Seductive Return

31. Alvarez Mansion

TALAGANG hindi na nakatanggi pa si Suzie sa paanyaya ng ina ni Luis dahil nagpadala pa talaga ito ng driver para hindi na siya makapag-back out. At heto na nga, nasa loob na sila ng sasakyan ni Luis.

Sinulyapan niya si Luis. Natutulog ito habang nakaunan naman sa hita nito ang ulo ng kanyang kapatid na tulog din.

“On our way home, he always sleeps in the car. He made it his hobby.”

“Manong, for a simple driver, you speak English fluently.” komento niya.

Na-curious tuloy siya kung bakit mas pinili nitong mag-driver lang eh, hindi halatang Pilipino ito sa pananalita nito ng english.

Napakamot sa ulo ang driver. “Madam Elene taught us. She wanted her servants to look and speak as educated as she is.”

Mas lalo siyang napahanga sa pamilya ni Luis. “The principal taught you herself?”

“Yes,” sagot nito. “She doesn’t want anyone living in her house to be treated as low level. Madam Elene possesses a good heart.”

“Sa kanila kayo nakatira? Wala po ba kayong pamilya?”

“Syempre meron. Sa mansion din sila nakatira. Madam Elene gladly welcomed my wife and son. Nagtatrabaho rin bilang katulong ang asawa ko sa mansion nila.”

Hindi pala lahat ng mayayaman mukhang pera. Iyon kasi ang tingin niya sa karamihan ng mga taong may pera. Alam naman niyang hindi lahat ganoon pero halos lahat ng mga mayayamang naeengkwentro niya ay mataas ang tingin sa sarili. At pinapamukha talaga sa kanya na isa lang siyang dukha.

There are still rich people who care for others and not look at their status in life. She remembered how Principal Elene worried for her son earlier. When she answered his phone, she sensed the other line’s worried voice.

Muli niyang nilingon ang binata. While she was staring at his handsome face, she remembered that she still had his phone. She smiled to herself and took pictures of Luis at different angles. She sent it to his mother.

Kaagad namang nag-reply ang principal, at nanghingi pa ng ilang mga shots.

Napahanga siya sa laki ng bahay ng mga Alvarez. Before they reached the mansion, they passed through a forest and a beautiful garden first. It was like a scene in the movie. Hindi niya akalaing may ganoong lugar sa Manila.

*****

LUIS opened his eyes, his body was tired. Gladly, he was used to it. When he turned, he saw Suzie knocking at the tinted window. He smiled. He went outside the car and shut the door.

His hand on his waist, the other combed his hair. “I’m sorry I fell asleep on you,”

He gasped when she took a picture of him without his permission. “Suzie!”

“Bleeh…you’re really cute in that posture of yours.” nakangising sabi ni Suzie.

He frowned.

“Right hand on waist, standing strong, dangerous yet warm eyes, unreadable lips…” she described him.

His brow rose. “Should that be unreadable eyes?”

Umiling ito. “Nope. That’s how I see you.”

Dumukwang siya para magkalapit ang kanilang mga mukha. “I prefer kissable lips than your description.” He turned and walked towards the door with a smile on his lips after seeing her blushed. “Let’s go.”

Tahimik na sumunod ito habang hawak ang kamay ng kapatid nitong inaantok pa. Narinig niyang naghikab si Gelo.

He put his left hand on the pocket of his trouser while his other hand was holding his bag. “I’m sorry if I slept.”

“No need to apologize.”

*****

“TAKE a seat,” Luis offered.

Suzie and Gelo sat down while Luis told the maid to go upstairs and inform his mother of their arrival. Hindi pa rin makapaniwala si Suzie na nandito nga siya sa bahay ng mga Alvarez. Dahil sa gara ng mga gamit sa bahay ay natatakot tuloy siya na baka makadisgrasya siya ng gamit doon.

“What would you prefer to eat?” tanong ni Luis.

“Nothing,” she said. She roamed her eyes around the living room. “I wondered how many servants you have to maintain the cleanliness of the mansion.”

“I don’t exactly know how many servants we have.”

