My Destiny (Completed)

k7

It's Saturday.

Ibig sabihin, walang trabaho. Kaya early in the morning, KC joined Myra and Cassey in their not so little orchidarium.

Nagkasundo ang dalawang nanay niya sa orchids. So, few days after she moved in, nagpagawa sila ng orchidarium sa bakuran ng mansyon at halos lahat ng libreng oras ng dalawang ina ay 'andoon sila.

This morning ay sumama siya sa pagdidilig at pagspray-spray sa mga halaman.

"Look at this Charlize." Pinakita sa kanya ni Cassey ang mga bulaklak na nag-uumpisa ng umusbong.

"They're lovely!"

Her mother smiled as she watched her admire the orchids. Lagi itong parang laging maiiyak kapag nakatingin sa kanya.

"I wish I've seen you grow."

Ngumiti siya at bahagyang yumakap sa totoong ina.

She had wanted that too. Pero okay lang kasi may pumuno naman sa lugar ng pagiging ina sa kanya.

"Don't misinterpret, ha?" Kumalas si Cassey at naging considerate kay Myra. "I didn't mean that I am not grateful that you raised my- our daughter very well."

"Wala 'yon. Wag kang mag-alala," sabi ni Myra. "Ako nga 'tong dapat magpasalamat kasi hindi n'yo inilayo sa 'kin si KC- Charlize."

"It's okay, she is still KC."

Natuwa naman siya at niyakap ang dalawang ina.

"Now, well, why is my boy here?" Ani Cassey habang nakatingin sa 'di kalayuan.

"Si Francis iyan, 'di ba?"

Sinundan niya ng tingin ang tinutukoy ng dalawa. Nakaupo sa may garden seat si Francis at kumakaway sa kanila.

"I thought he doesn't want to live here anymore. Excuse me." Pinuntahan ito ni Cassey.

"Boyfriend pala siya ni Alex... Ang liit ng mundo. Akala ko magiging nobyo mo siya," ani Myra.

"Mama!" Saway niya.

"Napalagay na kasi ang loob ko sa batang iyan. Akala ko may gusto siya sa'yo," ayaw paawat na dugtong pa ng ina.

"Ma, mahal nila ni Alex ang isa't isa. Magpapakasal na nga sila, 'di ba?" She was hurt by her own words.

"Oo na," suko nito. "Maiwan muna kita at tutulong ako sa paghahanda ng almusal."

"Sige, ma."

Ibinaling niya sa iba ang atensyon. She must forget her feelings towards Francis. Walang maidudulot na maganda sa kanya kung ipagpapatuloy niya ang nararamdaman.

Kung bakit ba naman kasi?

"Can I join you?"

"Francis!" Nagulat siya nang bigla itong magsalita mula sa likuran niya, nagupit niya tuloy 'yong isang bulaklak. "Naku lagot!" Worried na pinulot niya ang nalaglag na bulaklak.

"Oops, sorry... Magugulatin ka pala," tukso ni Francis.

"What are you doing here?" Tanong niyang dumistansya nang bahagya.

"Wala naman. Bumibisita lang. I grew up here you know. Nakakamiss din pala."

Tumango-tango siya.

"Kumusta naman? Nakapag-adjust ka na ba?"

"Still learning - "

"You know," parang may kakatwang bagay na naisip si Francis. "When I first saw you, you already seemed familiar to me. If I saw your necklace at once, you should have been reunited to us sooner."

"Ah -" looking back, that day, hinulaan siya na makikita niya ulit si Mr. Right and that she should take good care of her necklace.

She met Francis then. Turned out, magkakilala na sila dati pa at muling nagkasama dahil sa kwintas niya. But Francis couldn't probably be her Mr. Right...

"K- I mean Charlize, right then, I knew you were someone special."

"It's okay, you can call me KC."

He smiled. 'Yong ngiting kinababaliwan niya. Why does a simple smile from him can affect her so much?

"Let's go inside. I believe breakfast is ready," aya niya para maiwasan na nilang mapagsolo.

He shrugged but he followed.

*****

"Good morning!"

