Searing Burst of Rage (Fireheart 2)

Chapter 15

"Bumaba na ba si Alfe?" tanong ko sa babaeng tagapagsilbi ko na nakasunod sa akin habang tinatakbo ko pababa ang kahabaan ng hagdan ng mansion.

I got up so early today. I ordered this female housemaid to wake me up at 5 am so she did. It's hard for me to get out of bed this early because I have become used to getting up late since I arrived here, but I forced myself to. The mansion is so peaceful now and it's already gotten rid of the tables and chairs from last night.

"Sasabay ba sina Signora ng breakfast?" tanong ko ulit sa babae.

"Umuwi na po sila kagabi," sagit nito.

"Umuwi? Saan naman uuwi?"

"Hindi po sila nakatira dito. Si Signore Alfe lang po," sagot nya.

Kaya pala hindi ko na sila nakita kagabi. Sayang, hindi man lang ako nakapagpaalam. Bakit kaya hindi sila nakatira dito? Ang laki kaya ng mansion para kay Alfe lang, well, nandito na naman ako kaya dalawa na kami.

"Si Alfe? Naghihintay na ba sa baba?" tanong ko ulit atsaka dumeretso sa dining sa may veranda kung saan kami last time.

"Hindi pa po sya lumabas ng kwarto, Signorina," sagot nya.

"It's past 6 am. He should be here already. How about the breakfast?"

"Hinahanda na po. Baka maya-maya ay ihahanda na sa lamesa."

"Alright," sabi ko at pumwesto na sa dining.

The morning atmosphere here at the mansion is fairly different. It is soothing in a way that it takes off all kinds of trouble like it lets your mind rest and be free from any thoughts, just wants you to appreciate nature and its peacefulness I guess. Combined with the all-embracing golf course, your eyes would be filled with so much life.

Sometimes, it's good to at least think of nothing. To stop for a moment and breathe.

Hindi ko alam kung gaano ako katagal na nakaupo sa dining. Hindi pa din bumaba si Alfe. Tumayo ako at hinarap ang katulong na tahimik lang na nakatayo sa likod ko.

"Ano po ang kailangan nyo, Signorina?" automatic na saad nya.

"I should call Alfe," I told her. "Baka nakalimutan nyang 6am yung napag-usapan namin."

"Bababa din po yun, Signorina. Hinding-hindi nya po gusto ang dinidisturbo sya sa pagtulog nya o ang disturbuhin sya sa kwarto."

"Pero nagugutom na ako," bagsak ang magkabilang balikat na sabi ko.

Babalik na sana ako paupo nang biglang may lumitaw na isang lalaki galing sa may gilid. May nakasunod sa kanyang ilang mga katulong na may dalang mga pagkain. Dahil sa bango ng pagkain ay biglang gumawa ng ingay ang tiyan ko.

"Hi," bati nya. "I'm Malvo. I'm a cook here," pakilala nya sabay lahad ng kamay.

Tinanggap ko ito at nahihiyang ngumiti, "Chantrea."

"You're Alfe's fiance," he concluded.

He looks the same age as Alfe. He's too young to be a chef here. "You're right."

"I was here last night but I didn't get the chance to introduce myself. We'll see each other often. If you wish to learn something in the kitchen, you know where to find me," he said, smiling.

"Sure. I would love to," I replied.

"Enjoy the food. I apologized it's late. I got the notice a little bit late that you're having breakfast at 6 am. Where's Alfe?"

"He's not here yet. I was about to call him."

"You can annoy him upstairs," he said.

"She told me he doesn't like to be disturbed," sagot ko sabay turo sa katulong.