PRETENDER

Chapter 49

Ashanti Laureen

"Mommy!"

I smiled when I saw my daughter, waving at me while she's being carried by my sister.

We're at the airport. Kauuwi ko lang from England at heto nga't sinusundo ako ngayon ng anak ko at ni Dani.

"Hi baby," I kissed her cheek at kinuha ito mula sa Tita nya.

Dani went to my luggage. "Ate, Papa is waiting for us na. Let's go,"

Sumunod kami sa kanya at habang naglalakad kami ay itong anak ko naman ay panay kwento about her classmates or kung anong nangyari sa kanya nung time na wala ako.

"Is my baby behave when I'm not around? Are you listening to your Tita Dani and Lolo?" I asked while pinching her cheeks gently.

"Mm! Yes po! Tita and Lolo spoiled me with toys and clothes! Oh, yesterday Tito Tobi and Tita Maine visited me with little Jake too. He's so cute, Mommy!"

Oh, nandito na pala sila? Akala ko next week pa dating nila from Spain.

Well, Jacob got married with his wife which is Maine three years ago and they had their son, Jake.

Pumasok na kami ng kotse at doon nagpatuloy sa kwentuhan. Buong byahe ay boses lang ni Kresha ang nangingibaw hanggang sa makarating kami sa bahay.

"Hija, you're here." Papa went to my side and hug me. "C'mon, let's eat para makapagpahinga kana."

Habang nasa hapag ay napag-usapan namin ang plano ni Papa na renovation ng gymnasium sa university. Dani will be in charge on that project and they are currently looking for another Engineer.

"I have someone in my mind, Pa. She's a great Engineer and you guys know her too well." Dani suggested.

Papa's forehead crease when he heard that. "And who is that person?"

Dani looked at me and smirked. Katulad ni Papa ay napakunot na din tuloy ako ng noo.

Don't tell me...

"Engineer Royce Velasquez,"

Naitikom ko ang bibig at mas pinili na lang na tapusin ang pagkain. Ilang minutong katahimikan ang bumalot sa amin bago tumikhim si Papa.

"I'll talk to his father then." Pinunasan ni Papa ang kanyang bibig gamit ang table napkin bago tumayo at tumingin sa akin. "Go to my office later, Ashanti. We need to talk,"

Naiwan kaming tatlo sa hapag. Pinakuha ko si Kresha sa kanyang yaya bago ko tapunan ng tingin si Dani na nagkibit-balikat lang at pinagpatuloy ang kanyang pag kain.

"Damn you," I said and then roll my eyes on her.

She laughed. "Well, hindi mo naman maikakaila na magaling ang taong yon sa trabaho nya, diba? She's a great Engineer, Ate. Alam naman nating lahat yon."

I sighed and then leaned on my chair. Well, I can't argue with that because she's stating the truth. Masyado na yun kilala sa larangan ng trabaho nya at maraming bigatin na tao ang gusto syang maging engineer sa mga business establishments na gusto nilang ipatayo.

"Hindi ka parin ba handang harapin sya?"

I glanced at Dani's side and sighed. "I... I don't know."

"Common, Ate! Don't be a coward, tss. It's been years already pero ganyan ka parin. Nakukuntento ka nalang na tingnan sya sa malayo. Parang dati sya yung ganyan sayo tapos ikaw naman ngayon,"

Natawa ako. Hindi dahil sa sinabi nya kundi sa itsura nya ngayon. Nakasimangot ito at para bang stress na stress na sya sa akin.

Nagpaalam na si Dani at nauna ng umalis sa hapag dahil may pupuntahan pa daw habang ako naman ay dumiretso na sa office ni Dad.