Kadarating lang ni Ivan nang dumaan ito sa department ng kambal.

"Good morning, Sir Ivan," ganting bati ni KC. Nasa restroom si Katrina kaya siya lang ang dinatnan ng binata.

"How are you Charlize?" Bahagya itong lumapit. "This is for you." Iniabot nito ang isang long-stemmed red rose sa kanya.

"I'm fine. Thank you." Nginitian niya si Ivan, mukha naman itong mabait bukod sa gwapo din naman talaga.

'Pero mas gwapo pa rin si Francis.'

She shook her head to push away the thought.

"By the way, I dropped by to ask you out for lunch later," diretsong sabi ng binata, he was smiling like he already got a yes.

"It's just eight," natatawa niyang tugon bagamat ay medyo nasorpresa siya sa imbitasyon.

Hindi naman siya clueless sa pinapakita ni Ivan. Paano kasi na-brief na siya ni Katrina na mukha nga raw interesado sa kanya ang direktor.

"Mabuti na 'yong maaga para hindi maunahan ng iba," biro nito. "So, is it a yes?"

"I'm going to think about it - maybe Kat can come with us?"

"Sure."

"Then, yes," sagot niya. Wala namang problema kung hindi kasama ang kapatid niya, ayaw niya lang munang mapag-isa kasama si Ivan na bagong kilala pa lang niya.

"Thanks, Charlize... " Malaki ang ngiti nito nang iwanan siya.

Besides, Ivan could be a good distraction...

"That Ivan is still the fastest guy to ever court every single lady he meets."

Napalingon si KC sa sinabi ni Francis. Hindi niya namalayang dumating ito while she was smelling her rose.

"And what do you mean by that?" Arko ang kilay na tanong niya.

Francis sure doesn't look like he had a nice sleep.

"Don't trust Ivan at once. He had a long list of broken relationships."

"Okay?"

"KC, I don't want to see you get hurt."

"Thank you." Ibinaba niya sa lagayan niya ng ballpen ang rose para buksan naman ang computer niya.

Francis seemed to be in a bad mood but nevertheless, he is still very handsome and if she could just stand there and watch him all day -

"Think about it before going out with him for lunch."

"How did you know?"

"Believe me, I know Ivan so well."

"Well then -" she shrugged. "I appreciate the warning."

"KC," parang may sasabihin ang binata pero nakatingin lang ito sa kanya.

"What?" She pretended to arrange her things.

"You know -" he was interrupted by Katrina.

"Hey, Francis!" Masiglang bati ng kapatid niya. "Why are you here again?"

"Dumaan lang."

"I believe your girlfriend's office is over there on the other side of the building," she teased. "And besides, Charlize and I are not sick, you should not visit us... Or unless -"

"He came to warn me about Ivan," sumbong ni KC.

"Oh!"

"Kat, you know Ivan too. You should not let him court your sister."

"He's not courting -" ani KC.

"Yet. But if he would, what is it to you?" Dugtong ni Katrina. "Are you jealous?"

"What? Me? No... Concern lang ako," Francis denied.

"'Yon naman pala, eh. Go away now, Francis," taboy ni Kat. "Baka makita ka ng girlfriend mo rito. Magselos pa 'yon. You know her, she's a psy -"

"Alex is your sister," giit na naman ng binata.

"Sa kasamaang palad."

"Kat, stop," singit ni KC. "Francis is right... "

"Hmn... still, if Francis wants world peace, he should not go here every morning to check on you."

"He's not." Namumula na siya sa kakulitan ni Katrina.

"I should get going... " Nagpaalam na si Francis. "Have a meeting by nine."

"Okay... bye!"

"Katrina, you're embarrasing me," aniya nang maiwan na silang magkapatid.

"Charlize, am not blind... Besides I grew up with Francis. Duh, I know what his stares mean."

"Still." Baka naman isipin din ng binata na in love rin siya rito.

"Gusto ko nga 'yon, eh. That he would fall for you instead."

"That's not very nice, Kat. He's getting married with Alex!"

"If that is even true"

"What?!"