at her.

"Mag-ingat ka, hija. Kapag may kailangan ka tumawag ka kaagad sa akin, ha? H'wag magpapalipas ng gutom. Mag-aral ng mabuti," paalala niya habang kumakaway sa aming papaalis na kotse.

See? That's what a real mother does. Hindi katulad ni Tita Donna na walang ginawa kundi punahin ang ginagawa ko, mapabuti man o masama. Pabili rin siya ng pabili ng kung ano-ano kay Daddy. She must be grateful that my dad has the longest patience I know.

Daddy married Tita Donna because she forced him. Matagal na siyang naka-abang kay Daddy, pati ang pamilya niya. After my mom died, she immediately grabbed the chance to talk to my father and arrange a marriage. Makulit si Tita Donna kaya hindi na sinubukan pang tumanggi ni Daddy. Although, I know that Daddy can refuse, ang hindi ko lang alam kung bakit hindi niya pa rin ginagawa.

I agreed to have a second mom. Ang akala ko ay pangalawang ina ang ibibigay sa akin. Sakit pala sa ulo.

I arrived in Villamoran University as early as always. I am in my 2nd year in Hotel Management. Our family is managing hotels for more than a decade. Family ni Mommy to be exact, but of course, since she was married to my Daddy, he has responsibilities too. Ako lang ang nag-iisang anak ni Daddy at Mommy kaya ako lang ang maasahan niya. Mabuti nang ako ang asahan niya sa mga iniwan ni Mommy kaysa naman kay Tita Donna. Wawaldasin niya lang ang magiging benefits sa mga luho niya.

Naupo ako sa pinakahuli at gilid na upuan ng aming room. Some of them eyed me but I don't really care. Lahat sila ay may kaniya-kaniyang kadaldalan pero agad ding nahinto nang dumating ang Professor namin for this day.

I am alone and it's okay for me. I don't need friends. They all know what my family has and how my family influenced other people. Ayaw kong gamitin nila iyong dahilan para kaibiganin ako. Tulad ni Tita Donna, pera lang naman ang habol niya kay Daddy. D*mn opportunists!

Tuloy-tuloy lang akong lumabas papuntang Cafeteria after our class. I chose the way where no one could ever notice me. Sino ba namang papansin sa akin diba? I am not starving. Bumili lang ako ng bottled water and biscuit. Naglakad na lang akong muli papuntang Complex ng VillU.

Pagdating ko ay kaunti lang ang tao. Hindi naman sila madalas nagpapupunta rito maliban na lang kung gusto nila ng maayos na shoot kung connected sa photography ang course nila. The view here is kind of adorable.

I stopped reading when someone approached me. Oh, is it Gavin or Steven? I really can't remember, by the way. Mga naglalakas loob na mga lalaki. I laughed in my mind. Akala naman nila papatulan ko sila? No way.

I looked up on him. When I glanced at his ID. Right, it's Gavin. He looks irritated but it is clearly seen that he's just forcing himself not to. Dalawang linggo na ata 'tong nangungulit sa akin pero hindi ko pinapansin, pagod na siguro.

"Aya, mag pag-asa ba ako sa'yo?" he asked straightly. He didn't even say hello or what. Iyon agad.

I smirked roughly upon hearing that, slowly losing my little interest to him, or kung mayroon man. Really? He has the audacity to say that? Ni wala pa nga siyang napapatunayan sa akin, gusto na agad ng assurance? What a freak.

"I don't like you." I looked blankly at him, not leaving any sight so that he would know how serious I am. I don't have to say sorry to him. Sinabi ko na kung gaano ko siya ka-disgusto noong una pa lang. Hindi ko na kasalanan kung masaktan man siya ngayon.

Shock and at the same time, irritation and anger was evident on his face. No pain, at doon pa lang, alam ko na ang intensyon niya. Yaman.

Umalis siya sa harap ko ng walang sabi-sabi. Nakuha na niya ang gusto kong marinig niya. Mabuti naman at madali siyang kausap.

