Sunburst

Kabanata 31

~ BRIELLE~

"What do you think about the plate, ma'am?"

"It's nice. What do you think, Brielle?"

"Huh?" Nabalik ako sa realidad ng marinig ko ang pagtawag ni tita Ophelia. Hawak niya ngayon ang isang plato na tila tinanong ang opinyon ko. "Ah, ayos naman po tita, I think magugustuhan ng mga bisita," sagot ko.

"Is it?" pag-angal nito. "Isn't it too small for large parties?"

"In that case, hindi po ba maganda siya for tea parties? Nasabi po sakin ni Ale- ni Xander na madalas kayong mag-tea party so pwede na siguro itong gamitin doon minsan."

"Oh that's perfect Brielle. It could be a themed tea party."

"Great! I think we made a decision, tita."

Finally! Kanina pa kami nagshoshoping ni tita, at hapon na ay hindi pa kami tapos. Paano ba naman, may napupuna siya sa lahat ng ipinapakita sa amin. Kung ako lang ang masusunod, sasabihin kong bumili na lang kami sa ukay-ukay o kaya sa Chinatown para tapos. Pare-parehas lang rin naman ang plato, kahit nga paper plate pwede na, so what's the point of buying expensive ones?

"Oh gracious, thank you Brielle, your idea was great. I can't wait to serve our guests with the different teas we have." She happily dialled a few people and called her friends to plan her next tea party or something.

"Sure tita, that's good. Isn't it time for us to head back?"

"Oh yes. Baka hinihintay ka na ni Xander. Susunduin ka niya, right?"

"Opo."

Mabuti naman dahil ilang oras na lang ay maglulupasay na ako dito dahil sa pagod. Mabuti na lang rin at dumating ng maaga si Alexander kaya kahit paano ay may kasama ako kung sakaling makaisip nanaman si tita ng escapades.

"Xander anak," she called. "Pasensya na natagalan, you know naman Brielle and I wanted to make everything perfect for the house so we made sure that everything is phenomenal," she continued to explain.

May ilang sinabi pa si tita kay Alexander hanggang sa tuluyan na itong umalis at iniwan kaming dalawa dito sa isang botique kung saan halos bilhin ni tita ang lahat ng paninda nila.

I sighed. Nakakapagod.

"That's a long one."

"Hindi mo alam kung anong pinagdaanan ko mula pa kaninang umaga."

He sat beside me. "With my mom, I can already guess," he assured, "She nitpicks on everything."

"Including the name of the designer and craftsman."

Seriously exhausting, pero pinagtawanan lang ako ng leon. Pasalamat siya pagod ako kaya hindi ako maka-isip ng pang-asar sa kanya. Tch. Babawi na lang ako mamaya.

"By the way, tumawag si Aileen kanina. She said she'll drop by tomorrow."

"Mabuti naman. I needed a break."

Since our new life began, puro mga amiga ni tita, couples and business people na ang lagi kong kasama. At madalas naiinis lang ako sa mga unsolicited advice nila. Mabuti sana kung nakikinig din sila sa litanya ko pero wala. Wala silang pakialam, mabuti pa si Aileen always ready to listen.

"Oh Aaron is coming along," he added before handing a cup of peppermint tea he bought before coming here.

"Kahit 'wag na. Bakit kailangan pang sumama ng pesteng 'yon?" Sigurado akong mang-aasar at mang-iinis lang siya.

"You can tell him that."

"I will."

The tea smells nice. Lately he's been nice enough to bring me tea before I go to sleep or whenever I feel tired. I'm not sure if that's a good thing or not, but I'm liking this Alexander. Sabihin ko kaya na super stress ako araw-araw baka pagbigyan niya mga request ko. Ma-try nga.

"Alexander, I'm tired. Like super tired to the point of na hindi na ko makatayo sa sobrang pagod," I dramatically said.

"Then I'll drop you off so you can rest after you drink the tea." He's frowning and looking confused, but it's a good sign. Hindi siya bad mood.

"But I'm super-duper tired to nth power." I stress every word I said para naman ma-feel niya ang gusto kong sabihin.

"Again, if you're tired, you should rest."

He stands up and grabs the bags from the shop attendant when I slump down on the sofa. "Now I can't move."

He narrowed his eyes figuring out what I'm up to this time. "Seriously?"

"I'm frozen too. So numb," I added.

It takes a few seconds before he sighed in defeat and shook his head.

"So what does my lovely wife want this time?"

I smiled. "Beautiful."

He rolled his eyes. "Ahem, so what does my lovely BEAUTIFUL wife want this time?" he repeated.

Napaupo agad ako ng marinig ang sinabi niya. Oh 'di ba effective.

"Nagutom kasi ako matapos kaming tumayo ng super-duper tagal sa botique and then naglakad ng super-duper layo." Ginamit ko na ang pang-FAMAS na acting ko para maconvince si Alexander. Mahirap na kasi baka hindi mapagbigyan.

''Do you like to buy something to eat around the corner before we leave?"

"Oh? But I don't have enough money to pay for the food. Nakakahiya naman sa husband ko." May kasama pang sad face para convincing.

"Then would my lovely beautiful wife want to have a dinner date with me? My treat?"

"Ay gusto ko iyan," I clapped my hands upon hearing his answer bago ko siya hinila sa may braso para maka-alis na kami.

"You're so willful, it worries me," he said.

"Sus, 'wag kang mag-alala, hindi ko naman nakukuha lahat ng gusto ko."

"You always say that."

"Do I?" I said innocently. Minsan lang makaisa kay Alexander kaya lubos-lubusin na.

"So where to?" He asked once we reached his car.

"May Japanese restaurant na bagong bukas sa may Central District. We should go there."

"You ignored the fast food around the corner 'cause you don't have money, but you wanted to go to a Japanese restaurant in the Central District which cost more?"

"Syempre, libre mo eh. Alangan naman cheap ang kakainin natin. Inaalala lang kita. Alam ko namang hindi ka sanay sa mga pagkain sa tabi-tabi, so doon tayo sa fancy para makakain ka ng marami. Oh 'di ba ang bait ko?"

"Wow, Thanks for consideration, luv," he said sarcastically.

"No problem, hubs. Expect more of my very considerate attitude."

"Please don't."

Oh yes you will. Hindi magiging masaya ang buhay ko kapag hindi iyon kasali sa privileges ko.

"It's my wifey privilege."

"It's not even a year and I'm starting to regret it."

"Masanay ka na Alexander, don't you remember what you promise?"

"Promise what?"

"You know, back when we're in the old tree house? The one when you threw my doll, you said, you'll let me do anything I want as compensation."

"That's years ago. Besides, you don't even like that doll."

"But it's mine, and I play with it."

"Are you really gonna bring up stupid promises like this?"

"Ofcourse, paano na lang ako makasisingil ng utang kapag hindi ko na matandaan."

"Tch. You remember stupid things, yet you don't want to talk about the whole story of the past?" I heard him whisper.

Hindi na ako nagsalita pa. Wala naman akong dapat pang sabihin tungkol sa nakaraan. Like I said before, it's long buried and forgotten.

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