Sunshine's Own Eclipse

Kabanata 2

Ngayong araw ang huling araw ko sa mansyon ni Lolo Emilio. My cousins are acting like I'll be gone forever at kulang nalang umiyak sila. Funny how I will missed this place when I despised it so much before when I didn't know the real reason why. Manang is also teary-eyed at mukhang inaalo nila Kuya.

"Why are you all acting like I'll be gone forever? Come on guys sa Manila lang naman ako. You are also making me cry. Look at my eyes. Sayang skin care." I chuckled but my voiced cracked. And here I am like them I am in the verge of crying.

"Damn. You should not go sunshine. Lolo can still change his decisions. The life out there is really not for you. I cannot let you go, Solana Evangeline" Sabi sakin ni Lolo. Gone his composure and all. Like he cannot really let me go. God you are so selfish Solana. You made your Lolo cry.

"Lolo you are so unfair. Hindi ka umiyak nang ako ang umalis. Tumutulo pa pati uhog mo. Manang oh si Lolo umiiyak. Hahaha" the mighty Emilio Marques is crying just because of me. How lucky and fortunate for me.

" Shut your mouth Adrien o baka bukas ay wala nang natira sa kompanya mo." namutla naman sa kinatatayuan niya si Kuya Adrien. Every one laugh at his face.

"Yan kasi sisingit pa. Mukha ka talagang singit." pang-aasar ni Kuya Leon

"Kapal mo Kuya. Mas makinis pa nga singit ko kaysa sa mukha mo." Ganti nang pikoning si Kuya Adrien

"Kapal mo tsong mukha ka namang bakla. Ikaw si Snow white hahah."

" Suntukan nalang anooooo!"

"Asar pikon ka talaga Adrien kaya mukha kang bakla." Singit ni Kuya Micheal sa nag-aasarang magkapatid.

Nag-aasaran pa sila mga pareho nmang pikon.

Pagkatapos nang bangayan nila ay umabot na sila sa carpet dahil sa kaharutan nila nang biglang nasagi ni Kuya Adrien and vase na nasa may living corner malapit sa kusina. Gumawa iyon nang pagkabasag nang vase.

"ADRIEN!" sigaw nang mama niya. Kaya silang tatlo ay kumaripas sa likod ni Mamang.

"Yan ang harot niyo kasi. Matitikman niyo ang bagsik nang isang prada shoes. Hahaha" Sabi ko nang hubarin ni Tita ang sapatos nito at ipinalo sa tatlong toreng nasa likod ni Mamang.

" Those guys will never grow up."

"I'll miss this scene, Lolo." He only smiled at me at lumapit sa tatlong itlog at binatukan ang mga ito at tinakot na mawawalan nang company.

"Kahit nang tatanda na nang tatlong iyan ay hindi mo paring mapagkakaila na napaka pilyo parin. Lalo na yang si Adrien. At lalo nang hindi mawawala ang takot nila sa Lolo mo. Tignan mo kung paano niyang napaamo ang bratinilyong si Adrien. " Ani ni Mamang nasa likod ko na pala.

Ang kaninang pilyong mukha ni Kuya Adrien ay umamo dahil siya na ang piansasabihan ni Lolo.

Inakap ko si Mamang habang hinalikan niya ang noo ko. I will really miss all of this.

"Mag-iingat ka sa bagong yugto nang buhay mo Solana. Wala ako ron upang ipagluto ka nang mga paborito mo. Wala ang ang mga pinsan at lolo mo dun para protektahan ka. Wala kang nanay at tatay na makakaramay mo dun Solana. Dahil sa oras na umalis ka sa bahay na ito ay ang pagkawala nang connection mo sa pamilyang ito. Mababalik mo lang iyon pag may napatunayan kana. Saksi ako kung gaanong pinahirapan at pinadanas nang Lolo mo sa mga pinsan mo. Pero natitiyak din akong hindi mo iyon mararanasan dahil napaka lambot niyang si Emilio pagdating sayo. Silang lahat nga siguro ay malambot pagdating sayo. " Nakangiti man ay may luha sa mata ni Mamang.

"Para naman akong hindi na babalik sa mga paalala mo Mamang."

"Napakabilis nang panahon Solana. Dati ay kayong apat ay naglalaro lang sa hardin kasama ang lolo niyo. Ngayon ay aalis ka na sa bahay na ito at hahanapin ang para sayo. Patuloy ka sanang magbigay nang liwanag para sa ibang tao apo. Katulad nang ginawa mo sa pamilyang ito."

Sa huling pagkakataon ay nilibot ko nang tingin ang mansyong kinakatayuan ko. Expensive paintings, expensive and high ends tapestry and carpet, the vases that worth more than how it looks. All of these grandeurs that I despise having. I smiled cause I realized how foolish and selfish I am.

"Goodbye."

Bitbit ang isang LV bag and stroller. I went inside my apartment. Magulong apartment ang nadatnan ko. Magazines scattered in the floor, can of beers every corner of the house and a mountain of dishes.