I don't need suitors nor boyfriend. Sure, I like my physical appearance because some of them came from my mother. Some of them are my skin which is rosy-white, I have dimple on the side of my lips just like my Mom, catlike eyes and a dainty nose. My downward-turned lip and long eyelashes came from my dad’s.

My body is slender and it's natural. Ganoon rin ang kulay ng buhok ko, cool brown. I'm not that sexy so I really doubt people liking me. My body isn't an hourglass shaped so probably, hindi iyon kagusto-kagusto sa akin. Knowing men at this age. Well, I go to gym but not to be sexy, I want to be physically fit.

Maya-maya lamang ay medyo dumami ang mga estudyante. Sa hula ko, estudyante sila ng Fine Arts base sa kung saan sila galing. May dalawang babae na nag-uusap sa tabi ko kaya umusog ako ng kaunti. Maya-maya lang din ay umalis sila pero may isa namang lalaki ang pumarito at pumalit sa pwesto nila. I guess he's a fine arts student too based on his uniform.

I didn't look at him, but I can sense him staring at me. I rolled my eyes. Alam ko na yung mga tinginan na yan. Makikipaglandian lang ‘yan kaya hindi ko na inabala pa ang sarili kong tignan siya. I can see him on my peripheral view though.

"I'm sorry, Miss. Can I join you here?" his calm and soft voice spoke. Halatang sa isang salita niya pa lang ay agad na siyang makakahuli ng isda. Pity him, I'm not one of those girls.

Can I join you raw, baka can I flirt with you iyon!

"No," I said bitterly cold and humid.

He chuckled. "I’m not accepting 'no' as an answer, Miss."

Then why the hell did he still have the guts to ask me?!

I stopped reading again because of mix annoyance and irritation. At sino siya para sabihin iyon? Baliw ba siya? I glared at him but my expression softens when I see his appearance clearly. He smirked. Agad din namang bumalik ang masamang tingin ko sa kaniya.

He had a look of one with a soul intact. He is smirking but I can see the rosiness of his lips. His eyes are more like a bedroom eyes but it's just an almond-shaped. Ang ilong niya ay patuwid ang talim. Sige, he's good looking, attractive and that's undeniably. Makakabingwit agad siya ng babae sa isang tingin niya pa lang pero wala akong tiwala sa mga ganiyang itsura.

"And who are you to say that?" My brow rose.

"I'm Levi, Miss, it's nice to meet you." His hand looks delicate as he approached mine.

At wow, nagpakilala talaga siya? What is it again? Livey? Livay? Pati pangalan napaka-arte.

Hindi ko ibinigay ang kamay ko sa kaniya, instead, I glared at him more and he just smirked while putting his hand into a bracing one. He glanced on his left side and mumbled something which I don't know, and I don't care. Magpapasikat siguro siya sa mga kaibigan niya.

"Excuse me. If you're just trying to flirt with me. Stop it already. I don't like people like you. Hope you know that." Pinasadahan ko pa siya ng tingin mula ulo hanggang paa, showing how much I hate people like him.

His shocked eyes suddenly became amused. "Rough woman," he whispered but I can clearly hear that.

Kung bakit at paano siya napunta sa harap ko ay hindi ko alam. Kung sino siya ay wala akong pakialam. But if he is just here to annoy, flirt and get me, then, he's crazy, idiot, assuming and pa-cool guy. Nagkakamali siya kung ganoon.

I stood up. I'm done with him. "Idiot man."

Pinagpagan ko ang damit ko bago umalis sa harap niya. Ang hayop, nakatingin lang sa akin at pinagmamasdan ang bawat kilos ko. Damn him! Take note that name. Ilalagay ko siya sa death list ko! Oh well… I have difficulty in remembering names so I might forget his…

Pagdating ko sa bahay ay nagmano agad ako kay Nanay Luz. She's currently doing the laundry.

"Is Dad inside po?" I asked.

"Wala, Aya. Kasama niya umalis si Ma'am Donna kanina pa." Pinunasan niya ulit ang kamay niya para maihatid ako sa loob. "Kamusta school? Naku, paniguradong marami na namang lalaking umaligid sa'yo, ano?"

