KIMBERLY: THE AMBITIOUS

Chapter 8: Mukhang Mayaman

"I don't get it, Kim," Ryna complained while trying to answer her trigonometry assignment.

I put down the magazine I'm reading then I sat beside her. "What you don't get about it?" I asked nicely. But in my head, I am rolling my eyes. I finished doing this assignment last night. I only spent ten minutes answering those questions.

She told me about her difficulties. I honestly don't understand people who found mathematics difficult. It's actually a piece of cake. All you have to do is to understand the principles, then voila! You're math genius. Unlike other subjects where you have to memorize names, events, dates, and everything. In Math, all you have to remember is the formula.

I tried my best to explain everything to her in the most basic way. And after an hour, she finished answering her assignment.

"I wish I can be intelligent like you," she breathed.

I rolled my eyes. "You're just lacking focus, Ryna."

She smiled at me. "Thank you, Kim."

I smiled back at her. "Do you want to get a tutor?"

She shook her head. "You're more than enough, Kim."

And my heart melts just like that. I can't explain the satisfaction I get whenever Ryna pointed out how important I am to her. Nobody gave me importance the way she does. And I love her for that. She's the best friend I can ever have.

At first, I am just using her. But now, I see her as a sister I never had. I am not just after the things she can give me.

"Since I'm done with my works, let's hang out," she said then she stood up.

"I'm going home, Ryna. I'll help Nanay with her orders," I said.

I can clearly see the disappointment in her eyes. "But I don't have anyone to accompany me."

I sighed. "That's why I'm telling you to develop friendship with others. I am not always at your mercy, Ryna. I have my own life to live."

She bowed her head. Instantly, I felt guilty.

"But you can come with me if you want to," I tried to sound enthusiastic.

"Really?" she excitingly asked.

She called their driver and we went to our place.

I feel ashamed as Ryna look around with pure disgust on her face. We've been friends for more than a year but it's the first time I brought her to my place.

"You can seat there, Ryna. I'll just call my Nanay," I said as I pointed the wooden Cleopatra seat on our living room. She sat there then look around.

I went to the kitchen and prepared some refreshment for the visitor. I went back to the living room only to find Ryna scanning through the photo albums.

"Are you bored?" I asked her.

She looked up at me with a delight dancing on her eyes. "Nope. I am actually enjoying myself."

I gave her the freshly-squeezed orange juice.

I left her with the photo albums then searched for my Nanay. I found our neighbors trying to take a peek on our living room when I went out. They are obviously looking for Ryna.

"Ano'ng kailangan n'yo?" masungit na tanong ko.

Si Aling Lita ang sumagot. S'ya ang number one tsismosa sa lugar namin.

"Sino'ng kasama mo, Kim? Mukhang mayaman a," tanong n'ya habang nanghahaba ang leeg sa pagsilip sa loob ng bahay namin.

"Kaibigan ko. Hindi naman s'ya kayamanan. Tama lang," sagot ko.

I don't want to brag that I have a rich friend. Baka hiritan pa nila si Ryna mamaya paglabas. Knowing them!

"Nandito ka na pala, Kim," tawag ni Nanay sa atensyon ko.

Kababa n'ya lang ng tricycle at madami s'yang bitbit na plastic bags. Agad na lumapit na ako sa kanya at tinulungan s'ya.

"Kasama ko po si Ryna, 'Nay," sabi ko sa kanya habang naglalakad kami papasok sa bahay.

"Kaya naman pala nagkumpol ang mga tsismosa," mahinang bulong n'ya.

"Nakakainis nga po," komento ko.

Tumawa si Nanay. "Hayaan mo na. Minsan lang makakita ng mayaman. Kahit kasi mukha kang mayaman, hampaslupa ka pa rin naman," she chuckled. 

Ngumisi lang ako sa Nanay ko. "At least mukhang mayaman."

Pumasok na kami sa loob ng bahay. Naabutan namin si Ryna na tumitingin pa rin ng mga photo albums.

"Good afternoon," Nanay politely greeted our visitor.

Ryna stood up. "Good afternoon po. I'm sorry I came with Kim," she said shyly.

Even after the personality development training, Ryna is still the timid girl I knew.

"Okay lang. Pasensya ka na sa lugar namin. Magulo," sabi ni Nanay at tumuloy na sa working area n'ya. Sinunod ko naman sa kanya ang mga dala ko.

Bumalik din naman kami sa sala. Nanay entertained Ryna while I prepared the working area for her. Kung hindi ko sana kasama si Ryna, nag-ta-trabaho na kami ni Nanay para hindi na kami gabihin. May isang daan na t-shirt na tatatakan kasi si Nanay.

"'Nay, ayos na po ang pantatak," sabi ko nang bumalik ako sa sala.

Nanay invited Ryna to her working place.

Ryna watched us as we work. Mukhang nalilibang naman s'ya sa pakiki-pag-kwentuhan sa aming mag-ina.

"I wish I have my mother with me," Ryna suddenly uttered.

Nagkatinginan kami ni Nanay. Nakwento ko sa kanya ang istorya ng pamilya ni Ryna. Her mother died of cancer when she was five. Her older brother is living with their grandparents in New York. All she has with her is her father, who's always busy with the company.

"O, pwede mo naman akong maging Nanay na rin. Para na rin namang kayong magkapatid nitong si Kim at hindi na kayo mapag-hiwalay," nakangiting sabi ni Nanay. Nakita ko kung paano nag-liwanag ang mukha ni Ryna.

"Really po?" tuwang tanong n'ya.

Nag-punas ng kamay si Nanay sa malinis na basahan at saka lumapit kay Ryna para yakapin.

I felt some warmth on my heart while watching them. I feel sad for Ryna. She can have all the material things this world can offer, but she's longing for parental affection. I know that Mr. Delacroix loves her, but he doesn't have the time to spend with his daughter.

We tried to teach Ryna the basics of putting prints on shirts using silk screen. From the look of her face, I know she's having fun.

"This tastes delicious," puri ni Ryna sa adobo ni Nanay.

"Kung gusto mo ay pagluluto kita at ipapadala ko kay Kim," nakangitng sabi ni Nanay.

We finished doing the orders around seven in the evening. Nanay invited Ryna for dinner.

"Thank you po, Nanay Agnes," Ryna said with all smile.

After dinner, Ryna called her driver to fetch her.

"See you tomorrow. Call me when you get home," I waved at her.

She nodded then she rolled the car window up.

Hinatid na lang namin ng tingin ni Nanay ang papalayong sasakyan ni Ryna.