Lalaking nakatapis lang nang towel sa ibaba ang lumabas galing sa east wing nang apartment ang nadatnan ko kasama ang magulong lugar na ito. He's tattoo was having it's show. He looks more manly with it.

Ang kanyaang gulat ay napalitan nang mapanglarong ngiti.

"What do you think is the meaning of this?"

"Mess, I had friends over last night."

Ang kapal naman pala talaga nang mukha niyang mang imbita pa nang mga kaibigan. Nakikihati lang naman siya.

"Yes, I see it's a mess but it's common sense to clean up your mess after."

"Do you have common sense?" tanong niya pa. Naiinis ko siyang tinangoan. He smirked.

"You clean it up sense you have that sense your talking about."

He just gave me a smug look at dumiretso sa CR.

Pupunitin ko talaga ang pagmumukhang yan. Kapal nang aapog niyang ipalinis sakin ang kalat niya, nila!

Nilibot ko ulit ang paningin ko sa paligid. Napasigaw nalang ako sa inis at sinimulang maglinis.

"That duckhead"

"How dare he make a Marques clean up for him"

"Kainin sana nang toilet pwet niya"

"Kakainis yung damulag na yon hindi ko nga siya kilala."

"Tas mang uutos pa siya"

"The nerve!"

Pang mamaktol ko habang sinisilid sa basurahan ang kalat na nasa sahig. There is even a box pizza under the small couch at nilalangam na yun.

"The heck bakit ba ako pumayag na tumira kasama ang tukmol na yon."

My cousins are brats but they know how to clean up their mess.

"Ouch!" pulang pula na ang braso at kamay ko dahil sa mga kagat nang langgam.

Kahit nga lamok ay di nakalapit sa akin sa mansyon. I have a morena complex like my mom pero kitang kita parin ang pamumula sa balat ko.

A dashing asshole with just a towel around his waist came out from the bathroom. He really looks like a greek God. He's chiseled jaw compliments his broad shoulders and the abs. I almost count it when I saw him smirking.

"Nice, you clean up fast." Why is he always smirking. He is handsome but he's a jerk!

"You should also cook. I'm hungry. Cook something with soup I have hungover."

What the! What does this asshole take me for.

"How dare y---"

The door just shut at my face! I will kill this jerk! Maid niya ba ako para utos-utosan niya. Kapal naman talaga. And I am too pretty to ba a made. Gosh!

I didn't cook and wait for him to come out again. I sat at the small couch na mukhang sobrang luma na dahil it creates sounds when I sat on it.

" Are you done cooking?" a baritone voice na sobrang lapit sa tenga ko ang nagpagising sa akin.

I was so drained out after cleaning his mess.

"No" sagot ko sa kanya.

Kumunot ang noo niya at tumingin sa kitchen counter. Walang bakas nang pagluluto doon. Malinis ang counter at nakaayos pa sa lagayan ang mga lutuan.

He sat beside me at masama akong tinignan.

" I told you I'm hungry." Nakakatakot ang tingin niya plus he have this natural deep voice. Damned kung hindi lang siya jerk.

" Yes and I'm not your maid"

Ang kaninang nakakunot niyang noo ay mas kumunot pa.

"What? Aren't you the cleaner and a cook I ask the landlady?"

Kung naiinis ako sa kanya kanina. Ngayon ay doble na. Mukha ba akong maid!

"How dare you! The nerve! Do I look like a cleaner and cook to you. Can't you see this designer things I'm wearing or you really don't have a thing called common sense."

I am not usually easily to lose my temper but this guy is something. Naiinis ako sa mukha niya at boses niya. Kahit gwapo pa siya.

"Hahaha I'm sorry I didn't notice the designer things. I told you I have hangover. You cleaned up so I thought your really the cleaner. I almost kick you out when I saw you sleeping in the couch. I apologise for mistaking you as someone else but I don't know how to cook. Can you cook me something?"

Wala na talaga. Just when I thought his sincere ay nang utos na naman siya ulit.

"No"

"I apologized already"

Sinamaan ko siya nang tingin at akmang hahampasin na siya buti nalang napigilan ko. He aplogized? Hindi naman siya sincere dun dahil kanina pa nakapaskil sa mukha niya ang ngising yan. Oo na sobrang gwapo niya pero gago siya.

"There's no stock. Not even cup noodles. I don't know how to cook duckhead."

" Girls should know how to cook. Tsk."

"You freaking sexist!"

Frustration was evidently showing in his face. He call for a delivery after and hindi pa pala siya kasing sama nag iniisip ko nang isinama niya na din pati ang pag order para sakin. Naiinis parin ako sa kanya.

The food arrive after 15 minutes of waiting. Ako na din ang naghain dahil mukhang oati yun ay wala siyang balak gawin. All he does is make use of his money.