I suddenly remembered that flirty man. Lahat ng nagtatangka sa aking manligaw o lumandi ay sinasabi ko kay Nanay, sometimes we are even counting. Just a little bond.

"Ayos lang po. Lowkey pa sa lessons since kaka-start lang po ng class," I answered. "At tungkol naman po d'yan sa lalaki. Meron pong isang lumapit sa akin kanina."

"Oh? Manliligaw daw?" tawa niya.

"Hindi po, wala siyang sinabi. Mukhang landi lang po ang alam at gusto. Wala naman po akong pakialam," I shrugged my shoulders while drinking water.

"Ikaw na bata ka! Ang tanda mo na tapos wala ka pa ring napupusuan!"

I looked at her while laughing. Sabi niya bata pa ako tapos biglang sasabihin na ang tanda ko na? Medyo weird pakinggan at mukhang narealize niya rin iyon at kaya natawa rin siya.

"I have no plans of having one, Nanay."

"Eh kailan ka magpaplano? Kapag matanda ka na tulad ko? Naku! Gusto ko pa masulyapan ang magiging anak mo bago ako mawala sa mundo."

I stopped laughing because of that. Nanay Luz is already on her 50s. Siya rin ang nag-alaga kay Mommy when she was a teen. Menopause na nga raw siya, e. Kung may bagay man akong hindi mapipigilan, it’s her age and death. If I could give her another life, I surely will.

"Is that really what you want, 'Nay?" I asked softly.

"Oo, Ayannah. Paniguradong 'yon din ang gusto ng mommy mo kaya h'wag mong ikulong ang sarili mo sa kaisipang pera lang ang habol ng mga tao sa'yo. Maganda ka, masipag, matalino at marunong tumayo sariling paa mag-isa. Malay mo naman, naghihintay na pala yung para sa'yo.” She grinned.

As much as I wanted to doubt her words, I couldn't. Sa lahat ng mga sinasabi ni Nanay Luz ay naniniwala ako. Almost all of her words are meant to be true and besides, that's her only wish. Hindi humihiling ng kahit ano si Nanay Luz at iyon ang nakuha ko sa kaniya.

Oo, marami kaming pera but that doesn't mean that I should push it into the limits. I am not a materialistic person, sinanay ako sa mga simpleng bagay lamang. Iyon ang iminulat sa akin ni Mommy at Nanay Luz. Also, I’d rather give than take.

"Wait for it, 'Nay ha?" I smiled at her genuinely. Lumapit pa ako sa kaniya para mayakap siya.

Bumitaw lang ako nang may pumasok bigla sa kusina. "How I hate dramas." Tita Donna sighed while looking at her newly manicured nails. Gumastos na naman ang bruha.

"Narito na po pala kayo, Ma'am. May kailangan-"

Hinila ko ang braso ni Nanay Luz para matigil siyang magsalita. She doesn't need to serve this woman. Hindi para sa kaniya nagtatrabaho si Nanay Luz.

"Oh yes, Yaya. I have tons of purchased-"

"Why don't you do it yourself, Tita Donna?" Nag-init agad ang ulo ko nang tawagin niyang 'yaya' si Nanay Luz. Is she crazy? Hindi ko yaya si Nanay Luz!

She laughed sarcastically. "Oh, my dear, Miles. It's her job. She isn't going to have a proper salary if-"

"Hindi naman po ikaw ang nagbibigay ng sahod kay Nanay Luz. As far as I know, it's Daddy's money..." I looked up to think something but immediately glanced at her. "... Mom's money to be exact. So, you have no rights to command Nanay. She doesn't work for you...po."

Nagtalim ang tingin niya at lumapit ng bahagya sa akin. Nasa likod ko pa rin si Nanay at hindi ko hinahayaang lumapit kay Tita Donna.

"Do you know how disrespectful you are? I am the wife of your father. You have to respect me and follow my orders. Don't be so proud of your Mommy's money because she is already gone. Just accept the fact that I am your mother now-"

"Tita Donna, you should rest na po. Mukhang pagod na pagod po kayo kung saan man kayo galing. Is Daddy around?" I cut her off sarcastically.

