SWEETHEART 12: Charles' Angel

CHAPTER 17

"HELL0, Tita Veron.." He smiled at her mother.
A genuine smile. Then reached for Veronica's hand and squeezed it. Then his eyes moved to Anne. "How are you, Anne?"

"It's wonderful to see you again, Charles," si
Veronica.

"Alam mong nasa crowd kami!" excited na
bulalas ni Anne. "You've recognized us, Charles! Hindi mo kami nakalimutan. Oh, I can't believe it!"

Siniko ni Angeli ang kaibigan na tila teenager
na gustong mag-swoon. Charles laughed huskily.

Si Angeli na unti-unting nakaka-recover sa
pagkamangha sa muli nilang pagkikita ay hindi
maiwasang suriin nang may pananabik ang kaharap.

Nine years had wrought a few subtle changes.
He still had that rugged face, the devil-may-care smile. There were few lines of stress in the corners of his eyes. His shoulders broader and he looked incredibly fit. Ang walang-manggas nitong navy blue cotton shirt, had accentuated his sineway forearms.

"I've searched for you among the crowd from
the back stage. I won't believe for one minute you wouldn't be at the concert if only out of curiosity," he said, ang mga mata nito ay itinuon kay Angeli na nanatiling walang-kibo.

"Oh, gosh, Charles," patuloy ni Anne. "Bago
ka bumalik sa ibang bansa ay magpakuha tayo ng picture, ha? Maiinggit sa akin ang mga co-teachers ko.. I could even sell your photographs! It's good business," pabirong dugtong nito at nagtawanan ang lahat maliban kay Angeli na tiningnan nang masama ang kaibigan.

"Tita Veron, is it okay if I stay in your house, at
least, for tonight?" Charles asked.

Pumuno sa van ang malakas at hindi mapigil na pagsinghap ni Angeli. Sandali siyang sinulyapan ni Charles pero muli nitong ibinalik ang pansin sa mommy niya.

"Tomorrow, my agent here in the Philippines
WIill find us a place to stay. Darating bukas ng umaga ang Papa mula sa Maynila kasama ang-"

"You can stay in your old room, Charles,"
mabilis na sabi ni Veronica. There's no need for
you to find a place to stay. Maliban ang bakanteng dalawang silid sa itaas ay hindi komportable sa inyo. Ang dating silid mo at isang guest room sa harap ng silid ni Angeli."

Isang nagpapasalamat na ngiti ang binitiwan ni Charles."Thank you, Tita Veron. Gusto ng Papa na manatili kami rito sa San lgnacio sa loob ng ilang araw. In fact, gusto kayong makita at makausap ng Papa. Para pasalamatan kayo sa pagkupkop ninyo sa akin. And he was so sorry he hadn't been able to come when Angeli's father died many years ago."

"Oh, it's a long long time ago, Charles,"
Veronica said softly. "But of course, I'd be more
than happy to see Marcus again."

"Do you know what you are saying?" Sa kauna-
unahang pagkakataon ay nagsalita si Angeli. Her voice croaked. "Susundan ka ng mga tao saan ka man magpunta!"

"I'll try not to be visible. Besides, kung
malalaman man nilang narito ako, sa una lang ang excitement, Angel.." He used her childhood name for her at may kumislot na kung ano sa dibdib ni Angeli. "Magsasawa rin ang mga iyan sa sandaling araw-araw nila akong makikita rito."

"The townpeople's half of the problem,"
patuloy niya. "You'll find the press everywhere
and-" Nilinga niya ang ina "-Mom, you won t
have any peace at all. Lahat ng mga kakilala at
kaibigan ninyo ay darating sa bahay. Papaligiran kayo ng media..." There was almost a hint of panic in her voice.

Hindi niya gustong manatili sa kanila nang matagal si Charles at ang ama nito. Gayundin ang ang asawa 't anak nitong natitiyak niyang nasa hotel sa Maynila at kasamang darating bukas.

Charles and his wife and son in her mother's
house! Lord, she wouldn't be able to cope. May
hangganan ang pagkukunwaring kaya niyang ibigay at ipakita na hindi siya naapektuhan. She would sOon suffer a breakdown.