Embrace the Storm

Chapter 2

"Mukhang may chef na tayo, ah. Ipagluto mo naman kami minsan, Maddy," si Livius. Napatingin sa kanya si Morris.

"Well... why not? If we have free time."

Livius just gave me a thumbs up. Hindi na nagsalita dahil ngumunguya ng cake. Meanwhile, Morris beside him is giving me a lazy look. Hindi siya nagsasalita ngunit panay ang tingin sa'kin. Hindi ko matantya kung anong iniisip.

"Hmm, at ano pagkatapos? You'll handle our restaurants? I'm focused on the hotels. So, if you'll pursue that, you can manage the--"

"That's definitely not what I want, kuya."

His forehead creased.

"I want to build my own name. Gusto kong magtayo ng sariling restaurant. Ikaw na ang maghandle sa lahat ng negosyo ng pamilya natin. I have other plans for my life."

"Just let her do what she wants, Revo. She's not into managing business. Afterall, she's aiming for something. Hayaan mo na," ani Kuya Sage. I smiled at him.

"If that's shat she wants, then..." He shrugged.

"Ah, oo nga pala, Maddy. May pool party mamaya sa mansiyon. You can come and join us if you're not tired. Some of our batchmates will come, too. You'll enjoy," si Kuya Markus.

Hmm... pool party. Sounds good.

Even in States, nakikisama naman ako sa kaklase at kaibigan. Mama became not that strict when I reached eighteen. Hinahayaan niya ako sa mga ganoong bagay. But of course, may mga bilin pa rin na kailangang sundin. I can party but not overnight. I'm also not allowed to drink any alcoholic beverages.

"Sounds great. Pupunta ako."

Wala akong narinig na apila mula kay kuya at sa mga pinsan ngunit pansin ko ang pagtaas ng kilay ni Morris. It was as if he doesn't agree with my answer.

"Hindi ka ba pagod sa biyahe?"

Ngayon pa lang niya ako kinausap simula ng dumating sila. Not that I want him to talk with me, though. I just want us to be civil with each other. Ilang taon na rin ang lumipas mula noong huli kaming nagkausap. And with our families this close, siguradong dadalas ang pagkikita namin. At hanggang sa maaari, iiwasan kong mainis sa kanya o supladahan siya. I don't want to be too immature like before. I realized I was so childish.

"Uh, medyo lang. Isa pa, mamayang gabi pa naman ang pool party. So, I'll still have time to rest for some hours. I also want to take the opportunity to rebuild my connections."

He looked at me cockily. He pursed his lips grimly. Hindi na nagsalita pa.

Pagkatapos ubusin ang isang piraso ng cake, nagpaalam ako sa kanila. I went on my room upstairs. Nadatnan ko roon si Agnes na nag-aayos ng mga gamit ko mula sa maleta. She stopped for a while to look at me. Agad ring ibinalik ang atensiyon sa ginagawa.

"Huwag mo na 'yang tapusin, Agnes. I'll finish that later. That's a very light thing."

"Sigurado ba kayo?" nag-aalangan niyang tanong. I can feel her stiffness to me. Hindi pa rin talaga siya nagbabago. I want her to treat me as a friend and not just a person she's serving. But maybe, we can take it slowly. Dadating rin kami sa puntong 'yon.

"Yup. Tulungan mo na lang sila roon sa baba. Baka may ipag-utos sila mama."

Tumango siya. Inayos ang nagusot na damit bago lumabas ng silid. I walked towards my bed. Pansin ko ang bagong bedsheets nito. Even the curtains of the room are new. Bukod doon, walang nagbago. Malinis lahat at nasa tamang ayos. Wala akong maipupuna.

Pagka-upo ko sa kama ay siya namang pagtunog ng cellphone ko. I get it from my pocket and saw Neri's name on the screen.

I smiled and answered it.

"Look who missed me so much," I said and laughed. I'm sure she'll just give me rants.

"Oh, you b***h! Hindi mo man lang sinabing uuwi ka na! Sabi mo next week pa? Kung sinabi mo, e di sana, nakapagpagawa ako ng tarpaulin at nakapaghanda ako ng welcome party para sa'yo! I hate you, Madeline!"

Mas lalo akong natawa.

"It should be, I miss you. Don't be so harsh, Neri. Gusto ko lang naman na i-surprise ka. Aren't you surprised?"

"Tss! Ilang taon tayong hindi nagkita! Tapos ganyan lang? Nakakatampo ka!"

"Let's just meet later. There will be a pool party. Mamayang gabi sa mansiyon ni Kuya Markus. Hmm, what do you think?"

"Fine. We have a lot of things to catch up, Maddy. Marami kang dapat ikuwento sa'kin."

"Yeah, yeah. I know that."