Respeto na lang ang natitira kung bakit narito pa ako at pinatutunguhan siya ng maayos. Kung tutuusin ay pwede ko siyang palayasin dito dahil bahay naman ni Mommy at Daddy ito at hindi sa kaniya. She’s just an old bedspacer for me.

Pero kung pati ang pangalan ni Mommy ay hindi niya rerespetuhin. My remaining patience will end and surely, I will sue her out of this house and our life. For now, I am worried about my father, that's freaking all.

She smiled sweetly at me. "My honey is not yet around at mukhang bukas pa siya uuwi."

Kaya naman pala malakas ang loob.

"Okay, Tita. Excuse me."

Hinila ko papunta sa kwarto ko si Nanay Luz. Iniwan na namin 'yung bruha doon sa baba, bahala siya sa buhay niya.

"You shouldn't follow that woman, Nanay," I scolded her gently.

"Hija, asawa siya ng Daddy mo kaya dapat lang na -"

"Nanay!" I whispered unbelievably. "Don't exhaust yourself with that woman. Nakikita niyo po ba 'yung ugali niya? Napakasama niya po."

Huminga siya ng malalim. "Oh s'ya. Para hindi na tayo magtalo. Magbihis ka na, anak. Maglalaba pa ako."

I stood up and hugged her. "Thank you po. Antayin niyo na po ako. Tutulong po ako sa paglalaba."

Hinintay niya nga ako pero hindi niya na ako pinaglaba. Kaunti na lang daw ang lalabhan kaya nagpresinta na lang ako na magluto ng hapunan. I know how to cook because Nanay Luz never failed to teach me. Magagamit ko raw ito in the near future.

Funny how I used to know household chores. Kahit ako ay hindi makapaniwala. Ang ibang mayayaman ay puro pagpapakasarap lang ang ginagawa but in my case, I'm independent and matured enough. Hindi ako tulad nila. Kung pwede na nga lang na doon ako tumira kila Nanay Luz ay ginawa ko na kaso hindi ko kayang iwan si Daddy tsaka may sariling pamilya si Nanay Luz.

My mother died because of a car accident happened 7 years ago. Grade school pa lang ako noon at hindi pa masyadong mulat sa kung anong nangyayari but that incident made me grow insensible, I can even consider myself as an introvert person, ilag sa tao at tanging si Nanay Luz lang nalalapitan ko.

My life is very unpredictable but every time that I feel like I want to give up, naiisip ko ang ibang tao. Naiisip ko na walang-wala ang problemang ito sa problema ng ibang tao dahil kahit papaano, nagagawa at nakukuha ko pa rin ang gusto ko, unlike them.

"Magpahinga ka na po, Nanay Luz. Matutulog na rin po ako," paalam ko kay Nanay nang matapos akong kumain ng hapunan.

"Oh dear, Miles. Why didn't you invited me for dinner? Look how rude you are."

Napahinto ako sa paglalakad para sana ilagay ang plato ko sa lababo. I sighed heavily while facing my two-faced mother-wanna be.

"You can have your dinner alone, tita Donna. I know that you don’t want me to be with you." Inis ko siya tinalikuran at nilagay ang plato ko sa lababo. Pagkalabas ko ay nasa hapag na si Tita Donna, pinagsisilbihan pa ni Nanay Luz. I looked at Nanay Luz but she just smiled at me. Sinabi nang h'wag pagsilbihan, e!

"I'll tell this to your father, Immature kid," nagtiim ang bagang ni Tita Donna sa pagkakasabi niya noon.

"I don't want you to waste your time, tita. Instead, I'll tell daddy how rude and disrespectful I am to you. Have a great dinner, tita." I turned my back to her but suddenly stopped and turned to her again. "And also, don't call me Miles. You aren't my mother...po."

"How disgusting," narinig ko pang bulong niya pero wala na akong pakialam.

I took shower and immediately go to bed. Nangingilid ang luha ko pero hindi bumabagsak. My heart is aching for a shameless reason. Paulit-ulit na sinasabi sa sariling mababaw lang ang problema ko kaya ayos lang iyon. I cuddled with my pillows and closed my eyes.

My Mom is better than her. I miss my mom.

~~~