“Whoa…you should have hundreds for you to not remember. You’re so lucky. I wonder if I could live on such welfare one day.”

Luis looked at her with an unreadable pair of eyes. “Money’s just a headache.”

“Good evening, Suzie!” someone shouted.

Both she and Luis turned to the stairs. Is she his sister? she thought.

Bumuntong-hininga si Luis. “Have some manners, mother. What a child.”

“Mother…?”

“Huwag mo naman akong ipahiya sa harap ng girlfriend mo,” nakangusong sabi ng ina ni Luis.

Napatayo si Suzie ganoon din si Gelo. “You’re wrong, Madam. I… we’re not lovers.”

“Really?” the woman seemed not to believe her.

“No use, Suzie.” Luis said. “She will believe what she wants to believe. That’s what Elene Alvarez is, a childlike mother.”

“Can’t you use pretty words to introduce me to your girl?”

Though ganoon ang pananalita ni Luis, hindi naman nagagalit ang ina ito. At pakiramdamdin niya wala naman talagang laman ang mga sinabi nito sa ina, at yaring lambingan kang ng dalawa ang palitan ng mga ito ng maaanghang na salita.

“She’s Suzie Cruz, Mom and her younger brother, Kyne Angelo Cruz.”

“Magandang gabi po, Madam.” sabi ni Suzie.

“Good evening po,” bati naman ni Gelo.

“Ang cute mo namang bata.” Nakangiting sabi ni Elene na bahagya pang dumukwang para magka-face-to-face sila ni Gelo. “Mahilig talaga ako sa bata. Ano bang itatawag ko `yo? Ang haba kasi ng maganda mong pangalan.”

“Gelo po.”

“Gelo then.” Ginulo ni Elene ang buhok ng kapatid niya at ngumiti. Bumalik ang tingin nito kay Luis. “Isn’t he the cutest?”

“I’ll go upstairs,” sa halip ay sabi ni Luis. He went off after kissing his mother’s cheek.

“How did you fall in love with such a pathetic man?” Elene asked when Luis was out of sight.

“We’re not lovers, Madam.”

Bakit ba ipinagpipilitan nitong magkasintahan sila ni Luis? Kanina pa ito ah.

“I don’t believe you,” seryosong saad nito pero bigla itong ngumiti. “Ang cute ng pictures na ipinadala mo sa `kin.”

Nilagay nito ang mga litrato ni Luis sa mesa. That was when he was sleeping inside the car not an hour ago. “Puwede kang photographer. Alam mo kung saang anggulo.” Elene made a face. “Ano ang nagustuhan mo sa anak ko?”

Nahihilo siya sa papalit-palit nito ng topic. Hindi tuloy alam ni Suzie kung paano sasagot sa mga off-handed nitong mga tanong.

“Ha? Eh…” hindi siya makatingin ng diretso sa mata ni Elene. Paano kasi ay bigla-bigla na lang itong nagtatanong.

“Magkaprankahan na tayo, Suzie.”

Napalunok siya. “Hindi po ako sigurado eh. Basta nagustuhan ko na lang po siya.”

Bigla naman itong sumigaw. “Love at first sight? Ang kilig naman.” anitong niyayakap pa ang sarili.

Napakamot na lang siya sa ulo.

“Mom!”

Pareho silang napatingin sa may hagdan. Napatulala siya. Hindi pa tapos ibutones ni Luis ang polo nito. Ang gulo pa ng buhok. He looks super cool. And hot. Suzie tried to wipe her lips discreetly, dahil pakiramdam niya ay tumutulo ang laway niya sa ka-sexy-han nito.

“Bakit po kayo sumigaw?”

Napaka-sexy ng nilalang na ito. Puwedeng siya na lang ang tumapos sa pagbubutones ng polo nito?

“Paranoid ka lang anak.” Elene said. “Nagchi-chikahan lang kami ng girl mo. Wala namang masama roon ah?”

Luis turned to her. She blushed. Tiningnan nito ang sarili saka parang nang-aakit na tinapos ang pagbu-butones ng polo sa mismong harap niya!