She's my long time friend since high school. Nagkalayo lang naman kami dahil kinailangan kong umalis at mag-aral sa ibang bansa ng panandalian. But despite the distance, we remained on touch with each other's life.

She's the sister I never had, a true friend. She's not after my brother or any of his friends. Iba sa mga babaeng nakikipagkaibigan lang sa'kin para mapalapit lang kay kuya. She's tactless, not the typical prim and proper daughter of a rich tycoon. Iyon marahil ang dahilan kung bakit magka-vibes kami.

"Aalis ka?" tanong ni mama nang maabutan niya akong nagbibihis kinagabihan.

"May pa-pool party daw si Kuya Markus. He invited me. I want to join. I'll be with Neri."

She nodded.

"Just be home before midnight," saad niya katulad ng nakagawian. I don't mind if I have a curfew. Hindi ko rin naman ugaling mag-overnight sa mga parties. I'll get bored with that, lalo na't hindi naman ako umiinom. I just want to enjoy for a few hours, that's it.

"My gosh, Maddy! You look hot!"

Pinasadahan ako ng tingin ni Neri. Ang babaeng 'to talaga. Lahat napupuna. But I admit, she looks ten times prettier in person than in screen and pictures.

"It runs through the blood, Neri." I winked.

Humalakhak siya. I went inside her car. Nasa shotgun seat ako habang siya'y nasa driver seat. Napagkasunduan kasi naming susunduin niya ako. I can't drive. Although I have my own driver, I prefer this.

"Ganda mo rin, huh. Pinaghandaan lang? Huwag mo sabihing may natitipuhan ka na sa mga kaibigan ni kuya?" I teased her like I used to do. Ngumiwi siya.

She turned the engine on.

"That would never happen over my dead gorgeous body. They're very handsome and oozing with s*x appeal, alright. Pero mga babaero iyon, Maddy! Even your brother and cousins are freaking womanizers. I have high standards. I don't settle for a man with such a hobby of playing multiple girls at a time. Kaya hindi ako magkakagusto sa mga 'yon kahit ibugaw mo pa ako sa kanila," litanya niya.

Now, it's my turn to laugh.

"Chill, pretty Neri."

"Baka naman ikaw itong may gusto sa mga kaibigan ng kuya mo?"

Napailing-iling ako.

"There are better men out there. I grew up watching how they play with girls. Do you think I'm willing to be one of their flavors?"

"Hmm, we can't tell." She smiled playfully.

"Oh shut up, Neri! Hindi 'yan mangyayari 'no! I'll find a good man, you'll see. Iyong malayo sa mga lalaking 'yon."

"You mean... gusto mo ng panget?"

I groaned. Tumawa lang siya.

"E, di ba sinabi mo malayo sa kanila. So, ibig lang sabihin panget ang hanap--"

"The attitude, Neri!"

She grinned and glance at me. "Alright. Simulan mo ng maghanap kung ganoon."

Well, good luck to me then. I'm not in a rush, anyway. I prioritize my career. Marami pa akong gustong mangyari sa buhay ko maliban sa maghanap ng matinong lalaki. For sure, I'd find a good one when the right time comes. Hindi ko kailangang magmadali.

Unfamiliar faces welcomed us in the wide pool area of the mansion. As what've Kuya Markus said, mga kabatchmates nila ang pupunta. So, that explains why I don't know them at all. May mga bumati kay Neri, ang iilan naman ay nakilala ako bilang isang Mongreco.

Immediately, I spotted kuya and his friends. As usual, maraming babaeng nakaaligid. Nasa gilid sila ng pool, may mga hawak na inumin. Nilibot ko ang paningin. May mga naliligo. Ang iilan nama'y may sariling mundo at nag-uusap usap sa gilid. The music is not that loud. Sapat lang para hindi maging boring ang lugar.

Men's head turned to us, maybe curious who we are. Because obviously, we're out of they're league. Pero hindi katulad noon, marunong na akong mag-adjust at makisama sa iba't ibang tao. I've learned that through my acquaintances in States.

Topless, Kuya Markus met us midway. He smirked playfully.

"And you brought a beautiful lady, huh."

I hissed.

"Off limits to my friend, kuya. Back off."

Tumawa siya at nagtawag ng serbidora para mabigyan kami ng maiinom. And since it's all alcoholic, I made a special request for a juice. Wala namang problema kay Neri dahil umiinom siya.

While waiting for the maid, tumingin tingin muna ako sa paligid. Unintentionally, I found Morris' gaze. Nakatayo siya sa kabilang dulo ng pool. May dalawang babae sa magkabilang gilid. Kinakausap siya ng mga ito ngunit nasisiguro kong ang mga mata'y nakatingin sa'kin. He's holding a glass of liquor, topless and standing with dark, serious eyes.

While looking at him this far, I can't help to reminisce about those years how I hated his every action and word.