Ngayon ko lang din napansin na he's clothes are Armani's and if recall correctly he wore a gucci

the day I met him.

" Are you sort of in a mafia?"Medyo nagulat siya sa tanong ko. It wsa bold of me to ask that I know.

As I also recall his tattoo. It was small but visible. It was a seal.

" No and why do you think so?" tumaas ang isang kilay niya. Bakla ba to. Sayang naman kung magiging ganun.

" You have the money for your whims yet you are living in an apartment like this. This rooms so cheap looking for your Armani shirt. Your english has an accent, and you look like a foreigner yourself. Kasi you don't look poor naman. So bakit the last time you make the landlady bawas the rent." plus you are so handsome and his scent it isn't cheap. I am familiar with this scent but I don't know the name.

" This is not original. Are you familiar with the shop UK?" Uk? Untied Kindom pa niya binila ang mga damit niya?

"No? Is that a famous designer brand?"

"Yes very famous it is called "ukay-ukay" "

Ow I don't know what is that but I know he's making me asar just by the way he talks. I almost rolled my eyes on him.

" But nevermind, I don't mind as long as you mind your own business and this is the last time you're ordering me around cause for the record I am not your maid."

I am talkative for someone whose caged or so. This guy have this mystery that I am sure I'll be damned if I'll be too much curious.

Pagkatapos kumain ay kanyang-kanya na kaming nag hugas nang plato. I was surprised he can do the dishes. Ang akala ko ay tatawag pa siya nang dishwasher for his plates.

"Thank you for the food."

He nodded and spoke without looking at me.

"We'll have an agreement"

Kumuha ito nang paper at ballpoint. Umupo siya sa sirang couch namin pero dahil tinatamad ako at malinis naman ang sahig ay dun ako umupo.

"I have three conditions for this setup. You can tell me if it's okay and the proceed with yours after. So first my room is off limits. Even cleaning it is forbidden. You are not allowed to go in there. That's my only personal space in this apartment. Second, for the bill of water and electricity is also cut by half. Third, we also split and set up schedule for the chores. Bot of us don't know how to cook. So it's up to you where you eat."

HE wrote it in a piece of paper and added another three for my conditions.

" Your conditions are considerable. Well I'll be the one splitting the chores and bathroom schedules. My first condition is that no bringing of friends every weekdays. " I said habang sinusulat din sa papel ang conditions ko. I look at him before continuing.

"By your looks also no bedding of girls in the apartment. The place is not soundproof and I don't want to hear any gross sounds if ever you bring one here. " He gave me a loopsided smile at tumango bilang pagsang ayon.

"Lastly, you can't just order me around." I cannot just move on from cleaning his mess. He handed me the paper after he signed it.

Sigmund Philips .

I wrote my name beside his. Solana Marques.

" How are you related to Leon Joseph Marques?" kumunot ang noo ko nang kilala niya ang pinsan ko. He really isn't just a simple man. He's being such a mystery to me.

" I don't know him. Kaapilyedo lang siguro."

Nang matapos kami ay tumungo na ako sa kwarto ko para ayusin ang mga gamit ko. My cabinet here is much smaller than mine in the mansion kaya tama ang decision ko na magdala lang nang mga importanteng damit gaya nang mga formal attire para sa pag apply ko nang trabaho.

No I only have 500,000 pesos in my personal savings. Hindi ito kasali sa nakuha ni Lolo Emilio sa akin dahil sarili ko itong ipon noong nag college ako. The money's still big pero hindi ito sapat para may mapatunayan ako sa pamilya ko. I have to find a job na hindi hawak nang kahit na sino sa pamilya ko.

Kinagabihan ay umalis ako para kumain sa isang kariderya na malapit sa apartment. The food looks delicios but it is too crowded. People laughing while eating. Some was still in a school uniform. May mga lamesa ding pinagtagpi para magksaya ang isang kumpol nang kabataan sa may dulo nang karinderya.

" Anong sayo miss?" ngumiti sakin yung ali kaya tumingin nalang din ako sa mga pagkain.

"I want this" while pointing at the brown thing with sauce in the dish pan.

" It's a kidney." what?! that's morfied. Tinignan ko ang nagsalitang bakulaw sa likod ko.

"I saw you making your way out and I am hungry so I follow you. You might not know where to come back home. It's dark and there's a lot of bystanders here."

Tumango ako at hinarap ulit ang ali na ngayon ay nagpipigil nang tawa.

"A-ahh can I have this instead?" sabay turo sa pansit.

" Can you give me another dish of your best dish? I don't know what else to choose po kasi."

Mahinang tumawa ang ali sanhi nang pagtingin sakin nang ibang tao. O kanina pa silang nakatingin sa akin o sa katabi ko. Gaw pansin naman talaga ang katangkaran niya plus gwapong-gwapo pa siya sa buhok niyang magulo.

This is the most embarasing and exhausting day of my entire life.

" Thank you." I thanked him for following me here.