Enchanted Series #2: Not Where the Storyline Ends

Chapter 8

"Let's go to my aunt's restaurant, shall we?" panimula ni Joshua and I stopped at my tracks. "and why? And besides, sino ka ba para hilahin mo ako ng ganito as if I'm not a famous figure" I raised my eyebrows and he stopped.

"Stop treating me like I live in your life, a happy-go-lucky guy. Kasi ganyan lang kayo palagi" I said sternly and he stopped at his tracks also.

I realized what the fuck I've said. "no, I'm sorry. Dala lang ito ng inis ko sa kanila, let's go" sabi ko at hinawakan ang kanyang kamay, but he ended up holding mine hanggang sa nakarating kami sa isang restaurant.

The ambiance and the design of the restaurant is flawless. Masasabi kong mariing pumili ang kanyang tita ng mga designs.

Parang sa unang tingin, nasa coffee shop ka at hindi sa restaurant, not until a table with menus presents their dishes.

"Sweet and sour squid sa akin, you? My treat" sabi niya. I laughed. "just let me think" tugon ko. Nagulat ako nang may malakas na boses na nagsalita sa harap namin.

"Joshua hijo, ikaw ba 'yan?!" sigaw ng matandang nasa 40s.

"Ako pa rin po ito, tita Gloria. Siya nga pala—"

"Siya nga pala si Thr—"

"Aria" pagpapakilala ko sa aking sarili. "Aria Sariaya po, and it's nice to meet you po ms. Gloria"

"Tita Gloria hija, huwag kang mahiya sa akin" she introduced comfortably. She asked ano order namin.

He requested sweet and sour squid at honey glazed chicken na siyang request ko. Shrimp fried rice for the carbs.

Although I need to watch my physiques, it doesn't matter for now. I want to enjoy ourselves until the end of the time.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

I realized that the reason bakit sinama niya ako ay dahil fan din ako ni tita Gloria. But due to the crowd, he didn't introduce me to her properly.

He said that she will have an autograph with her soon kapag may fansign na.

I smiled about that news, dahil malapit na rin naman ito.

I told Anna na pwede muna siyang mag-stay sa condo ko dahil may pagkamarumi na rin ito.

Hindi ko na ito naaasikaso simula nung mamatay si lolo, but good thing I had a help from a friend to move on from it and start over.

Hindi por que wala na siya ay hahayaan ko nalang na ganito ang sarili ko.

Malayo pa naman ang fansign, siguro sa ikatlong buwan, but I already practiced my signature and how to greet my fans.

I didn't realized na kasali palang itong dalawang Reeves sa fanclub.

Nasa supermarket ako at bumibili ng prutas when I stumbled across someone.

"Hindi ka ba marunong tumingin sa dinaraanan mo— Thraia Rose?" a familiar voice echoed my mind.

"Kathleen?" I muttered. "it's been years Rose, how are you?" she happily asked, at hinanay sa tapat ko ang shopping cart niya. Punong-puno ng goods ang binibili niya. "ayos lang, although my condition became worse, I can go throughout the day. Ikaw? Matagal na tayong walang communication ah" saad ko while looking at the goods in her shopping cart.

"Ayos naman ako, actually, I'm healing from the pains of the past" sagot nito. I can see in her eyes that she's still hurt because of what happened.

Ikaw ba naman, muntikan mo nang maging endgame childhood bestfriend mo, only to watch them married to someone who sa simbahan.

I hope for the best of her, at sana ay makahanap siya ng tao na kung saan hindi sia gaganunin lamang.

We part ways. Nagbayad na ako ng pinamili at umalis na.

•❅───✧❅✦❅✧───❅•

Dumating na ako sa bahay, only to find Anna cleaning. "jusko Thraia Rose, ano ba pinaggagawa mo sa buhay? Almost all of your things are damaged right now!" asik niya. I sighed. "wala ako ganang ayusin 'yang mga 'yan, leave them be, I'll take care of it"

Namilog ang kanyang mga mata at nagtaas ng isang kilay. "stop scamming me Rose, take care of it mo pagmumukha mo" dakdak niya at pinagpatuloy ang pagwawalis.

"O'siya, tama ka na Anna" irap ko at pumasok sa kwarto. "tanging kwarto mo lamang ang pinakamalinis. The rest, wala na akong say"

"And also, Hinata called earlier. Pero sinabi kong wala ka, and she told me her landline number. Tatawagan ka niya ulit mamaya" she informed.

After that, we talked na dito nalang tumira si Anna. I need a roommate in order to be not alone anymore. Pumayag naman si Anna in exchange of clues and leads about sa pagkamatay ni lolo.

Bukas, ay tutungo ako sa Sariaya upang magtirik ng kandila kay lolo. And also, to deliver and wait for his impression about sa ginawa kong musika.

"Call her again" utos ko na tinugon niya at tinawag ulit ang landline.

It tooks a minute to answer the call. "hello, kumusta na Hina?" I asked. Wala akong line na naririnig, except a person na nag-wait at tinawag pa si Hinata in a Japanese language.

"Thraia Rose? Kumusta ka na?" magiliw na tono ang bumati sa akin sa kabilang linya. "ayos lang ako, ikaw? I heard kasal ka na kay Harold. How are you now?"

"Ayos lang kami, ikaw Rose? I heard na aalis ka sa Pilipinas after ng birthday ni Maria to continue your career there in Hollywood" sabi ng kabilang linya. I nodded. Good thing na kahit hiwa-hiwalay na kaming magkakaibigan, naaalala parin niya ang mga pangarap na aking sinabi dati sa kanila.

"Oo, aalis na ako rito, kung makakaalis pa rin. Naka-settle na ako already kay Luisito Alvarez eh"

"Luisito? Ayan ba ang anak ng vice mayor ng Sariaya?" tanong niya, I could feel the annoyance in her tone. "yes" I said.

"That guy, he..."

"He what?" I asked. Based on her breathing, I guess somethings not right about this guy.

I'm totally aware about him, but this time, Hinata's voice got uneasy. Not until her husband called her.

"O'siya, ibababa ko na ito. Tawagan nalang ulit kita, bye bye!" she said, at ibinaba ang telepono.

Malalim ang aking paghinga and I exhaled it nang bumaba ang tawag. I know that Luisito is a dangerous person but why my instincts tell me that he is more than just a word 'dangerous'?